If you know me, you know I’m a voracious reader and collector of books, which means I read and buy a lot of books. These are my favorite websites to buy books online: newly released, second-hand books, collectible, or unique books. I prefer to read a physical copy, though I don’t mind reading on my Kindle, iPad, or iPhone if I must. I define must as, I had to read right at that moment or I had to have the book almost instantly and so I bought the ebook. Sometimes when I really love a book, I’ll buy it on eBook, just so I can always have it with me because let’s face it, I’m rarely found without my cell phone. Of course, I’m also rarely found without a book on my person but I keep an eBook as an extra backup, or that’s what I tell myself anyway.
My favorite Independent bookstores online are:
Books and Books is located in my hometown of Miami, FL. Technically their anchor store is located in Coral Gables, but they have several shops in and around South Florida, including the Miami International Airport. Their calendar includes author signings and events, and live music, complete with a bar. There is also food. The Coral Gables store is also a great place to hang out and people watch.
Fountain Bookstore I was a fan of this bookshop long before I ever got to visit it in person. Fountain Bookstore is located in Richmond, Virginia and is a lovely little shop. They ship worldwide including APO. They have a number of author-signed copies and have a knowledgable staff and a vibrant calendar.
Strand Bookstore in NYC. They’ve got 18 miles of books in store and you can buy online. Books are usually priced competitively and they have all the cool things like signed books and special editions etc.

I had these books signed by the author at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida during an author event.
When it comes to buying brand new releases or new books online there are several options to choose from.
For both physical and digital books I recommend.
Amazon – I like to use Amazon if I want a book super fast(thank you Amazon Prime) and I intend to pre-order it. They’ll guarantee you get the lowest price. If you’re a student, did you know you can subscribe to Amazon Prime Student for half off and a free six-month trial? If you’re not a student, you can still try Amazon Prime free for thirty days.
Barnes & Noble I use them because I purchase a membership which gets me great coupons and 20% off of new releases and 10% off of every order. I can order a book online for typically a lesser price and pick it up in my store or have it delivered for free because of my membership.
Amazon and Barnes & Noble are usually the first (and to be honest, only) stores I typically will check when buying online because of my paid memberships I get discounts on shipping and as I mentioned coupons with Barnes & Noble. I will, however, check out the following websites when I have coupons and such to price compare.
Books-A-Million – Though my local shop closed down, there are still books to be bought online at books-a-million!
eBooks.com is a great website if you prefer a digital book.
Target Use the RedCard and get an additional 5% off. I rarely order books online from Target but I have and I get free shipping because I use my Target RedCard. Target (to my knowledge only sells physical books, but they do offer to ship to APO.
Book Depository Is a great online bookstore. They have a large selection of books and they are priced well. Do check out their bargain book section. They also ship APO.
Used or Deeply Discounted Books:
Thriftbooks.com is my go-to site for second-hand books; though they do sell new or like new books too. I just scored a recent release for $3.99. They typically have deals when you purchase three or more books. I also like the fact that any book they receive they can’t sell, gets recycled.
Amazon sells every kind of book on their website, many through third-party retailers. You can get some really good deals on Used Books on Amazon. You can even compare prices between sellers.
Better World Books Do check out clearance and bargain books. They also sell used books too.
eBay is a great place to buy books for individuals at auction. You can find all sorts of books and varying editions of books.
GoodWill – Yes your neighborhood thrift store is a great place to go hunt for books in person, but you can also bid on books online. Most auctions start at just a penny.
Many of these retailers sell ebooks too.
If you enjoyed this post,
Best Websites to Buy Books Online, you’ll probably enjoy, Best Sites for Free eBooks.
Do you like bookish posts such as this one?
Let me know in the comments.
Also, check out my Bookstagram where I share all things bookish many times a week.
View this post on Instagram
Nicole Olea’s love language is communication. She does this best using her keyboard as a freelance copywriter and editor. Creative and resilient with high-level experience in social media management, content creation, and eCommerce marketing, Nicole Olea was a professional volunteer, sharing her skills with various non-profit organizations who paid her in hugs. For the last 20 years, she’s lived a quasi-nomadic life, moving across the country and the Atlantic with her active-duty husband and their three kids. She’s awkwardly stumbling toward her goal of becoming a saint. She’s got God-sized dreams and wants you to have them too!
Leave a Reply