What It Covers:
Our Journey
We are the Goot family, proud owners of The Reading Glass Books, your local bookstore with a heart.
As I, Sonny Goot, prepared for retirement after 18 years of active military service, my wife, Lyn, and I sought a meaningful new chapter together. With the guidance of a family friend who had over a decade of experience in the book industry, we discovered a way to serve our community by sharing the joy of books.
In 2020, The Reading Glass Books opened in Cookstown, New Jersey, as a family-run, locally owned bookstore dedicated to being part of everyone’s reading journey. By 2022, we expanded our mission beyond shelves and into self-publishing, giving aspiring writers a platform to share their voices and become successful authors.
Our journey has continued to grow and shift with the needs of our community. We first began in Cookstown and later expanded into BX Mall and Cumberland Mall, serving readers across New Jersey. Today, our focus is on our thriving branches in Quaker Bridge Mall and Cumberland Mall. In October 2025, we embraced a new model as a click-and-mortar bookstore, centering on consignment services that support both readers and writers in dynamic ways.
From its beginnings as an independent bookstore, to becoming a self-publishing house, and now growing into both a physical and online presence, The Reading Glass Books has stayed true to its core purpose: celebrating writers and readers alike. Five years strong, we remain committed to this vision and onward we go.
Our Core Values
At the heart of our company are the core values that guide everything we do.
What It Covers:
We believe that trust is earned through honesty and transparency. Thus, our commitment to integrity means we hold ourselves above par, ensuring that every action we take reflects our commitment to doing what is right. We value the trust our authors place in us and strive to honor that trust in every decision we make.
Dedication
Our team is driven by a deep sense of purpose and passion for what we do. Dedication is the cornerstone of our work ethic, and we are fully committed to our author’s success. Our dedication fuels our persistence, enabling us to go above and beyond, overcome challenges, and continually push boundaries.
Commitment to Excellence
Excellence is our mindset. Exceeding expectations at every turn is at the core of our culture, from the quality of our services to the way we engage with our authors and the literary community. We take pride in delivering excellence, knowing that it sets us apart and drives our success.
Visit Us
Cumberland Mall
F18 3849 S. Delsea Dr, Vineland, NJ 08360