Godmothers Bookstore

We’ve been going to Santa Barbara a lot lately, one of my favorite places.

Now, I love a good bookstore! We’re avid readers in our house, especially reading to our little girl. And because of our more frequent visits to Santa Barbara/Montecito area, we’ve scheduled in stops at one of the most beautiful bookstores I’ve been to, a definite book lovers dream space for sure: Godmothers Bookstore in Summerland (just right outside of Santa Barbara)!

If you’ve never been, this beautiful indie shop is the kind of place that makes you want to linger, explore, cozy on up, and — let’s be honest — buy all the books.

The space itself feels like a love letter to readers and dreamers. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by frames of powerful, inspiring women and authors. The warm light hits the beautifully curated shelves and tables. It feels like a hidden gem along the California coast, and once you’ve been, it’s hard not to plan every future trip with a stop here (like us!).

There’s an outdoor patio and café that’s perfect for grabbing a quick lunch or sipping coffee (the cold brew is delicious!) while you flip through your latest finds, and the atmosphere is inspiring, did I mention that already? 🙂

The Top Tier Kid’s Section

One of the true standouts? The kid’s section. Maybe I’m a little biased because I’m a mom of a toddler girl, but let me tell you, it’s vibrant, thoughtfully put together, and absolutely top-tier!

Whether you’re looking for a timeless classic, a beautifully illustrated picture book, or something new to spark a young reader’s imagination, Godmothers has you covered. And if you’re traveling with kids, this is a must-stop to let them pick out a book of their own and they also have storytime a couple of days a week!

The company is also a gathering space and they host events. Find out more on their events page!

What to Pick Up at Godmothers

Looking for ideas on what to buy during your visit? Here are some favorites and recs to checkout:

• For Gifts: Check out their ‘Blind Date with a Book’ shelf! All wrapped up, grab a book and find out what gem lies beneath! These also make for great gifts! They also have adorable journals and book bags. We grabbed the ‘Bookworm’ mini tote bag from Out of Print for our kid! So cute!

• For Kids: Stroll through the super colorful, lovely kids section and find books you might not have even known existed! Also grab some favorites like: toddler favorite The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld, beautifully illustrated Hello Hello series by Brendan Wenzel, classics like Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, or a well designed coloring book like PARIS: a collection of beautiful Parisian images to colour in by Zoé de Las Cases.

• For Fiction and Non-Fiction: Carefully curated, Godmothers offers everything — from contemporary fiction and literary favorites to cookbooks, art books, and poetry.
  

What I love most is that Godmothers isn’t just a bookstore, it’s an experience. Stopping here on the way into town (Santa Barbara), feels like a much needed reset: a chance to pause, slow down, and reconnect with the joy of wandering through stories. And it’s just aesthetically calming, cozy and inviting!

So, if you’re headed to Santa Barbara, make time for a stop at Godmothers. Pick up a new read, grab a coffee, and spend an afternoon soaking in the magic of one of the most charming (and picture perfect) bookstores around!

Also, check out our free resources page to see more book recommendations as well!