Phuket is a reader's island — long rainy season afternoons, sun-soaked beach mornings, endless café culture. The question is where to feed the habit. After six years here, I've tracked down the secondhand shops, the book swap shelves, the surprisingly good library corners, and the online routes that get decent books to your door without paying a small fortune in customs fees. This is the full picture.
Books in Phuket: Quick Facts
- New English books: Bookazine (Central Festival Phuket Town) and Asia Books (Phuket airport)
- Secondhand English books: Patong (Beach Road), Kata area, some Phuket Town spots
- Book swaps: café shelves in Bang Tao, Rawai, Phuket Town (informal)
- Online delivery: Amazon, Book Depository, Shopee/Lazada book sellers
- Kindle: by far the most practical solution for voracious readers
- Book clubs: 2+ active expat groups (find via Facebook "Phuket Book Club")
New English Books in Phuket
Bookazine at Central Festival Phuket Town
Bookazine is the best English-language bookshop in Phuket. The Central Festival branch in Phuket Town stocks a reasonable range of fiction, non-fiction, travel, and children's books in English, alongside magazines and stationery. Selection is smaller than a major city bookshop but covers the mainstream well. Prices are close to UK/US cover price — imported books carry a premium. For bestsellers and popular reads, this is your first stop.
Asia Books
Asia Books operates at Phuket International Airport (both domestic and international terminals) and in some Central Group malls. The airport branches are handy for a last-minute novel before a flight — prices are typical airport retail. The in-mall selection skews towards travel guides, Thai-interest titles, and bestsellers.
Kinokuniya (Bangkok, not Phuket)
Phuket doesn't have a Kinokuniya, but it's worth mentioning for trips to Bangkok. If you're passing through Siam Paragon or ICONSIAM, Kinokuniya's English-language range is exceptional. Many Phuket expats stock up on visits north.
For new releases and large orders, Book Depository (now part of Amazon) and Book Outlet ship free internationally to Thailand with no minimum order. Delivery to Phuket typically takes 7–14 days. For anything you can't wait for, Kindle's global delivery is instant. Most heavy readers in Phuket have a Kindle and treat physical books as special occasions.
Secondhand English Bookshops in Phuket
Patong Beach Road
Patong has the highest density of secondhand English bookshops on the island — a legacy of its tourist history. Several shops on and near Beach Road buy and sell used paperbacks and hardbacks. Quality varies: some are well-organised with good turnover; others are dusty grab-bags. Prices typically run 50–200 THB for paperbacks depending on condition and title. Worth a browse, especially if you're a genre fiction reader — the romance, thriller, and crime sections are usually well-stocked.
Kata Area
Kata and Karon have a couple of secondhand book spots, smaller than Patong but with less tourist-facing selection — more actual variety. One café-bookshop hybrid near Kata beach has built a reputation among expats for having a more curated stock.
Phuket Town Cafés and Secondhand Spots
The Old Town in Phuket Town has several cafés with book-swap shelves and at least one informal used-book seller. Not a traditional bookshop, but you can find surprising titles if you browse regularly.
| Source | Type | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookazine (Central Festival) | New books | 400–900 THB | Current bestsellers, magazines |
| Asia Books (airport/mall) | New books | 400–850 THB | Travel, popular fiction |
| Patong secondhand shops | Used books | 50–200 THB | Genre fiction, holiday reads |
| Kata area shops | Used books | 60–180 THB | Mixed fiction and non-fiction |
| Book swaps (cafés) | Free exchange | Free | Spontaneous finds, community |
| Online (Book Depository) | New books | 350–700 THB + wait | Specific titles, large orders |
| Kindle | E-books | 100–500 THB | Instant, voracious readers |
| Expat Facebook groups | Free/cheap | 0–100 THB | Relocating expat clearouts |
Libraries in Phuket
Phuket Provincial Library
The main public library in Phuket Town has a small English-language section — enough for a casual browse but limited in scope. It's free to use, clean, and air-conditioned, which makes it worth knowing about for study or quiet reading even if you bring your own book. Located near the administrative area of Phuket Town.
