Came here today with the kids, very nice independent bookstore in downtown Charleston. They had a…read morepretty good selection for a small store including a good selection of local authors and books about the Charleston and South Carolina area. They are do ghost tours of the area which is neat, and something I will want to check out at some point. We bought few books today and everyone was really nice. Glad we came in! J.Ja

Whenever I travel somewhere new, I try to stop at a new indie bookstore. My choices were a bit…read morelimited on this area, but I stumbled upon Buxton Books while we were shopping on King St. The outside of the building is just gorgeous, but I wasn't a fan of what it had to provide inside. The selection was a bit limited and I had a hard time finding the titles I was on the search for. The layout of the store was also a bit cramped which made it hard to navigate around other customers. Overall, a very cute photo opportunity but it might be hard to find what you're looking for.

This bookstore was very eclectic and unique. Their selection was interesting. The person working…read morewas very helpful. I enjoyed my visit!

We make sure to stop here whenever we are in town to check out for books. There are a couple other…read moreoptions in Charleston along King St., but we have had the most luck here, and they usually have good music playing as a bonus. Check out their photos they have in the store from various author events. Will certainly be back.

Absolutely love this place! The owners are both super kind and give great recommendations for books…read more& wine. I love that their wine menu rotates so there's always something new to try. Great selection of books and if they don't happen to have a book you want in stock, you can order it and they'll text you when it comes in. (Mine arrived super quickly & my preorder arrived the day the book was out) I need to get in there on a trivia or bingo night.

Philosophers and Fools is an awesome little bar / cafe / book store in downtown Charleston. I came…read morein for the first time this weekend with a couple of friends to discuss our latest book obsession, and it was a perfect spot for this. They have $1 popcorn which tastes just like movie theater popcorn, 1 cent Swedish fish, coffees, alcoholic beverages, and some other small food items. The popcorn and Swedish fish were delicious. I also had an iced coffee with oat milk and it definitely hit the spot! The environment is quiet enough to read and relax, or converse with your friends at the bar. I really enjoyed coming here and hope to be back soon!

Trade A Book is Charleston's oldest bookstore. As of 2025 Beverley has been in business for 36…read moreyears. Her first store under the same name was located in Summerville on Trolly Rd which she later sold. (That new owner has since moved the location and kept the same name though they are not affiliated.) Trade A Book is a used bookstore where readers are able to bring in their books in exchange for store credit. There is a limit of 25 books per person per day that can be brought in. (Please don't be one of those that tries to sneak more in.) You May find new books on the shelves when someone trades them in but TAB does not order stock of new releases. What books should you expect to find? A little bit of everything. - general fiction - fantasy / sci fi - Upper YA - Lower YA - Children's books (grade school as well as picture books for the little kiddos) - Historical fiction - Classics - Romance (historical, contemporary, fantasy) - Mystery/ thriller - Horror - Religious / Christian - non fiction (this space is very small and limited) - Westerns - Local authors - and much more!! At this time operating hours are Thurs-Fri 11-4P. It is best to call the store ahead of time to confirm they are open as Beverley runs the store by herself and can take leave while she assists with family care. Beverly is one of the nicest store owners and is super knowledgeable about the books on her shelves. Readers are always welcome to request temporary holds if something comes in. There is a special charm to this place that you won't find anywhere else in the Charleston area. 10/10 recommend visiting yourself. There is a coffee shoonnex

It looks like a nice store but it is very overwhelming…read more I left quickly after entering due to how overwhelming it was. Books stacked over your head with only minor order to them. A general genre sorting, but it is not always right.

Itinerant Literate is one of my favorite Indie bookstores and they just happen to be one of my…read morelocal bookstores in Charleston. Not only are they a local indie bookstore that fits that quaint bookstore vibe, they are also a great supporter of the community as well. Located in Park Circle off the main stretch, they can be hard to find at first but they are worth finding. There is plenty of street parking as well as a lot one block away that is an easy walk. There's plenty of places around to grab a bite to eat or a drink before or after snagging a new book. They have a small store but they take advantage of the space that they have. Everything is organized and they have a wide variety of books from popular authors, debuts, and unique selections. They also are great at supporting local Charleston authors. One fun thing that they do is offer "blind date with a book" where they cover them in brown paper and write a few facts about the book and the genre. In addition to their books they also hold events with author signings from local authors to touring authors. They have also started hosting a large community market event called Feminist Magic Market which has been a wonderful way to check our local vendors and support small businesses. Overall I strongly recommend support Itinerant Literate and checking out their location, it is a great spot for everyone in the whole family to come find a book!

