Whenever I travel somewhere new, I try to stop at a new indie bookstore. My choices were a bit…read morelimited on this area, but I stumbled upon Buxton Books while we were shopping on King St. The outside of the building is just gorgeous, but I wasn't a fan of what it had to provide inside. The selection was a bit limited and I had a hard time finding the titles I was on the search for. The layout of the store was also a bit cramped which made it hard to navigate around other customers. Overall, a very cute photo opportunity but it might be hard to find what you're looking for.

Second time in Charleston and second time here. Very cute store with very helpful employees. Will…read morebe back again!

This bookstore was very eclectic and unique. Their selection was interesting. The person working…read morewas very helpful. I enjoyed my visit!

We popped into Blue Bicycle Books while exploring Charleston last Sunday, and it was charming! The…read morestore isn't large and a bulk of the store is contained within a hallway (so you'll be saying excuse me to a few people as you browse - it's impossible not to get in someone's way), but it has a very good selection of used books, good service, and a little seating where you can sit and read a bit of your maybe purchases. (They also have some rare books - like a signed Vonnegut for $2k!) It's a charming used bookstore, work checking out if you're exploring Charleston!

Absolutely love this place! The owners are both super kind and give great recommendations for books…read more& wine. I love that their wine menu rotates so there's always something new to try. Great selection of books and if they don't happen to have a book you want in stock, you can order it and they'll text you when it comes in. (Mine arrived super quickly & my preorder arrived the day the book was out) I need to get in there on a trivia or bingo night.

Nestled in a quaint neighborhood, the one of a kind Philosophers & Fools is a total gem. Let me…read morestart by saying this is not a place where you need to whisper, like at a library... There's music and people socializing... The ambiance, especially at night completely transports you to a different place. A place that feels distant, but welcoming and cozy. Speaking of cozy, there's a nice lounge area in the back that's perfect for a small group, maybe even a book club. If the lounge is occupied, no worries, the bar is quite large too. And there's about 4 small tables near the entrance. The menu has the perfect amount of items. I personally love their entire wine list and their popcorn is out of this world! As for the books, their selection is quite impressive. There's truly something for everyone, even kids. Two of my favorite things are that they had a section to honor black history month. And the other cool thing is, even though I'm married, their "Blind date with a book" table was the cutest thing ever. I've never seen anything like that before. Lastly, this place is perfect for a date night, a pre dinner drink, book club, a first date, or to just have some alone time. There are a couple of similar places in Charleston, but Philosophers & Fools has perfected the concept and they're definitely in a league of their own. I also appreciate that it's woman owned.

It looks like a nice store but it is very overwhelming…read more I left quickly after entering due to how overwhelming it was. Books stacked over your head with only minor order to them. A general genre sorting, but it is not always right.

Trade A Book is Charleston's oldest bookstore. As of 2025 Beverley has been in business for 36…read moreyears. Her first store under the same name was located in Summerville on Trolly Rd which she later sold. (That new owner has since moved the location and kept the same name though they are not affiliated.) Trade A Book is a used bookstore where readers are able to bring in their books in exchange for store credit. There is a limit of 25 books per person per day that can be brought in. (Please don't be one of those that tries to sneak more in.) You May find new books on the shelves when someone trades them in but TAB does not order stock of new releases. What books should you expect to find? A little bit of everything. - general fiction - fantasy / sci fi - Upper YA - Lower YA - Children's books (grade school as well as picture books for the little kiddos) - Historical fiction - Classics - Romance (historical, contemporary, fantasy) - Mystery/ thriller - Horror - Religious / Christian - non fiction (this space is very small and limited) - Westerns - Local authors - and much more!! At this time operating hours are Thurs-Fri 11-4P. It is best to call the store ahead of time to confirm they are open as Beverley runs the store by herself and can take leave while she assists with family care. Beverly is one of the nicest store owners and is super knowledgeable about the books on her shelves. Readers are always welcome to request temporary holds if something comes in. There is a special charm to this place that you won't find anywhere else in the Charleston area. 10/10 recommend visiting yourself. There is a coffee shoonnex

Great Indy bookstore with unique selections. Also a nice place for Corgi toe licks & tummy pets…read morewhile selecting your next read to devour. There are fun finds tucked in every corner. The books are priced as is. The other items are a little pricey but you know you're supporting your local independent seller and that is a good thing. Help is provided if asked, otherwise you are free to peruse without pressure which is much appreciated and welcomed.

