The Best Bookshops in Edmonton That Always Tempt Me to Break My Book-Buying Ban
At the start of every year, I always tell myself that I need to impose a strict book-buying ban because I already have too many books on my shelves. And yet, by the second week, I’m always caught with a stack of newly purchased books. Oops.
It’s hard to follow a book-buying ban when Edmonton has so many bookshops, each of them having its own curated selection. Whether I’m looking for one of BookTok’s latest trendy books or a book that’s no longer in print, I know I’ll find it somewhere in the city.
If you’re a voracious reader like I am, then you need to stop by these bookshops in Edmonton.
Indigo
– From: indigo
Address: 8882 170 St NW #1384, West Edmonton Mall
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 9 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +17804442555
Simply put, Indigo is Canada’s version of Barnes and Noble. This bookstore chain has many outlets in the country, and Edmonton alone has several of them. My go-to location is the one in West Edmonton Mall.
Indigo is the best bookstore to go to if you’re looking for current bestsellers. Sometimes, there are even special editions of popular books available here!
Books aren’t the only things being sold here. You can also find board games, toys, and craft items.
| Pro Tip: If you want to score a discount on some items, check out the bookshop’s sale page! |
Audrey’s Books
– From: audreysbooks
Address: 10702 Jasper Ave
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—9:30 am to 6 pm
- Saturday—9:30 am to 5:30 pm
- Sunday—12 pm to 5 pm
Contact Number: +17804233487
Many people I know name Audrey’s Books as their #1 indie bookstore, and I have to agree. Operating for several decades, this bookstore boasts a wide selection of books in a cozy setting. Coming here always soothes my soul.
What I love about this store is it proudly showcases the works of Alberta’s best authors. There are also works by Indigenous authors, which I appreciate because their stories deserve to be heard.
| Pro Tips: This bookstore hosts all sorts of events on a regular basis—from author signings to literary festivals. Check this page to see what events are lined up for the month. Do you want to read a book and discuss it with other people? Then, you might want to join their book club! |
Daisy Chain Book Co.
– From: daisychainbookco
Address: 12525 102 Ave NW, The High Street
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 6 pm
- Sunday—12 pm to 4 pm
Contact Number: +18255121342
Another indie bookstore that I absolutely adore is Daisy Chain Book Co. This store feels like a playground for readers; the interior design is so playful and bright, and the books are arranged haphazardly on the shelves.
This bookshop has an eclectic selection—a combination of both popular and underrated titles. There’s even a section dedicated to previously owned books, so if I’m short on cash but still want to buy something, I just go there.
| Pro Tips: Join their book club if you want to connect with your fellow readers.You can also host your own book club here! If you want to get rid of some of your books, you might want to donate them here. Doing so will earn you a discount card or a coupon! |
The Edmonton Book Store
– From: terolenn
Address: 10533 Whyte Ave NW
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 5:30 pm
- Sunday—12 pm to 5 pm
Contact Number: +17804331781
Sometimes, the book I want to read is rare or, even worse, out of print. Normally, I would despair, but thankfully, I discovered The Edmonton Book Store, which has been my saving grace these past few years.
The majority of the books here are about Western Canada, Arctic regions, and philosophy, but there are also literary ones. I’ve even spotted a few erotica titles on the shelves, so the selection here is pretty varied.
Most of the titles here are new to me, but I don’t mind that because it just gives me an excuse to broaden my literary horizon.
| Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a specific book, you can send a request via email ([email protected]). |
Wee Book Inn
– From: weebookinn
Address: 10310 Whyte Ave NW
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—9 am to 11:30 pm
Contact Number: +17804327230
Are you on a budget? Then you might love Wee Book Inn! This bookstore sells used books, so the prices are super affordable. Plus, there are cats all over the place that you can pet, and who doesn’t want to browse bookshelves while petting cats?
My favourite thing about this store is that they sell six-packs—as in six books of a certain genre for a set price. I’m a big romance reader, so I always come here looking for romance six-packs, and I’ve found so many hidden gems thanks to this!
| Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a specific item, you can send in a request by filling out this form. |
Alhambra Books
– From: custom.totes.by.erika
Address: 10115 81 Ave NW
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday—12 pm to 5 pm
Contact Number: +17804394195
Another great spot if you want to buy used books is Alhambra Books. This one is such an underrated spot; I didn’t even know it existed until I chanced upon it during one of my aimless walks around the city!
What I find fascinating about this store is that it has an extensive collection of vintage books, and they tackle all sorts of topics. I love browsing the medical textbooks published in the early 20th century about experimental psychology and midwifery. Some of the things I’ve read are just so horrifying but intriguing.
| Pro Tip: If you have old books to spare, you can sell them at this bookstore! |
Bookish
– From: cuedmonton
Address: 7128 Ada Blvd NW, Concordia University of Edmonton
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday—8:30 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +17804799332
Bookish is the official bookstore of Concordia University of Edmonton. I actually don’t attend this university, but I came here once with a friend who does, and I loved their selection.
Since it’s a university bookstore, most of the items here are textbooks used for classes, but there are a few novels as well. These novels tend to be literary fiction, which is a genre I don’t read often, but I picked out a few here that I really like!
| Pro Tip: If you don’t have time to spend hours browsing the shelves, you can just order from the website and pick up the book in the store. |
The Book Boudoir
– From: bookboudoiryeg
Address: 2nd Floor, Manchester Square Edmonton, 10716 120 St NW
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—11 am to 6 pm
- Friday—11 am to 8 pm
- Saturday—10 am to 8 pm
- Sunday—10 am to 6 pm
I am the biggest fan of romance books, so when I heard that there’s a bookstore in Edmonton dedicated specifically to this genre, I was elated. Now, The Book Boudoir is one of the most-visited bookstores in the city.
