All the Best Bookstores in Tennessee
Last updated 7/24/26
If you love books, then you understand the fun that only browsing through a bookstore can bring. For Independent Bookstore Day, I wanted to put together a list of bookstores to visit across Tennessee.
The only problem is that I haven’t managed to visit enough bookstores in Tennessee (yet), so I asked Threads to help me put together a list, and people came through with more than 40 suggestions.
I’ve sorted the list by region: Middle, East, and West. (We’re starting in Middle Tennessee because I live in Nashville. Thanks to my previous article about bookstores in Nashville, I already have a handful of photos for those.)
If there’s a photo for a bookstore on this list, then I’ve been there. If there’s no photo, then I haven’t been yet.
Let me know if I’m missing your favorite bookstore in Tennessee. I’m going to attempt to visit them all, and I’m always up for visiting more bookstores!
Middle Tennessee
Parnassus Books (Nashville)
Run by beloved author Ann Patchett, Parnassus Books in Green Hills is a dream with a large selection of new books, a magical children’s section, and tons of book signings, book club meetings, and other bookish events.
I love coming here to browse!
Google Maps | Parnassus Books Website | đź“š Read my full post about Parnassus Books
The Bookshop (Nashville)
The Bookshop is a tiny gem in East Nashville. It’s small, but the curation of books is perfection. This is the place to go when you’re not sure exactly what you want to read. You’ll walk away with a new favorite.
The Bookshop is moving to a new, larger location in late 2026/early 2027, and I can’t wait to see what they’re able to do with more space for books and events!
Google Maps | The Bookshop Website | đź“š Read my full post about the Bookshop
Novelette Booksellers (Nashville)
Novelette is another bookstore in East Nashville with a great selection of books. The queer-owned bookstore has an especially good variety of graphic novels for a small shop.
Google Maps | Novelette Booksellers Website
East Nashville Books (Nashville)
East Nashville Books is a small used bookstore that packed with an interesting selection of books. I love how welcoming it feels inside and just how much the selections in the store reflect the character of East Nashville.
The store adds so much to the community, and it’s always worth a browse because you never know what you’ll find on the shelves!
Google Maps | East Nashville Books Website
The Green Ray (Nashville)
The Green Ray carries a selection of curated books along with other items like fragrances, pantry items, and even socks. This might sound a little unusual, and it is in the best way.
Go in prepared to browse and see what stands out to you.
Google Maps | The Green Ray Website
Taylor Street Art & Books (Nashville)
Owned by Nashville(ish) natives, Taylor Street Art & Books is a micro-store in Germantown. The store has beautiful artwork and a carefully curated selection of books. It’s the exact opposite of an algorithm picking out books for you.
Google Maps | Taylor Street Art & Books Website
Rhino Booksellers (Nashville)
Rhino Booksellers feels a bit like walking into a book lover’s dream. The store is packed with books on every available surface as you walk through the maze-like layout. You’ll find used books along with instruments and vinyl records. Plus, you might spot the store kitty as you browse.
Google Maps | Rhino Booksellers Website
McKay’s (Nashville, Chattanooga)
McKay’s is a used bookstore and record store that started in Knoxville. The Knoxville location is now closed but you can still visit the ones in Nashville and Chattanooga. Besides books and records, McKay’s carries games, toys, and collectibles.
The location in Nashville is a two-story building packed full of media. I have yet to visit the other locations, but if there’s anything like the one in Nashville, you can easily spend hours here and walk out with a huge stack of books at a very reasonable price.
McKay’s Website | 📚 Read my full post about McKay’s
Fairytales Bookstore (Nashville)
Fairytales is the cutest (and tiniest) children’s bookstore located in the Five Point Alley Shops. I’ve found the staff to be super helpful in picking out just the right book.
Besides books, the shop carries other items for children, including toys, games, and art supplies. I usually get children’s Christmas and birthday gifts from Fairytales each year.
Google Maps | Fairytales Bookstore Website | đź“š Read my full post about Fairytales Bookstore
Defunct Books (Nashville)
For those who like used bookstores with character, Defunct Books is the place to go. This tiny bookstore in the Five Point Alley shops (near Fairytales Bookstore) is packed full of interesting used, rare, and collectible books.
The inside is not aesthetic and Instagrammable, but I don’t think that’s a negative because all the focus is on the books!
Google Maps | Defunct Books Facebook Page
Vanderbilt University Bookstore (Nashville)
The Vanderbilt University Bookstore is a Barnes and Noble, so it’s not actually an independent bookstore. Someone on Threads said they like this one. It gets a spot on the list because I’m intrigued.
