Home » Independent Bookstores

  • Search Bookstores

  • or Filter by City

  • Reset

Independent Bookstores in Kentucky

NewPages.com guide to the best Kentucky indie bookstores

Independent bookstores in Kentucky are sorted by City as you scroll through. If your favorite indie bookstore is missing, please contact us.

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

  • Sweetwater Bookshop
  • 208 E. Main St.
  • City: Campbellsville
  • Phone: (270) 789-2665
  • Type: Used books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Children's, Literary, Science Fiction/Fantasy
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Curiosities, Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Newspapers
  • Facebook
  • Website
  • Map It

Located right on historic downtown Main Street, Sweetwater Bookshop is Central Kentucky’s coziest bookshop, offering used books, gifts, prints and posters, work by local artisans, candles, toys and games, greeting cards, and more.

Roebling Books & Coffee
  • Roebling Books & Coffee
  • 306 Greenup St.
  • City: Covington
  • Phone: (859) 292-1560
  • Type: New books, Primarily new with some used books, Rare books, Out-of-print books
  • Specialty: Regional
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Café/Food, Coffee/Tea, Curiosities, Greeting Cards/Postcards
  • Events: Author Signings, Book Clubs, Readings
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Website
  • Map It

We want to help nourish our communities with books, coffee, food, art and more. A city needs a bookstore like a body needs a soul. Roebling Books & Coffee aims to be unique, relaxing spaces that serve as essential neighborhood gathering places. We hope everybody who visits will feel their time at RoBoCo was fascinating, invigorating and so special that they want to come back, again and again. Bridging books, beans and being.

Plaid Elephant Books

Plaid Elephant Books is a magical, destination bookshop located in historic Danville, KY. You’ll find books for babies to teenagers, along with puzzles, games, toys, and plush friends. Owner Kate Snyder is a mosaic artist and teaches classes out of her studio in the back of the shop.

Roebling Books & Coffee
  • Roebling Books & Coffee
  • 301 Sixth Ave.
  • City: Dayton
  • Phone: (859) 308-7086
  • Type: New books, Primarily new with some used books, Rare books, Out-of-print books
  • Specialty: Regional
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Café/Food, Coffee/Tea, Curiosities, Greeting Cards/Postcards
  • Events: Author Signings, Book Clubs, Readings
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Website
  • Map It

We want to help nourish our communities with books, coffee, food, art and more. A city needs a bookstore like a body needs a soul. Roebling Books & Coffee aims to be unique, relaxing spaces that serve as essential neighborhood gathering places. We hope everybody who visits will feel their time at RoBoCo was fascinating, invigorating and so special that they want to come back, again and again. Bridging books, beans and being.

We have been serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati areas since June 1979. We are a full-service, independent bookseller with a personal commitment to our customers and our community. We host events and specialize in children’s books for all ages, but we can order adult titles as well. Greater Cincinnati Independent Bookseller; member of ABA and GLIBA.

The Read Spotted Newt is here to provide you with local art, books, and gifts. From local authors to local gifts, we have you covered.

From the Ground Up Books & Resources sells new and used books, author and artist resources, Gifts and event space.

The Kentucky Bookstore

Nestled in the heart of downtown Lawrenceburg, the Kentucky Bookstore is your go-to place for all things Kentucky—whether you’re a lifelong resident, a visitor, or just a lover of great stories. We specialize in stories about or set in Kentucky as well as books by Kentucky authors, with everything from historical fiction to contemporary works, and more. Our shelves are filled with literary gems that capture the spirit of this beautiful state—its people, its places, and its rich culture.

Thousands of used and rare books in great condition and a knowledgeable owner make this Lexington’s “Real” Bookshop. Serving customers worldwide.

Glover’s Bookery is a large general used & rare bookstore with a well organized stock of over 80,000 mostly hardback books, antiquarian maps & prints, and tribal art. We have been buying and selling books since 1978. Today we have tens of thousands of books online and a shipping department you can count on. We are proud to be Members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and International League of Antiquarian Booksellers.

