Octavia’s Bookshelf

Named after the city’s own literary legend, sci-fi author Octavia E. Butler, this Pasadena shop specializes in books penned by BIPOC writers (including Butler, of course). Octavia’s Bookshelf has way more to offer than just a reverential name, though: The Black-owned bookstore offers an excellently curated mix of biographies, novels and children’s books in a cute-and-cozy space that also hosts book talks and live performances.