Berkeley, CA
Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary & Garden Arts is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in Berkeley and the surrounding region. Its strengths include literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, gardening, children’s books, small presses, plants, gifts, and an extensive author-events program.
⌖ 2904 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
Independent
Online ordering
Berkeley, CA
Pegasus Books Downtown is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in Berkeley and the surrounding region. Its strengths include new, used, and bargain books, poetry, literature, records, staff picks, community readings, and a long-running local events program.
⌖ 2349 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Independent
Online ordering
Corte Madera, CA
Book Passage is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in Corte Madera and the surrounding region. Its strengths include new books across fiction, nonfiction, travel, mystery, and children’s reading, signed editions, book clubs, writing classes, a cafe, and a nationally known author-events program.
⌖ 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera, CA 94925
Independent
Online ordering
Elk Grove, CA
A Seat at the Table Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving the Sacramento reader community. Its strengths include inclusive new books, children’s reading, diverse voices, community programs, book clubs, events, coffee, and accessible gathering space.
⌖ 9257 Laguna Springs Dr Suite 130, Elk Grove, CA 95758
Independent
Online ordering
La Jolla, CA
Family-owned since 1896, Warwick’s is a La Jolla institution combining a respected independent bookstore with fine stationery and major literary events. Readers will find new fiction and nonfiction, mystery, biography, cookbooks, travel, art, children’s books, young adult reading, signed editions, bestsellers, and staff selections.
⌖ 7812 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Independent
Online ordering
Los Angeles, CA
Founded in 1940, Chevalier’s is Los Angeles’s oldest independent bookstore and a warm Larchmont Village source for new books and personal recommendations. Readers will find literary and commercial fiction, biography, history, current affairs, cookbooks, art, mystery, fantasy, romance, children’s books, and young adult titles.
⌖ 133 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Independent
Online ordering
Los Angeles, CA
Skylight Books is a Los Feliz literary institution known for adventurous curation, expert staff picks, and major author conversations beneath its signature tree. Readers will find literary fiction, independent presses, politics, film, music, graphic novels, art, poetry, children’s books, and hard-to-find cultural titles.
⌖ 1818 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Independent
Online ordering
Los Angeles, CA
Stories is an Echo Park bookstore, cafe, and garden patio that pairs an eclectic new-and-used collection with readings, performances, and neighborhood life. Readers will find literary fiction, poetry, philosophy, art, politics, small presses, children’s books, graphic novels, cookbooks, and unexpected secondhand discoveries.
⌖ 1716 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Independent
Online ordering
Los Angeles, CA
Downtown Los Angeles’s vast and visually distinctive Last Bookstore mixes an enormous general collection with art spaces and memorable used-book installations. Readers will find new releases, inexpensive used books, rare finds, fiction and nonfiction across subjects, comics, graphic novels, records, art books, and gifts.
⌖ 453 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Independent
Online ordering
Menlo Park, CA
Kepler's Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in Menlo Park and the surrounding region. Its strengths include new books, literary fiction, current affairs, children's reading, staff recommendations, community programs, and major author conversations.
⌖ 1010 El Camino Real Suite 100, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Independent
Online ordering
North Hollywood, CA
The Iliad is a book-filled North Hollywood destination where longtime staff and resident cats preside over an unusually deep secondhand collection. Readers will find used and collectible fiction, history, film, theater, music, philosophy, science, art, mysteries, science fiction, children’s books, and ephemera.
⌖ 5400 Cahuenga Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Independent
Oakland, CA
A Great Good Place for Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in Oakland and the surrounding region. Its strengths include new fiction and nonfiction, children’s reading, local authors, signed books, staff recommendations, book clubs, and intimate literary events.
⌖ 6120 La Salle Ave, Oakland, CA 94611
Independent
Online ordering
Palo Alto, CA
Family-owned Bell’s Books is a close-in Peninsula destination where three generations of bookselling experience support an extraordinary used and rare collection. Readers will find used, rare, antiquarian, and collectible literature, history, philosophy, art, travel, children’s books, fine press editions, signed books, and unusual ephemera.
⌖ 536 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Independent
Online ordering
Pasadena, CA
Vroman's Bookstore is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in Pasadena and the surrounding region. Its strengths include new books, literary and popular fiction, children's reading, gifts, signed books, frequent author events, and more than a century of bookselling.
⌖ 695 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101
Independent
Online ordering
Sacramento, CA
Amatoria Fine Art Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving the Sacramento reader community. Its strengths include art, design, photography, architecture, fashion, illustrated books, rare visual culture, exhibitions, and creative community events.
⌖ 1831 F St Suite A, Sacramento, CA 95811
Independent
Online ordering
Sacramento, CA
Beers Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving the Sacramento reader community. Its strengths include new and used books, literature, history, art, philosophy, poetry, science fiction, trade-ins, and long-running downtown browsing.
⌖ 712 R St, Sacramento, CA 95811
Independent
Online ordering
Sacramento, CA
Bloodstone Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving the Sacramento reader community. Its strengths include used and collectible books, literature, history, art, mysteries, science fiction, rare finds, and personalized bookselling.
⌖ 3214 Riverside Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95822
Independent
Online ordering
Sacramento, CA
Capital Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving the Sacramento reader community. Its strengths include new books across two floors, romance and fantasy, signed editions, children’s reading, gifts, and downtown events.
⌖ 1011 K St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Independent
Online ordering
Sacramento, CA
Crawford’s Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving the Sacramento reader community. Its strengths include new and used books, literature, mysteries, history, art, science fiction, children’s reading, trade-ins, and neighborhood discovery.
