Bart's Books is a one of kind bookstore in Ojai. This spot is huge with shelves of books lined up…read moreindoors and outdoors. They also have a great diversity of book genres and sell both new and used books. Everything is neatly organized and prices are really fair and affordable too. If you are ever in the Ojai area, this place is one of the ones you do not one to miss out on! One of my favorite bookstores I have ever been to!

I am someone who constantly gives 5 star reviews. I will only give 1 star if a place is torturing…read moreanimals or gives me the worst possible experience possible (which thankfully is rare). I want to give 3 stars in good faith to Bart's Books but I couldn't help but to notice when my husband and I were approached and HOW we were approached. Let me explain: We walked in and headed towards the right back to take a look at books. Immediately, an employee (maybe the owner)? with a black cap on approached us and said in a stern voice, "Do you need any help?" When we both answered "No, thank you!" The employee/owner continued to stand there and followed up with, "Are you looking for anything in particular?" To which we both replied "No." Then we were left alone. What I noticed is I was the only Black person inside this entire shop and my husband is a POC, Indigenous. So it felt very off putting. Especially considering there was a man right next to us who wasn't asked a question! That same man turned around to look at this employee/owner when we were approached, then realized he wasn't the one being approached and turned back around to look at books. There was also another couple on our lefthand side/bookshelf over and this employee/owner walked right by them and didn't ask them the same line of questions. They were white AND they entered behind us. We weren't even in the shop for a solid minute before we were abruptly approached. I didn't even get to pick up the book I wanted to look at when we were approached. What adds to it: The employee/owner with the black cap on walked away as soon as we walked up the register to purchase. The other employee stayed put and was polite. Offered to bag my items for me and wished us a good day. Now, listen. I have gone through my fair share of racism, racial profiling, etc. And considering the world we are living in right now, moments like these feel more intense and hurtful. Moments like these NEED to be talked about. We live in a world that can be very cruel, dark and full of racism. With all that being said, I still want to hold on to hope. I hope that this was not the employee/owner's intentions. However, intent isn't the same as impact. Just because you don't "intend" for something to feel or be that way doesn't mean it isn't. This interaction left us both feeling uneasy, especially when we noticed it wasn't happening to anyone else. It almost made me leave, but I wanted to get books! I noticed someone left a review on here explaining something eerily similar to what we experienced and they too named the same employee/owner. To know my husband and I weren't the only ones to feel this way and to be treated this way is ALARMING. Again, I want to hold out hope. But this doesn't look great for Bart's Books. I was SO excited to come here all the way from Los Angeles, get some great books, have a great experience and support a small business. I at least left with two of the three. I can only hope this review can encourage them to do better, treat everyone equally and with kindness! On to notes about the space/business: - Very cute and charming - Peaceful - Organized - So cool to be "inside" and outdoor bookshop - They have a few rooms that do have AC/fans - Seating and reading nooks - They do not allow pets - They do not have a bathroom - They offer events with authors - They buy books - Fair pricing

Stopped by this location in Santa Clarita, great decoration and placement of books. A wide variety…read moreof options and styles to choose. I got 3 poetry books and 2 classic images. Great customer service, value and quality was great. All books were in good condition and new condition. Books, paintings, magazines, and more!

Very cool vintage bookstore for buy, sell, trade. In the back right corner, they sell some stuff…read morethat resembles a pawn shop. I was considering the Green Eggs and Ham book for four dollars used and one in a better condition that was five dollars.

A small but mighty bookstore. After years of driving by this spot, what finally brought me in was…read moreseeing them on social media. I stumbled upon a post they did which was in solidarity with a group of people and seeing that our values were aligned I knew this was a local small business that I needed to be supporting from here on out. I came midweek to shop and look around, and I had a great experience. It's a smaller bookstore, but they did have a lot to choose from! I was especially happy to see that they keep up with new and trending authors/books that come out. But of course, they also had a broad selection of every type of book you could think of. Being a smaller independent bookstore they don't have mass quantity though so if you find a book you like you should grab it because they only have a copy or two of each. I found that the pricing was comparable to anywhere else but again when you shop here you're supporting local small businesses so even if it was a little pricier, it would be worth it to me. They had a cute child's/kids section in the back so it would definitely be a great place to bring your little one to look around or read a story. The vibes are welcoming, but I also appreciate when staff leave you to look around without standing over your shoulder. The gal working behind the register was super nice and checked me out with quickness, that I was in and out without issue. Nice people work here, they have a decent selection and overall it was a cute little shop that I will be back to support again soon.