Lexington’s Premier Independent Bookseller since 1986.

We’re an independent bookstore and gift shop in Lexington, Kentucky, near the UK campus.

The Wild Fig Co-op

  • The Wild Fig Co-op
  • 726 N. Limestone
  • City: Lexington
  • Phone: (859) 739-3207
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Sidelines: Café/Food, Coffee/Tea, Magazines
  • Facebook
  • Map It

Wild Fig Coffee and Books is now a worker cooperative. Our featured coffee comes from Smokin’ Aces Coffee Co. Join us for a unique book buying, coffee sipping, community building experience.

  • Butcher Cabin Books
  • 990 Barret Avenue
  • City: Louisville
  • Suburb of: Highlands
  • Type: New books, Used books, Rare books, Out-of-print books
  • Specialty: Children's, Crime/Mystery, LGBTQ+, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Curiosities, Gifts
  • Events: Author Signings, Readings
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Bluesky
  • Website
  • Map It

A horror bookstore carrying new and used books, rare/out of print Paperbacks from Hell. We also carry horror soundtrack vinyl and a selection of local spooky art. Books and vinyl available for purchase online. Suburb of Highlands.

A Novel Romance in Louisville KY is an inclusive destination for romance enthusiasts and a sanctuary where the magic of love and literature intertwine.

Scarlet Rose Books in Ludlow KY is a labor of love situated next to the serene Ohio River in Ludlow, KY. With a passion for stories and style, we’ve carefully curated a collection of new books that ignite the imagination, cozy clothing that soothes the soul, and vintage pieces that whisper tales of the past.

We are an independent bookstore, budding yarn shop, and the Fuzzy Duck Coffee Shop. Come by and see us!

Downtown Murray KY’s used, vintage, and rare bookshop

Roebling Books & Coffee
  • Roebling Books & Coffee
  • 601 Overton St.
  • City: Newport
  • Phone: (859) 669-3181
  • Type: New books, Primarily new with some used books, Rare books, Out-of-print books
  • Specialty: Regional
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Café/Food, Coffee/Tea, Curiosities, Greeting Cards/Postcards
  • Events: Author Signings, Book Clubs, Readings
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Website
  • Map It

We want to help nourish our communities with books, coffee, food, art and more. A city needs a bookstore like a body needs a soul. Roebling Books & Coffee aims to be unique, relaxing spaces that serve as essential neighborhood gathering places. We hope everybody who visits will feel their time at RoBoCo was fascinating, invigorating and so special that they want to come back, again and again. Bridging books, beans and being.

  • BookNotes
  • 180 Town Mountain Road, Suite 103, Town & Country Shopping Center
  • City: Pikeville
  • Phone: (606) 437-1030
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Children's, Metaphysical/New Age, Science Fiction/Fantasy
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Gifts
  • Events: Author Signings
  • Facebook
  • Website
  • Map It

BookNotes has been in business for 23 years, offering books for both children and adults. We have had numerous book signings with international known authors such as Adriana Trigiani and Robert Morgan. Morgan began the national tour of his award-winning biography of Daniel Boone, Boone, at our store. We are an authorized dealer of Will Moses prints. We have Tibbenham chocolate covered cherries. Special orders are our specialty.

The Reading Zebra Kids Book Shop in Radcliff is a children’s book shop selling new and quality used books.

The Next Chapter Bookstore
  • The Next Chapter Bookstore
  • 404 Main St, Ste A
  • City: Williamsburg
  • Phone: (606) 703-0030
  • Type: New books, Used books, Primarily new with some used books
  • Specialty: Children's, Crime/Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA
  • Sidelines: Coffee/Tea, Gifts
  • Events: Author Signings, Book Clubs
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Website
  • Map It

The Next Chapter Bookstore is locally owned and family operated! We have all of your reading needs with free coffee, free wifi, and a quiet place to work or study!