Google Maps | Vanderbilt Bookstore Website
Crying Cat Books & Records (Murfreesboro)
Crying Cat Books & Records has a good assortment of both new and used books (as well as records). They also accept media trade-ins for cash or store credit.
Google Maps | Crying Cat Books & Records Website
The Happy Book Stack (Murfreesboro)
The Happy Book Stack sells used books along with records, video games, and other media. I love how the children’s section is organized. It is so easy to find books I think my children will like, and since I spend a lot of time digging through secondhand books, I really appreciate this.
Google Maps | The Happy Book Stack Website
The Grumpy Bookpeddler (Murfreesboro)
The Grumpy Bookpeddler has a huge selection of used books (over 50,000)! You’ll also find some new books by local authors here as well.
Google Maps | The Grumpy Bookpeddler Website
Reading Rock Books (Dickson)
Reading Rock Books is a cute little store with both used and new books plus book-related gifts.
Google Maps | Reading Rock Books Website
Plenty Bookshop (Cookeville)
Right in downtown Cookeville, Plenty Bookshop sells books, stationery, tea, children’s gifts, and local items. The shop is much larger than it looks from the outside. It keeps on going and is filled with so many cute little areas that invite you to spend more time there–like the table with a puzzle pictured above!
I love everything about the store! The selection includes everything from classics to the most popular current books. The tiny children’s section in the back is especially adorable.
Google Maps | Plenty Bookshop Website | 👉 Read my full guide to things to do in Cookeville
Duck River Books (Columbia)
A cozy (and magical) bookstore in downtown Columbia selling both used and new titles.
Google Maps | Duck River Books Website
Ghostlight Books (Columbia)
Ghostlight Books is run by volunteers and supports arts and education programming in the community! The store carries both used and new books.
Google Maps | Ghostlight Books Website
Storybook Cottage (Greenbrier)
Storybook Cottage is a coffee shop and bookstore. They have both used and new books, and you can hang out for a while while sipping coffee to read or get some work done.
Google Maps | Storybook Cottage Website
Landmark Booksellers (Franklin)
Located in a historic building in downtown, Landmark Booksellers has new books as well as old and rare books.
I love how you can meander through different rooms and find books on such a wide range of topics. Even though Landmark Booksellers carries some pretty rare books, it feels inviting rather than intimidating. The store is just so classic and charming.
Google Maps | Landmark Booksellers Website | đź“š Read my full post about Landmark Booksellers
Bound Booksellers (Franklin)
Bound Booksellers is a boutique bookstore with a selection of new books ranging from picture books to young adult books to adult books. The store has recently moved to a new location in The Factory at Franklin.
Google Maps | Bound Booksellers Website
The Spine Bookshop (Smyrna)
The Spine Bookshop carries a variety of selections for literature lovers including lots of diverse books.
Google Maps | The Spine Bookshop Website
Hudubam Booktraders (Clarksville)
Hudubam Booktraders sells used and new books. You can bring gently used titles in to exchange for store credit.
Google Maps | Hudubam Booktraders Website
Harper’s Books (Lebanon)
Harper’s Books sells used and new books and other media. You can bring in titles to exchange for store credit. They also sometimes do Boozy Book Fairs with a nearby brewery, which sounds like fun.
Google Maps | Harper’s Books Website
City Square Books & Music (Hendersonville)
City Square Books & Music is the new location for Walton Ferry Books and Music. The store carries used books, music, and other media.
Google Maps | City Square Books & Music Website
East Tennessee
The Book and Cover (Chattanooga)
The Book and Cover is a coffee bar and bookshop selling new books. It’s owned by three friends, which has got to be a dream come true. The bookstore is housed in a bungalow and is so cozy inside that I wanted to hang out all day! Plus, the children’s area is so beautiful and whimsical.
Google Maps | The Book and Cover Website
Winder Binder Mercantile (Chattanooga)
Winder Binder Mercantile carries used and new books along with records, gifts, and other unique merchandise. They have a section for Chattanooga-related books and gifts plus folk art, photography, and pottery.
Winder Binder has one of the most well-curated used book sections that I’ve ever seen. It’s so easy to browse and find interesting titles.
Google Maps | Winder Binder Website
The Reading Room (Chattanooga)
The Reading Room is a bookstore and a bar, a combo that works perfectly together. There’s plenty of cozy seating to gather with friends and room to sit at the bar. You can order both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks along with a few snack-ish bites.
