Local bookstores in Edmonton to indulge in your reading fantasies

Forget about spring cleaning, let’s get into spring reading instead.

Edmonton has more than enough bookstores to go around, and most of them are fantastical, wonderful, and everything you need from a book haven. We’ve rounded up some of the best local bookstores in Edmonton, so you don’t have to figure out which store you’ll be running to next.

With a great variety of stores spanning across the city, you’ll have no trouble finding your perfect spot. Let’s get into it, shall we?

From online in 2020 to in-person in 2024, Porch Light Books is a used and new bookshop within the city.

Although they do have a curated selection of new books, most of the selection is good-quality used. In their own words, “most of our stock is used, with a premium on quality and condition (in other words, our used books look pretty darn new).”

Where: 9867 89th Ave. NW, Edmonton, Alta.

This small, independent bookstore in the neighbourhood of Ritchie focuses more on literature written by Indigenous, Black, racialized, and queer and trans authors. Calling themselves “small but mighty,” you can still find a wide array of books here that you’ll know and love.

Where: 9553 76th Ave. NW, Edmonton, Alta.

With a focus on romance, the Book Boudoir now offers shipping Canada-wide as they’ve grown significantly since opening. It not only has a romance-forward focus on books, but it also offers some great community events with authors you wouldn’t be able to see otherwise.

Where: 12017 102nd Ave. NW #102, Edmonton, Alta.

Having opened in 2022, Paper Birch has made a name for itself in the city. They specialize in quality used, rare, and spectacular books, storing first editions, rare copies, and so much more you’ll never find anywhere else.

Where: 10825 95th St., Edmonton, Alta.

This might be one of my favourite bookstores in Edmonton.

It’s located on Whyte Avenue, and it’s just extremely homey — you feel like you’re walking into someone’s house rather than a shop off the busiest street in the city.

Where: 10310 Whyte Ave. NW, Edmonton, Alta.

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