Say bye to Barnes & Noble and shop these local bookstores for fall reads, holiday gifts, or just a special treat for yourself ❣️
❤️🔥 Spicy Librarian (Five Points)
Reading a romance novel can feel shameful and even taboo, but Spicy Librarian wants to change that. Through a curated selection of romance novels that spans every genre from fantasy to sports to queer love, Spicy Librarian has all the stories you need to keep your cheeks flushed — plus in-store book clubs to share the thrill.
Know before you go: Let’s just say it’s worth peeking behind the vault (warning: NSFW content ahead!)
🐿️ Lingering Tales (Lincoln Park)
Keep your reading habit sustainable by shopping at Lingering Tales, a mother-and-daughter-owned used bookstore in the Arts District on Santa Fe. Their wide selection of books — from hockey-themed love stories to domestic thrillers — means there’s bound to be something for every taste.
Know before you go: Get store credit by selling your gently used books to Lingering Tales.
🏡 West Side Books & Curios (West Highland)
Opened in 1997, West Side Books is among Denver’s most beloved locally owned bookshops. This is a top-notch shop to patronize if you’re looking for a bookish community: Check out their events page for author talks, book signings, and release parties.
Know before you go: Prefer to listen to your stories? Buy an audiobook through the West Side Books & Curios page on Libro.fm.
📖 The Shop at Matter (Five Points)
Independent, inclusive, and passionate about promoting transformative conversations, The Shop at Matter sells novels, nonfiction, poetry, and more literature written by people of color and the queer community. Matter bills itself as the only full-service, majority Black-owned bookstore in the Mountain Time Zone.
Know before you go: Matter is also a design consultancy and letterpress workshop, plus a shop for homewares, games, cute wearables, art supplies, and more.
🐦 Little Blue Pigeon (Union Station)
Nestled in historic Larimer Square, Little Blue Pigeon is a family- and women-owned bookstore with a mission to bring Denverites together through stories. For every five books sold, they donate one book to a local organization via their Book Forward program.
Know before you go: When the holidays roll around and you need the perfect gift, consider a Little Blue Pigeon gift card.
