This has been a big year for bookstores.
Some of the news has been good – more than 60 stores have opened in California since the start of 2025, for instance – and some of the news has been lousy, as shops such as the closing of Booktown USA and Read Books (though Read has secured a new, larger location and plans to reopen next month).
That’s not all. Other Southern California bookstores are struggling and adapting to create ways to keep going (so if there’s a local shop you value in your community, please consider adding a regular visit to your to-do list).
But there are promising developments for readers, too. In recent months, new stores have opened up, joining the 100+ destinations on our bookstore map and our expansive list of information on each of these establishments, as well as the 2026 debuts, location changes and more. And hey, the year isn’t over yet; Skylight Books is working on opening its new Eagle Rock store either later this year or early next year.
We reached out to booksellers at 8 new bookstores that opened in Southern California in 2026 with questions, so read on to learn about these new members of the local book community and plan your next visit.
Map: 100 Southern California independent bookstores to visit in 2026
Los Angeles County
Good Girl Books
12444 Venice Blvd., Venice
(310) 439-2054 | https://goodgirlbooks.com/ | @goodgirlbooksla
Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday.
About the store: Good Girl Books is a women-owned independent bookstore in Los Angeles. Founded by two best friends bonded by a lifelong love for reading, this community-oriented space offers a cozy destination for book lovers of all genres to connect over their shared love of stories.
When it opened: We opened in March 2026, and our cafe will open later this year.
A message from the bookseller: I love how excited our community has been to see a bookstore open in Mar Vista! From our book clubs to craft nights, from Independent Bookstore Day to Bookstore Romance Day, the community has really shown up for us. We’re so grateful to have created a safe, welcoming space where people can come together, connect, and feel at home. And best of all, we get to talk about books all day with people who are just as passionate about reading as we are.
A recommendation: Our current favorite books include The Ninth House trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi, “Clytemnestra” by Costanza Casati, “Everything I Know About Love” by Dolly Alderton, “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt, and “Paradise Problem” by Christina Lauren. Some books we can’t keep on the shelves: “Fruit Fly” by Josh Silver, “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman, and “Persephone’s Curse” by Katrina Leno.
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Librairie
3928 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles
Email: jackie@librairiebooks.com | website: www.librairiebooks.com | IG: @librairie_bookshop
Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
About the store: The shop stocks a mix of fiction, nonfiction and children’s titles, and its shelves are filled with books on nature, science, film, music, philosophy, art, design, photography and literature that focuses on women and queer perspectives.
When it opened: May 30, 2026
A message from the bookseller: “Instead of dividing the store by only fiction, only nonfiction, only art, I wanted to mix it all into each category,” said store owner Jackie DesForges, who we spoke to in June. “Especially with the space, just because it is so small, I figured if I grouped everything together in one category it’d be easier for people to navigate and work their way around.”
A recommendation: “Analog activities are very important to me,” said DesForges. “Things that get you off the screen that you have to use your hands for. I have notebooks over there. I have more crafty things. There are these really cool mending kits to fix your clothing. Reading cards, things like that, for screen break time.”
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The Loved One
1634 W Temple St., Echo Park, Los Angeles
IG: @thelovedone_la
Hours: Open for events; regular shop hours coming soon
About the store: The Loved One carries a mix of new and used books focusing on the arts and literature, and it’s the exclusive retailer of all Hat & Beard Press titles.
When it opened: April 2026
A message from the bookseller: Always be reading — carry a pocket-sized book wherever you go for quiet in-between moments.
A recommendation: Our namesake! “The Loved One” by Evelyn Waugh is a savage comedic black satire set in a fictional Los Angeles cemetery, much like Forest Lawn.
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Outpost Books
1010½ Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena.
(626) 399-0595 | website: https://outpostbooksla.com | IG: @outpostbooksla
Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Sun 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
About the store: At Outpost Books, we aim to capture that classic feeling of pulling off Route 66 and discovering a hidden gem of a trading post. We carry new and used books for readers of all ages and interests, with a particular love for stories deeply rooted in the land and culture of the Southwest.
