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NewPages Guide to
Indie Bookstores in Iowa

The best list of independent Iowa bookstores

 

If you are the owner of an indie bookstore, you can submit a free enhanced listing for your bookstore in our Guide here.

Dog-Eared Books is committed to growing and nurturing a love of reading in all members of our community by offering a curated and inclusive selection of books. We believe reading and storytelling make us better humans.

  • Hedgie's
  • 416 Main St.
  • City: Bedford
  • Phone: (712) 523-2371
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Children's
  • Sidelines: Gifts, Newspapers
  • Website

A great assortment of children’s books, inspirational/gift books, as well as books for all ages. Plus Melissa and Doug products, Folkmanis Puppets, gourmet food gifts, and a great line of adult coloring books and wines from Iowa wineries.

The Book Shoppe, Inc.
  • The Book Shoppe, Inc.
  • 817 Story St.
  • City: Boone
  • Phone: (515) 432-2556
  • Type: Primarily new with some used books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Sidelines: Greeting Cards/Postcards
  • Facebook
  • Website

We have 40,000+ books in stock between our new and used sections, most are available for browsing in a clean and well-organized setting. We offer much more than just our books in stock, including book accessories, journals, calendars & planners (seasonally), Leanin’ Tree and 99¢ greeting cards, gift certificates and a book search service for those hard to find titles. Looking for something not in stock? We will be happy to order it for you, whether it is books, movies or music! The Book Shoppe also hosts events for fellow book lovers with local Iowan authors and writers.

Open daily at 9am, we carry books, magazines, and gifts. Yes, we can special order!

New and used bookstore, located in Carroll, IA. We are a woman owned, family run business here to assist you with all your bookish needs!

Next Page Books
  • Next Page Books
  • 1105 Third St. SE
  • City: Cedar Rapids
  • Phone: (319) 247-2665
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Children's, Regional
  • Sidelines: Greeting Cards/Postcards
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Website

Next Page Books is a locally owned, independent bookstore in the historic New Bohemia district of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The store offers a healthy selection of new fiction, nonfiction, young adult, and children’s books in a warm and friendly environment where we also host signings, readings, and other events. Customers can order books and have them in hand between two and five business days of placing their order. There are no additional charges for special orders.

Prologue. Books and Wine

Prologue Books and Wine is a one of a kind, female-owned, independent bookstore.  It is a destination for individuals and families to purchase good literature, gifts, and quality wine.

Stop in and see us on Main Street in Cherokee. We carry a wide array of product. Books, Wine, Home Decor. There is really something here for everyone! Come visit us!

Now in Davenport! Trade in your old books for a new read.

The Brewed Book
  • The Brewed Book
  • 1524 N. Harrison
  • City: Davenport
  • Phone: (563) 232-6642
  • Type: Primarily used with some new books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Science Fiction/Fantasy
  • Sidelines: Café/Food, Coffee/Tea
  • Twitter
  • Website

The Brewed Book is a cozy used bookstore and coffeeshop in the Hilltop District of Davenport, Iowa, serving the Quad Cities area. We have an interesting variety of used books from all genres and a delicious coffee and pastry selection in a relaxing, warm, and friendly environment. Stop in for a latte and a good read, or enjoy playing one of our wide selection of board games.

Source Book Store

We are the oldest and largest used bookstore in Iowa. Family owned since 1939. Besides hardback and paperback books on all subjects, we have thousands of old magazines, record albums, DVDs, and CDs. Our hours are 9:30 to 5:30 Monday thru Friday, and 9:30 to 5 on Saturdays.

Dragonfly Books

Dragonfly Books is an independent bookstore nestled in the heart of scenic northeast Iowa. Dragonfly Books is your one-stop shopping place for books of all kinds. Whether you enjoy mysteries, history, fiction, or looking for cookbooks and children’s books, you will find it at Dragonfly Books. We special order books in for you at a nominal fee if out-of-print, or at no additional costs if in-print. Check our website for current information about our Author Events.

Beaverdale Books
Storyhouse Bookpub

An independent bookstore building reading communities around bookish events in Des Moines, Iowa.

