15 Best Places to Buy Books Online
Are your kids (and probably YOU too) super into reading and you need to figure out how to buy more books for less? Do you want to support some of the most awesome independent book stores around? Amazon can be a useful resource purchasing tool. but there are SO MANY better options for books. It’s really important for kiddos to see us shopping at small businesses, Indigenous owned businesses, Black owned businesses and getting away from “just get it on Amazon”. This list features our favorite online book sellers to get you through every homeschool year, book club, summer reading, novel study and “read & report” session. Here, you’ll find graphic novels, fiction, non-fiction, used books, rare books, collectibles, author signed copies, discount books and even college text books!
While this post is all about helping you buy books for less & from the best, I always want to provide FREE options when possible, because saving money is great, but FREE is the BEST- especially when your kiddo can plow through a book in 2 days time! I’ve honestly be come obsessed with finding free secular resources, so if you’re looking for more of that, come find me on TikTok, or hit the button below.
Visit your local library as often as possible and borrow what you can for free! Check out the Libby app for audio books and additional resources too.
Another FREE option is your neighborhood “Buy Nothing group” (these can be found on Nextdoor and Facebook) and, if you have one near by, the Little Free Library!
If you have the capacity and a few friends to help, you can also organize a book swap in your community/neighborhood.
A book seller that started in 2003 out of the back of a truck has grown into the largest online independent bookseller. They offer a huge selection of very accurately graded used books. We have been ordering used books from them since 2017 and I have never been disappointed in the quality of a book. They also work with Friends of the Library to help find new homes for ex-library books! They have a vast, excellent selection for all ages.
The brick and mortar M&Q has been operating in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis since 1994, and their online store offers all the in-store titles, PLUS over a million more! They have many unique and hard-to-find editions and offer books in all subjects, for all ages.
An online shop, Miss Read Books is an :”intersectional, feminist bookshop elevating books written by and centering women and non-binary folks of color”. Established in 2020 by Naysha Bryant, this is THE place to get inclusive books written by brilliant people of color. You’ll find fiction, sci-fi, thrillers and more, I highly recommend visiting Miss Read for your next book club pick!
This book shop is the first female-owned, Asian American book store, located in Chinatown, Manhattan, NYC. Lucy Yu, the shop’s founder, “showcases immigrant stories and creates a home for the community” with this amazing shop. If you’re local or headed to New York City any time soon, make it a must to stop by this book shop/café/bar. They have a fabulous selection of graphic novels, poetry, non-fiction and kids books. Make sure to check out the “food” section too!!
When Dominique first popped up on my FYP with recommendations to help “decolonize your bookshelf”, I hit that + so fast! She runs this shop, and a book club too, with heart, soul and so much love. Paperbacks & Fry Bread sells both new and used books, centering Indigenous and POC voices, characters, and authors. There are also audio book offerings. This shop is a “community centered around nerdy goodness, the written word and appreciation for all.”
Serving the LGBTQIA+ community since 1970, Glad Day Bookshop is the first Canadian queer-focused book store and the oldest queer bookstore world wide! Their online shop is beautifully organized with section focuses such as “High Interest, Lower Reading Level for Teens” (obsessed!), “Trans and Non-Binary Voices” , “Two Spirit and Indigenous Narratives” and much, much more. They also offer a subscription box and if you are near by, check out the Drag Queen brunch!
A local shop near us in Los Angeles, I was introduced to Malik Books just this year and fell in love. Malik is an “African American book store that specializes in books…full of cultural diversity”. Malik Books has been part of the community since 1990 and of July 2021, Malik they now ship nationwide! They offer a large selection of diverse children’s books and feature independent and self-published authors.
This is online and brick & mortar shop that features books/audio books, games and Indigenous arts. Birchbark Books is an absolute gem and a great place to find books available nowhere else! Founder and author Louise Eldrich says this Native-owned shop has a staff that is either Native background or “exceedingly Native-friendly” and huge bonus- she will sign any of her books purchased through the bookstore!
Nicole is another independent bookseller I found via TikTok, her shop Bettie’s Pages opened in 2020 and focuses on “cultivating community, empowering readers and maintaining a space that is diverse, inclusive and affirming!’ Something super special to check out is their #challengeyourshelf section, each month. This is a monthly list of intersectional books exploring topics of life and justice. The recommendations span fiction and non-fiction, from picture book to adult- so check back often to get new book inspo!
Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre
Founded by author, Rachel E Cargle, Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre is an “innovative literacy center designed to amplify and celebrate marginalized voices”, located in Akron, OH. The shop opened in 2020 online and then the physical location followed as a gathering spot for the local community. Make sure to check out favorites like the annual Reading Challenge and absolutely follow @elizabethsofakron on IG. Best of all a percentage of all sales goes to benefit the Loveland Foundation.
Red Planet Books & Comics was founded in 2017 and is the only Indigenous comic shop IN THE WORLD! Founded by Dr. Lee Francis IV, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, the Albuquerque, NM shop focuses on Indigenous titles. If you travel to Albuquerque, this is a must-visit shop for sure, but if you’re not in the area you can absolutely shop online and keep an eye out for their upcoming WonderBox Subscription!
Janice Taylor started this Black-Woman-Owned bookshop in Kansas City, MO. You’ll find everything from gifts to a huge collection of children’s books, Juneteenth books, Black Wallstreet Books, Black history books, Cookbooks, and books on race & diversity. They also have bundles and subscriptions to check out. The store showcases “Black books, black authors…reaching customers who want to learn through [our] experience”. Follow them on IG here!
Absolutely enchanting witchy books for kids! Moondust Press was started by parent and author Andrea Stein in 2019. You can find incredibly inclusive books, stickers, pintables and pins in the online shop. The “C is for Coven” board book is the best new baby gift ever, and “What Witches Wear” is my youngest’s favorite! This publishing house is one to watch as I’m sure new authors, illustrators and titles that are too magical to miss.
Valore books is an online textbook marketplace. While it is by no means a “small” business, it’s one worth checking out. They also rent textbooks, which is a great option because I still have college textbooks under my bed and couldn’t tell you WHY I saved them (other than the sticker shock trauma I must still be processing from paying that much for a book at 19 years old).
You may not realize it but this one has already been on the list. Bookshop.org is a place where local, independent book stores through e-commerce, connecting readers like you with amazing local shops all over the world. Launched in January of 2020 (and not a moment too soon) the site started with 88 book store partners and now has, well, A LOT more than that.
This online shop featuring rare and collectible books was established 22 years ago in North Carolina. They do also sell textbooks, so it’s another option for that.
Last but not least, Libro! Libro makes it possible for you to purchase audio books from independent booksellers. It’s incredibly simple to use- sign up for a free account and then you can purchase subscriptions or individual titles from your favorite local or online independent book store. This (and the Libby app for library audiobooks) is a fabulous alternative to Audible.
Do you have a favorite local or online bookshop? Leave a comment below and share it with us!
If you are looking for an in-person book shopping experience, check out your local book shops, local used book shops and don’t sleep on Costco. If you don’t have a CostCo membership, co-op one through your social networks and see if someone with a membership can take you on a fieldtrip!