In these times, getting a knock at the door and a shiny package from your latest online shopping adventure is a true highlight of any day. Here’s a round-up of Melbourne-based book and zine retailers you can grab some goodies from. Supporting independent businesses while getting some iso-friendly reading material? Total win-win. Also, you don’t have to be Melbourne-based to support the great stores.

  1. Hares & Hyenas. This absolutely fantastic community bookshop specialises in queer, sexuality, gender diverse and intersection titles. With a jaw-droppingly huge catalogue of diverse books, supporting these folks is too easy.

  2. Sticky Institute. The centrepiece of zine culture in Melbourne, our friends at Sticky Institute have online and print offerings to get you through iso. Head to their online shop where you can get merch or a random collection of zines, or join Quarantine Zine Club, an online community of zinesters.

  3. Poetry Portal Bookshop. Get your hands on some fresh poetry from our pals over at Girls on Key. Find a plethora of exciting poetry books and zines to choose from, including a huge range of titles under $15. No better time to find your new fave poet!

  4. The Little Bookroom. This amazing bookshop in Carlton offers free contactless delivery in surrounding suburbs and a small fee to deliver elsewhere Australia-wide. With a massive range of titles, they even have a recommendation quiz if you can’t figure out what to read next!

  5. Readings. Our pals over at Readings have such an amazingly huge selection that it’s almost too easy to hit the $60 mark for free delivery anywhere in Australia. If you can’t choose your next read, their blog always has excellent recommendations.

  6. Sun Bookshop. An exceptional local bookshop with a huge selection of books. If you live local to them in Yarraville they’ll deliver your books for free. Their monthly highlight selections always pique our interest.

  7. Books for Cooks is perfect for iso. This independent, culinary specialist bookstore is owned by  cooks & lovers of good food, so their massive selection of cook books new and old will have you literally salivating. Cooking and reading? The perfect pair.

  8. Brunswick Bound is an eclectic and exciting independent bookshop on Sydney Road. With free delivery to local areas with no minimum, it’s the best time to shop local.

  9. Avenue Bookstore have stores in Richmond, Elsternwick and Albert Park that all offer free local delivery. Their Reading Guides and monthly recommendations are sure to keep your to-read list very very long.

  10. Paperback Books – a Melbourne staple! Still open for contactless pickups and online orders. Check out their reading lists and monthly newsletters for hot recommendations.