The most amazing, beautiful, and magical bookstore! I had the absolute privilege of seeing Lori Gottlieb speak here last night and have been there once before. The event was so well done, and both her and the co-owner were so eloquent and well spoken during the talk. I had seen Godmothers on instagram before, and I now see the hype! They have a great selection of books old and new. It is so beautifully curated. They also have seasonal items including an adorable valentines day display currently. The upstairs is an event space as well as a childrens area. So cozy and welcoming! The staff is also always so kind. Visit this bookstore! You will love it! read more

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Grandmother's is a beautifully designed bookstore and gathering space in Summerland that attracts a very specific crowd. Expect a Montecito set mixed with locals and curious visitors, all coexisting peacefully over books and coffee. First things first, the café situation. There is a retro Airstream parked outside, and coffee & pastries are served through a partnership with beloved local coffee biz Dart Coffee Co. Service runs daily from 7am to 5pm, Monday through Sunday. You can absolutely grab a coffee, sit on the side patio, and enjoy the vibe without buying a book. Low pressure. Very appreciated. Inside, there are two floors to explore with a solid selection of books, art, and gifts. The children's section upstairs is especially sweet. The "blind date with a book" wall is a standout, and the staff pick recommendation cards are a thoughtful touch that makes browsing more fun. They also host private events, main stage conversations, workshops, and children's storytimes. It's co-owned by a former literary agent who runs in Oprah Winfrey circles, so yes, there is a little celebrity sparkle floating around. If you're lucky and into that kind of thing, celebrity sightings can happen even during a casual browse, not just at ticketed events. There is a Founder's Circle with a waitlist and a $250 per month price tag if you want exclusive events, early access, reservations, content, and café discounts. Not for everyone, but if that's your lane, it exists. Dog friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and clearly designed as a community space. The main complaint people seem to have is parking, which honestly feels like a very Summerland problem. Avoid parking in the hilly neighborhood streets. Neighbors hate it. Go for the ambiance, the books, and the coffee. Stay if you feel inspired. read more

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Summerland, Ca has many surprises waiting for you to see specially this bookstore. I can easily say this is my most favorite book store as of right now in California. I have been to many but this ? It is very beautiful. Once you are here you don't want to leave. So many cozy corners and full of books including old classics that are worth a lot. As soon as you walk in you will see a staircase going to the second floor and two rooms on both sides connecting in the back seating area. It's so beautiful. Everything is well organized. The children's room upstairs is amazing. Great selection as well. Customer is great. Friendly and helpful. There is also an outdoor seating area and a coffee truck serving delicious coffee. I can't wait to come back and do more shopping read more

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Beautiful bookshop! The kids room was gorgeous! There was a lovely string area for the cafe truck outside. I would love to attend an event here at some point. The schedule looked amazing! read more

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I can spend hours here browsing and buying a book to read. Such lovely views. The selection of books is lovely and very well organized. A must stop shop. read more

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Beautiful bookstore with so much character and warmth. There isn't a lot going on in the immediate area, but stopping here is absolutely worth it. Multiple floors, tons of books, and plenty of places to sit. read more

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This is the bookstore you dream or fantasize about! Hard to adequately describe what makes it so special. Just search it out- a perfect spot to spend rainy afternoons, or really any afternoons! read more

Absolutely stunning bookstore! So inviting, beautifully curated, and with a patio serving drinks, pastries, and sandwiches. I'm eager to return with my toddler given the upstairs kids section with beanbags and a couch to enjoy some reads. The staff were friendly while actively tidying up the place even thought it's so clean and organized. Reasonably priced books and other items. Small but decent options in their Godmothers Graze section outside. I ordered a matcha with honey syrup and a ham & cheese panino. Both were good and enjoyed them in the salty beach air. Parking can be a bit tricky so be prepared to look around a bit if you don't get lucky to find a spot in the joint business parking lot. A must when in the area! read more

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Loved it We were there for a book reading and had a fun time The space is gorgeous, inviting, there's a great selection of books, coffee table books and gifts Helpful service read more

What a wonderful addition to Summerland! Whether you're a bookworm or not, this place is worth checking out. Before stepping into the bookstore; I decided to grab a bite to eat from Godmother's cafe. Unfortunately, they were out of most items listed on the menu. Luckily, I was able to get a caprese sandwich. It was quite an ordeal just to order. I wish the customer service was better. The gal that helped me wasn't very knowledgeable nor helpful. In any case at least my sandwich was delicious. Now, aside from the cafe the bookstore itself was so much fun to explore! The lower level has a variety of books and cute things to purchase like unique shaped vases, gift boxes, and other items. The second level is a nice open space, which feels like you walked into someone's home. I loved the cozy couch and chairs. You can expect to find cookbooks, fashion, art books and a clean restroom with book themed wallpaper. The children's area is also located on this floor, but in a separate room. It's very cute, spacious and there are plenty of books to keep them engaged. They also offer special events such as story time, game time and on the stage events featuring authors in person. Tickets for these events are offered on their website. Overall, I enjoyed my visit and walked away with a book at a reasonable price. Looking forward to checking out one of their events. read more