International School Libraries
Both BISP (British International School Phuket) and UWC Thailand have well-stocked libraries, primarily serving their student communities. Some international schools allow community use in limited circumstances — it's worth asking directly. These libraries have genuinely excellent English collections including current non-fiction and academic texts.
Community Library Projects
Several expat community initiatives have set up small English book lending corners — typically at community centres, expat clubs, or café-spaces in Bang Tao and Rawai. These are informal lending arrangements rather than formal libraries, but they work on trust and are often surprisingly good. Ask in the Phuket expat groups for current active locations.
When expats relocate or complete a long stay, they often post "free books" on Facebook rather than haul them home. I've collected some genuinely wonderful finds this way — including books I'd never have chosen that turned into favourites. Set up a Facebook search alert for "phuket free books" and "phuket books" in the main expat groups. It comes up more often than you'd expect.
Book Clubs and Reading Groups in Phuket
Book clubs are one of Phuket's quiet gems for expat community-building. At least two active English-language book clubs meet monthly on the island — one with a more literary fiction focus, one more varied. They typically rotate between homes and café venues in Bang Tao, Surin, and Phuket Town.
Finding them: search "Phuket Book Club" on Facebook, or ask in the main expat groups. Membership is informal — most welcome new faces if you're willing to read the monthly selection. Average reading: one book per month, meeting over drinks or food to discuss. These groups have introduced many expats to each other beyond the usual networking context — well worth joining even if you're not a habitual book club type.
The dedicated Phuket book clubs guide has more detail on active groups, how to join, and how to start your own if nothing suitable exists in your area.
E-Books and Digital Libraries for Phuket Expats
Kindle remains the most practical reading solution for Phuket — instant delivery, no customs, no shelf space required in a rental condo. The Kindle Unlimited subscription (around 299 THB/month) gives access to a large library including many popular titles. For library purists, the Libby app works with some international library systems if you maintain a card from your home country's public library.
Several Phuket expats also maintain home country library cards for exactly this reason — digital borrowing through apps like Libby or BorrowBox is free with a card and gives access to thousands of titles. Worth checking whether your home country's library system allows this for overseas residents.
Sponsored — Health Coverage
Phuket Health Insurance for the Long Stay
Whether you're settling into the long-term expat life or still planning your move, getting health insurance right matters. Cigna covers Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Siriroj and clinics island-wide — plans from around 35,000 THB per year.
Get a free quote from Cigna →Want personal guidance on building your Phuket lifestyle? First question is free.
Ask us anything →Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy English books in Phuket?
The best options are Bookazine at Central Festival Phuket Town, Asia Books at the airport, and secondhand bookshops in Patong and Kata. For delivery, Book Depository ships free to Thailand. Kindle is the most convenient option for voracious readers.
Is there a library with English books in Phuket?
The Phuket Provincial Library has a small English section. International schools (BISP, UWC) have well-stocked libraries primarily for their communities. Several community café-spaces maintain informal English lending shelves — ask in expat Facebook groups for current locations.
Are there book clubs in Phuket for expats?
Yes — there are at least two active expat book clubs meeting monthly in Phuket. Find them by searching "Phuket Book Club" on Facebook or asking in the main expat community groups.
Can I get books delivered to Phuket?
Yes. Amazon and Book Depository deliver to Thailand (Book Depository ships free). Shopee and Lazada have book sellers with faster local delivery. Kindle/e-book options avoid delivery entirely.
Where do expats swap books in Phuket?
Café book swap shelves exist in Bang Tao, Rawai, and Phuket Town. The Phuket Expats Facebook group regularly has "free books" posts from relocating expats. Charity shops in Phuket Town also sell donated English books cheaply.
Related Guides
Explore more of Phuket's cultural and community scene: language exchange and learning Thai in Phuket, charity and secondhand shops in Phuket, pottery and ceramics classes in Phuket, our full Phuket lifestyle guide, and the new expat starter guide.