Where to Buy Books
1) Shop Local
My number one tip for book shopping is always to shop local when you can. While I buy books from Amazon, Target, etc. I still make sure to also support my local bookstore. While this is not always the case, my local bookstore has great deals and sells used and new books. It's like a scavenger hunt with new inventory every day. Try and find thrift stores that sell books, local bookstores, and small shops. Supporting local is the best way to keep the book community up and running. And even if you don’t have a local bookstore, you can order online at other small bookshops. Some of my favorites to support are The Ripped Bodice Book Store and Stand Book Store. Both allow online orders and often have great deals on signed books. Furthermore, if you want to support a local shop but have a larger selection, you can use online bookshops like BookShop.org that donate money from their sales to local bookstores. You can either pick your store to support, or the money goes into a fund that supports all the stores. You can also check out Libro.fm which does audiobooks and supports local bookstores in a similar way to BookShop.Org
2) Library sales
One of my favorite ways to get books is a library sale. These can include books donated to the sale or ex library books. This is a great way to get books for cheap and support a local cause. My library raises money for the libraries with their sales, and I’ve seen other libraries raise money for local charities. They usually have a large selection of books and they can start as low as 25 cents a book.
3) Barnes and Noble
My favorite nonlocal way to buy books is through Barnes and Noble. I am a paid member, so I get benefits such as 10% off everything and free shipping. I really feel like this pays off and I enjoy supporting Barnes and Noble. While not “local” it is a good place for the community and I would be heartbroken if my local B&N closed down. Barnes and Noble offers exclusive books which can have add-ons like sprayed edges, different cover art, interviews with the author, etc. These are great ways to get added benefits in books.
4) Amazon and Target
Amazon and Target are my next stop for books. Amazon has prices you just can’t beat and sometimes its more important to prioritize your budget. While Amazon doesn’t usually get exclusive books, Target does. Target has had a few notable exclusives, like the special edition of Onyx Storm, but also has gotten its own sprayed edges and color ways of books. Target also often matches Amazon in prices and deals, so it’s a good way to get access to exclusive books for a good price.
5) Books a Million and Indigo
I don’t often shop a Books a Million and Indigo but I have placed a few orders. Books a Million is very similar to Barnes and Noble and usually gets similar special edition books and deals. Indigo was explained to me as the Target of Canada. I have used Indigo before when I was a bit late to a pre-order and B&N was out of stock. This is how I got a digitally signed copy of House of Flame and Shadow. Both of these stores are worth checking out if you are looking for a certain signed or special book as they have different stock.
6) Blackwells and Waterstones
Finally, we have Blackwells and Waterstones. Blackwells is an online (and I believe has physical locations in the UK) bookstore that sells both the US and UK versions of books. I have also seen Australian copies which is unique because Australia prints large paperbacks instead of hardbacks first like the US. This means that if you love the UK cover of a book you can order it off Blackwells and have it shipped, for free, to the US. This website is a great deal and a bit of a hidden gem. While they don’t have every book under the sun, they are often cheaper than Barnes and Noble and other similar stores and offer more variety in what edition of a book you get. Waterstones is the Barnes and Noble of the UK. It costs a lot to ship over the ocean, but they have some truly stunning special editions and sprayed edges that make the occasional order worth it. They often get the same bonus chapters or special edition books as Barnes and Noble, such as both getting the Night Court editions of ACOTAR. But they also have been doing sprayed edges for a long time and have some very cool editions that you can only get there.