Want to treat your book worm friend or family member this holiday season? Check out these seven Toronto independent bookstores, which will make your gift hunting easier.
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Hopeless Romantic
Address: 1080 Queen St. W.
Looking for the perfect gift for your favourite romance reader? Look no further than Hopeless Romantic. This self-proclaimed romance reader’s paradise carries a wide selection of romance novels of all tropes and subgenres, with something for all romantics out there.
To make your gift shopping even easier, this spot also features its smut-mas guide, with all the favourite holiday romance novels, from The Gingerbread Bakery to The Christmas Countdown, greeting cards, holiday apparel, themed puzzles, and more items that could make a perfect gift.
Another Story Bookstore
Address: 315 Roncesvalles Ave.
Besides being a cozy spot to warm up in during a cold day, Another Story Bookstore is also a hub for community, equity, and social justice. From children’s picture books and fiction to political theory, poetry, and memoirs, you can find presents for readers of all ages and tastes at this bookstore. Despite not having its own holiday selection, this spot also carries a range of holiday-themed books, from childrens’ Knight Owl’s Little Christmas to thriller The Mistress in Black.
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Little Ghosts Books
Address: 930 Dundas St. W.
There’s no better place to look for the gift for a jumpscare craver than Little Ghosts Books. A local favourite, this spot focuses on horror and thriller novels, with stories that will make any reader shiver. For an even more special gift, you can also gift the store’s monthly or quarterly subscription, where you can get indie horror picks, exclusive bookmarks and stickers.
TYPE Books
Address: 883 Queen St. W., 2887 Dundas St. W., or 427 Spadina Rd.
Another bookstore to keep an eye out for this holiday season is TYPE Books. With three locations across the city, and a variety of books across all genres, this bookstore has its own holiday gift guide, offering great suggestions for readers of all tastes, from fiction to mystery, to memoirs, to holiday-themed. To make the gift even more special, the guide also offers options of holiday-themed Jellycat plushies, from the Amuseables Snowflake to Amuseable Letter to Santa.
Bakka Phoenix
Address: 84 Harbord St.
For those who like nothing more than to embrace a whole new fictional world, Bakka Phoenix might hold the perfect gift. Founded in 1972, this is Canada’s oldest science fiction-specialized bookstore, where you can find all kinds of fantasy and sci-fi novels. For those looking for recommendations, the store offers some suggestions based on staff’s picks and subgenres, including “Comfortable & Cozy,” “Fantastical Felines,” “Black Futures,” and more.
Ben McNally books
Address: 108 Queen St. E.
This charming, family-run bookstore offers thousands of possibilities for a holiday gift in the heart of Toronto. Offering a wide selection of titles, events, and readings, Ben McNally offers several books that could make the perfect gift for any avid reader. Between gift card offerings, and recommended reads for every month by staff and authors, this store is also hosting an end-of-the-year broadcast presentation about the most popular books of the year, which could help you decide on the best gift.
Re:Reading
Address: 548 Danforth Ave.
One of the most beloved spots for used books in the city, Re:Reading offers some of the best literary gems in town, while giving used books another chance to be enjoyed and reducing waste. For those looking to gift shop, this spot is hosting a holiday sale, where shoppers can buy three books and get the fourth one for free, valid for any book in the store!
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