Raptis Rare Books has a one-of-a-kind collection of rare books. -COURTESY PHOTO
Between the heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms, sometimes the best bet for a Floridian in the summertime is to hang indoors with some air conditioning and a good book.
Luckily, South Florida is overflowing with unique and interesting bookstores and libraries.
Here are some of our favorites:
The Book Café, Fort Myers
The Book Café is a brand-new, family-owned bookstore and cafe in Fort Myers. Owners Albert and Lee Lozano and their two daughters run the business located off Alico Road.
The Book Café, owned by the Lozano family. -COURTESY PHOTO
Lee Lozano says even though The Book Café just opened in June, word has gotten out in the community, and people have been flocking to check it out.
“It’s been an overwhelming response,” said Lozano. “We ran out of coffee in two days. We were not expecting the overwhelming support. It’s been non-stop since we opened.”
The café menu features different specialty lattes on tap, baked goods and, of course, coffee. The coffee beans are roasted in-house.
The Book Café has seating on the main level and in its upstairs loft. -COURTESY PHOTO
The bookstore sells both new and used books. Used books are sold at a flat rate of $6 per paperback and $8 per hardcover. New books are sold at a discount of 25% off the retail value.
The Book Café serves as a “third space,” where people can relax, connect and build a sense of community outside of work and home. There is free Wi-Fi, a few tables on the main level, and an upstairs loft space with comfy seating.
The Book Café opened in June on Alico Road in Fort Myers. -COURTESY PHOTO
“We didn’t have anything like this in Southwest Florida, so we wanted to bring the joy that it brings us to our community,” said Lozano.
The Book Café is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Copperfish Books, Punta Gorda
Copperfish Books is one of the cornerstones of historic downtown Punta Gorda’s shopping, arts, and cultural district. It first opened in 2012 and moved to its downtown location in 2020.
Owner Catherine Worden says she feels “profoundly fortunate” to be able to guide Copperfish Books and is thankful to have such a wonderful staff to work with.
In addition to selling new and used books, Copperfish Books also hosts a variety of different events for the community, including book clubs, workshops, and author readings and signings.
“Our knowledgeable booksellers are the soul of our store, helping customers find that perfect book,” said Worden. “Our staff moderates five book clubs, sharing their favorite genres with readers who attend. It’s a great place to hang out!”
The shop sells new and used books and even offers a used book credit program. Customers can trade in their used books, as long as they are in excellent condition, for credit to purchase additional used books at Copperfish Books.
The store also offers a special discount for Florida teachers who are interested in buying books for their classrooms.
Copperfish Books is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Sunday.
Sunshine Booksellers, Marco Island
Sunshine Booksellers is an eclectic local business with two locations on Marco Island. Identifying themselves as “much more than a bookstore,” the business sells unique gifts, toys and puzzles not found elsewhere in the area, and a selection of fun and special greeting cards. They even sell the mega-popular Jellycat stuffed animals.
Owner Theresa Unsworth is originally from London and so her international perspective adds to the uniqueness of her two stores.
“I do buy a lot of products worldwide, so we have a lot of different things,” said Unsworth. “We have products that come from England and France and Spain.”
Both locations have a knowledgeable staff who can help you with your book selection, whether you’re into romance, mystery, science fiction, or all of the above.
In addition to the bookstore, Sunshine Booksellers offers other specialized services. Their “north” location, at 1000 N. Collier Blvd., is a FedEx authorized shipping center and also has notary services. Their “south” location, located at 677 S. Collier Blvd., houses a USPS post office.
Both locations open at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday and are closed on Sunday.
Fort Myers Beach Public Library, Fort Myers Beach
First opened in the 1950s, the Fort Myers Beach Public Library is the oldest public library in Lee County. It is actually independent of the Lee County Library System. As such, the library has unique offerings you may not find anywhere else.
The Fort Myers Beach Public Library is located off Estero Boulevard. -COURTESY PHOTO
“We can be more creative here,” said Lizbeth Mullenax, operations manager. “We include a lot of artwork donated by local artists and we can really cater to the people living on the island.”
The three-story library is located in the heart of Fort Myers Beach on Estero Blvd. Each floor offers something special for library patrons.
The third floor of the library showcases local artwork and murals, intricate sandcastle sculptures created by award-winning master sand sculptor “Ed the Sand Man,” and a gorgeous view of the sand and surf of Fort Myers Beach.
Also on the third floor is the Beachcomber Book Store. Completely staffed by volunteers, this bookstore donates 98% of its sales back into the library.
The second floor hosts beautiful seashell collections, mini wooden sailboats, and historical artifacts from Fort Myers Beach and the surrounding areas.
On the first floor, there is a beach-themed kids area featuring a giant under-the-sea-inspired archway, foam climbing blocks in the shape of a crocodile, and a mini boat kids can play on. A life-sized tree with green leaves extending into the ceiling serves as the centerpiece of the play area.
The library also offers helpful services like fax, notary, printing, and device help.
The work of local artists is featured at the Fort Myers Beach Public Library. -COURTESY PHOTO
The Fort Myers Beach Public Library is a staple of the island community. After being dramatically impacted by Hurricane Ian, Mullenax says the community rallied to get the library doors back open as quickly as possible.
“So many people donated and tried to help us after Ian,” said Mullenax. “We kept hearing from people ‘What can we do to get the library back open?’”
The library opened up for the first time after Hurricane Ian on March 16, 2025, and has been serving as a space for the community to gather, read, and learn ever since.
Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach
Raptis Rare Books sets itself apart. It’s a special place, stunningly beautiful, and worth the drive for any true book lover. An “antiquarian” bookstore, it specializes in fine first editions, signed and inscribed books, and landmark books in all fields.
Raptis Rare Books is located on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. -COURTESY PHOTO
“We believe books are more than something to read,” said Raptis. “They are pieces of history that connect us to the people and ideas that have shaped our world…helping people discover those stories is what we love most.”
The collections at Raptis Rare Books span different genres, times, and geographies. For example, you can find original handwritten letters from inventor Nikola Tesla and author Ralph Waldo Emerson. But the shop also has signed basketball cards from Celtics icon Larry Byrd, and a first edition signed copy of “The Greatest: My Own Story” by legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
You can find first-edition and signed copies of famous books at Raptis Rare Books. -COURTESY PHOTO
Owner Adrienne Raptis says her shop is designed to be an experience, not just a bookstore. In addition to Raptis Rare Books, they have the Churchill Cigar Company and the Via Roma Café, creating a space that Raptis says allows “conversation, history, and community to come together.”
Raptis Rare Books is located at 329 Worth Avenue in Palm Beach.
IN THE KNOW:
The Book Café, Fort Myers, @thebookcafefl
Copperfish Books, Punta Gorda, copperfishbooks.com
Sunshine Booksellers, Marco Island, sunshinebooksellers.com
Fort Myers Beach Public Library, Fort Myers Beach, fmb.lib.fl.us/index.html
Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, raptisrarebooks.com