I am so lucky to live within walking distance of this independent bookstore. It's a great place for…read morebrowsing for queer, feminist, and intersectional books. I've bought a lot of gifts there since they moved to their new location. For those of you who have to drive, there's plenty of on-street parking nearby.

Super selection of queer, feminist and all together awesome books with an amazing owner and cool…read moreshop Corgi, Ruby. Fantastic recommendations and a great variety of stickers! Books priced as expected for an independent bookstore and again I was happy to pay.

This spot was adorable - both for books and food…read more We lucked out as we didn't have a reservation, but called and turns out they had an outdoor table available. We weren't sure how to enter, so we started in the bookstore and found their convenient elevator downstairs! The restaurant is tiny but cozy, which is the perfect atmosphere for a book store! We sat outside in the little courtyard and it's a mix of magical and relaxing! There were only a few tables, so it wasn't overcrowded and with nice weather, it was perfect. I had a salad with salmon on the side which was delicious - and the ginger lemonade - wonderful! From buttered noodles to seafood, everything was executed well. The staff didn't rush us even though they were busy - and they had to give really long wait times to a number of others, but we still weren't rushed. I would highly recommend reservations, but even without we were treated very well. Pricing was in line with city pricing - and the food was extremely high quality and produce was lovely - not a shriveled lettuce leaf in sight. We then went upstairs to the bookstore and perused - each floor has something fun to see (including a tiny kids door - or is it a mouse door for the mouse who stars in the book about the store?!). 100% worth a visit - definitely stop in!

Beacon Hill Books and Cafe is a three story independent bookstore set inside a townhouse on Beacon…read moreHill, and the physical space does as much work as the inventory in making it worth a visit. We walked into a building with the kind of architectural character that chain bookstores cannot manufacture, with small rooms opening into each other across multiple floors, wallpapered walls, and reading nooks distributed throughout that invite you to slow down rather than move through quickly. The book selection is well curated with staff recommendation cards on the shelves that actually reflect genuine enthusiasm rather than perfunctory notes. We saw limited edition hardcovers and local and regional titles appearing alongside the broader fiction and nonfiction selection. Browsing felt productive rather than overwhelming because the curation kept things focused. The kids section upstairs is one of the more delightful in Boston, with a train running along a track near the ceiling that tends to make a strong impression on younger visitors. There is also an art print vending machine on the second floor that draws its own audience of visitors looking for something small and specific to take home. The cafe occupies the lower level and operates as a separate experience from the bookshop above. We ordered the oat milk cappuccino with Vermont maple syrup, which was worth it. The morning glory scone and the popovers are two other items to consider. The cafe is tiny, around eight tables inside with a small patio, and reservations are recommended for breakfast and afternoon tea service. Pricing at the cafe is on the higher end, and certain fixed price service formats on specific dates push it considerably further, so checking current pricing before booking is worth doing. For a bookshop that doubles as a destination in its own right, Beacon Hill Books and Cafe delivers a cozy, curated experience that rewards lingering. It is the kind of place we would return to just to sit and read with a good coffee.

Such a unique book store with book shelves outside. They had a large variety of books so there is…read moredefinitely something for everyone. Check their Instagram to make sure that the books are outside because it's such a cool experience. I will be returning next time I'm in Boston.

This Boston shop was picked clean. It was dark and there were zero newer books. The clerk was…read moreasleep. Review: 2

After a hearty lunch yesterday, we stopped by here to browse the plethora of used books. A…read moreselection of $1 books are stationed in front. Impressive use of a small space and decent organization of books by genre. One staff present, attentive and appeared ready to answer any questions. I enjoyed looking at multiple different shelves of books though I didn't end up buying any. My husband was actually looking for old copies of Edgar Rice Burroughs books: he did find some newer editions. Glad we stopped by!

We stumbled into Commonwealth Books while we were walking the Freedom Trail since it's located in…read morethe downtown, historic area. We couldn't resist, so we took a break in action to check it out. They have a huge inventory of used, antique books. You can spend days in here hunting for books. A tad on the pricey side, but decent customer service and a great find. Worth the break!

