Hennessey + Ingalls, Chevalier’s Books, Book Soup, and 18 more Los Angeles independent bookstores we love.
By
Michael Jaime-Becerra, Elizabeth Casillas, Samantha Dunn, and Robert Ito
Alta
Is your favorite indie bookstore missing from this list? Fill out this form or drop us a line at bookstores@altaonline.com to let us know whom we missed and why they should be included. Visit altaonline.com/bookstores for frequent additions.
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BOOK CARNIVAL
Book Carnival
Get your murders here, folks! It’s not fancy (think ’70s-strip-mall aesthetic), but for some 40 years, Book Carnival has been killing it with mystery, suspense, and crime fiction fans in north Orange County. It’s the place to catch readings by some of the genres’ big dogs, from Michael Connelly to Faye Kellerman, or to join a book club. Orange
On the Sunset Strip’s western edge, a stone’s throw from the Viper Room and the Whisky a Go Go, this shop boasts of being a bookseller to the great and infamous. True to its word, it is probably the only place in the world where you can see Harvey Fierstein and Joan Collins discuss their respective memoirs in the same week. West Hollywood
Half a block west of Fourth Street’s vibrant Retro Row, Casita Bookstore offers a varied selection that reflects Long Beach’s diverse communities, from Spanish-language children’s books to novels by Black and LGBTQ authors, with a focus on readers 12 and under. Befitting its name, the homey place has the look and feel of a casita, a little house. Regular events include story times and book signings with children’s authors. Long Beach
Located in the tony neighborhood of Larchmont Village, this shop offers an eclectic selection of contemporary fiction and nonfiction, along with a modest but inviting children’s section. A long, low shelf spotlights books intended to catch little eyes, like The ABCs of Socialism and a Hip Hop Family Tree. Los Angeles
Tucked within Santa Monica’s picturesque open-air Brentwood Country Mart, Diesel boasts a multitude of genres within its compact, cozy space. With detailed recommendation tabs adorning each section for quiet browsers and insightful staff members eager to chat with shoppers who want to talk books, visitors can rest assured they will be guided comfortably toward their next read. Diesel has a second location in San Diego's Del Mar Highlands Town Center. Santa Monica
From the ground floor of a block-long apartment complex in Downtown’s Arts District, Hennessey + Ingalls focuses solely on books about the visual arts. Sections include Industrial Design, Architecture Theory, and Photo Technique. The well-stocked newsstand is one of the last places to find current copies of Juxtapoz. Los Angeles
This Mid City destination is the only bookstore in the city of Los Angeles that exclusively sells Spanish-language children’s books. Many are sourced from independent presses in Latin America and Spain. Need help deciding what to buy? Request a copy of 262 Children’s Books to Read in Spanish, the store’s free catalog of recommendations. Los Angeles
If a major author is touring, chances are their Orange County stop will include, if not be limited to, this neighborhood institution on the Pacific Coast Highway. Laguna Beach Books is a narrow but long store featuring classics, upmarket fiction as well as blockbusters, and more—not to mention a great nod to books on surf and skate culture. Laguna Beach
Housed in the former Crocker Citizens Bank building, this Downtown bookshop has ample new and used stock on the first floor. But don’t skip the upstairs: shelves stuffed with sci-fi, the Danger Room of comics, and an actual vault filled with enough true crime and horror to inspire the next Saw movie are just a taste of what awaits. (Bonus points if you spot French street artist Invader’s piece out front.) Los Angeles
LibroMobile founder Sarah Rafael García wanted a place where BIPOC folks could see their stories on the shelves and their art on the walls. First a books-on-wheels operation, LibroMobile has become far more: a brick-and-mortar store with a section dedicated to local authors and another for BIPOC art, making it clear that this is a place for the community made possible by the community. Santa Ana
Across the street from Mariachi Plaza stands Libros Schmibros, a bilingual lending library in the historic Chicano neighborhood of Boyle Heights. Since its opening in 2010, this local institution has focused on providing books to the surrounding community, regardless of readers’ means. Libros Schmibros also hosts podcasts and community events and runs a fellowship program for high school students. Los Angeles
Tiny but mighty is this elegant indie, tucked into the sleek waterside development of Lido Marina Village. When the longtime owners of Lido Village Books decided to retire, Michelle Pierce saved the day by buying the shop, maintaining its reputation for an exquisitely curated selection for the well-read (or those who want to be), and promoting open readings for local writers. Newport Beach
One might not expect to find a repository for Black literary achievement and joy at the Westfield Culver City mall, but nevertheless, Malik Books proudly endures just steps away from the food court. The poster-size placards touting milestones in Black history aren’t for sale, but the vibrant cross section of books, by iconic and lesser-known Black authors, definitely is. The store’s equally great first location is in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Culver City
Mystery Pier is one of the state’s best places to secure rare first editions of classics by writers like Hemingway, Nabokov, and Austen (fair warning: that original printing of Emma will set you back $40,000). Hollywood legends have long been drawn by the shop’s collection, including its wide selection of original movie scripts, many signed by the casts. West Hollywood
Concentrating on culinary arts, this Chinatown bookseller invites a wanderlust for global cuisines. Consider the additional selection of chef Joyce Chen’s scissors and appreciate the framed poster of the late food critic Jonathan Gold’s dining rules. The wall of food periodicals may immediately activate subscription impulses. It seems impossible to leave Now Serving without wanting to eat—and you may even be inspired to cook. Los Angeles
Pasadena’s first independent bookstore owned by a Black woman opened its doors in February 2023. Octavia’s Bookshelf founder Nikki High hadn’t encountered science fiction featuring Black stories until she read the work of Pasadena native Octavia E. Butler as a teenager. She created this cozy eponymous bookstore to feature the work of BIPOC authors and give younger generations the opportunity to see themselves reflected in literature. Pasadena
Named in honor of Los Angeles–based rock band Rage Against the Machine, Page Against the Machine opened in 2019 and thrives as a home to books on subjects such as activism and political movements, socially conscious theory, and sustainability. This one-room shop, just four minutes from Long Beach City Beach, is where revolutions begin. Long Beach
Located just a couple of blocks from the water, this woman-owned bookstore hosts author events, weekly story times, and book clubs for all ages. With its signature blue walls and the sea breeze drifting through the shop, Pages is a great place to find your next beach read. Manhattan Beach
This unassuming bookstore has something for everyone. From the dollar and two-dollar finds competing for space in the roller cart outside the shop to the wall of out-of-print and collector’s titles, Sandpiper Books is an old-school gem, with plenty of writerly trinkets to boot. Torrance
It’s been open only since 2021, but Village Well is already a major community gathering spot, with its airy and expansive café and diverse slate of poetry readings and author appearances (recent speakers have included Francesca Lia Block and Homeboy Industries’ Gregory Boyle). Owner Jennifer Caspar puts an emphasis on social justice issues through educational programs and on-site events. Culver City
Founded in 1894 by Adam Clark Vroman, a relocated midwesterner, this well-appointed shop is Southern California’s oldest bookseller. Vroman’s is beloved throughout the San Gabriel Valley for its robust English-language children’s section, an abundance of discounted jewels in its clearance section, and plenty of free parking out back. It has a second location in nearby Hastings Ranch. (Tip for writers: Vroman’s offers a discount to authors needing copies of their own book.) Pasadena
