By Gate info screens in Main, Simply Books sells real books
Right in the Main terminal concourse at TUS, Simply Books is the airport’s dedicated bookstore and magazine stop. You’ll find new-release paperbacks, a wall of bestsellers, plus regional Southwest titles that actually mention Tucson by name. It’s all post-security, so you can grab something after clearing TSA instead of juggling it with your boarding pass.
Most paperbacks run in the $16–$22 range, with hardcovers higher, so price-wise it tracks with typical airport markup. There’s also a rack of under-$10 mass-market paperbacks if you just want something for a 90-minute hop to Denver or LAX. Kids’ books sit in their own section, which helps if you’re trying to keep a 5-year-old occupied at Gate A4.
Beyond books, Simply Books carries newspapers, crossword and Sudoku puzzle books, and a decent lineup of glossy magazines, including travel and outdoor titles focused on Arizona. You’ll also see standard airport add-ons: a few reading lights, neck pillows, basic pens, and notebooks, handy if you’re filling out customs forms on an international connection through another hub.
Selection is better earlier in the day; by late evening some of the buzzy new titles run low, especially on Fridays when the bank of departures between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. pushes traffic past the shop. Staff usually keep a small stand of marked “staff picks” near the front register, which is where you’ll spot anything quirky or local that isn’t stacked 20 copies high.
Tip: If you’re short on time, walk the front table first; that’s where the newest and Tucson-specific books sit, so you can be in and out in under 5 minutes.