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    An Unlikely Story

    4.6 (178 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

    An Unlikely Story Photos

    AN UNLIKELY STORY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - An Unlikely Story

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    Mike R.

    Great little bookstore that has great events. Always a cool place to visit when we're in town.

    Jellycat
    Lucy C.

    It was a cool bookstore, cafe and gift shop. Tons of cool different products for that one of a kind gift ideas. The books something for everybody. Cafe I didn't try so I will have to hit it up next time. Very cool vibe. Check it out.

    Cori W.

    A book lover's dream for readers both old and young! The atmosphere in here is so cozy and inviting, with fun details all over (the book "birds" on the ceiling! All the old signs!). There's a cafe with yummy food and great coffee- my Graham cracker latte matched any fancy coffee shop in quality. The second floor has a big seating area if you want to tuck away and read your new books. There's also tons of great gifts and trinkets throughout the store. Overall it's a beautiful store with lots of attention to detail and great staff!

    Second story event space
    Lizzie R.

    I recently visited for Independent Bookstore Day, which is always a good time. Sadly, we missed seeing Lyle Lyle Crocodile because it took place during nap time. But we were able to get a couple children's picture books & a Jellycat plush Cat for my daughter (which we found out afterwards, it's retired online!) And I even got an ARC of an adult fiction book included in my purchase. The gift section is always fun to peruse and the bookstore itself is stunning. The decorations are so fun. The staff is friendly and helpful. I haven't tried their food at the cafe yet but I was intrigued by the grilled Sun butter & banana sandwich on the kid's menu. I did have an iced coffee which was yummy. In previous visits, I've attended many author events on the Second Story. It's a lovely space and they get a wonderful selection of authors! They have great parking. A few years ago they redid their parking behind the store and it has a much better flow. And there's overflow parking across the street which is handy for event nights. I've never had a bad experience visiting this store. It's definitely one of my favorite indie bookstores!

    Jess B.

    Wow this bookstore made me so sad I don't live nearby. I've wanted to stop for years when driving by because of their eye catching posters across the street & just never did until now. Maybe that's a good thing though because I sure would be poorer if I was a regular here. The ambiance is exactly what I want from a busy bookstore. There's a buzz of everyone sharing their cool finds with each other. But it's not loud or overwhelming. Large children's section, plenty of fun knick knacks, a great looking cafe & plenty of books in every genre. My haul included some pens, a book mark & even a signed copy from a local romance author. Can't wait to visit again!

    Outside
    Jill I.

    Great coffee and bookstore combination. The book store is so inviting and has a magical feeling The displays as decor are great and make you want to explore the whole shop. Loved the books hanging from the ceiling. We use to love to read the "Diary of a wimpy kid "books so it was fun to be here. The furniture inside and out is unusual and appealing. The coffee was excellent very good quality. I tried the turmeric tea latte which was good but I tried the ice coffee and it was far superior . I do wish they had had liquid sugar for the ice coffee that would have really been good. They offer non dairy creamer at no additional cost . Loved the seating options upstairs and think attending an event here would be really fun. Lots of additional parking across the street.

    Quidditch brooms and books that are flying off the shelves in this terrific bookstore cafe
    L F.

    Fantastic reuse of an old brick warehouse building, with a wide assortment of books, gifts, gadgets, gizmos, gardening gear, and goodies. Excellent cafe with a few tables within the bookstore, as well as a second level with several tables and a couple more on a balcony outside. Friendly staff, outstanding industrial chic accents and ambiance. Off-street parking. An Unlikely Store is absolutely anything but plain in Plainville.

    Outside storefront from parking lot
    Melissa L.

    Very cute bookstore. Glad I tried it. There are 2 floors, with the upstairs divided into a quiet reading area where you can eat the cafe food and a room for book readings. The downstairs has lots of different book themed decorations, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Harry Potter. I also like how they had a section highlighting Lunar New Year. This seems like a place that would be inclusive of marginalized holidays. The food was good. And they were very patient with me when I changed my order after I saw something else. The sandwiches are limited and their menu is not extensive, but the food is good. Definitely sign up for their rewards plan if you're in the area. It works on both the cafe and the bookstore.

    A copy of Tomie dePaola's "Strega Nona" from the Kids Section of An Unlikely Story

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    9 months ago

    I love visiting here when I come to town, there's something for everyone and the staff is always so helpful

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    2 years ago

    Such a great place. Great selection of books. I love it there. Highly recommend. I hope to go back soon

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    2 years ago

    Smaller selection than expected, but still a super cute place! They had fun little gifts as well!

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    3 years ago

    this book store was a gem! cool spot to stop at on your road trip. plus there's a coffee shop inside!

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - An Unlikely Story

    Review Highlights - An Unlikely Story

    The downstairs has lots of different book themed decorations, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Harry Potter.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

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    Heartleaf Books

    Heartleaf Books

    5.0
    (12 reviews)
    13.4 mi

    It was a bit cold outside and I needed to kill time so I was delighted to stumble across this…read morebookshop! First, I love that they have free non perishable goods outside for people to help themselves as they need it. The shop inside is very cute, they have a diverse selection of books inside a cozy space. I liked how it was organized, enjoyed featuring of local artists work, including cards and bookmarks. Prices were what you can expect from a smaller book store, nothing incredibly expensive and overall a good deal. They also had a pile of books by the door that were completely free, which I thought was a great idea. Definitely a great place to stop by if you're looking for a new read!

