Fully booked – here are Brisbane’s cosiest independent bookstores
With winter still holding strong, you may be looking for something to keep your mind busy until spring shows its face – and we have just the thing. Sometimes the simple things are best and there really is nothing like curling up with a good book. Where better to find that book than at one of Brisbane’s many independently owned bookstores? Where better to find that book than at one of Brisbane’s many independently owned bookstores? Here are a few of our favourites.
Avid Reader, West End
Arguably Brisbane’s most social book store, Avid Reader hosts book launches most nights and weekend afternoons, and hosted 220 literary events last year. The store also hosts 13 book clubs across a variety of genres and interests from classics and contemporary to crime and Australian authors, and offers curated subscription services for a variety of genres including romantasy and First Nation voices. Avid’s sister stores Where The Wild Things Are, specialising in children’s books can be found just next door, and across the city the cosy Riverbend Books waits in Bulimba, which runs its own stacked events calendar and has been slinging tomes since 1998.
Cursive Knives, Fortitude Valley
Last December, Fortitude Valley welcomed bookshop and creative community hub Cursive Knives on Ann Street. Stocking a robust collection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, the store and its owner Terri-Jane Dow steadfastly keep readers up to date with recent releases and all the books currently taking over Bookstagram. Every month, Cursive Knives runs bookclubs covering contemporary releases and classic novels, as well as writing workshops, where attendees are (sometimes) given a prompt and (always) a time limit to get words on the page, giving local writers a social way back into their writing practice. The store also holds events like movie nights and zine making, alongside creative workshops, where local creatives teach how to make everything from ceramic incense holders to leather journals.
Tell Me How It Ends, Fortitude Valley
Since opening at the end of California Lane on May 3 this year, Tell Me How It Ends never had plans of being an ordinary bookstore. Owner Lauren Jones’ vision for her first bookstore – aptly named after her first novel – has been built to nurture creativity, and accompany the writing journey from the spark of an idea to a finished novel on the shelf. The dark academia-inspired bookstore hosts intimate book clubs and author events, and doubles as a creative hub for local writers and authors to gather, discuss, write and brainstorm together.
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Bent Books, West End
West End’s ol’ faithful. A bright exterior draws customers in and the cosy interior invites them to linger. Bent Books has been trading used books for the last 29 years and will likely continue to do so for (at least) another 29. Despite the name, Bent houses a curated selection of pre-loved tomes in near-perfect condition, a catalogue that is topped up with new additions every day. Great care is taken to ensure all books are categorised carefully and beautifully arranged, so you know the store takes all things books seriously.
Archives Fine Books, Brisbane City
What better location for a second-hand bookstore than in a heritage listed building (right in the heart of the city, no less). Wander in off the busy street to the ground floor of the John Mills Building and get lost in corridors, halls and nooks full of books. As the largest pre-loved bookstore in Queensland (boasting one million books), Archives Fine Books also serves as something of a speciality store with the largest collection of… well pretty much everything. Literature, philosophy, politics, sport, military history, religion, science, biography – we could go on, but we’ll leave it to the professionals at Archives, where the doors have been open since 1985.
Pulp Fiction Books, Brisbane City
High-concept, genre fiction, speculative fiction – whatever you call it, Pulp Fiction gets it – ‘it’ being the world beyond explanation. Channelling the mid-20th century era of accessible, popular and sensational stories that it gets its name from, Pulp Fiction specialises in the realms of science fiction, fantasy, crime, and mystery – if it’s pushes the boundaries of belief, Pulp Fiction has it, knows about it or wants it. In a couple of months, the store is moving to a new and bigger space to accommodate bookclubs, tabletop gaming and small events – watch this space.
Books@Stones, Stones Corner
Karen and Michael Weibler are the proud owners of Books@Stones, a veteran provider of Australian fiction, non-fiction and children’s books, plus a small range of specialist medical textbooks leftover from the store’s days as Allmedic Book Supplies. With more than 40 years in the business, the Weiblers have curated their careful selection of books and dedicated customer service, as well as their busy events calendar. Both Karen and Michael host their own bookclubs – focused on Australian Fiction and Non-Fiction respectfully – as do the staff members, covering Crime Fiction, Romance and Young & On Fire. Books@Stones also regularly hosts local authors and poets across book launches, in-conversation events and its Poets@Stones series.
