Best Bookstores and Libraries in Rutherford County, Tennessee
With four independent bookstores and several fantastic public library branches, Rutherford County is a perfect place for book lovers. Offering up a place to gather and explore new worlds and topics, locals agree that bookstores are vital to a community.
“The book scene in Rutherford County couldn’t be more diverse,” says The Happy Book Stack store manager Andy Smith. “Our proximity to Nashville means we have tons of different people looking for pretty much everything you can think of.”
Find your newest bookstore haunt in this list below.
In This Article
The Happy Book Stack
Located in Murfreesboro, this award-winning bookstore has more than 70,000 books on its shelves and adds thousands of books weekly. For all romance lovers, the shop features an entire room full of mass-market romance novels. But ultimately, there is something for everyone with shelves of BookTok titles, a vast selection of nonfiction and an antiquarian section featuring books from the 1800s.
According to Smith, they also serve the community by offering a huge homeschool curriculum selection at a fraction of the price for families. After perusing the main store’s stacks, head next door to their hobbies and collectibles shop for comics, DVDs, games and more.
The Grumpy Bookpeddler
Murfreesboro’s oldest used bookstore, The Grumpy Bookpeddler, opened its doors in 2011 and has been supplying the community with good reads ever since. The shop is family-owned, welcoming and very cozy with a coffee station and a comfy couch to settle into. Its well-organized shelves have more than 50,000 used books to choose from – so it’s easy to get lost for hours hunting for the perfect next read. The Grumpy Bookpeddler also buys books, allowing patrons to trade in books for store credit or cash.
The Grand Exchange
Part bookstore, part plant store and part gift shop, The Grand Exchange is the definition of charming. The shop is a newcomer along downtown Murfreesboro’s walkable historic Square, opening its doors in September of 2025. Visitors rave about the store’s picturesque atmosphere that feels almost like a bookstore you might read about in a long novel.
It is a perfect place to stop in for a book, a plant, a cute local gift or all of the above. The shop is also home to the popular Boro Book Club and keeps a packed schedule of other community events like author signings, book swaps, book release parties and even date nights.
The Spine Bookshop
Located in the heart of downtown Smyrna behind a bright yellow door, The Spine Bookshop is a safe haven for booklovers to explore new interests and pick up works from well-known and up-and-coming authors alike.
Lindsay Schultz, owner of The Spine Bookshop, says her shop is unique because it really showcases local authors. “An entire side of our shop is local, independently published and TikTok authors, and we really lean into that,” Schultz says.
The shop is deeply rooted in community and hosts several events each month, including book signings, craft nights and even poetry nights.
Countywide Library System
The Rutherford County Library System and La Vergne Public Library are true gems, offering well-loved oases throughout the community that are perfect for families. These vibrant spaces feature programs for all ages, from informative technology classes to creative writing clubs for teens.
Many branches offer large children’s areas, helpful librarians and comfortable places to sink into your next read – what more could you ask for? Plus, numerous library locations are nestled near parks and trail systems.
Whether looking for a curated local selection in a boutique setting or the vast resources of a public system, the local literary landscape offers something for every type of reader.
Get to Know Rutherford County
Want to learn more about living and working in Rutherford County, TN? Check out the latest edition of Livability Rutherford County, Tennessee.