Bodacious Bookstore and Cafe

This bookstore is on the smaller side, but it has a charming atmosphere that makes it well worth a visit. The selection leans toward popular titles, and my 16-year-old daughter thought the book choices were excellent. They also carry a nice range of classics, along with a variety of unique gift items.

Santa came to visit! Cozy atmosphere. Great gift selections. Mocha Latte was delicious! Butter croissant was flaky pastry heaven.

My husband loved his white chocolate mocha but it was pricey. The environment was beautiful with a good selection of books.

***Please note two things that influence this review: 1. I did not try anything from the cafe, but it looked cute. 2. I live in a tiny home, so each item in it must earn its keep, so I buy very few physical books unless they’re gifts for others. *** This little bookstore is fair enough, but I likely won’t go to the trouble of coming back. I’ve noticed a trend in the panhandle for book shops that have a small selection of specifically curated books to appeal to the reading masses (as well they should because that’s where the money to stay open lies) along with another thing or two to draw folks in, and that’s what the Bodacious Bookstore amounts to. Like many of these other small places, the number of hard covers and sprayed edges offered is proportionately highter than at the big box stores, and I love that. It makes the shelves absolutely beautiful. Some of the less visited sections have to be left behind in these stores, though, and I get that. Don’t expect to find a huge reference section although they did have a decent “local/Florida” section. The poetry section was literally the two books in the included photo, and there were no “arts” or “religion” or “philosophy” sections that I saw. Think more “books for vacation,” and you’ll have the vibe here. The staff wasn’t rude, but they also weren’t exactly warm, and there were lots of them. Had I needed help, I wouldn’t have had any trouble finding it. After I left, I thought about why I had no desire to go back, and I think it’s because overall it didn’t feel like a particularly warm or welcoming space. “Sterile” is the word that comes to mind for some reason. That crispness might appeal to a lot of people, though. They did have a few fun bookish gifts, in particular the Book Wallet brand items and ceramic book planters or pencil holder type things. Overall, though, not a huge inventory of non-book items. The long and short of it is that if you’re in the area, do make a stop and support this independent book shop. I might or might not, but I won’t make a special trip over to Pensacola just to come here like I did the day I visited. I’ll stick to my more local stores instead.

I'm always looking for a vibe-y place to grab a delicious, quality coffee, but I'll admit, I'm picky. I want a quality bean, freshly ground, and expertly brewed. I also want it in a MUG, and a good atmosphere to sit down and enjoy it! In a busy world where grabbing and going are the norm, I believe in sitting down and enjoying the food and drink we pay good money for! This place checked all of the boxes, with the bonus of it also being a book store! My family and I stopped in on my birthday for a treat, and loved everything about it! I had my favorite: a hot latte with oatmilk, lavender and vanilla - it was divine! The baristas went out of their way to make my 3 girls an Italian soda, even though they aren't on the menu. Extra credit for that! We also enjoyed a muffin and regular ol' black coffee, both of which were delicious! They have many other options for food and drink, but we were just there for an afternoon pick me up. The book selection is wonderful, especially for such a small place! They have all of the "essential" YA books, like Wings of Fire and Percy Jackson, and a lovely variety of other subjects for young and old, ehhh, mature, alike. They also have a nice offering of novelty items like journals, pens, notebooks and more. We enjoyed our coffees (in MUGS!), while we perused the books and just sat around. I highly recommend this place, and we look forward to visiting again!