⌖ 5301 Freeport Blvd Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95822
Independent
Online ordering
Sacramento, CA
East Village Bookshop is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving the Sacramento reader community. Its strengths include new fiction and nonfiction, children’s books, gifts, book clubs, local authors, events, and a walkable neighborhood setting.
⌖ 3604 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816
Independent
Online ordering
Sacramento, CA
Time Tested Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving the Sacramento reader community. Its strengths include new, used, rare, and collectible books, literature, history, politics, art, philosophy, poetry, and author events.
⌖ 1114 21st St, Sacramento, CA 95811
Independent
Online ordering
Sacramento, CA
Underground Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving the Sacramento reader community. Its strengths include Black literature, history, social justice, children’s books, local authors, community programs, and cultural events.
⌖ 2814 35th St, Sacramento, CA 95817
Independent
Online ordering
Sacramento, CA
Wild Sisters Book Company is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving the Sacramento reader community. Its strengths include new fiction and nonfiction, romance, children’s reading, local authors, gifts, book clubs, and inclusive community events.
⌖ 3325 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816
Independent
Online ordering
San Diego, CA
Bluestocking Books is a long-running Hillcrest used bookstore with broad shelves, fair prices, trade credit, and the pleasures of unhurried browsing. Readers will find used literature, mystery, science fiction, history, biography, philosophy, cookbooks, art, children’s books, young adult titles, and collectible editions.
⌖ 3817 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Independent
San Diego, CA
Libélula is a woman- and queer-owned Barrio Logan bookstore and community space offering inclusive, multilingual, and affordable reading. Readers will find new and used fiction, poetry, social justice, queer books, books by writers of color, bilingual children’s titles, young adult reading, zines, and local authors.
⌖ 950 S 26th St, San Diego, CA 92113
Independent
Online ordering
San Diego, CA
Mysterious Galaxy is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in San Diego and the surrounding region. Its strengths include science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, signed books, staff recommendations, preorder campaigns, and a busy genre-author calendar.
⌖ 3555 Rosecrans St Suite 107A, San Diego, CA 92110
Independent
Online ordering
San Diego, CA
The Book Catapult is a South Park neighborhood independent celebrated for sharp curation, enthusiastic recommendations, and intimate author events. Readers will find literary and popular fiction, essays, history, current affairs, poetry, graphic novels, cookbooks, children’s books, young adult titles, and small-press discoveries.
⌖ 3010-B Juniper St, San Diego, CA 92104
Independent
Online ordering
San Diego, CA
Verbatim is North Park’s energetic independent bookstore, art space, and event venue, known for affordable shelves and strong local creative ties. Readers will find used and new literature, poetry, philosophy, art, music, film, graphic novels, zines, children’s books, science fiction, vintage editions, and local authors.
⌖ 3793 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
Independent
Online ordering
San Francisco, CA
City Lights Booksellers & Publishers is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in San Francisco and the surrounding region. Its strengths include literary fiction, poetry, international literature, progressive nonfiction, small presses, author events, and its landmark publishing history.
⌖ 261 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Independent
Online ordering
San Francisco, CA
Green Apple Books is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in San Francisco and the surrounding region. Its strengths include new and used books, literary fiction, children's reading, music, staff picks, author events, and deep neighborhood browsing.
⌖ 506 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118
Independent
Online ordering
San Jose, CA
BookSmart Eastridge brings a locally owned, full-service bookstore back to East San Jose with books, educational gifts, and community programming. Readers will find new fiction and nonfiction, bestsellers, children’s books, young adult reading, puzzles, calendars, educational toys, local authors, and special orders.
⌖ 2200 Eastridge Loop Suite 256, San Jose, CA 95122
Independent
Online ordering
San Jose, CA
Hicklebee’s is a nationally respected Willow Glen independent specializing in children’s and young adult books while welcoming families, educators, and curious readers. Readers will find picture books, early readers, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, educational resources, family favorites, signed editions, award winners, and special orders.
⌖ 1378 Lincoln Ave, San Jose, CA 95125
Independent
Online ordering
San Jose, CA
A San Jose institution since 1967, Recycle Bookstore offers an expansive, thoughtfully organized secondhand collection and memorable resident bookstore cats. Readers will find used fiction and nonfiction across hundreds of subjects, mysteries, science fiction, art, history, cookbooks, children’s books, collectible editions, and trade-in discoveries.
⌖ 1066 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
Independent
Online ordering
Santa Monica, CA
DIESEL, A Bookstore is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in Santa Monica and the surrounding region. Its strengths include new literary and popular fiction, nonfiction, art, children’s reading, thoughtful staff selections, signed books, and community author events.
⌖ 225 26th St Suite 33, Santa Monica, CA 90402
Independent
Online ordering
Sebastopol, CA
Copperfield’s Books Sebastopol is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in Sebastopol and the surrounding region. Its strengths include new books, magazines, gifts, children’s reading, local and regional authors, book clubs, staff picks, special orders, and community events.
⌖ 138 N Main St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Independent
Online ordering
Sunnyvale, CA
Leigh’s Favorite Books is a close-in San Jose-area independent known for personal recommendations, community warmth, and a broad new-book selection. Readers will find literary and popular fiction, mystery, romance, fantasy, nonfiction, children’s books, young adult titles, bestsellers, local interest, and gift books.
⌖ 121 S Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Independent
Online ordering
West Hollywood, CA
Book Soup is an independently owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore serving readers in West Hollywood and the surrounding region. Its strengths include literary fiction, art, photography, film, music, biography, politics, international magazines, signed editions, and celebrated author events on the Sunset Strip.
⌖ 8818 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Independent
Online ordering