There are several options for English language books and newspapers. Of course, you can buy from Amazon (use this site’s link if you do!) and get anything you want delivered. It does work, but at a price (averaging about 6-10 USD per book shipping). The Shanghai Daily and Shanghai Star are both English-language newspapers that are readily available and occasionally have some good articles about what's happening around town. Then there are the prolific free entertainment mags like That’s Shanghai and City Weekend. However, books are another matter entirely. Here is what some of our forum members have posted on the subject. If you have something to add that may be useful, click comment at the end of this article or post something in the forum.

Anyone able to tell me where some good English-language bookstores are located?

Fuzhou Rd (runs parallel to East Nanjing Rd, a couple of blocks South) has a lot of bookstores. The biggest, Book City, has an impressive selection of imported titles (go up to the top floor and there's a couple of rooms of them.) The Foreign Languages Bookstore is also nearby on Fuzhou Rd and probably also has some titles of interest.

The Scholar Book store in Meiluocheng (Metro City) in Xujiahui has a much smaller collection of imports. There's another new Scholar store on Fuzhou Rd, but apparently no imports.

A lot of other book stores will have some English titles, but they are mostly confined to those older classic books (whose copyrights presumably expired long ago.) Those books have the advantage of being very cheap, I think around 15 RMB.
By LeiFeng

There is a very good book store in Xujiahui. It is on Hongqiao Rd, right beside the Orient Shopping Center. I don't know the exact address, but it should be around 2-6, Hongqiao Rd.
By Wangjianshuo

I found some foreign books at Jifeng bookstore (South Shanxi Rd Station,) another English bookstore in Citic Square. You can even find the latest magazines: Newsweek, the Economist, USA Today, South China Morning Post, Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest...
CNPIEC Bookstore, Rm 522, 1168 Nanjing West Rd, Citic Square (East of Plaza 66)
By lijunj

Is there a place that sells English newspapers and magazines?

Most four or five star hotels sell English newspapers and magazines, but not that large a variety...I know there is a book store in CITIC with quite a few choices.
Rm 522, CITIC Square, 1168 Nanjing West Rd
By Anonymous

Sofitel has a shop in the lobby with a decent selection.
By Shanghighman