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March 2024 by Emma G.
This is my last Boston adventure review in which I can make an NYC comp. When I was in college, one of my favorite places to visit was the Strand, an iconic bookstore on Broadway just south of Union Square. It was very close to campus, and my friends and I would often try to find used books here for our classes instead of paying an egregious amount for a brand new one at the NYU bookstore (they took so much of my money I can't even). I knew so many people who applied to work there - it seemed like the dream part-time job, with books stacked up to the heavens and a $0.48 bin on the sidewalk for the novels that needed a little more love than the average tome. All of those memories flooded in when my top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality and I came over here toward the tail-end of our trip - another place with history, another place where you can grab a super affordable book that someone else had a journey with in a prior decade, another place with personality oozing out of its pores. We stopped by on a dreary Monday morning - dreary enough where there was a bit of concern that the skies would open while we were perusing the outside wares, of which there were many (we actually had to cut that portion of the visit short because the books had to be wheeled off to the side to allow for a truck to come in). You can see from the attached picture that there are wooden bookshelves built into the sides of the outside lot, along with partitions/coverings that are easily placed in front of them after business hours, so the books probably get more fresh air than me. That was my favorite area - also similar to the Strand, it can get claustrophobic inside when you're navigating around narrow piles of books - and it was nice to stroll around and look for a new/old literary classic to add to my own shelves. The interior section was more organized (though I kind of liked the adventure of roaming around not exactly sure what I might stumble across - one of my purchases was a new/old copy of Grapes of Wrath from 1939. My literary expert chum isn't convinced it's a first edition because, "Viking Press used to play fast and loose with that stuff," but if it's not, it's super close) and it was easy to find specific genres that piqued my interest, notably a fun bookshelf for presidential-related books that was in chronological order, exactly how I have it at home. My only nitpick (per the attached picture) was that Obama intruded on my chum Nixon's shelf. Not all of us were allowed to finish two terms, Barack. Brattle boasted a third floor, which apparently had some very edgy first editions, rare books, etc. You needed someone to accompanying you up there, understandably so, but neither of us was so invested in gazing upon an autographed Henry James or whatever was on that floor to initiate a conversation with an employee. (And full disclosure - I was starting to get a hankering for lobster.) Maybe next time. Everyone we interacted with was very nice. I've had some run-ins with the snobby Strand employees who think they're living on a higher plane of existence because they can quote random chunks of Moby Dick, but no such issues were encountered on this visit. I'm trying to curtail my literary hoarding problem, but my chum merely contributed to hers, practically staggering under the weight of her purchases as we left. This was a great find, and had the added benefit of featuring many great finds within it. Definitely stop by if you still enjoying turning ye olde pages with your paws.
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December 2023 by Sarah K.
Great book store with so many old books. 3 flights of stairs would be hard for some to traverse but there is also a cool outside addition between buildings. My 17 year old was in heaven and picked out some really old books she was so excited about.
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November 2023 by sarah h.
Very reasonably priced. Good selections and lots of old books. I loved the vibes on the outside book selection.
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November 2023 by Keeley F.
Really cute outdoor and indoor bookstore. I have never seen a bookstore outside so it's a great concept.
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October 2023 by Kate C.
Adorable used bookstore in downtown Boston. They don't have many new books, but they have a wide variety of older books for a very good value. Definitely worth stopping here if you're in the area.
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October 2023 by Jenny
Lovely shop just filled with all kinds of old books! Wish I had more time to explore. I’m sure there’s a hidden gem in each aisle.
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October 2023 by Rachel Ewell
Incredible bookshop - so much selection including very rare and special books. Store is three stories plus outdoor space filled with books to pick up. So happy I made time for this gem when I was visiting Boston.
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August 2023 by Gary Ogasawara
Support local bookstores and buy something. This place is fun to see the wide variety of books spread over two floors and an outdoor alley. Outdoor shelves were $5 books. A throwback that I wonder how long will be there. Better to visit soon.
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August 2023 by Jeanette Neyman
The outside book spine decorations are so amazing!! The book selection, while large, is mostly books that I wouldn’t normally read. Aka, not popular. However, for some that may be it’s charm.
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August 2023 by H. Rai
Cool book shop that you can get lost in for hours. The books outside in the alley have no rhyme or reason to organisation so you need to be dedicated to the hunt. Inside the books are arranged by genre and author. Helpful staff if you have questions.
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August 2023 by Anna Bracher
AMAZING!! Great quality used and antique books, and the alley full of bookshelves is MAGICAL. really a must see in boston if you even remotely like books.
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July 2023 by RoadTrip NewEngland
Awesome book store to check out, walking distance from the Common. Lots of local interest and history- plus rare books up on the top floor. Outside they have an alley of marked down/bargain books.
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July 2023 by Akemi N.
Love this place the books are plentiful and lots of options for low price even autographed copies
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July 2023 by J.Y. Zhang
Wow! This is quite honestly and with no exaggeration the best English-language used/antiquarian bookstore I've been in so far. They have such a large quantity of high quality books, there's a whole section outdoors. I was fortunate to visit when a huge selection of superb Limited Editions Club books were on sale for $25 each, which is an incredible bargain I don't expect to see again. Other hardcovers are also very well priced across all 3 floors with many hidden gems that are hard to find online. A must visit for anyone collecting or simply into fine books.
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July 2023 by Lexi Chipules
Cute bookstore with an amazing selection, especially the rare section upstairs, incredible just to be around a collection like that. I came in right before closing and wish I had more time to explore.