When so many bookstores are shutting their doors, The BOOKWORM is thriving!! It's easy to see why,…read moreIt's a warm, welcoming environment, plenty of parking and a LONG history with the community. So many books - special orders on request. Planned future events :Ask the Expert - Book Clubs Edition with award-winning author Raven West on the new community radio station Camaradio 101.3FM

Timbre Books is a thoughtfully curated independent bookstore in the heart of Midtown Ventura. It's…read morecalm, inviting, and easy to browse at your own pace. The book selection feels intentional, with a good mix of familiar titles, indie presses, and unexpected finds. I've picked up several great reads here for my Caracol Book Club and always feel good about what I bring home. Pricing feels reasonable and consistent for a shop this well curated. The staff pick recommendation cards are genuinely helpful, and the loyalty rewards program is a nice bonus. I also love the seating in the back. It's the kind of spot where you can actually slow down. Journal, read, and sip a coffee from the neighboring coffee shop, Singing Sun, without feeling rushed. In addition to books, there's a solid selection of stationery, greeting cards, and small gifts, plus gift cards that are easy and practical. They also host author events and community gatherings that feel thoughtful and well done. Whether I'm browsing for myself or picking up a gift, Timbre is consistently a good experience. Ventura is lucky to have an independent shop like this.

~ A BOOKLOVER'S HAVEN ~…read more Timbre Books is everything I've ever wanted in a bookstore. When you walk in, you're greeted by a bright, airy, modern, and warm space. There are a couple of two person tables near the front, next to big, dreamy windows, perfect for working or reading. To the right, there's a wonderful selection of children's books and cozy reading nooks. It was heartwarming to see kids sprawled out, reading and lost in their own worlds. There's also a table towards the back with charming cards for purchase. Their book selection is impressively diverse and thoughtfully curated, with many titles featuring staff recommendations and reviews. I especially enjoy horror/psychological thrillers and nonfiction memoirs, and there's plenty of those, as well as the newest, hottest books from social media (booktok). They have a rewards program and a monthly newsletter that's thoughtfully crafted giving us the scoop on new arrivals, events, and book recommendations. Their book club meets monthly and has a laid-back, low maintenance vibe making it perfect for busy people who just want to casually discuss a book. I happened to visit during one of these meetings, and it was so wholesome to see people sharing baked goods, laughter being heard, and enjoying each other's company. The atmosphere here feels like a true community, and it gives you those warm, fuzzy feelings. When I mentioned it was my first visit, Mirna quickly made me feel welcomed by sharing details about the store, answering my questions, and suggesting some of her favorite books based on my interests. It's great that the staff have diverse tastes and can offer varied recommendations! Overall, Timbre Books is a unique gem in Ventura, and I'm excited to come back and join the next book club! *HOT TIP: There's plenty of parking available in the lot behind the store and on the street. *HOTTER TIP: Before heading in to browse/read, don't forget to grab a coffee from the charming coffee shop two doors down!

Very nice spot to visit in Pine Mountain Club. There are 3 businesses onsite: Live Inspired Design…read more(gifts/jewelry), Adventure Ink (bookstore), and Rural & Rustic (coffee, pastries, home decor). The selection of everything is great. I highly recommend grabbing a beverage and browsing all the goodies that this place has to offer - it's perfect for gifts and mementos!

Great book store! Tucked away in beautiful Pine Mountain Club.Grab a book, find some shade, a view…read moreand what a way to spend the day!