When it opened: Opens September 19th, 2026
A message from the bookseller: My hope is that Outpost Books will be a welcoming gathering spot for our community — a space where you can slow down, relax in a chair, and completely lose track of time. Whether you’re stopping in to find a cozy neighborhood sanctuary or looking to be transported to another world entirely, I want every person who walks through our doors to feel at home and leave with a new story to love.
A recommendation: It’s funny that “Lonesome Dove” and “East” are having a resurgence right now. Those have been close to my heart forever and are definitely Outpost Books types of books!
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Wolfcat Books
3205 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles
(213) 475-7501 | website: https://bookshop.org/shop/wolfcatbooks| IG: @wolfcatbooks
Hours:Tues: 10:30 a.m.- 4 p.mWed & Thurs: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.Fri: 10 a.m. – 5 p.mSat: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.Sun: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m
About the store: Wolfcat Books is a small bookshop in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, where one can delight in the joy and creativity of children’s books.
When it opened: Our grand opening was on June 20, 2026!
A message from the bookseller: Through its curated selection, Wolfcat aims to encourage a love of books and stories while also providing a place for discovery and community, all with a dash of whimsy.
Picture books are one of my favorite art forms – seemingly so simple but actually so complex in their combination of visual art and poetry packed into the most compact package. They have to appeal to several audiences at once – children and the adults choosing them or reading them aloud. A good picture book can be enjoyed by anyone, young or old.
A recommendation: Some of my favorite books: “They All Saw a Cat,” “Noodlephant,” “Miss Rumphius,” “Du Iz Tak,” “The Color Kittens.” Some popular books at the store, so far: “A Potato on a Bike,” “Little Witch Hazel,” “The Wise Pickle,” “Don’t Trust Fish,” “Watermelon Pool.”
Riverside County
Get Lit Books & Things
12125 Day St. #E303, Moreno Valley
Hours: Wed. – Fri. 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday – Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
(951) 807-2191 | www.getlitbooksandthings.com | IG: @getlitbooksandthings
About the store: Get Lit stocks new and used books and other items, prioritizing women, people of color, and LGBTQ authors.
When it opened: March 14 at its new location at Canyon Springs Plaza in Moreno Valley.
A message from the bookseller: “Everything we do, we try to make community-based,” co-owner Danielle said when we spoke in March. “We want to give back to the community we’re in, so we work with a lot of organizations, nonprofits and different groups to host events.”
A recommendation: “That’s another thing about the store; it’s helping me build my nonfiction muscle,” says co-owner Ruth, also a fantasy reader, who says she gets a lot of suggestions from Danielle. “My wife loves to talk about books, so she’s like, ‘Read this!’”
San Bernardino County
Morgan’s Books
659 E 15th St., Suite F1, Upland
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tues.- Sun. (closed Mon)
www.morgansbooks.com/ | IG: @morgansbooksupland
About the store: I spent many years dreaming of opening this bookstore. In addition to a curated book selection, we are a local third space to gather with the community.
When it opened: The store opened in June, but was a local pop-up since Dec. 2025
A message from the bookseller: My favorite book is “The Sparrow” by Mary Doris Russell. Popular this summer have been the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and our first book club selection, “Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt” by Ben Reeves.
San Diego County
Carlsbad Village Books and Marlas Cafe
Carlsbad Village Books and Marla’s Coffee
640 Grand Ave., Suite A, Carlsbad.
admin@carlsbadvillagebooks.com | www.carlsbad-village.com/go/carlsbad-village-books | IG: @carlsbadvillagebooks
Hours: Coffee shop: 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. Bookstore: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.
About the store: Carlsbad Village Books is North County’s largest independent bookstore. We are a family-owned and community-backed shop that features a massive selection of both new and used titles, a local café, elevated gifts and community space.
When it opened: We opened on July 2nd, 2026
A message from the bookseller: Come stay awhile! We have a little something for everyone. Our shop has been lovingly dubbed “The Hobbit House,” due to the architecture, so we obviously lean in heavily on fantasy.
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