Whether you prefer giving your money to an independent bookshop or simply want other shopping options, I’m here to tell you all about 4 alternatives to Book Depository. No matter the reason, it’s always nice to know there are other bookshops out there just as accessible.

Some of these bookshops I already used and can share my experience. Others, I can’t say much besides the information they provide. All of them ship worldwide, but I’ll leave links for specific information in all of them. So, be ready to add these bookshops to your radar next time you go book shopping!

Bookshop I’ve tried

Kennys

I have to confess that Brexit turned out to be quite inconvenient when buying English books. Most bookshops in this list are based in the UK, so Brexit, and now COVID, can become a problem with delayed shipping or the inability to ship to your country altogether.

Then came along Kennys. An independent, family business bookshop based in Ireland. Which is perfect! Not only everything they sell is in euros – no need to pay conversion rates – they also have some sweet, sweet deals. And I mean extra sweet with caramel sauce on top!

I bought the complete box set anniversary edition of the Divergent series by Veronica Roth that came out last year for 27€. Twenty-seven! Not even Amazon, Book Depository, or anywhere else, I found the books at such a great price. And the shipping is only 1€ per item! So I spent a total of 28€ on a box set of four books released in 2021. I also got some sweet deals for Black Friday on books as low as 4€ – not counting shipping. Just because they are an independent bookshop doesn’t mean they also can’t have good sales. And I’m here to save some money.

Kennys was the best thing I discovered online. I’ve had a great experience so far, and I’m going to continue shopping there for sure. They sell new books, but they also have a secondhand section you can browse. My only “complain” is the slightly limited catalogue. Even though they have thousands of books to choose from, I’ve found they sometimes don’t have a specific book, especially US editions. So don’t expect Kennys to be just like Book Depository and have all the books in the world – so to speak!

World of Books or Wob

If you just want a good deal and don’t mind the state of your books, then World of Books is for you. They sell secondhand books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl, and video games. So far, I’ve bought three secondhand books and two complete DVD collections. Everything has arrived in good condition as they described them.

Not only do they re-home books that otherwise would go in the trash, but also they save paper by recycling unreadable books and encouraging a circular economy. Every order comes in a recyclable package, so Wob is the place to shop if you want to buy sustainably.

As a secondhand store, they tell you the condition of the books, so you have an idea of the product you are buying. The only book I was concerned about the state it was arriving at was Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the 2018 anniversary edition. It was described as “well-read”, but it turned out it only had a bent back cover bent – which is no big deal for me.

For a “well-read” book, anniversary edition, and very hard to find even in other secondhand stores, Wob charged 8£. It’s on the pricier side if you compare it with other books, but still not as much as it would cost me to buy it brand new (if I could).

The only inconvenience is the website only selling in pounds. So everything I buy, I have to pay the conversion rates. Also, World of Books has the most expensive shipping of this list at 2£ per item. No matter how many books you buy, you will always pay per item. Usually, what I like to do is compare the final price, including shipping, with other bookshops that sell the same book as new. Most of the time it still pays off to shop secondhand at WoB.

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Bookshops I haven’t tried yet

Blackwell’s

Blackwell’s is a 140 years-old family bookshop. They have been in business for a while now, so they know what they are doing! They have a great catalogue even of signed editions, stationary, and board games. Being an old bookshop means they have grown a lot and probably will have the book you are looking for.

All books have a great deal: the shipping is already included in the price. Which means free shipping! You can buy in your currency, avoiding paying any conversion rates, and the price listed on the book is what you pay without any surprises at checkout.

Wordery

Of all of these bookshops, Wordery is the one I’ve known for the longest, but also the most expensive. They don’t run big sales very often, and usually, the books are at their retail price. You can still get discounts, but usually not over 15%. They offer free shipping, which is an added bonus, although compared with other shops on this list, they are at a disadvantage.

They have a broad catalogue even with books in other languages besides English. You can also buy puzzles, board games, card games, stationery, and even toys. Wordery is a good bookshop all around, although it’s not the place if you are looking for THE best deal. Still is an option when buying online.

I hope I could introduce you to a new bookshop. Although my quest to find good deals and good books won’t stop here. Whenever I come across a new bookshop based in Europe that can ship worldwide with great prices and a great selection of books, I’ll be sure to let you know. Until then happy shopping!