I love browsing the historical romance and contemporary romance sections because those are my preferred subgenres. But there’s also an impressive array of romantasy books. Some of them even have special editions!
| Pro Tip: Give a fellow book lover a gift card from this bookstore. |
Porch Light Books
– From: porchlightbooksyeg
Address: 9867 89 Ave NW
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday—10 am to 6 pm
- Sunday—10 am to 4 pm
Porch Light Books started in 2020 when the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing, so it’s impressive that it’s still operating to this day!
What I love about this store is that it puts a spotlight on books published by indie authors or small presses. It’s hard to find these books in mainstream bookstores, so I appreciate that I can find some of these underrated reads here.
Additionally, this shop isn’t exclusively selling brand-new books. There’s also a section for used books for people who are looking to save some money.
| Pro Tip: If you want to request a specific book, you need to send a request to [email protected]. |
Magpie Books
– From: magpiebooksyeg
Address: 9553 76 Ave NW
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday—11 am to 7 pm
- Saturday—11 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +17804350538
Many readers know that the publishing industry is overwhelmingly white, cis, and male, so I always appreciate it when bookstores prioritize literature written by Black, Indigenous, queer, and other marginalized authors. That’s why Magpie Books is one of my favourite bookshops ever!
I usually buy nonfiction here (usually about history or political topics), but there’s a good selection of fiction as well. The literary fiction is interesting, and I even find myself browsing the young adult section.
| Pro Tip: If you have a loved one who’s also a massive reader, give them a gift card from this bookstore! |
Paper Birch Books
– From: paperbirchbooks
Address: 10825 95 St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 6 pm
- Sunday—10 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +15874003207
For me, every time I step inside Paper Birch Books, time stands still. The interior is cozy, with shelves full of rare and used books. Many of these books are titles I’ve never heard of, so I always find myself browsing through them for hours on end.
There’s also a section for new books, and they come in a wide variety of genres and topics. I personally love the nonfiction titles, especially on culture and history; they have a lot of Edward Said, in particular, which I appreciate.
| Pro Tip: This store has its own coffee bar, so feel free to order a cup and spend the rest of your time reading. |
Variant Edition Graphic Novels and Comics
– From: variantedmonton
Address: 10086 164 St NW, West Edmonton Commerce Park
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Friday—11 am to 7 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—11 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +17804529886
If you prefer reading comic books, then you’re in luck because Edmonton has a few comic bookstores. One of my favourites is Variant Edition, which once won the Harry Kramer Award for Most Outstanding Comic Shop in Canada in 2019!
The selection here is pretty extensive, covering popular superhero comics, graphic novels for children, and other genres. I didn’t know that there were biographical comics and graphic novels before coming here. That’s why I always have a blast exploring here!
| Pro Tips: This bookstore has a subscription plan if you want to get a new comic book every month. Score a bargain by checking out the website’s clearance page! |
Rolling Tales
– From: rollingtalesyeg
Address: 10219 106 St
Operating Hours:
- Saturday to Tuesday—11 am to 5 pm
- Wednesday to Friday—11 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +15874548338
Another great spot you must check out if you love reading comic books and graphic novels is Rolling Tales. This place is perfect if you’re a big fan of DC and Marvel comics!
It doesn’t just specialize in comics; it’s also a haven for gamers. You can find all sorts of board and card games here, including Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, and Pokemon!
| Pro Tips: If you’re driving to this store, there’s free parking on the lot located on the south side of the Knoll Building. There are always fun events hosted here, such as release days for certain books, drawing workshops, and more. Check this page for more information. You’ll always have a comic book to read if you sign up for their comic file subscription. |
We Have Issues
– From: wehaveissuescanada
Address: 9913 73 Ave NW
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday and Saturday—11 am to 5 pm
- Wednesday—10 am to 7 pm
- Sunday—12 pm to 5 pm
Contact Number: +18254745742
We Have Issues is such an underrated spot. In fact, it’s so easy to overlook because it shares space with a tattoo shop. But once you enter, you’ll find that the space is much bigger than you initially expected, and it’s filled with all the good stuff—from comic books to vintage toy collectibles!
I love that I can find comic titles that I’ve never heard of here. As much as I enjoy mainstream comics like the ones from DC and Marvel, I want to find new authors and artists to support.
There are also back issues here, which I appreciate because I want to catch up with certain series but they’re just so hard to find.
| Pro Tips: Feel free to request a title here. The staff will do their best to find it for you. |
Comic Fever
– From: adrieankoleric
Address: 11338 132 Ave NW
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday—11 am to 9 pm
- Thursday and Friday—4 pm to 9 pm
- Saturday—11 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +17804526324
Comic Fever is one of the best stores to go to when you’re feeling the, well, comic fever. This store has all your favourite comic titles, especially the superhero ones from DC and Marvel. They even have back issues as well, so you can catch up with no problem.
Another thing I like about this place is that they have a huge bin of comics that are being sold for only C$1. Whenever I’m short on cash, I always check out this bin, and so far, I’ve managed to find a few new favourites from it!
| Pro Tips: You can request a title at this store. When the title is available, they’ll contact you via email. If you’re interested, this store has a subscription program. |