After Amazon and Barnes and Noble took over the book-buying machine, you would have thought that independent bookstores would all be gone by now. You would be wrong. Here in Kennebunk, we have a brand-new bookstore called Octopus Bookshop. Anyway, it got me thinking about other independent bookstores in Southern Maine.
14 Independent Bookstores in Southern Maine
I’m pleased to report that I’ve tracked down 14 independent bookstores throughout Southern Maine that are worth a day trip for a book-browsing mini adventure. It’s always been important to support small, local businesses but never more so for booksellers.
We are so accustomed to ordering everything we want online and expecting it to show up two days later, if not sooner. However, if you’re in the mood for a good book and can’t find it at the public library or want a personal copy to keep or if you’re looking for a book gift to give, please consider visiting one of these independent bookstores, located between York and Yarmouth and everywhere in between. No surprisingly, you’ll find the largest concentration of bookstores in Portland. All are listed here in alphabetical order by store name.
Annie’s Book Stop, Wells, Maine
If you weren’t purposefully looking for it, you might drive right by Annie’s Book Stop in Wells as it is tucked into the side of a small strip mall on Route 1, almost diagonally across from Scoop Deck ice cream. Here, you’ll find a mix of used books as well as new releases, according to the Annie’s Book Stop Facebook page.
- Annie’s Book Stop, 676 Post Road (U.S. Route 1), Wells, Maine, 04090
Back Cove Books, Portland, Maine
Back Cover Books is located in the Oddfellow’s Block of Woodford’s Corner. If you’re interested in learning about local book author events, I suggest checking out the homepage of the Back Cover Books website. It provides a calendar for and links to upcoming such events. Also, you’ll find information about regular events the store holds, from storytime to community writing groups.
- Back Cove Book, 651 Forest Ave, Unit 1, Portland, Maine, 04101
The Booktenders, York, Maine
The Booktenders is an independent bookstore on Route 1 in York, Maine. It offers a diverse selection of contemporary and classic fiction, nonfiction, young adult, children’s books, local authors and much more, including a monthly Books and Booze Book Club in partnership with SoMe Brewing Company, which is located practically next door to Booktenders.
- The Booktenders, 463 US Route 1, York, Maine, 03909
The Bookworm, Gorham, Maine
The Bookworm in Gorham is located on Main Street in town, very close to the University of Southern Maine campus. Recently, this independent bookstore announced on its Facebook page new, limited hours. It is closed on Sunday and Monday, open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 10-2 and Thursday and Friday 10-6.
- The Bookworm, 42 Main Street, Gorham, Maine 04038
Elements, Biddeford, Maine
Elements in downtown Biddeford includes a winning combination: it’s a place to get coffee, beer and books. Technically, it’s a used bookstore but it is worth visiting if you like browsing for like-new cookbooks, travel essays and more. The store also includes a section devoted to Maine topics as well as a children’s area.
- Elements: Books Coffee Beer, 265 Main Street, Biddeford, Maine, 04005
Letterpress Books & Gifts, Portland, Maine
Letterpress Books & Gifts is exactly as its name suggests: a place to buy books as well as gifts. They sell new and used books as well as puzzles, greeting cards and unique gift items made by Maine artists.
- Letterpress Books & Gifts, 91 Auburn St., Suite K, Portland, Maine 04103
Longfellow Books, Portland, Maine
Longfellow Books is known as Portland’s landmark bookstore. It’s existed in the same location — and run by the same family — since 2000. Longfellow stocks new books, used books, a whole room dedicated to kids’ books, cards and journals, calendars and puzzles, book-related clothing & accessories and more! Be sure to check out the store’s events calendar page for regular, in-store author appearances.
- Longfellow Books, One Monument Way, Portland, Maine 04101
Lupine Books, Kennebunkport, Maine
Lupine Books is a tiny, independent bookstore in the Dock Square area of Kennebunkport. You’ll find it if you turn right at Dock Square and down the small street that leads to the footbridge near The Boathouse Restaurant. The last time we were at Lupine Books, they had a terrific selection of best sellers.
- Lupine Books, 28 Dock Square Unit 6 Kennebunkport, Maine, 04046
Nonesuch Books & More, South Portland, Maine
Nonesuch Books & More is a locally owned and operated independent bookstore and gift shop. In addition to books, they have a great selection of cards, toys and games and work by local artisans. Nonesuch also buys and sells gently used books. Here is how the store describes the process it uses for considering buying used books:
- Please bring your books, in good condition, in one bag or box that you do not need returned to you.
- We will keep your books for approximately a week before processing them.
- We will credit your store account 20% of the cover price of books we accept; we will donate those we do not accept.
- We accept fiction, nonfiction and young adult paperback books.
- Nonesuch Books & More, 50 Market Street (Mill Creek Shopping Center), South Portland, Maine, 04106
Octopus Bookshop, Kennebunk, Maine
Octopus Books is one of the newest bookstores in Southern Maine. It opened on Main Street in Kennebunk in June 2025. I stopped in on their opening weekend and was delighted to see such a spacious, lovely local place where I could walk and buy books. It is located on the corner of Grove Street and next door to Bev’s.
- Octopus Bookshop, 41 Main Street, Kennebunk, Maine, 04043
Perkins Cove Bookshop
Perkins Cove Bookshop is an independent bookstore nestled in the heart of Ogunquit, just off Shore Road, close to the Marginal Way and on the way into Perkins Cove. Just opened in May 2025, it features a curated selection of NY Times bestsellers, summer must-reads, travel faves, children’s books, LGBTQ+ lit & timeless classics. Check out one of the red bookcases that features Maine authors and Maine-set stories.
- Perkins Cove Bookshop, 12 Perkins Cove Road , Ogunquit, Maine, 03907
Print: A Bookstore, Portland, Maine
Print: A Bookstore is an independent bookstore that offers private shopping hours for customers who want to avoid crowds. Also, it hosts three month book clubs. One is held in the store itself. The other two are thanks to a partnership with local breweries and restaurants: Foundation Brewing & Pizza and Rising Tide Brewing Company.
- Print: A Bookstore, 273 Congress Street, Portland, Maine, 04101
Royal River Books, Yarmouth, Maine
Royal River Books is much more than a bookstore. It’s also a place where you can buy gifts and souvenirs made by local artisans. This includes handmade jewelry, insulated drinkware, handcrafted chocolates (from Wilbur’s in Freeport), hand-poured candles, Lovepop cards and, of course, a large variety of best-selling books plus an entire section devoted to Maine authors.
- Royal River Books, 355 Main Street, Yarmouth Village, Maine, 04096
Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shops (multiple Maine locations)
Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shops may have a number of locations throughout the Pine Tree State, including Southern Maine as well as Midcoast. Still, it is an independent bookstore and therefore deserves a place in this round up. Sherman’s stores are in the following Maine cities and towns:
- Bar Harbor
- Boothbay Harbor
- Damariscotta
- Falmouth
- Freeport
- Portland
- Rockland
- Saco (opening summer 2025)
- Topsham
- Windham
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