Ever since we were born, I think, my siblings and I have received a book for every occasion: birthdays, Easter, and Christmas. The written (and printed) word is one of the most important things in my life, and bookstores (and comic book stores) are my happy place. If you’re looking for new releases, new copies of old favourites, magazines, comics and zines…Brisbane has an awesome range of independent stockists and sellers who are really knowledgeable and can provide great recommendations if you’re looking for the perfect gift.
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. They also stock a selection of horror, true crime, popular science and media (film/TV/gaming) books, graphic novels, and art books. Open since 1995, the shop is under new management in recent months, following the retirement of founder Ron, but the service and range has stayed the same. You can now order online, purchase digital gift vouchers, and create personal wish lists through their new website, but I prefer to shop in person – the staff are great, really know their stuff, and will be honest with you about whether they liked a certain book (they stock what they know and love, and I’ve never had a bad recommendation).
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, as well as a great calendar of events and several book club options.
The business 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.
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 including chocolates, condiments, ice cream, honey, tea and take-home meals.
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 story times, book launches, book clubs and craft sessions for all ages.
81 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City
Selling Queenslanders comic books for over 25 years, Comics Etc have a huge range of new release comics, trade paperbacks, graphic novels, and manga as well as statues and collectables. They’ve always got a few nifty little things you could use as stocking stuffers, too. Online orders and gift cards are also available.
Shop 7, Merthyr Village, 85 Merthyr Road, New Farm
Operating since 1975, Mary Ryan’s is one of Queensland’s longest running independent booksellers and the New Farm store in Merthyr Village is locally owned and operated. The bookshop staff have over 60 years combined experience in the book industry, and the store sells books, cards & gifts.
Now operating solely online but still based locally, Iwan Bookshop is the only multilingual children’s bookshop in Queensland, with books in Persian, French, Italiano, Deutsch, Espanol, and English.
A recent addition to Brisbane’s independent bookshops, Shelf Lovers specialises in LGBTQIA+ and romance books, as well as literary-themed gifts. You can find books for all ages here, and they also host lots of fabulous events for children, teens, and adults.
Shelf Lovers was established in 2023 by former librarian and passionate book lover Kat, and was the first dedicated queer bookshop in Queensland. Operating in Wooloowin for over two years, Shelf Lovers had to close their bricks and mortar store at the end of April but continue to operate online and via pop-ups.
Avid Reader & Where the Wild Things Are
191 & 193 Boundary Street, West End
A good selection of literary, lifestyle, and other magazines as well as books, plus stationery of all kinds. They also do vouchers and book subscriptions, with one new book delivered to you each month if you want to give a gift that goes all year long.
The children’s section of Avid Reader splintered off in early 2015 and has become a beloved bookstore in its own right: Where The Wild Things Are is right next door to Avid, catering to readers from early childhood to teens.
77 Oxford Street, Bulimba
Riverbend Books is an award-winning general bookshop in Bulimba, which opened in 1998 and is now owned by the same folk as Avid Reader and Where The Wild Things Are. As well as a wide range of fiction and non-fiction, they also have vouchers and book subscriptions available.
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