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This place is amazing when you enter make sure you look at the photographs of the various godmothers you'll recognize many of them. This is a bookstore. It has the ladders going up to the higher level shelves. They have a mystery section. This is covered books wrapped, and you buy them without knowing what's inside sort of a true mystery. They had a beautiful reading area and each type of book is labeled with a brass placard. The staff seem friendly. I'll be honest I did not look at the prices of the books . I assume that they are at list but the selection I could see was excellent so if you're in Summerland, it's worth the stop by read more

Godmothers - Reading Area - Bookstores Near Me - Summerland, California

Visiting Godmothers in Summerland is like stepping into a dream for anyone who loves books, art, cozy corners, and a little mystery. From the moment you arrive, you sense this isn't just another bookstore it's a warm, thoughtful space where book lovers, creatives, and curious souls gather. The high ceilings, rustic-barn architecture, soft lighting and wood details give it a gentle elegance that feels both grand and welcoming. There's a little café tucked in, where you can grab a coffee, a pastry or something light to eat and settle down with a good book. The service here is lovely: friendly, patient, with people clearly proud of the place and excited to help you find something to read or just make you feel comfortable. One of the things I particularly enjoyed was their Blind Date with a Book feature (or event/shop-section, depending on how it's run). There's something charming about picking a book wrapped up or hidden, not knowing exactly what you'll get, trusting serendipity. It adds a playful sense of adventure. It pairs perfectly with a latte in hand. Here's where my little "mystery" came in: while reading, a book on a shelf suddenly slipped and fell on its own. No one else was nearby, no one bumped into anything, and it made a clear thump-clack. Rather than spooking me, it felt like the building this room of books welcomed you so much it wanted to share one of its stories even before you asked. It's probably nothing more than gravity or a poorly balanced spine, but it gave the place character and a sense that there is something quietly magical here. If I were to highlight something to try, I strongly recommend finding a spot in one of their comfy chairs--maybe near a fireplace or window order your drink, pick a "blind date" book, let yourself wander through the shelves. With ambience like this, warm cups, the smell of pages, kind staff, and even little moments of mystery, Godmothers becomes more than a bookstore. It becomes an experience. In short, Godmothers is a gem. Beautifully curated, full of heart, with excellent customer service. Whether you go to buy, browse, read, or just be among books, it feels like a place you'll want to return to often read more

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Such an adorable and homey space in a quaint and welcoming little city. I enjoyed our visit and even sat outside for a bit, enjoying coffee and a croissant from the cart just adjacent. read more

This bookstore is in a beautiful spot in Summerland, just south of Santa Barbara, in a lovely building. The interior is beautifully appointed, and the curated selections on the display tables are well chosen. My only critique is that the number of books on sale is rather limited. This seems largely a function of the desire to have a spacious, open setting inside at the expense of additional bookshelves. However, I had no problem finding a book in which I was interested, and it is, again, a beautiful store in a perfect beach-side location. If you are visiting Santa Barbara, I recommend that you also include Chaucer's Books on State Street in Santa Barbara as part of your book-buying binge read more

The bookstore, though pricey, is just what a bookstore should be. Beautiful, well stocked and comfortably arranged. The little restaurant, Graze, in their side patio. Might be good . Don't know. We arrived a little before noon and they were out of food. The worker said it happens regularly. Enjoy the bookstore, but don't waste your time trying to eat at the restaurant. read more

Beautiful book store with multiple stories of a wide variety of books. We had a great time looking through their huge collection. I would definitely recommend stopping by here. read more

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Godmothers is one of my new favorite stores. Although it's pricey, it's kinda worth it! Besides the strikingly beautiful display of books, they have an interesting display of Mahjong sets for sale upstairs, as well as the official 2025 MJ cards for sale. To cap off a wonderful visit, I had a delicious peach iced tea from their outdoor cafe, which is open Thurs- Sundays only. Well done, Godmothers read more

Godmothers - Bookstores Near Me - Summerland, California

Unfortunately we were too early to go into the store, but luckily we were there for some of the best bagels ever! My friend had said it was her favorite salmon bagel, and she wasn't wrong. Perfectly toasted sesame bagel, cream cheese, smoked salmon, picked red onion, capers, thinly sliced cucumber, fresh chives and dill sprinkles. It was delicious! Wish I had one right now. read more

Godmothers - Bagel with salmon. This is half! - Bookstores Near Me - Summerland, California

I make a special stop on the way to Santa Barbara to shop at this incredible bookstore. It is beautifully organized and outfitted with custom woodwork bookshelves which make me want to spend the entire afternoon there. The employees are super helpful and friendly. Every detail of this shop is intentional and their events often have great authors whom you can meet. Get on the newsletter to stay updated and please support small businesses like this amazing one. Also, don't miss the small cafe outside. read more

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So grateful to be a Member at Godmothers--it's such a special space. Always leave feeling inspired and expanded.

