A bookstore is a shop that sells books. When you walk into a bookstore, you'll find shelves organized by category: fiction, science, history, mystery, poetry, and more. Some bookstores specialize in certain types of books, like children's literature or comic books, while others carry a wide variety for readers of all ages.

Bookstores can be small, independent shops run by people who love books and know their inventory well, or large chains with locations across the country. Many bookstores also sell magazines, journals, bookmarks, and reading lights. Some include cozy reading nooks where you can flip through a book before buying it, and others have cafés where people can read while enjoying a snack.

Before the internet, bookstores were the main place people went to discover new books and authors. Today, while many people buy books online, bookstores remain popular because browsing physical shelves can lead to surprising discoveries. You might go looking for one book and leave with three others you never knew existed. Independent bookstores especially offer something online shopping can't: knowledgeable staff who can recommend books based on what you've enjoyed before, and the simple pleasure of being surrounded by thousands of stories waiting to be read.