This is one of my favorite bookstores in Boston and the Metrowest areas. They have a great…read moreselection of current books, Boston books and books set in Italy. They also have some books in Italian, and a nice selection of puzzles, journals, gifts, cards, souvenirs, etc. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and they offer shipping if you can't get into the store to buy something. I've taken advantage of their online ordering and been very satisfied. This is a stop for me every time that I'm in Boston!

We stumbled across this place while touring the North End of Boston. This was such a lovely find as…read moremy wife and I were able to find a few things for ourselves that were unique and fun for the kids. The staff were friendly and very helpful in locating things were asking about. I'd definitely love to visit here again in the future the next time I'm in Boston.

In a class by itself, this Cambridge institution makes me feel better just bu walking into the…read morevibe.. it has a deep and varied collection on religion, spirituality, esptericiam, nature, psychology and even some new books of poetry and fiction. So.many crystals, and nice owners. Great place to browse and buy.

This is genuinely one of the cutest and most authentic book stores I've ever seen. The staff is…read moresuper friendly and they have a ton of genres and authors to pick from. Theres truly something for everything. I also really liked the souvenirs they had in the front. I will be back!

This is the best book store & cafe I've ever been too…read more Lovestruck Books & Cafe is a romance-focused bookstore and cafe in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that offers a curated selection of romance novels, from contemporary to "romantasy," alongside a cafe with coffee and pastries, and plans for an evening wine bar. It aims to be an inclusive community hub with events, author signings, and merchandise, featuring cozy reading nooks and a focus on diverse voices in romance but also an amazing children's book and sitting area that is perfection to every momma bear ! While in Boston I promised my mini I'd buy her a new book for her collection back home and this book store caught my eye while having a beautiful evening stroll with my love. Service is so sweet and kind , the set up is cozy and the smell of coffee and books is simply perfection. Value is fantastic as well ! I will always make a trip just for this store when in Boston and plan to bring my little one up for a long weekend , I can't wait to see what she picks !

One of my favorite book stores in Boston. It has so many romance books for the girlies with a huge…read moresection of contemporary romance. They also had children, horror, educational, fiction and more. They have a cafe inside of the book store where you can stay, read and drink coffee at the same time. Bonus points for the extremely spacious and clean bathrooms.

The service was good and friendly. They have a great selection of books to choose from. I only…read morebought just a small Souvenir.

This is a really neat bookstore to go into. It is right off the Red Line stop at Kendall/MIT…read morestation. It is next to the museum too. It is a really cool shop to walk around and they separate their books by field (physiology, biology, etc). They did have some strange hours and the two staff members working felt very judge mental. They watched us like a hawk and listened in on our conversations.

Porter Square Books has a lot going on! It's more than a bookstore, they sell calenders, toys,…read morestuffed animals, stickers, plants, and much more. I wondered here after checking out Paige and Leaf Cafe which they are attached to. The store was crammed with interesting stuff to look at. They also have a small table in the middle of the store plus some chairs scattered around the store for seating to do some reading. I saw a sign on the door that they do events for the community and have book authors can by. They have a bargain and 20% section to save some money. It's big inside and I got lost looking at toys and reading excerpts of some books (including the Grimm Fairytales) and spent about an hour here. Overall, I appreciate the amount of variety of items they carry and I think that sets them apart from other bookstores.

The new space is even better than the old one. They are currently running a great event, "Your Own…read morePrivate Bookstore," which lets you rent the bookstore for an hour after closing on Friday evenings for a party of 5-10 people while the staff close up. The entire booking fee applies to any purchase you make as well, which I did not expect and found incredibly generous. The staff basically just let you do your thing, though are around in case anyone needs anything. Definitely a good time.

Such a huge bookstore that has not just a wide selection of books, but also gifts that range from…read morethe quirky to traditional to Boston souvenirs. You can easily spend an entire day here looking at everything. Not a lot of places to sit, but there are a few chairs scattered about the space. It's in a neighborhood that has lots of eateries so you can easily spend an entire day in the Brookline area.

Love coming here to search for a new read, find a gift or fun knickknack for a friend, or honestly…read morejust spend some time in an aesthetically pleasing environment! They've got all the vibes and have a lot of hidden gems to be found. Some things can be a bit pricey especially on the gift side, but I would say otherwise on average for the type of items. I love that they always have bargain books and the whole used book section downstairs (that's where you can definitely find deals)! Worth exploring if you're checking out the area or a local who loves books and/or cute things!