The shelves are filled with used books that you can browse and buy, so it’s a great spot to hang.
Google Maps | The Reading Room Website
Pennington’s Books
Pennington’s Books is a community bookstore where you can find great books (both used and new), order a cup of coffee, or browse some local art. The store is very involved in the local literary scene and stocks zines along with books from Walnut Street Publishing, which is based in Chattanooga.
Google Maps | Pennington’s Books Website
A Little Bookish (Ooltewah)
A Little Bookish is a family-owned bookstore that started out on wheels. The shop now has a permanent storefront as well as a bookmobile.
Google Maps | A Little Bookish Website
Nirvana Comics (Knoxville)
Nirvana Comics carries comics for everyone ranging from collectors to young readers picking out their first comics, manga, or graphic novels.
Google Maps | Nirvana Comics Website
Good Girl Books (Knoxville)
Good Girl Books started a mobile bookstore offering new and used romance novels and bookish merchandise. You can find the pink bookmobile at markets, pop-ups, and other events around Knoxville.
In 2025, Good Girl Books opened a brick & mortar that is just as adorable (and pink) as the original bookmobile!
Google Maps | Good Girl Books Website
The Bottom (Knoxville)
The Bottom is a bookstore and community space with a collection highlighting Black literature and creativity.
Google Maps | The Bottom Website
Fable Hollow Bookshoppe (Knoxville)
Fable Hollow is a coffee shop and bookstore that specializes in fantasy but carries a selection of books from all genres.
Google Maps | Fable Hollow Bookshoppe Website
Union Avenue Books (Knoxville)
Union Avenue Books is located in a historic building in downtown Knoxville. The store sells new books and is owned and run by a mother-daughter duo (which we love).
Google Maps | Union Avenue Books Website
The Book Eddy (Knoxville)
The Book Eddy sells used, rare, and out-of-print books.
Google Maps | The Book Eddy Website
Mr. K’s (Johnson City)
Mr. K’s is a family-owned used bookstore with 4 locations–including this one in Johnson City. The store buys, sells, and trades books, DVDs, video games, and other media.
Google Maps | Mr. K’s Website
Atlas Books (Johnson City)
Atlas Books in a bookstore located in the Generalist in Johnson City. Besides selling books, Atlas Books focuses on building community.
Google Maps | Atlas Books Website
Southland Books (Maryville)
Southland Books is a cafe and used bookstore that’s been open since 1992!
Google Maps | Southland Books Website
Neighborly Books (Maryville)
Neighborly Books is a friendly bookstore in the heart of Maryville. The store carries new books plus puzzles, stationery, toys, and games.
Google Maps | Neighborly Books Website
The Bookery (Cleveland)
The Bookery had its grand opening in March 2025. It’s run by best friends who love baking and books!
Google Maps | The Bookery Website
Ruddle’s Bread & Book (Cleveland)
Ruddle’s Bread & Books combines books and baked goods! All of the bakery items are made fresh, and the menu rotates every two weeks. The books for sale are all used books.
Google Maps | Ruddle’s Bread & Book Website
White Pine Books (White Pine)
White Pine Books is a used bookstore that also buys and trades other media and entertainment items.
Google Maps | White Pine Books Website
Our Place (Cosby)
Our Place sells new and used books. The store also has an eclectic selection of gifts. You can get fair-trade coffee there as well.
Google Maps | Our Place Website
The Unkind Raven (Dandridge)
The Unkind Raven carries used and new books. The store hosts creative classes periodically.
Google Maps | The Unkind Raven Website
West Tennessee
Novel (Memphis)
When The Booksellers at Laurelwood closed its doors, a group came together to invest in the book community in Memphis, and the result is the wonderful bookstore Novel. The store has a great selection of new books along with stationery and gifts.
Novel hosts lots of storytimes, book signings, book clubs, and other events every month.
I also love Libro, the restaurant inside Novel, because it’s a good reason to spend even more time in a bookstore.
Burke’s Book Store (Memphis)
Dating back to 1875, Burke’s Bookstore has a long history in Memphis. The store has changed hands and locations over the years, but it still carries used and rare books along with new books.
Google Maps | Burke’s Book Store Website
The Book Juggler (Memphis)
The Book Juggler is located on Main Street in Memphis. The store carries used and new books. It’s a good place to find local and regional titles.
Google Maps | The Book Juggler Website
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Thanks for reading, and thanks to everyone who gave suggestions for the best bookstores in Tennessee! I’ll add more details to the entry for each bookstore as I get the chance to visit, so bookmark this list if you want to see more.
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