13 Tennessee Used Bookshops That Tempt You Into Taking More Home
Used bookshops have a talent for turning quick stops into slow, happy wanderings. Shelves lean heavy with stories, spines whisper promises, and suddenly one book becomes three without much debate.
Tennessee’s used bookshops excel at this gentle temptation, offering everything from dog-eared paperbacks to surprising hardback finds that feel personal and perfectly timed. Time slips easily between aisles, budgets soften, and tote bags fill faster than expected.
Conversations spark over recommendations, handwritten notes peek out of covers, and every purchase feels earned rather than impulsive. This list celebrates Tennessee bookshops that reward curiosity, invite lingering, and almost guarantee you will leave carrying more stories than you planned to bring home.
1. McKay’s Nashville
Some stores feel like treasure ships, and McKay’s Nashville is absolutely one of them. Rows reach skyward, overflowing with used fiction, deep-cut nonfiction, staff favorites, and quirky sidelines that beg to come home.
You walk in with a trade bag and walk out with an accidental syllabus, giddy about the deal you just made.
Bring time. The aisles wind into media, manga, literary classics, and those weird niche sections you did not know you needed.
I like to start with literature, then loop through local history and essays before surrendering to whatever oddball paperback leaps into my hands.
Trading here is a sport. Drop your books, browse while they assess, and then pounce when store credit appears like confetti.
Prices are friendly, condition is clearly marked, and the staff keeps things moving even when it is packed. Pro tip: weekdays feel calmer, and carts hide sleeper hits.
2. McKay’s Knoxville
Knoxville’s McKay’s is the go-big-or-go-home version of book hunting. It sprawls like a book bazaar, with labeled aisles and a satisfying clatter of carts rolling by.
You will spot dog-eared favorites near pristine hardcovers, all sorted with that unmistakable McKay’s precision.
Plan a loop: literature, then sci-fi and fantasy, then over to arts and photography for sneaky gems. Between the stacks, you will see folks comparing finds like baseball cards, which is half the fun.
I have swapped paperbacks for store credit and left triumphantly with hardcovers that would cost triple elsewhere.
Parking is easy, crowds ebb and flow, and the selection refreshes constantly thanks to the exchange system. Watch the new-arrivals carts.
That is where the lightning strikes, especially for series sets and out-of-print paperbacks. Bring water, comfy shoes, and a willingness to be delightfully sidetracked.
3. Rhino Booksellers
Rhino Booksellers feels like a secret friend whispered it to you. The Charlotte Avenue shop blends used books and records, spinning a soundtrack while you scan the shelves.
You may start with poetry and end up flipping through vintage vinyl, which is exactly the point.
Staff picks are spot-on, and the signed editions sometimes hide where you least expect. I love the way the shelves bend toward local authors and music history, nodding to Nashville without turning into a souvenir stand.
Expect conversation at checkout, the kind that sends you back to grab one more paperback.
Prices are fair, the edit is thoughtful, and the energy is unhurried. This is the place to slow down, touch the spines, and trust your curiosity.
If you collect both LPs and paperbacks, prepare to juggle. Your tote will somehow make room.
4. Crying Cat Books and Records
Crying Cat is the kind of place where the staff remembers what you liked last time. Books and records mingle in cheerful stacks, and the browsing rhythm is pure weekend joy.
Flip a crate, find a first printing, then swap recs with a neighbor who swears by a new-to-you author.
There is personality everywhere: shelf talkers with humor, local zines, and a pinch of punk energy. You might catch an in-store event or just a perfectly curated playlist that nudges you toward a moody novel.
I once came for a single LP sleeve and left with three paperbacks and a grin.
Selection rotates often, so check back for sci-fi runs and literary backlists. Prices land in that sweet spot where taking a chance feels easy.
Parking is straightforward, and the store rewards curiosity. Let the cat logo guide your impulse buying.
5. The Happy Book Stack
The Happy Book Stack lives up to its name before you even open the door. Sunlight hits tidy rows, and staff recs pop with handwritten notes that feel like a friend nudging your elbow.
You will likely make small talk with someone who loves the same author you do.
Expect a well-loved mix: contemporary fiction, children’s picks, memoirs, and a few rare finds tucked in like Easter eggs. I drift between the recommendation wall and the paperback towers, then recheck the front table because fresh arrivals keep appearing.
It is calm, friendly, and refreshingly organized.
Prices are gentle, and the team happily points you toward readalikes. If you are building a vacation stack, this is a one-stop mood lifter.
Bring a list but stay open to serendipity. Your future favorite beach read probably lives on that second shelf to the left.
6. Refuge Books: Used & Uncommon
Refuge Books is curation first, clutter never. The selection feels handpicked for readers who chase voice and verve, not just big names.
You will see uncommon editions and smart paperbacks with staff notes that read like mini essays.
I like to ask for one bold recommendation and watch the bookseller light up. Conversations turn into discoveries, sometimes sending you to a title you did not know existed.
The space feels intimate, with quiet corners that invite a slow, attentive browse.
Prices reflect condition and rarity, yet plenty of approachable bargains live here too. Because it shares Music Valley with other stops, you can pair it with a broader hunt.
Keep your eyes open for local lit and small press runs. There is real joy in leaving with a book you cannot wait to defend to friends.
