A Booklover’s Guide to Texas
The state’s indie bookstores, storytelling champions, and literary destinations turning the page
The written word is on a hot streak, despite the naysayers who claim people don’t read anymore, who insist print media is dead, and who want us to believe AI is better at telling our stories than we are. As generations young and old begin to reject the digital realm for the analog world, the wholesome pleasure of diving into a good book is trending upward.
This is especially true in Texas, where a friendly small business economy has spawned an influx of independent bookstores. According to the American Booksellers Association, U.S. independent bookstores have increased 70% since 2020, from 1,916 to 3,218, and Texas remains a driver of this growth. In 2024, the ABA recorded 323 store openings, including 21 in Texas, and the positive trend continued in 2025. It’s not just about the books; it’s the community these spaces cultivate.
Below, we celebrate the businesses, groups, and destinations engaging us in our most essential human activity: storytelling. These include a silent book club, writing groups for the incarcerated, and a bookstore turned literary center devoted to the iconic writer Larry McMurtry. As you’ll see, reading and writing are pathways for leading a creative, nourishing life free of machines. —Mike Hoinski
Comfort Quarterly Reading Brings ‘Freethinkers’ Together
This Central Texas group revels in poetry, fellowship, and discourse | By James Wade
Silent Book Club in San Antonio Is for the Introverts
Experience undistracted analog joy at one of nearly 100 Texas chapters | By Clayton Maxwell
Six Texas Literary Festivals for Bookworms
These lesser-known events promote the joy of reading | By ire’ne lara silva
Four Must-Visit Literary Landmarks in Texas
From childhood homes to small museums, these landmarks honor the state’s writers | By Ian Dille
The Fascinating Literary Artifacts Kept in Texas’ Archives
The state is home to collections from some of the world’s most influential writers | By Robyn Ross
Texas Literary Retreats Offer a Creative Escape
Find the solitude needed to think, dream, and create at these writing sanctuaries | By Lisa Bubert
Get Lost in the Stacks of Texas’ Largest Used Bookstore Chain
Locally-grown Half Price Books has been a booklover’s haven since 1972 | By Hannah Smothers
10 Independent Texas Bookstores to Visit Now
A book publisher recommends her favorite shops across the state | By Gianna LaMorte
Print Isn’t Dead at These Texas Magazine Shops
Austin and Dallas are home to stores catering to niche tastes in print media | By Rachel Rascoe
Five Texas Bookshop Souvenirs for Word Nerds
Give bookish gifts this holiday season that support local shops and makers | By Sara Marie D’Eugenio
Writing Programs Provide a Creative Outlet for Texans Who Are Incarcerated
Nonprofits teach storytelling and provide a ‘place to share perspective’ | By S. Kirk Walsh
