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What is better than the smell and feel of a cozy bookstore? There are tons of great places around Cincinnati for book worms to get their fix. If you already have a favorite and want to try something new or you don’t know where to start, let us guide you to some awesome spots. Here are the 10 best bookstores around the region, as voted by CityBeat readers in the 2022 Best Of Cincinnati issue.
*Editor’s note: The No. 3 bookstore, Blue Manatee Literacy Project, has closed since the publication of 2022’s Best of Cincinnati, so it has been removed from this list.
No. 1 Best Bookstore: Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2692 Madison Road, Norwood Photo: facebook.com/JosephBethCincyNo. 2 Best Bookstore: Half Price Books
Multiple locations including 8118 Montgomery Road, Kenwood; 454 Ohio Pike, Beechmont; 4999 Houston Road, Florence Photo: facebook.com/halfpricebooksNo. 4 Best Bookstore: The Friends of the Public Library Warehouse
8456 Vine Street, Hartwell Photo: facebook.com/cincylibraryfriendsNo. 5 Best Bookstore: Roebling Point Books & Coffee
306 Greenup Street, Covington Photo: Francisco HuertaNo. 6 Best Bookstore: Downbound Books
4139 Apple Street, Northside Photo: facebook.com/downboundbooksNo. 7 Best Bookstore: Ohio Book Store
726 Main St., Downtown Photo: facebook.com/Ohio-Book-StoreNo. 8 Best Bookstore: Shake It Records
4156 Hamilton Ave., Northside Photo: Mike SpitzNo. 9 Best Bookstore: Cincy Book Bus
Traveling library: check social media to see where it’s going to be Photo: facebook.com/cincybookbusNo. 10 Best Bookstore: Blue Marble Books
1356 S Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas Photo: facebook.com/BlueMarbleBooks