    My favorite bookstore, hands down…read more The team at Heartleaf has created such a welcoming & eclectic environment. They've carefully curating a wide variety of stories, accumulated so many sweet little goodies & knick knacks, & built a wonderful, irreplaceable community in Providence. They put a LOT of effort into highlighting BIPOC & queer authors in their collection. The range of genres & narratives - especially considering the tiny size of the store - is a masterclass in diverse inventory. The very best thing about Heartleaf, though, is the manager. She alone is worth a visit to the store. If she's napping, it's a cardinal sin to disturb her. You'll just have to come back another time to give her a scratch behind the ears. (Penny is the manager. Penny is also a cat. I promise I'm not randomly scratching humans behind the ears.) Thank you Caroline & Mads for everything you do. Long live Heartleaf!

    Photos
    Window shopping
    Window shopping
    Penny the cat
    Penny the cat
    Heartleaf Books

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    Enchanted Fox

    Enchanted Fox

    4.6
    (15 reviews)
    10.9 mi
    $$

    A wide selection of items, with an especially good crystal section. Definitely worth the trip!read more

    This review has been a long time in coming…read more Over twenty years ago, I was friendly for several years with Rose, one of the owners, and her daughter Robin, who is still the resident "intuitive reader". I was introduced to them because I was going through a terrible time. Over a period of several years, as my life fell apart, I was repeatedly told by the people who congregated there that everything that was happening to me was due to one or more of the following: - it was something I'd agreed to before I came into this life; - we're here to "learn lessons" and I was failing to learn them; - I was "manifesting" everything that was happening to me, telling the universe it was what I wanted even if I wasn't consciously aware of it; - that God, Spirit or the universe (take your pick) was offering me what I needed, but I wasn't seeing it because I was focused only on what I wanted. In other words, my suffering was my own fault. It was standard New Age fare - puerile rationalizations and psychological counseling without training, qualifications or a license. Moreover, it was relentless, repetitive, went on for years, and I now regard it as a form of abuse. I should have walked away long before I did. When I knew them, the store was a gathering place for numerous psychics, channelers, Wiccans, card readers, energy healers, "shamanic practitioners" and other assorted people who believed they were inherently gifted or just went to a few weekend workshops and considered themselves qualified to do whatever it was they were doing. I tried various New Age healing and interventional modalities; nothing worked, not one piece of information I was given was accurate and not one prediction (from those who made them as part of their practice) came to pass. I was fed a great deal of nonsense while my life continued to spiral downward, despite everything I tried to do to help myself - and while it was spiraling, it always came back to the same thing: I was consistently told that it was all somehow my fault (although they tended to bristle at my use of the word). The people who gathered around that store epitomized the New Age ethos of blaming the victim. I complained about this on a number of occasions, and was at one point told, "It isn't an exact science; it's really like guessing." This was actually said. On another occasion, I was accused of shaking my fist at God. They practice theology the same way they practice therapy - with neither training nor qualifications, and with a belief in their ability to understand complex subjects that doesn't hold up in reality. On several occasions, I said to both Rose and Robin, "If we're here to learn lessons, and the same things keep happening to me repeatedly because I'm somehow not 'getting' those lessons, there has to be a problem with the presentation - because I'm simply not that stupid." This was invariably met with silence. I should also mention that at no point was there ever an apology. If something along the lines of, "We don't know what's going on in your life and we're sorry we can't help you" had been said, I would be much more forgiving. Instead, there was always either silence or a rationalization involving my culpability - again, it was always my fault. It was never that their foundational beliefs were wrong; that was unthinkable. I have to assume the people who post positive reviews here and on Facebook either go there solely for New Age paraphernalia and leave it at that, or if they go for some sort of "spiritual counseling" they're told what they want to hear. The only further contact occurred years after I'd ended the relationships, when I emailed one of them to express my frustration and resentment. Again, there was no apology. The reply was acrimonious, defensive, and of course, blamed me both for their failures and for my own discomfiture. As is typical within that subculture, she took no responsibility for misleading me while emphasizing *my* responsibility. I'm posting this because it's festered within me for two decades. I was given a lot of false hope at a time when I needed genuine answers, and I came out of it with a profound contempt for both the New Age belief system and the subculture that embraces it. If there is anyone else who walked away from that world disgruntled, perhaps they'll read this and realize they aren't alone. On their Facebook page, they describe their business as "a haven of nurturing and healing to those needing physical and spiritual restoration". It was anything but that for me. If you're looking for crystals, jewelry, New Age books (which I think contain nonsense but if that's what you want), Tarot cards, Native American flutes and carvings, etc. - as others have said, they have a very good selection. If you're thinking of going there for any sort of counseling or supernatural intervention (for lack of a better term) - my advice would be to steer clear. Everything these people believe is harmful and misleading inanity.

    Photos
    Bring the Magic Home!
    Bring the Magic Home!
    Enchanted Fox
    Enchanted Fox

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    An Unlikely Story - coffee - Updated July 2026

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