The 7 Best Bookstores in South Carolina!

As much as the digital age has transformed the way we do just about everything, nothing replaces holding the physical copy of a book in your hands. Ask any book lover, and they’ll tell you the smell of fresh pages and beautiful cover designs essential to fully create the escapism that books were intended for. Bookstores nowadays offer much more than the typical smattering of best sellers and classic tales. Readers and curiosity seekers alike turn to these story havens to find a carefully-curated collection of unique gifts, yummy treats, and rare items that the online world could never duplicate. Here’s where you will find the best bookstores in South Carolina. 

Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC

Books are about as varied as the readers who open their pages, and you can find just about any sort at Fiction Addiction. This small, independent bookstore hosts book signings of big name and yet-to-be-known authors, as well as a Cookbook Club, Children’s Storytime, and networking events for writers.

McDowell’s Emporium, Anderson, SC

Don’t let the quaint outside fool you—McDowell’s Emporium is the favorite little book haven among the locals. (And locals know best, right?) Here you can fill your basket with a good variety of new and used books, either in person or online.

Bookends, North Myrtle Beach, SC

Grab a book before you head to the beach at Bookends, a used bookstore just a short walk from the sand. And when you are finished with your read, bring it back for store credit towards your next purchase.

Nevermore Books, Beaufort, SC

Is this unique bookstore what Poe’s raven was referring to? Probably not, but it’s still worth a stop to book lovers of all sorts. They specialize in hard-to-find books, signed first editions, and an enchanting ambience that Poe himself would have been proud of.

The Storybook Shoppe, Bluffton, SC

The Lowcountry’s only bookshop just for children creates a perfect fantasy retreat that will send their imaginations running wild. With every book hand selected by the store’s owner, parents and children alike can count on a top-quality selection of stories, as well as toys, coloring books, and a weekly story hour.

Blue Bicycle Books, Charleston, SC

Just look for the iconic blue bicycle outside the shop, and you’ll know you made it to the right place. The folks here take a more non-conventional approach to the love of reading, performing a wide variety of community outreach events, mobile book selling, and a summer writing camp for kids. You can find a good selection of new and used items, including a large selection of Charleston books.

M. Judson Booksellers & Storytellers, Greenville, SC

Named after Mary Camilla Judson, an empowering force of women more than two centuries ago, M. Judson Booksellers & Storytellers formed when four equally strong-minded women decided to construct this literary hub dedicated to preserving their spot in history. Within the walls of their unique cultural hive, the founders focus on all aspects of the Southern culture, including literature, crafts, and cuisine, as well as support and promote the work of local artists.

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