Cool little bookstore in town. They don't seem to have a…read morehuge selection but they still have a great variety of books. Kids books, fiction, non fiction, etc. Prices are a lot more affordable than most places as well. Just came in looking a bible but will definitely be back to see what more I can find here. The staff was also very friendly soon I was walked in I was greeted and she even offered help to find what I was looking for.

Beautiful but small store. You can order almost everything here. Great customer service. I just…read morewish it were still the store the size it used to be.

The owner is so helpful and obviously passionate about sharing his love of books with his…read morecustomers. Shopping here was a wonderful experience.

Fantastic used book store with a wonderful owner! Large selection at a great price and almost all…read moreof the books were in good-great condition. Love the huge sci-fi selection and even found some King books in the horror section too! My favorite purchase was a beautiful copy of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. 1990 Reader's Digest edition with illustrations and it couldn't be in better shape. Already half way through the book now :) Will have to return to Next Chapter soon!

I am so happy to repost this review with a 5 star review. Years ago I tried to patron the Calico…read morewith my children and the cashier was anti-child. I recently visited Ventura and stepped into the Calico and started chatting with the owner. I told them about my experience and they knew who I was talking about and said that she had been let go years ago and they work most of the time now. so Yay!! Their collection is large, obscur, and some fun rare finds. It's a great space, kids are welcomed again, and he even has a cool kids collection.

I love all bookstores, no matter what, all of them…read more This one was slightly harder to love. First the positive: it has a great name. But alas, no cats. Second, I did find about four or five books here (used) that I have not been able to find elsewhere, so that is a big positive. The organization of the books here leaves something to be desired. Some of the books are in alphabetical order. But many are not. That is a bit maddening. There is also no obvious organization of the books by subject matter. But it is a small shop so it is not that difficult to snoop around. If you are looking for the latest pop novels, this probably won't be your happy place. But if you are looking for classics or hard to find books, this just could be your happy place. If you are willing to overlook the somewhat chaotic organization of the books, you could spend some time here and find some real nuggets. The prices seemed fair to me.

This little bookstore makes a big impression! The environment is so welcoming and inclusive and has…read moreservice that exceeded my expectations. The team is so approachable and welcoming, so looking for niche romance novels is never intimidating. I'm a sucker for a good and cheesy romance novel and this spot meets my needs and more. In addition they carry beautiful local made trinkets and have the best selection of book related stickers!! Everything is reasonably priced and you have the added benefit of supporting a lovely Ventura business. Smitten holds release parties and while I didn't get to attend the one I purchased they held my book for me and even kept a pin for me that they gave out at the party! I hear rhag it was a black light event with games and snackies, what a treat! I hope you can visit sometime soon! Okay thanks bye!

This bookstore is on Main Street and has a definite fun, chic, creative vibe. They sell expressive,…read moreinspired books, along with stickers, bookmarks, and tarot cards. I also saw tarot cards for dogs being sold, which made me smile. For a small to medium space, they make the most of fun and original books and other inspired art. In the back, there's a small meeting space. On the website, they have a lot of events - everything from book club meetings, tarot card readings, a journaling club, a writing club, book swaps, and more. I attended one of the book clubs, where everyone expressively and passionately explained the moments they liked and didn't like from the book. I would never have read such an entertaining and creative book if not for Smitten's book club. The book discussion made me like the book even more through everyone's inspiring analysis. Take a look at this fun, community-inspired bookstore!

Be warned, this place is bogus. We drove up from Los Angeles expecting to find a new (to us)…read morebookstore. Instead, the listed address is not a book store but a construction site. It seems that Lantern Tree Books did occupy a real brick and mortar location back in 2023, but that location has closed and they are now in the process of opening in a new location. I even checked their website and they provide no warning that the old store is closed and the new store has not yet open. At least we were able to visit the Friends of the Carpinteria library book store and then head over to Barts in Ojai.

What a charming enchanting little book shop. When I walked in I was transported to the bookstore of…read moremy dreams, complete with winged back chairs (see pictures). There were books for everyone, adults, young adults to small children. I picked up a board book for my sweet grandson. I loved the local author section with local historical books. The lovely lady at the desk said they are planning on having several events each month. Thank you for coming to Carpinteria!!!!