River Lights Bookstore

Locally owned, independent bookstore in Dubuque, Iowa.

Pageturners Bookstore
  • Pageturners Bookstore
  • 101 E Salem Ave.
  • City: Indianola
  • Phone: (515) 961-0391
  • Type: Primarily new with some used books, Rare books, Out-of-print books
  • Specialty: Children's, Crime/Mystery, Regional, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA
  • Sidelines: Curiosities, Gifts, Puzzles
  • Events: Author Signings, Book Clubs
  • Facebook
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  • Website

Looking for small town charm and lots of books?  We love to read and we love to talk books with our customers.  Come check out our large selection of new and used books for all ages.  We have so many great gifts for book lovers, too!

An Iowa City destination for 36 years. 45,000 books in 70+ sections, two cats, comfy chairs, good conversations.

Prairie Lights Bookstore

Prairie Lights sprang to life in May 1978 as a small, intimate bookstore offering titles by the newer voices of Raymond Carver and Alice Munro and by established authors like Eudora Welty and George Orwell. Join us for a wide selection of books and regular events.

Sidekick Coffee & Books
  • Sidekick Coffee & Books
  • 1310 1/2 Melrose Ave.
  • City: Iowa City
  • Phone: (319) 569-1010
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: Children's, LGBTQ+, Literary, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA
  • Sidelines: Café/Food, Coffee/Tea, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Puzzles, Toys/Games
  • Events: Author Signings, Book Clubs, Readings, Storytime
  • Facebook
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  • TikTok
  • Website

Sidekick Coffee & Books is a charming coffee shop and bookstore that caters to all ages. We have a large children’s literature section, and we pride ourselves on our unique space with hexagon cubbies and a patio for seating, quality coffee, and a neighborhood feel. It is the perfect place to get lost with a book!

Swamp Fox Bookstore

Swamp Fox Bookstore is a small women-owned independent bookstore located near downtown Marion, Iowa. Focusing on new books and community events, Swamp Fox Bookstore delights in finding the perfect book for every reader. Learn more and shop online at our website.

Paper Moon Books
  • Paper Moon Books
  • 206 A St.
  • City: McGregor
  • Phone: (563) 873-3357
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Children's, Feminist, Crime/Mystery, Regional
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Curiosities, Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Newspapers
  • Facebook
  • Website

A women-owned, independent, solar-powered bookstore, The Paper Moon is housed in an historic 1860s building just a block from the Mississippi River in picturesque McGregor, Iowa. You will discover three floors filled with books, toys, gifts, cats, and a decidedly liberal leaning. Everyone is welcome here.

A family owned antiquarian bookstore, we have a diverse 40,000 title inventory of all genres of books, specializing in the scarce, rare, and collectible.

Family owned and operated, we are a staple of the Newton community. You can find almost anything for anyone such as musical instruments, books, art supplies, model cars, crafts, rocks and stones, estate coins, and much more.

Book Vault
  • Book Vault
  • 105 S. Market St.
  • City: Oskaloosa
  • Phone: (641) 676-1777
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Children's, Crime/Mystery, Regional, Science Fiction/Fantasy
  • Sidelines: Coffee/Tea, Curiosities, Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Newspapers
  • Facebook
  • Website

The Book Vault is a premier, full-service, independent bookstore serving southeastern Iowa with first-rate customer service, quality book selection, unique gift items, engaging events, cooking demonstrations, and welcoming ambiance, all offered in a beautifully renovated historic downtown building at 105 S. Market St. in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Pella Books

We are located in a small historic building, a church built in 1862, that is worth seeing for its own sake and for its historical significance to the community. We specialize in out-of-print, rare, scarce, and antiquarian books.

Book People
  • Book People
  • 2923 Hamilton Blvd.
  • City: Sioux City
  • Phone: (712) 258-1471
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Children's
  • Sidelines: Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Newspapers
  • Facebook
  • Website

We are Siouxland’s little but lovable bookstore and gift shop with friendly, happy staff ready to assist you! We are especially proud of our children’s section that features not just books, but toys, games, stuffed animals, and baby gift items. Proudly independent since 1977!