Quick Brown Fox Bookshop, Grange
Subscribe for updatesThe best bookshops are at least a little bit magical, and Grange’s Quick Brown Fox Bookshop delivers in spades. The Northside store has an emphasis on diversity and inclusivity, specialising in books for children through to young adults, alongside a curated selection for adults. The well-read staff are always ready to help you track down the right book, but they also think part of their store’s magic is in the browsing and letting the book come to you. Owners and sisters-in-law Anna and Theresa Sheen bring a wealth of knowledge into what young readers are looking for, with Anna’s 20 years experience in the book industry and Theresa’s 30 years’ in education. Customers can find toys, gifts and games, as well as a program of book launches, book clubs, story times and craft sessions suitable for all ages.
Bright and Early Books, Ascot
Bright and Early Books’ owner Cholm Johnson has been a primary educator and librarian for 20 years – a role that gives him the supernatural ability to match the right book to the right kid. Cholm has spent the last five years establishing Bright and Early Books as a special community hub in Ascot, catering to a local craving for both children and adult books, a wide variety of games, puzzles and birthday gift options. Alongside book clubs and school holiday arts and craft programs, the store also hosts Little Learners, a school readiness program for 3-5 year olds.
Mad Hatters Bookshop, Manly
In 2015, Mad Hatters Bookshop took over TLC Books in Manly – and customers have been falling down the rabbit hole ever since. The independent store and mini-wonderland offers a range of new and quality novels, with a focus on children’s books accompanied by a selection of adult fiction and non-fiction. In the spirit of all things fun, Mad Hatters also stocks toys, games, gifts and cards, and features a whole room dedicated to the genre of fantasy. Adult and kids book clubs bring the store’s social calendar to life, plus pop-up bookshops and book fairs at school events and conferences see Mad Hatters making the magic mobile.
Mary Ryan’s, New Farm and Milton
Books, music, coffee – Mary Ryan’s has all the essentials. With two locations – New Farm’s Merthyr Village and Milton’s Park Road – Mary Ryan’s has cemented its reputation as one of Brisbane’s favourite book havens. Prone to visits from featured authors and always freshly stocked with whatever’s trending, Mary Ryan’s takes the world of reading pretty seriously. It’s easy to spend a couple hours tracking down the perfect tome within its cosy interiors.
Harry Hartog, Carindale
Harry Hartog has made a name for itself around Australia as a sixth generation, family-owned bookstore business with sixteen stores country wide. Harry Hartog promises high-quality service and well-curated store offerings catering to every generation of reader, with its Carindale outlet being no exception. The store’s bright and open layout make it easy to find your next favourite read or discover something new.
Scrumptious Reads, Red Hill
Scrumptious Reads is more than just a bookstore. As an independent book store, events space and art gallery rooted in culinary beginnings, Scrumptious has grown beyond the boundaries of genre. Downstairs, the in-store art gallery highlights the work of local artists, while the space itself regularly hosts events like pop-up dinners, creative workshops and book clubs. Nourishing both the mind and the soul, Scrumptious Reads is hub for community, creativity and stories to come together.
Romancing the Novel, New Farm
This pink-hued Sydney sensation is about to arrive in Brisbane. On Saturday August 15, romance-only bookstore Romancing The Novel will bring its vast selection of romance novels that charmed over-the-border locals to New Farm. The store plans on hosting regular community events and showcasing its own unique twist on the Sydney store’s signature reading lounge.
If you’re looking for a bookshop outside the bounds of Brisbane, we’d recommend checking out our round up the Gold Coast’s cosiest independent book stores, or our honourable mentions, including the Book Bouquet in Ipswich, Forever Fables in Montville, Rosetta Books in Maleny, The Book Pour in Toowoomba, Fiction Over Reality in Wellington Point, Little Gnome Bookshop in Wynnum.
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