Your guide to Indie Bookstore Day 2025 in Arizona
If you’re looking for your next great read, want to support local, or are looking to explore a new spot, Indie Bookstore Day has you covered.
PHOENIX — Readers rejoice, Indie Bookstore Day is here! Independent Bookstore Day is an annual, national party that takes place at independent booksellers across the country on the last Saturday in April. The 12th annual Indie Bookstore Day — featuring more than 1,600 bookstores — will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
From online storefronts and pop-ups to brick-and-mortar and book mobiles, Indie Bookstore Day celebrates all independent booksellers. This year, the American Booksellers Association said that Trevor Noah is the 2025 official spokesperson for Independent Bookstore Day. Previous spokespeople have included Amanda Gorman, Celeste Ng, Roxane Gay, and more.
If you are looking to celebrate Indie Bookstore Day here in State 48, 12News has you covered. Here’s a guide to Indie Bookstore Day 2025, Arizona style!
Changing Hands
Changing Hands is one of the longest-standing bookstores in the Valley. The bookstore started over 50 years ago and now has two locations, including First Draft, a coffee and wine bar inside the Phoenix location. From author events to book clubs and everything in between, this Valley mainstay has you covered.
Changing Hands is celebrating Indie Bookstore Day with a “Banned Bookstore” and pop-up bookstores at both of their locations. To learn more, head to the website or their social media pages.
Phoenix location: 300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 85013
Tempe location: 6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, 85283
Hours on Indie Bookstore Day: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Literally, A Bookshop
Check out one of the Valley’s newest brick-and-mortar bookstores, Literally, A Bookshop. The bookstore started as a pop-up bookstore traveling around the East Valley. Step inside the shop and you’ll find a robust children’s book selection, cozy reading corners, a book grotto, and even a dreamy tree-covered picture book section.
To celebrate Indie Bookstore Day, Literally, A Bookshop will be hosting an AuthorFest. More than 20 authors will be stopping by throughout the day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Check out the full lineup of authors and learn more about your new local fave on the shop’s or social media pages.
The Bookish Shop
The Bookish Shop is Gilbert’s friendly neighborhood romance bookstore. The second of its kind in Arizona and the first brick-and-mortar romance bookstore in the state, the Bookish Shop opened in early April after being an online business for over a decade. Romantasy lovers especially will love their dark academia vibe inside the shop with countless merch options and beautiful, Bookish Box exclusive editions of your favorite reads.
The newest bookstore in Gilbert is celebrating Indie Bookstore Day with a deal for all coffee and book lovers: buy two books from the Bookish Shop, get 50% off a drink at the shop. For more information about the store, visit their website or their social media pages.
Address: 60 W. Vaughn Ave., Gilbert, 85233
Hours on Indie Bookstore Day: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Peregrine Book Company
The largest independent bookstore in Prescott is ready to welcome you this Indie Bookstore Day! From new and used books to merch and author events, the Peregrine Book Company in northern Arizona is a book lover’s dream. Plus, it’s right down the street from a book-themed cafe, the Bear and Dragon!
For Indie Bookstore Day, Peregrine Book Company will feature “bookish surprises,” new merch, and more. To learn more about the Peregrine Book Company, head to the store’s website or social media pages.
Address: 219 N Cortez St., Prescott, 86301
Hours on Indie Bookstore Day: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Twice Upon a Time Books
While you might have heard of a blind date, have you ever heard of a blind date with a book? Twice Upon a Time Books gives readers a preloved book with a personality-packed tag. The choice is yours, and if you’re not into the surprise? No worries, TUATB has you covered: you can ask what the book is to make sure you don’t already have it.
TUATB is one of four pop-up bookshops hosted by Changing Hands this Indie Bookstore Day! To learn more about TUATB and where you can find this traveling book lover’s dream, head to the shop’s website or social media pages.
Address (Changing Hands in Tempe): 6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, 85283
Hours on Indie Bookstore Day: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Lit Twis’t
The Valley’s first and only Black-owned mobile bookstore is here! The Lit Twis’t features books by Black and Brown women authors, blind dates with a book, bookish merch and much more. The mobile bookstore opened in 2025 and has already taken the Valley by storm, attending events and markets, as well as hosting a monthly book club.
The Lit Twis’t is one of four pop-up bookshops hosted by Changing Hands this Indie Bookstore Day! From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., catch The Lit Twis’t at the Phoenix location of Changing Hands. To learn more about the book mobile, head to the shop’s website or social media pages.
Address (Changing Hands Phoenix location): 300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 85013
Hours on Indie Bookstore Day: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Book Haul
West Valley readers, rejoice! The Book Haul is a mobile bookstore serving many communities throughout the West Valley. From farmers’ markets to special events and everything in between, this mobile bookshop is here to help you find your favorite fantasy and romance books.
The Book Haul is one of four pop-up bookshops hosted by Changing Hands this Indie Bookstore Day! From 9 a.m. on, you can shop at the mobile bookstore at the Phoenix Changing Hands Location. For more information about the shop and where you can catch them next, head to the website or social media pages.
Address (Changing Hands Phoenix location): 300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 85013
Hours on Indie Bookstore Day: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Hours for the pop-up may be different than bookstore hours)
Beyond Words Bookshop
Beyond Words Bookshop is a pop-up bookstore soon to be brick-and-mortar in the East Valley! The bookstore, owned and operated by a Mesa teacher, recently received a grant from the city to open up the physical location for Beyond Words. Beyond Words Bookshop can be found at markets throughout the East Valley this spring before their doors open this summer in downtown Mesa.
Beyond Words Bookshop is one of four pop-up bookshops hosted by Changing Hands this Indie Bookstore Day! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can visit Beyond Words Bookshop at the Tempe Changing Hands.
For more information on Beyond Words, visit the bookshop’s website or social media pages.
Address (Changing Hands in Tempe): 6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, 85283
Hours on Indie Bookstore Day: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunny’s Book Truck
Sunny’s Book Truck in Yuma has it all: from great titles to the best merch and books for all budgets, there’s not much you won’t find at this charming bookstore. While the book truck still makes an appearance for special occasions, the brick-and-mortar location is in downtown Yuma.
For Indie Bookstore Day, Sunny’s will have free totes for the first 100 customers, as well as free surprise books with purchase, food, and sales. The only independent bookstore in Yuma is waiting for you! Check out their website or social media pages for more information.
Address: 261 S Main St., Yuma 85364
Hours on Indie Bookstore Day: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Grassrootz Bookstore and Juice Bar
The first and only Black-owned brick-and-mortar bookstore truly has it all: new and used books, titles by local authors, a juice bar, chess on Sundays, book clubs, events and so much more. The bookstore started five years ago as a shelf in a hallway of the Afri-Soul Market and has expanded into its own space, making itself a community cornerstone in Phoenix.
On Indie Bookstore Day, Grassrootz will be holding its first of many Free Breakfast for Children events. Registration is limited, so head to the bookstore’s website or social media pages for more information.
Address: 1145 E Washington St. Ste. 200, Phoenix, 85043
Hours on Indie Bookstore Day: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Wijaya House
Call it a book lover’s dream: What could be better than flowers and books? Wijaya House in southern Tempe opened in 2023 and has become a staple in the community. The bookstore hosts crafts, flower arranging, book club, and more.
To celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, customers will get a free Wijaya House koozie with every purchase, there are discounts on all bookstore merch and more. For more information, head to the shop’s website or social media pages.
Address: 1706 East Warner Rd. Ste. 1, Tempe, 85284
Hours on Indie Bookstore Day: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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