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Charming Book Nooks Across Arizona

Book-lovers rejoice! In every corner of Arizona, there's a locally-owned bookstore with stacks upon stacks for you to explore. Check out this list of 10 of our favorite independent book nooks in the state.

Antigone Books

411 N 4th Ave., Tucson

The first 100% solar-powered bookstore in the United States and a popular mainstay in downtown Tucson's Fourth Avenue district, Antigone Book's reading selection emphasizes local authors and independent thought, as well as championing feminist and LGBTQ+ authors and subjects.

Bisbee Books & Music

2 Main St., Bisbee

This little shop doubles as a community gathering place and the go-to store for books about the former mining town/current artist enclave, Bisbee. You'll also find musical instruments and a carefully curated selection of vinyl records, plus art supplies and gifts.

Bookmans Entertainment Exchange

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN FLAGSTAFF, PHOENIX, MESA AND TUCSON

Bookmans boasts the largest selection of used books in the state, but that's being humble; the store's vast collection of books (used and new), rare books, movies, music, collectibles and video games rivals that of the infinite world of online shopping. Meaning: You can always find what you're looking for — and some of what you weren't.

Charming Book Nooks Across Arizona
Bright Side Bookshop, Flagstaff. Credit: @brightsidebooksflag.

Bright Side Bookshop

18 N SAN FRANCISCO ST., FLAGSTAFF

Visit Bright Side for the young reader in your life. Adults love the shelves of new fiction, literary classics and books about northern Arizona at this downtown community hub, but kids go crazy for Bright Side's impressive offering of children's books for all ages— from board books to YA.

Changing Hands Bookstore

Two Locations in Tempe and Phoenix

Changing Hands caters to browsers. Its Tempe location has armchairs situated throughout the store for reading, while the Phoenix store lures in book-lovers with a roaring fireplace and a beer-and-wine bar called First Draft. Time your visit with a signing event by a local or national author, offered at both locations.

Charming Book Nooks Across Arizona
Changing Hands, Tempe. Credit: @thecuteconnect.

Mostly Books

6208 E SPEEDWAY BLVD., TUCSON

Looking for autographed copies of your favorite books? Stop by Mostly Books, a store known for its lineup of signed books from all genres. The store also hosts weekly book clubs that cater to varied interests and literary-themed events.

Palabras Bilingual Bookstore

906 W Roosevelt St, Phoenix

Palabras, located inside Phoenix community space Nurture House near Roosevelt Row, is a bilingual bookstore that specializes in both Spanish and English literature. With a focus on uplifting the voices and stories of Black, Indigenous, people of color, Palabras regularly hosts community events and also features an art gallery and a mutual aid garden.

Peregrine Book Company

219 N Cortez St, Prescott

If you're headed up north, stop by Peregrine Book Company — the largest independent book seller in the area. You can easily get lost for hours in this shop's awesome selection of books, magazines, comics and more. Check out their website for upcoming events including visits from national, regional and local authors and poets, as well as bookclubs and workshops.

Charming Book Nooks Across Arizona
Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale. Credit: @lflbookadventures.

The Poisoned Pen Bookstore

4014 N GOLDWATER BLVD., SCOTTSDALE | (480) 947-2974

Mystery-book collectors like this store for its impressive list of author appearances, signed first editions and British imports. If you're interested in Arizona-based stories, check out the section of novels set in the Southwest. Poisoned Pen operates its own publishing imprint, Poisoned Pen Press, of which nearly two-thirds of the business is out-of-state and global.

Sunny’s Bookstore

261 S Main St Suite 10, Yuma

Sunny's is an independent bookstore that first began on wheels as Sunny's Book Truck. The store, which is owned and operated by Yuma natives, grew into the brick-and-mortar shop it is today located in historic downtown Yuma. Sunny's diverse selection includes carefully sourced used books and a curated collection of new books.

Charming Book Nooks Across Arizona
Sunny’s Bookstore, Yuma. Credit: @sunnysbooktruck

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Arizona Office of Tourism

These articles are brought to you by the staff of the Arizona Office of Tourism, and occasionally local tourism organizations around the state.

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