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February 2024 by Natasha F.
Love this local book shop. They have a loyalty program and the staff are so nice! They helped me special order a book for my kids bday and were so thoughtful with the whole process. Support a local small business!
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August 2023 by Simone Anne
Great independent bookstore with great events! Cozy shop with a good selection and nice staff.Saw Taylor Jenkins Reid in conversation with Jasmine Guillory at the Presbyterian Church last year thanks to them and got a signed copy of TJR's new book as my ticket, which was super fun. Really cool that they were able to get such a big author to come out for a conversation and I really appreciated the effort they put into hosting.
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May 2023 by Umut Yalcinkaya
We visited this bookstore for the first time today. The store was very organized and well stocked. We were able to find a lot of good books we haven’t seen in other bookstores. The people who worked there were so nice and wonderful. I didn’t want to leave the store. I will definitely go back regularly.
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April 2023 by Alyson Knop
Great store and super helpful and thoughtful staff.
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January 2023 by Jean Q.
Great customer service. As soon as I read a review and want a bookI call them. If they don't have it, they usually have it in a day. Great to keep our dollars in Oaklan
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December 2022 by Merrilee Proffitt
Really friendly people, great selection. Free wrapping! Support independently owned neighborhood books stores!
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November 2022 by Denise B.
Terrific selection of books -- and will order strange, hard to acquire books! Great help in searching for a book. And this bookstore supports Book Clubs...!
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August 2022 by Lisa Diane
Great independent book store! Nice variety of bestsellers as well as those good to great books not on the bestsellers list. Staff was friendly (as they should be) and helpful, but let you browse uninterrupted. A jewel...
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August 2022 by Nenna F.
My Partner & I have gone here plenty of times. But this time I asked for something that could inspire me and be different while I campaign for Oakland City Council District 4! They suggested this book which has over 6 Queer characters that deal with fighting evil in the 5 boroughs.
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June 2022 by rita delgado
I love this bookstore and have been a customer for many years.
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January 2022 by Matt W.
A wonderful spot if you have some time to wonder through the isles staked with books about everything from how to cook best taco's to travel adventures in Southern Italy to the visiting the Cat in the Hat with your children. All under one roof. If you find yourself in the neighborhood for a dinner at Crogan's or at the Farmers Market on Sunday, drop by and look for your next favorite adventure
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November 2021 by Lisa Diane - The Artsy Reader (The Artsy Reader)
Great independent book store! Nice variety of bestsellers as well as those good to great books not on the bestsellers list. Staff was friendly (as they should be) and helpful, but let you browse uninterrupted. A jewel...
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September 2021 by Emily S.
For years I have recommended this bookstore and have loved supporting them. That changed quite abruptly today with a truly inexcusable, hurtful and rude confrontation. For context, I take my not-quite-2-year-old son here weekly to read books to him while his sister is at ballet up the street. It's his favorite place, and I've mentioned this to them! At least half the time I purchase something. I've been highly considerate of COVID protocol, have been friendly and thanked them for book recommendations. Above all, I make sure we leave the Children's Section as we found it. I'm sensitive to the fact that I have a very small child and ensure no books are compromised by us looking at them together. Today, there were new signs in the Children's Section asking patrons to "help your child be gentle with the books so that they remain like new". I took note. I get that. I believe I do that already, of course. The woman (I don't know her name) came right over to me to reiterate what was on the sign directly. I replied that I'm always very careful. She went on to say something about the lift-the-flap books. I replied I don't do those (I should have said I don't let my child do those). She said "okay because we had to pull a lot of books over the weekend". I sat with this for awhile as I read books to my son. We started to read a book that turned out to be a lift-flap book and after a moment when he started to go for the flaps I immediately put the book back on the shelf and moved on. As we left, I calmly told the woman working the desk that her confronting me directly to insinuate that I may have been the culprit for the impacted merchandise did make me feel bad. She practically cut me off to say "but you TOLD me you didn't do those books and I SAW you doing them today -- I SAW you!". I sputtered to defend myself inarticulately as she argued with me about lift-flap books. The woman who I believe is the owner stood there silently throughout this interaction. I was choking back tears as I left. If you don't want people of any age to gently lift the flaps on board books at all, totally cool! -- just put that on the sign. Even clearly mentioning that as a policy would be perfectly appropriate. Asking parents to ensure their children are gentle on your books is a different request (and it is unfortunate that they would need to do so). I consider myself to be a conscientious parent who maintains respectful children while doing my best to support local business. When it was insinuated otherwise (and with absolutely no grounds), it was offensive and embarrassing. There are so many great bookstores in Oakland. Consider finding another to support. And if you must go to this one, beware you'll be scrutinized and borderline unwelcome if you have tots in tow.
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July 2021 by Gaganpreet Thind
Lots of great books for kids! And adults of course. They wer patient with us even though they were closing.
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April 2021 by Dee S.
This store sold a book to my 13-year-old that is totally inappropriate for her age. The book in question is "Girl A" which is a totally dark story that turned her super withdrawn and depressed. It's so completely inappropriate for them to not monitor who they are selling what to! Definitely will take this further.
