Andrew AlbaneseWhen Taylor Swift left McNally Jackson, SoHo’s highly-regarded independent bookstores, gossip bloggers and tweeters wondered just what was in the pair of shopping bags she carried out. Whether they were volumes from the feminism and women’s issues section, or romances and thrillers in paperback, the bookstore clerks kept mum.

With a Barnes & Noble near her new home in Tribeca, though, Swift had made indie bookstore shopping into a fashion statement. It was a timely display, ahead of the imminent return to Manhattan of BookExpo America, the industry’s hallmark trade show.

“In our forthcoming issue, we have an extensive preview for BEA, which is set to begin May 28. We have a ton of stuff once again this year, including our popular ‘galleys to grab’ feature,” reports Andrew AlbanesePublishers Weekly senior writer.

One feature Taylor Swift might particularly enjoy is a tour of NYC bookstores to visit. “We go borough by borough,” Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “For instance, there’s WORD in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint, a store that I love, and which opened a second location in Jersey City last year.”

Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.

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