Five Faves: Independent Bookstores


If you’re looking for new releases, new copies of old favourites, magazines…Brisbane has an awesome range of independent stockists and sellers who are really knowledgeable and can provide great recommendations if you’re looking for your next read, or the perfect gift.


Pulp Fiction Booksellers

Shop 4, Level 1, Blocksidge & Ferguson Arcade, Brisbane City

Purveyors of all things sci-fi, fantasy, crime, and mystery, Pulp Fiction is a genre fiction dream, upstairs in an arcade on Adelaide Street. Open since 1995, they also stock a selection of horror, true crime, popular science and media (film/TV/gaming) books, graphic novels, and art books. The staff are great – they really know their stuff, and will be honest with you about whether they liked a certain book (although they only stock what they know and love, and I’ve never had a bad recommendation).


Books @ Stones

360 Logan Road, Stones Corner

Books@Stones has been in business for over 40 years and are passionate about promoting Australian authors and stories.  They have an extensive range of Australian fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. They also host a wide range of events, from book launches and in-conversations to the Poets@Stones series, all of which are free to attend.

Books @ Stones has been family owned since 2003 by Karen and Michael Weibler and also encompasses Allmedic Book Supplies, which specialises in providing new Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Textbooks including Anatomical Charts & Models and Medical Equipment.


Scrumptious Reads

92A Arthur Terrace, Red Hill

A culinary specialty bookstore in Red Hill with a wide range of cookbooks and culinary books, as well as memoir, fiction, business, design and travel books. They also stock culinary, design, lifestyle and travel magazines from around the world and have a curated collection of local art, homewares, games, puzzles and children’s toys. Scrumptious Reads runs monthly events including artist workshops, kid’s drawing workshops, Cook Book Club, and other food & drink seasonal events, and also stocks a range of local produce.


Avid Reader & Where the Wild Things Are & Riverbend Books

191 & 193 Boundary Street, West End

4/77 Oxford Street, Bulimba (Riverbend)

A West End fixture since it opened on Boundary Street in 1997, Avid Reader is an award-winning bookstore stocking fiction, non-fiction and a great selection of literary, lifestyle, and other magazines. They also have stationery, local cards and wrapping paper, and lots of other gifts (mugs, shirts, bags) for the literature lover.

The children’s section of Avid Reader splintered off in early 2015 to become Where The Wild Things Are, next door to Avid. Their books range from gorgeous picture books to YA novels, so you’ll absolutely find something for your young avid readers.

Riverbend Books is an award-winning general bookshop in Bulimba, which opened in 1998 and was bought by the owners of Avid Reader & Where The Wild Things Are in 2023.

Across all three stores, there is an extensive events calendar of book launches, workshops and in-conversations, and a large range of book clubs.


Quick Brown Fox Bookshop

5/33 Carberry Street, Grange

Quick Brown Fox Bookshop is a family-owned business run by Anna and Theresa Sheen (sisters-in-law with a passion for reading and building community) and Anthony Sheen the supportive and creative husband and brother.

Quick Brown Fox Bookshop specialises in children’s books through to young adult books, as well as providing a range of curated books for adults. They stock toys, gifts and games, and run events including book launches, book clubs and craft sessions for all ages.


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