Book Bin Northbrook has been a local fav since 1971. A full service bookstore with a large inventory, we love finding you the perfect books and gifts and serve with a smile. With daily orders coming in, our service is in getting what you need and providing an alternative to chain or online stores.

Booked is Evanston's coziest little bookstore! We specialize in books for kids for all ages and have a carefully, lovingly curated adult selection. We have book clubs for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers, and we host parties, crafting events, and more!

Bookends & Beginnings, our flagship store in the heart of downtown Evanston, is a college-town general interest store frequently described as "beloved" and "magical." Our little sister Middles Used Books is right down the block. We are built for browsing and have a MiniBar in our downstairs!

Since 1960, The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn has been a proudly independent neighborhood bookstore on Glen Ellyn’s Main Street, committed to providing excellent customer service and a wide range of books for all readers of all ages.

City Lit Books is a cozy independent bookstore located in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood since 2012. We are a literary hub for the community featuring staff-curated selections, multiple book clubs, a monthly Poetry Salon, author events & more.

Exile is an independent bookstore that will celebrate its fifth year on Independent Bookstore Day in 2026. We are a general new bookstore, but focus on small presses and translated works. We offer a great selection of pens and notebooks and host a few events a month.

Goblin Market sits at the intersection of art and narrative storytelling. We take our name from Christina Rossetti's illustrated poem, The Goblin Market, a masterpiece of both lyrical verse and sapphic subtext. We specialize in manga, manhwa, danmei, comics, indie RPGs, queer stories, & curiosities.

The main floor is accessible with an ADA accessible bathroom. Our art & community space requires using stairs.

The Last Chapter Book Shop is a romance-only bookstore dedicated to bringing readers the love stories they crave. Our mission is to create a welcoming, vibrant space where romance readers can discover their next favorite book, connect with fellow book lovers, and celebrate the genre we

We have one step to get into the space.

Matchmaker Bookshop is a general interest bookstore located in the heart of Highland Park, Illinois. Our passion is connecting our community with their next great read. Because we’re book people, and book people never keep their favorites to themselves!

We have a ramp and accessible entrance in the rear of the store.

Pink Couch Books is the North Shore's romance-only bookstore. At Pink Couch Books we pride ourselves in carrying a great selection of books representative of the beautiful diversity of authors, communities and stories within the romance genre.

RoscoeBooks is a neighborhood independent bookstore for kids and adults who love books and love to read. Located in Chicago's Roscoe Village neighborhood, RoscoeBooks sells new books and a variety of sidelines, and has been a warm and welcoming third space since its opening in 2014.

Secret World Books was opened by author Gayle Brandeis and her husband Michael Brandeis in 2024, and was named for a book Gayle wrote when she was 8 years old. The store offers new and used books, comics, and other wonders, including games, eclectic vintage items, a secret garden, and community joy!

Skunk Cabbage Books is a trans-owned independent bookstore and community workshop space offering new books and local artist’s goods that remind us of human’s own place in our more-than-human world. We bring people together to talk about and engage with the natural world around us.

Our selling floor is fully accessible with ADA adherent aisles, no stairs or steep inclines, and tiled floors with taped down rugs. Doors are not power doors but there is no ledge or step to enter. Some of our booksellers use mobility aids and we frequently welcome regulars who use wheelchairs.

From Soucebooks' humble beginnings in a spare bedroom in 1987, with just one book and a single employee — founder, Publisher and CEO Dominique Raccah — stayed true to our passion for stories and dedication to helping authors reach readers. They are an innovative, mission-driven book publisher that champions diverse voices in publishing.

Opened in June 2024, Swallow Stories is a community space built for tales and creativity. We offer locally made products, host workshops such as crochet, pottery, writing and journaling along with regular story times. To add magic, we also feature a hidden bookcase leading to our fantasy section.

The front entry has two steps, as does the side of the shop unit. However, the building does have accessible bathrooms.

Three Avenues Bookshop is an independent bookstore in Chicago’s West Lakeview neighborhood. We’re a family-run general interest bookstore open to all story lovers, and we hope you’ll feel especially at home if you care about highlighting marginalized and historically marginalized voices.

Independent, veteran bookseller specializing in LGBTQ+ literature, featuring a wide variety of general titles, including an award-winning selection of children's books, unparalleled bargain books section, and an extensive selection of travel literature, poetry, fiction, & more!
Store entrance is ADA accessible, however part of our selection is in our basement (only accessible by stairs).

Discover the vibrant community hub that is The Understudy Coffee and Books, an Andersonville gem since opening on March 25, 2023. More than a mere theatre-centric establishment, they seamlessly blend a bookstore, specialty coffee haven, and creative space.

Women & Children First believes in the transformative power of literature. As intersectional trans-inclusive feminists, we believe books are tools for liberation. Since 1979, we have celebrated and amplified underrepresented voices. Feminism is ever-evolving!

Yellow Bird Books is a woman-owned independent bookstore created to support the needs of the community by providing a thoughtfully curated selection of books and related merchandise. We help patrons discover the joys of reading, learning, and creating in a welcoming environment.

Somewhat accessible; no steps or inclines, but the building is on the National Historic Register and therefore is not ADA compliant.

Zora’s Place is a Black feminist bookstore and community gathering space in Evanston, Illinois. Founded by award-winning journalist and author L’Oreal Thompson Payton, Zora’s Place is dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices, nurturing community, and creating sacred space for rest and resistance.