No matter your preferred reading material, there’s probably a bookstore catering just to you. A new wave of little indies in this town is bravely beating on, bookshops against the current, borne ceaselessly into the toughest economy we’ve seen in decades for small businesses — and damn, we love them for it. Here are some local bookstores that will put what you want and need into your brain and soul; put your dollars into their hands, won’t you?
The New Romantics
They sell romance novels only, but of every sort, from dark & spicy to extraterrestrial to Hallmark-approved meet-cutes. The age-old genre is currently having a cultural moment, and owner Jane Rodriguez (preferred trope: enemies-to-lovers) seized the moment to make her longtime bookstore dream a reality in this tiny Audubon Park space.
3018 Corrine Drive, thenewromanticsbooks.com
Authentic Books
This is the store for fans of down-to-the-detail personalization: Authentic will not only put the exactly right novel in your hands, they’ll pair it with a few goodies inspired by the story — chocolate, tea, candles, a scarf — and even a Spotify playlist curated to match. The store also hosts a mind-boggling array of book exchanges, workshops and literary dinners, from a Crybaby Saddies book swap to a Cookbook Club dinner where every guest brings a dish from the chosen book of recipes to a candle-pouring and cosplay event themed around the megasmash ACOTAR series.
1815 N. Orange Ave., authenticbooks.com
White Rose Books and More
Opened by two former school librarians in mid-October of 2023, White Rose is a direct response to and resistance of Florida’s harmful school book bans. Queer and Latina-owned, this bookstore is a safe and welcoming space for all.
113 Broadway, Kissimmee, whiterosebooksandmore.com
Spiral Circle Bookstore & More
Long-lived (perhaps many times reincarnated?) metaphysical bookstore for all your spiritual reading needs — plus readings, tarot decks, crystals, protective jewelry and various elixirs for health.
750 N. Thornton Ave., spiralcircle.com
Spellbound Bookstore
Fantasy fans, get lost here among infinite stacks of volumes leading to other realms. Spellbound stocks all your favorite series and genres and hosts author events aplenty.
105 N. Oak Ave., Sanford, instagram.com/spellboundbookstorefl
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This article appears in City Guide 2025 and City Guide (2025).