7. Mostly Happy Books
Tucked inside Music Valley Antiques, Mostly Happy Books is a hide-and-seek delight. You weave past vintage suitcases and old radios, then boom, a pocket of shelves brimming with inviting spines.
The mix tilts toward approachable, under-the-radar reads with occasional collectible surprises.
Part of the fun is the setting. Antique mall energy turns browsing into a treasure hunt, and books feel like artifacts with stories attached.
I have found regional histories, quirky memoirs, and mass market gems that spark conversation.
Prices are friendly, turnover is steady, and the vibe encourages lingering. Ask the antiques desk if you need help locating the booth.
It is a brilliant stop after Refuge Books, forming a mini route. Bring curiosity and a tote that can handle cross-genre enthusiasm.
8. Landmark Booksellers
Franklin’s Landmark Booksellers is Southern literary charm bottled. Housed in a historic building, it stretches into handsome rooms where time feels slower and stories feel taller.
You will see signed editions, regional history, and curated used titles that pair beautifully with the town’s brick sidewalks.
Staff excel at matchmaking readers and books. Ask for Civil War scholarship or a wrap-you-up Southern novel and you will be guided kindly.
I often detour through the front table, then drift into the older stacks where quiet surprises wait.
Prices range with condition, and signed Southern lit here is irresistible. Plan a stroll on Main Street after, latte in hand, stack under arm, living your best bookish film montage.
Landmark understands nostalgia without being dusty. You will leave with something that feels like a keepsake.
9. Bubba’s Book Swap
In Kingsport, Bubba’s Book Swap proves community is a superpower. Locals gush about the friendly trade system and the shelves that always seem to refill with exactly what you were hoping to find.
You can browse, chat, and leave with a stack that feels tailor-made.
The swap model is simple and generous, and the variety spans thrillers to classics to kids’ series. I love the bulletin board buzz and the way staff remembers frequent readers.
There is a neighborly rhythm here, the kind that turns a quick stop into an afternoon.
Prices welcome impulsive add-ons, and the organization makes hunting easy. Keep an eye on series sets and cozy mysteries, which fly fast.
If you are traveling I-81, this detour pays back with stories for miles. Expect to exit grinning at your own excellent taste.
10. Half Price Books – Nashville White Bridge
Half Price Books on White Bridge Pike is the reliable anchor of any Nashville book crawl. Clean aisles, clear sections, and those tantalizing clearance endcaps make decision-making deliciously hard.
You will find current bestsellers next to quiet backlist treasures, all tagged at wallet-happy prices.
I like to sweep the staff picks first, then check literature, cookbooks, and music writing. Clearance can be wild, with new hardcovers marked down to impulse range.
The store buys books daily, so extra credit helps justify that one more hardcover you could not leave behind.
Parking is easy, customer service is cheerful, and the checkout line moves quickly even on weekends. If you need a last-minute flight read, this is your hero.
Bring a list but leave space for serendipity. It always finds you here.
11. The Bookshop (East Nashville)
East Nashville’s The Bookshop is small, discerning, and confident in its taste. You step into a calm, beautifully arranged space where every title feels chosen for voice or craft.
Used copies mingle with new, and the curation tilts literary without snobbery.
Staff recommendations are exceptional, the kind you remember. I ask for one surprising novel and one essay collection, then browse quietly with a satisfied smile.
The children’s corner and poetry picks often hit above their weight, making gift shopping dangerously easy.
Inventory rotates steadily, prices reflect condition, and the mood invites lingering. This is where you discover a writer you will champion for years.
Pair it with a coffee nearby and a neighborhood stroll. Your tote will thank you later.
12. Alkebu-Lan Images Book Store
On Jefferson Street, Alkebu-Lan Images centers culture, history, and community. The shelves pulse with Black literature, scholarship, children’s books, and spiritual works, alongside select used titles that deepen the conversation.
You feel welcomed, seen, and invited to learn. The space carries a quiet confidence that makes browsing feel purposeful rather than casual.
Ask for guidance and you will get thoughtful recommendations that stretch your reading life. I have discovered authors here who quickly became essentials on my shelf.
Events, conversation, and neighborhood energy make every visit more than a transaction.
Prices are reasonable, the selection is mission-driven, and the atmosphere encourages connection. Expect to leave with books that challenge and delight in equal measure.
If you are exploring Nashville beyond the usual stops, put this on your must-visit list. Your mind leaves richer than it arrived.
13. Our Place Books, Coffees, Unique Gifts
Nestled in Cosby, Our Place blends bookstore, cafe, and mountain-town ease. You grab a latte, settle into a comfy chair, and browse shelves that feel lovingly tended.
The mix includes used and new, with local voices and travel-friendly paperbacks that suit porch-reading moods. It feels like the kind of spot where time slows without asking permission.
There is a kindness to the service here, and the gift section tempts with handmade finds that fit perfectly beside a book. I like to pair a light roast with a memoir and call it a very good morning.
The cafe hum turns browsing into unwinding.
Prices are friendly, seating is plentiful, and the mountain air practically follows you inside. If you are hiking nearby, stop for a comfort read and a pastry.
You will leave caffeinated, relaxed, and a little more in love with your bookish life.