A bookstore is a retailer that primarily sells books, though they may also sell magazines, coffee, greeting cards, plush toys, games, wrapping paper, blank books, donuts, muffins, bagels, and tea (iced or hot).

A book may here be understood as a series of leaves which have been bound or gathered, typically between covers. Most books contain text, although some books may contain some combination of images, illustrations, or figures; other books are blank. A book's leaves may be made from paper, cloth, papyrus, plastic, or other materials which convey textual, graphic, or bibliographic content.