Such a charming bookstore with some great selections! I love Avid Reader and occasionally get my book fix here~ They have books of many genres. I'm sure you can find something you like. They also sell small items, such as games, totes and more, for gifting. I always like to walk in and browse and see if I'm drawn to anything new read~ Today, a delightful new book was right infront me and after skimming a few pages. I knew this is it. Service is absolutely amazing. I have this weird habit of having to make a book cover for my new books. Staff kindly offered me a few options for my book cover and I eventually decided to use brown paper. I got my new book and covered it with protective paper on the spot. They are very accommodating. I really appreciate that. Looking forward to stepping in again for my next read~ read more

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Love spending time I here. There is always something to buy for myself or somebody else. The greeting cards are adorable and their book selection is well curated. Today I looked over the cookbook section. Great choices both current and classics. Don't miss the cute stickers, buttons and magnets by the registers. read more

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I love love love an independent book store. My friends and I were in Davis to grab coffee and decided to take a walk around the area where we came across Avid Reader. I told myself not to buy anything...but did I listen? Of course not. They had a great selection of books and everything was very organized. They had a bunch of book related novelty items which I always love checking out. I almost left without spending money until I noticed the bargain area so I grabbed an interesting book that was on sale plus my friend saw a section where they had mystery "Pick Your Poison" books that only listed the trigger warning "ingredients" that were in the book...being as we both are horror and Halloween lovers to the fullest - we indulged and both bought one. Service was friendly and helpful - check them out! read more

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It's a cute bookstore with a variety of books and gifts! It is well organized. The staff is friendly. Prices are MSRP, but you're supporting a local business and you get your stuff right away! I already have plenty of books to read at home, but we did spend a lot of time here...hoping I can spend more time reading soon! read more

Chill place to come read, find a book, or a perfect gift. Today Iron & Wine was playing on the speakers adding to the soothing vibe. Cashiers are always super willing to help. Books and things are fairly priced. All in all a great local spot, highly recommend. read more

Avid Reader - Bookstores Near Me - Davis, California

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Lovely Davis institution! Great selection, great vibes! Prices are same as anywhere. Really nice bookstore to explore and find new stuff, curated stuff is usually interesting. read more

I've been to The Avid Reader in Sacramento before, but I had no idea there was also a location in Davis! Gotta love a great independent bookstore. This location is really nice--clean, well-organized, and stocked with a great selection of books. The staff were friendly and readily available to help find whatever you need. I especially enjoyed the kids' section, which spans two floors, making it a fun space to explore. Beyond books, they also have a great selection of bags, bookmarks, cards, and other unique gifts. I'm so glad I discovered this spot and will definitely be stopping by again whenever I'm in downtown Davis! read more

Avid Reader has been one of my favorite spots for years! They keep their selection updated and constantly get new titles in. I've found many a good read at the two tables in the front for new fiction and nonfiction, and I love their staff picks bookshelf as well. There are also tons of cute little tchotchkes and knickknacks to be found around the store. Staff are friendly and make you feel welcome as well. Prices are higher than can be found online, but it's always worth it to me to support my favorite local bookstore! read more

Came back here in 2025, and this place doesn't miss. It still boasts an incredible collection of books and notecards/stationary in general, as well as bookends and stickers. The workers are more than friendly and it definitely gives off a cozy/inviting feel. I ended up purchasing a lot of small notes to give to my friends, as well as wax beads/stamps. read more

How did I miss this store before? I come to Davis in this area a few times a year. Like a moth to the light, I am to a book store. Took my time looking through the shelves which are well labeled. Nice sized store with good subject range. There is a good size kid selection. A few baubles to go through, you may find more than books to take home. Love the variety of book bags. Parking near by is not too difficult, especially with a parking garage within a block. There are also a number of places to sit down for food and drink nearby to get started reading your new found book. read more

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Such a great bookstore that also highlights local artisans and authors. I got lost roaming the aisles for way more time than anticipated - there's just so many great things to see here! Very well-organized and it's clear they have a connection with the local community. Mother's Day is this weekend and they had a whole stand dedicated to it and to parenting in general. Besides the usual sections of genres, they also carry various items made by local artisans, writing utensils such as Blackwing pencils and Kaweco pens, stickers, merch, games, cards, wax seals, maps, and a huge assortment of notebooks from Moleskine to Leuchtturm including the various editions and styles. They have a surprisingly nice Studio Ghibli notebook section as well! Might have to stop by again and pick something up... Their children's section is also pretty well stocked. In addition to books, they also sell accessories like plushes related to some of the bigger series. Towards the front of the shop, they have a cart for discounted used books. Service was super friendly too - all around a great place to visit! read more