My husband surprised me and found this Gem while we were visiting Charleston. I was super impressed…read morewith the book selection, the children's books also were awesome. The lady running the book store was super friendly and knowledgeable. If I'm back in the area I'll definitely be back!

What a marvelous little bookstore! Exudes the love of reading culture in every corner!…read more Now this is a small bookstore with mostly newer releases but very well curated and the staff is very personable and are engaging in lovely literary conversations the whole time you are there. Ample kids books and basic collection of classics. They also have coffee and tea as well as it looks like book club programming. I left feeling very good!

LOVE IT!!!!! Yummy drinks, cute decor. I recommend this for a short stop over for coffee and tea.read more

If you want to get a nice souvenir for someone and support the lovely city of Charleston, this is…read morethe place to do it! I bought a Brackish bracelet for my wife here and she liked how unique it was. You can't get something like this anywhere else. The bracelet I chose was exclusively made for Preservation Society of Charleston. If I'm ever back here, I'll probably have to pick up one of the awesome Brackish bowties or other fun item here.

The Preservation Society is my go-to for gifts! Everything in here is of high quality and offers a…read morevariety of price ranges. The staff is always helpful and ready to explain the background of each manufacturer. The Smithey cookware is iconic. During this visit, I purchased a few jewelry pieces from Brackish for my girls. They are absolutely the most unique jewelry! I also bought some cards, spiced nuts and oyster Christmas ornaments for gifts. I bring all of our guests downtown and we always include a trip to the Preservation Society. It's a fav for sure!

CofC + Barnes and Noble…read more I went in the store trying to pass some time waiting on the parking office to open one morning and wasn't disappointed. There's a large selection of clearance and not-clearance CofC apparel, a mini B&N book area, a selection of school supplies at moderately reasonable prices, and the textbook area. I was pumped to find a clearance area of the B&N area which included recent books, not just outdated books of no interest.

The College of Charleston Bookstore is a great place to get all things College of Charleston in…read moreplace. Besides getting textbooks and other things required for class they have a wonderful selection of CofC gear and apparel that has everything you need to be head to toe Cougar. This is a great place to find gifts and other quick items. They also have a good choice of College of Charleston related books and other Charleston area items here. I really like the layout of this store as everything is wide open and easy to find. The staff here is very knowledgeable and able to help you find any particular item you are looking for or answer any question that you may have. I have always liked this store and enjoy being able to come here often.

Many great deals. It's wonderful to still have a place that you can come into and peruse for…read morephysical media. Look througg the books and touch the merchandise before you buy it. The staff of a helpful and the prices are decent... Especially with a membership. They are always having a great selection in their sale rack to boot!

I went into Barnes and Noble today to return a book. Per the Barnes &. Noble website - returns…read morewithout a receipt will receive a store credit in the form of electronic gift card. It also states items purchased at a Barnes & Noble store must be returned to a Barnes & Noble store, but you are not required to return it to the same Barnes & Noble store where the purchase was originally made..... well this Barnes & Nobles refused to give me a store credit because it wasn't purchase at this store. They do not stand behind their own policies! So save your receipt and maybe they will give you a refund but possibly not since they do not honor their polices!

Super cute store with lots of cute stationary and books. It looked very cute from across the street…read morethat we had to stop in and take a look. They have everything from kindle popsockets to stickers to books to mugs. They also have a cute couch where you can spend some time previewing books. Very adorable and vibrant store with plenty of color and a huge selection of books.

If girlhood were a bookstore, it would be this place. Adorably decorated and filled with a great…read morevariety of books, stickers, clothing and coffee mugs. The entire place is Taylor Swift themed but not in a distracting way. It's a great spot to pick up your next read or a gift for a friend!