Came in to relax and check out the new bookshop in Summerland. There are two levels of books with a special area for kids and a stairwell of godmothers. One cool area is the classic books for sale with special editions. There is free parking on the street and a little area to grab food and snacks on side of the shop. Staff were helpful with the selection of books to choose from. One thing I was confused about is the seating area upstairs that is empty and says reserved for staff and special events although no one was there. read more

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Book lovers dream, welcoming, nice product selection, professional and friendly staff. A must stop if you're in Montecito.

This place is so cute.. I love the choices of books and the furnishings and the the fact that I could just sit there for hours and read read more

Godmothers - Cute and festive entryway - Bookstores Near Me - Summerland, California

Most beautiful and inspirational bookstore that I've ever been to! Highly encourage a visit to anyone in the area.

Wow, what a STUNNING bookstore. I can't say enough good things about it - the ambiance, the people, the experience of perusing here. They have a great selection, some limited edition covers that you don't normally see anywhere else and wonderful knickknacks like notebooks, playing cards, and puzzles. There's an outdoor space as well to enjoy. Always a pleasant visit! read more

It's a very clean modern bookstore with a nice selection of new reads and great areas for sitting! read more

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My favorite book store! I drive 65 miles one way to visit the store and select new books. I like spending several hours in this charming setting! Gary Mills,Ed.D. read more

What a sweet bookstore! The area for kids is especially cute with coloring supplies. We found several unique books.

I love books and bookstores. This has to be one of the nicest, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable bookstores I've ever visited! They have a nice variety of books shelved in an organized and clean way. A lot of the books are plastic wrapped so you can't open them which I believe preserves the pages. It's two story. Feels like a house more than a store. read more

My family was really excited about this place...a a locally owned bookstore in the quaint town of Summerland with so much charm and so much SPACE! Our first visit when they just opened was great. We went to Field and Fort for brunch and then moseyed over to explore. We sat down and flipped fthrough some books of interest, checked out the cute children's section, purchased a few items and left. Staff was kind and courteous. Then a couple weeks later, my wife went and it seemed different. There were signs at all the seating areas basically saying: Don't sit here, reserved for staff or events. There was nowhere to sit...in a bookstore. My wife and I have come to the conclusion that they do not want people to sit and enjoy the space. Come, buy, leave. Unless of course you're a member, or in attendance for one of their paid events. If you're just there to buy a book and read it, take it somewhere else. Which is unfortunate because that is the magic of a bookstore. There's something special about being surrounded by books. Now, I understand they don't want it to become the downtown public library. There's a balance between visiting and loitering. The signs were just a major turn off and an indication that their customers are not welcome to stay and enjoy the space. read more

Godmothers - Bookstores Near Me - Summerland, California

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I came in looking for a specific book that was tricky to find. The staff went above and beyond in helping me, confident they'd find the book, even with the store being busy (which they juggled flawlessly). And they found the book! Thank you to everyone here. Your store and staff are a delight. read more

Lovely bookstore! Sat on their outside patio and got lunch from the cafe, the food was very fresh and good!

I was really looking forward to being a regular customer at Godmothers. I live not too far away and love a great bookstore. I've been for a few workshops/author events- this is what they do well. They have excellent reach in the publishing world, getting some really good speakers. A few have really expanded my thoughts or brought comfort in this crazy era. The ones that I have not enjoyed as much have been the celebrity author events where it feels a good bit more "see and be seen" and the celebrity often fills the first row or two with their people. Those feel less curated for quality, somehow more self-congratulatory. The book selection leans towards best-seller, self-help but I like method of having just a book or two out of each so that they can have a bigger selection. It's not a place you'll lose track of time in, there aren't comfortable chairs or corners to take a moment to go through a stack of books and walk away with a nice pile or an under the radar treasure- they are all on the radar. I have visited far less than I originally thought I would for these reasons. read more

Not a book lovers bookstore. Bookstores are as good as the people that work there and though the young staff was eager and helpful, definitely not a well read crew. Their suggestions missed the mark and the thin inventory of mostly current bestsellers was uninspiring. The space is definitely beautiful though even done to the scalloped edged toilet paper. read more

The most beautiful bookstore! 100% recommend stopping in if in the neighborhood. Lovely patio for a coffee as well.

Wonderful book store. I could have stayed all day. The store has two floors with a wide selection of books. The children's section on the second floor is a cozy, inviting haven for children to play and read. There's a patio on the first floor with a coffee truck soon to open. What a treasure of a place! read more

A wonderful space to browse. Well stocked and nicely designed. Plenty of places to sit and read.

This is a spectacular space! Beautifully decorated and well organized. The young lady working on the day we visited (November 12) was friendly, knowledgeable and very helpful. We also had a delicious breakfast outside on the comfortable and pretty patio from the cafe that is a retro Airstream trailer. I had the avocado toast with roasted sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and baby greens. Best I have ever had! My sister had a bagel and salmon plate, I had a bite and it was amazing! The coffee, and service was great too! I highly recommend before a walk in the adorable neighborhood and a trip to the park and beach below. read more