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Best bookstore in town!!! Local family owned! Support small business! If you can't find the book you're looking for they make special orders for anyone! Top notch! read more

Always love the service and selection! A great local bookstore that I typically drive 25 minutes to since they tend to be the store that carries what I'm looking for. read more

I love to support independent bookstores like this one in Davis, California. This bookstore has a helpful staff, a good selection of books, and some great gift items as well. I love their book bags and magnets. Also, liked the travel section. If you are in Davis, stop by. read more

GREAT FOR GIFTS! This store is great for gift-giving. If you want something besides their spectacular selection of books, they've also got you covered. So many cool and unique selections. From philosophy mugs to imported rare pencils and even fun kitchen towels, the Avid Reader is the spot! I got a last-minute baby shower gift there. They even wrapped it! Which was spectacular because I forgot to buy wrapping paper, haha. It looked beautiful and the book I chose was super cute and not something I could find at any other store. So glad they made my day easier. I will continue to keep going back to Avid Reader for their selection and great customer service. They sometimes even have authors visit! It's a must when visiting Davis! 10/10 read more

Avid Reader - Front of store - Bookstores Near Me - Davis, California

Very charming and lovely bookstore. My issue is that they feature books on the Israel/Palestine conflict solely from the Palestine/Gazan side. In the middle eastern section they have zero books telling the whole story - ironically it's under the world war two books and above the stalin books... one wouldn't be able to learn from this bookstore the Arabs in the region sided with both the soviets and Hitler and the Nazis. read more

I am overjoyed that small bookstores have not disappeared from our towns and cities. These amazing locales bring a smile to the voracious bibliophile as much as the casual reader. Avid Reader is no exception. The collection is curated well and displays a good mix of genres and reading levels. Gifts, trinkets, and other fare are available for perusal as well. I imagine the book lover will likely find some interesting item (besides books) to pique their interest. My only wish is to have arrived more than 18 minutes before they closed. I'm guessing the person working (owner, maybe) encounters the late night, packed bookstore problem on a regular basis because he tactfully, but firmly, ushered everyone out at closing time. It appears good for business that so many people were perusing, intrigued, and purchasing materials on a random evening (I visited in the middle of the summer). I didn't get to peruse the entire store, but I was able to find several interesting books in my first few minutes plus two books that were at the top of my list (one for a friend, one for me). I simply needed about an hour longer. Nonetheless, I located two books I had been meaning to purchase and completed an amazing experience. Highly recommend that you pop into this location as you saunter the walkways of downtown Davis. read more

The Avid Reader has been a lifesaver when it comes to finding last minute holiday gifts for my friends and family. I'm always able to find the perfect gift, whether it be an interesting book, or a cute mug, or even sometimes a cool t-shirt. But when I'm not shopping for presents, I enjoy coming just to browse the shelves for myself, often picking up a book that sparks my interest or a quirky bookmark. I don't plan to do any of my holiday shopping last minute this year (let's be honest, who does?), but I know I'll be shopping at The Avid Reader when I inevitably do. read more

Avid Reader - Bookstores Near Me - Davis, California

This book store has a great selection and the staff always have good recommendations for things to read. I love the rewards program and the monthly events they offer in store. read more

Nice bookstore with great organization. Adorable stairway-balcony setup that really completes the vibe. Good YA section with lots of POC-represented books. I also like how they make little signs for books from local authors. They also have a decent selection of little gifts for when you're looking for a little unique something for a birthday or special occasion! read more

I love the Avid Reader! There are so many books and they are kept well organized. The fiction wraps around the side of the store, and is organized by last name of author. My favorite is when you first walk in, the table on the right is regularly packed with new fiction. Next to new fiction, the Avid Reader also has a large table of non-fiction that is also packed with books and always up to date with new releases. "Love on the Brain" by Ali Hazelwood just came out and there was a giant stack of them right in front. The Avid Reader keeps up with having themes for window displays, often around holidays and celebrations. For Valentine's Day, they had a display of romance novels. For pride month, there was a display as well. The current display is cook books for the holidays. Even when I am just walking by the store, the window display often stops me and catches my interest. read more

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HORRIBLE experienc !! The cashier literally stopped checking people out just to start follow me around the store like if I was stealing. I literally went in their cause I love books so wanted to check it out, I was close to purchasing a book when I noticed he was following me and my friend. Honestly just made me so upset so I told my friend let's go please the whole thing made me feeling so uncomfortable read more

Great book store in downtown Davis. Nice displays, good variety and knowledgable staff.