Great Indy bookstore with unique selections. Also a nice place for Corgi toe licks & tummy pets…read morewhile selecting your next read to devour. There are fun finds tucked in every corner. The books are priced as is. The other items are a little pricey but you know you're supporting your local independent seller and that is a good thing. Help is provided if asked, otherwise you are free to peruse without pressure which is much appreciated and welcomed.

The Village Bookseller located on Coleman Boulevard is one of those places that makes you fall in…read morelove with bookstores all over again. It's cozy, beautifully curated, and has that welcoming, "stay awhile" atmosphere. They have comfy seating along with coffee & teas available to enhance your experience. The store selection is thoughtfully chosen--new releases, children's books, local authors and unique finds such as jigsaws puzzles, fabulous unusual greeting cards, socks, trinkets you don't see in the big chains, and plenty of great seasonal gift ideas tucked in throughout the shop. The pricing is very reasonable. Parking is a breeze with spaces in front of & behind the shop. The staff are genuinely kind and incredibly knowledgeable without being overly intrusive. They're always ready with the perfect recommendation, whether you're in the mood for a new thriller, a thoughtful memoir, or something special for a friend. You can feel how much they love all things books. It's the kind of spot that makes you want to linger, browse, and come back often. It is a wonderful independent bookstore and a real treasure find in Mount Pleasant.

I went straight in and asked for local fiction. She directed me right to the spot and I asked for…read moreher favorites and she gave them to me. I am through chapter one of her recommendation and it is perfect! A cute little local bookstore!

If you want to get a nice souvenir for someone and support the lovely city of Charleston, this is…read morethe place to do it! I bought a Brackish bracelet for my wife here and she liked how unique it was. You can't get something like this anywhere else. The bracelet I chose was exclusively made for Preservation Society of Charleston. If I'm ever back here, I'll probably have to pick up one of the awesome Brackish bowties or other fun item here.

The Preservation Society is my go-to for gifts! Everything in here is of high quality and offers a…read morevariety of price ranges. The staff is always helpful and ready to explain the background of each manufacturer. The Smithey cookware is iconic. During this visit, I purchased a few jewelry pieces from Brackish for my girls. They are absolutely the most unique jewelry! I also bought some cards, spiced nuts and oyster Christmas ornaments for gifts. I bring all of our guests downtown and we always include a trip to the Preservation Society. It's a fav for sure!

CofC + Barnes and Noble…read more I went in the store trying to pass some time waiting on the parking office to open one morning and wasn't disappointed. There's a large selection of clearance and not-clearance CofC apparel, a mini B&N book area, a selection of school supplies at moderately reasonable prices, and the textbook area. I was pumped to find a clearance area of the B&N area which included recent books, not just outdated books of no interest.

The College of Charleston Bookstore is a great place to get all things College of Charleston in…read moreplace. Besides getting textbooks and other things required for class they have a wonderful selection of CofC gear and apparel that has everything you need to be head to toe Cougar. This is a great place to find gifts and other quick items. They also have a good choice of College of Charleston related books and other Charleston area items here. I really like the layout of this store as everything is wide open and easy to find. The staff here is very knowledgeable and able to help you find any particular item you are looking for or answer any question that you may have. I have always liked this store and enjoy being able to come here often.

Many great deals. It's wonderful to still have a place that you can come into and peruse for…read morephysical media. Look througg the books and touch the merchandise before you buy it. The staff of a helpful and the prices are decent... Especially with a membership. They are always having a great selection in their sale rack to boot!

This is a lower tier Barnes & Noble. They're not likely to have stock on new releases and their…read moreoverall selection is sparse. I still head there frequently as it is in a convenient location and they do occasionally bulk up options when there is a sale. They're priced higher than other options but will occasionally have deals on overstock. One thing of note is their staff is not always helpful nor pleasant. When an item is in stock online but not on the shelf, it really seems like a hassle to inquire about this. Additionally most of the cashiers are very friendly and efficient, however, there is one that seems to only cater to a specific demographic and then is quite rude and dismissive to others.

Super cute store with lots of cute stationary and books. It looked very cute from across the street…read morethat we had to stop in and take a look. They have everything from kindle popsockets to stickers to books to mugs. They also have a cute couch where you can spend some time previewing books. Very adorable and vibrant store with plenty of color and a huge selection of books.

If girlhood were a bookstore, it would be this place. Adorably decorated and filled with a great…read morevariety of books, stickers, clothing and coffee mugs. The entire place is Taylor Swift themed but not in a distracting way. It's a great spot to pick up your next read or a gift for a friend!