Once upon a time, people who wanted to buy books went to actual stores staffed by knowledgeable, book-loving people. They browsed aisles lined with shelves full of physical books, chatted with people about the books they loved, got suggestions, and walked out with an armful of great reads.

Reader, you can still do this. And you don’t have to go to some national chain to do it. There are charming bookstores just waiting to be discovered. One might be just around the corner! Here are seven of our favorite local places to restock our TBR pile. (That’s “To Be Read” for all you non-readers out there.)

1. LANDMARK BOOKSELLERS – DOWNTOWN FRANKLIN

Image: Landmark Booksellers

Talk about a love story! Native Tennesseans Joel and Carol Tomlin promised each other that when their youngest graduated they would find a vocation they could enjoy together. The result was Landmark Booksellers. “We are truly blessed to be able to enjoy and share something we both love, not only with one another, but with our customers, on a daily basis, in perhaps the most wonderful place in the world!” Find them at 114 East Main Street, Franklin, TN 37064 and LandmarkBooksellers.com.

2. THE BOOKSHOP – EAST NASHVILLE

Image: Melissa M. Mills

Formerly known as Her Bookshop, this is a cozy, inviting nook of a store offering a specially curated selection of unique, highly designed books on a wide range of topics. Owner Joelle Herr is an author herself, with more than fifteen books to her credit. Find her store at 1043 W. Eastland Ave.; 615-485-5420 and herbookshop.com.

3. MCKAY’S – WEST NASHVILLE

Image: McKay’s

Maybe in you’re in the mood for something bigger…a LOT bigger. McKay’s has about 30,000 square feet of retail space on two stories, packed with used games, movies, music and more—not to mention the seemingly endless rows of bookshelves. Plus, if you’re strapped for cash, you can trade in albums, books, instruments, movies, action figures, video games, gaming systems, board games or comic books for store credit. Find them at 636 Old Hickory Blvd.; 615-353-2595; and mckaybooks.com.

4. THE OXFORD COMMA – WHITE HOUSE

Image: The Oxford Comma

When the owners opened in 2020, they wanted to be a neighborhood bookstore that offered customers “a warm, welcoming space where they could browse well-organized and well-curated shelves easily and comfortably, never feeling overwhelmed by too many choices or feeling claustrophobic by shelves being too close together.” Did they succeed? Go and find out. They’re at 115 Hwy 76, White House, TN 37188; 615-285-7061 and facebook.com/theoxfordcommabookstore.

5. PARNASSUS BOOKS – GREEN HILLS

Image: Parnassus Books

There’s no telling who you may see browsing the shelves at Parnassus Books; fans of the store include actor Tom Hanks and former President Barack Obama. A partnership between novelist Ann Patchett and business partner Karen Hayes, Parnassus hosts hundreds of amazing author events each year. Find the store (and who knows who else!) at 3900 Hillsboro Pike Suite 14, Nashville, TN 37215 and parnassusbooks.net.

6. RHINO BOOKSELLERS – NASHVILLE

Image: Rhino Booksellers

For something uniquely Nashville, head to Rhino Booksellers and check out their collection of “used, rare and endangered books.” They describe themselves as “a neighborhood bookstore committed to Nashville’s community of creative talent. We welcome all readers, musicians, artists, writers, filmmakers & photographers.” What are you waiting for? Find them at 4918 Charlotte Ave., Nashville TN 37209 and  rhinobooksellers.com.

7. FAIRYTALES BOOKSTORE – EAST NASHVILLE

Image: Fairytale Books

If you don’t have a kid to take to Fairytales, borrow one—or just take your inner child for an adventure. With books ranging from picture books and beginning readers to young adult novels, plus arts and crafts, toys, and more, there’s something to delight children of any age. Do fairies actually live there, though? There’s only one way to find out: see for yourself at 1108 Woodland St. Unit G, Nashville, TN 37206 and FairyTalesNashville.com.

Happy reading!