I've been into reading books lately and this place is probably the cutest book store i've come across in a while. I'm usually in the davis area and finally got around to checking this place out, and it was extremely nice and just aesthetically pleasing. I'm definitely going to keep coming here for more books! read more

Avid Reader - Bookstores Near Me - Davis, California

Highly competitive street parking in this area. Clean interior. There is a small table where you can leave drinks if you have one. The staff wear masks. There is hand sanitizer by the checkout counter, but the inward placement seems to indicate it's more for the staff than the customers. Customers aren't required to wear masks. Quite busy in the early afternoon on a weekend. The aisles are not very wide, so you'll likely be maneuvering around other customers. It would probably make for a better, more leisurely experience if you go on a weekday. Study materials and kids' books located on the second floor. Very small manga and light novel selection on the first floor. read more

Bookstores are my happy place! There's a wide selection of new books and gift items at this independent bookstore. It's a great stop if you're in need of either a book or gift. It's in the heart of downtown Davis though so you'll need to find street parking in a fairly busy area. read more

Staff are super friendly, very helpful. They have everything from kids books to adult romance to autobiographies and Knick nacks. read more

This is such a cute book store! I love coming here and I love the vibes in this place. I haven't had trouble finding a book I was looking for yet, they have a great selection, especially when it comes to what is currently "in"! They also have a rewards program which is great! read more

So much to choose from but where to even begin?! I love that they have everything organized and that they have a featured section. My favorite was of course the travel and food section! I would not call myself an avid reader, but I can sure appreciate a nice bookstore. read more

Avid Reader - Bookstores Near Me - Davis, California

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Let's be honest, It would be hard for me to find fault with just about any bookstore, but this is a really cute little gem in downtown Davis. Small, but well organized with a nice variety of books and little gifts. I could easily spend half a day here browsing and spending too much money! read more

Amazing store....... Very kind and knowledgeable staff. Huge variety. A dreamy bookstore for sure!

This place was so much fun and had a lot of trending books!! They also had a lot of cute book accessories, like spooky bookends!!

I was visiting my brother at UC Davis back in March when I discovered this bookstore. It is the coolest bookstore I have ever been to. Not only did they have a great selection of books, but they had reading tools and the cutest literature-themed Knick-knacks ever. I bought "Hamlet," by Shakespeare, which had a cool, abstract sort of cover. I also bought a literature-themed chapstick that was from another small business. (Its name was "Pride and Peppermint," after a Jane Austen novel ... iconic.) I really miss traveling and exploring Davis since quarantine began. I'll definitely return once the pandemic is over. read more

Avid Reader - The version of Hamlet that I bought! - Bookstores Near Me - Davis, California

I recently ordered an Easter basket through their online site. I was really impressed by the speed of shipping and the items they sent. They customized the basket to fit our two year olds interests (trucks and farm animals) and sent a bunch of cute, fun toys I think he will love. I don't think they're offering the Easter basket anymore but they have alot of other great gift ideas on their website under "care packages." I'll definitely order from them again! read more

Avid Reader - Easter Basket from Avid Reader. We put the toys in our own basket. - Bookstores Near Me - Davis, California

I like to just be in here - it's a nice bookstore and the first floor is all books and tchotchkes, like celebrity Catholic candles, cute socks and handmade soaps. The employees have always been kind to me, as well. They usually have the newest releases, but the rest of their collection isn't too extensive. The second floor is all children's books so the place isn't as full of books as it seems. It is a bit expensive for what you get. Even the hodgepodge assortment of items just feels like they're asking so much money from you. Many of the books are easily found in the library. But it is the only new bookstore in town (the other is used books) besides the UC Davis bookstore which has a small selection. I come here often when I'm in downtown, and love the vibe. Would recommend to anyone who just wants something to do. read more

As an English major, I have frequented many bookstores; however, the Avid Reader is one that I will ALWAYS return to. Along with having an outstanding selection of books, they also carry a multitude of other knick knacks and cards that always bring a smile to my face. This is a great spot for any book lover:) read more

I love this bookstore. We always find books in our town for everyone in the family. They can offer books for you too!

This is a cute book store, but it really depends on what you are looking for... there are lots of other cute gift items other than books and a variety of books too. I found many books that I liked, however, I much prefer used books so I found the books in this store to be very expensive (a child's alphabet book for $18). These prices are comparable to other new book stores, so if you are okay with that, this is worth a look! read more

It's a cute little bookstore with a good selection. I was looking for a specific book and the employee that I spoke with was very helpful in helping me find it. I would definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

Avid Reader - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - Bookstores Near Me - Davis, California

Super easy online ordering, online gift certificates, and bright well stocked in store experience. So proud this independent bookstore keeps thriving in Davis. Staff is fantastic, great vibe to browse, and upstairs is a happy place. No crazy difference in prices vs Amazon. read more