Who knew?!!? A classic bookstore tucked away in a…read moreWestchester mall. Date night?? Restaurants and a bookstore that features authors and discussion groups.

This was unfortunately a really disappointing experience. We've tried The Book Jewel several times,…read moreand every visit has left me feeling like children simply aren't welcome there. On our most recent visit, my 4-year-old daughter was happily exploring the store and being completely quiet, but she was skipping through the aisles and her jelly shoes were making a little noise. It was 1pm on a Friday afternoon and there was only one other customer in the entire store. An employee named Alicia came over and told us we needed to leave because of her skipping. It wasn't communicated politely or kindly, it was extremely rude and unwelcoming. As we were walking out, Alicia even said, "I don't play that." The irony is that a significant portion of the store is dedicated to children's books, stuffed animals, and a kids' reading area, yet the overall atmosphere has consistently felt very unwelcoming toward children. The selection is also fairly limited and, in my opinion, overpriced. I've given this store several chances because I wanted to support a local bookstore, but after this experience, we won't be returning. Children can be excited, curious, and skip, especially in a children-focused bookstore. There are kind ways to redirect a child, but making a family feel unwelcome and speaking to us that way was completely unnecessary. Really disappointing customer service and an experience we won't forget.

Had a hard time finding the Mystery and Thriller section but once I did I found the book I was…read morelooking for. Checked out pretty quickly despite their only be 1 checker and with a line about 8 people deep. Would definitely return if I'm back in the area.

I had not been in a Barnes and Noble in a little while and came here with my daughter to help her…read morepick out some books. She ended up getting three. I spent my time in the financial section browsing through finance books and they had a very good selection. The people working there were kind and nice. Four and a half stars but they are running right up to five. It was a good visit.

The pearl in the oyster of a bookstore. It makes me sad I do not live closer so this could be my…read moreregular book haven. The world needs more book stores like this. While I was purusing, I heard the sales associates helpiing others with book searches and book club information. It sounds like they have a number of book clubs going at the same time which makes me green with envy. Somebody please open a bookstore like this in Santa Clarita Valley, Ca.! At the time of my visit there was a children's reading event going on in the children's section. There were young adults picking out their spring break reads. There is also a courtyard and coffee shop somewhat attached. I did not try the coffee, but will the next time I am in Manhattan Beach. This is a charming bookstore, well designed, with sooo many staff picks and recommendations. Make sure to pay them a visit when you are in the area. And if you live close by, I hate you :) I paid to park on the street very close to the shop, however there may be other parking I am not sure. Happy Reading!

I absolutely loved my visit to Pages, a friendly neighborhood bookstore. The shelves are…read morewell-organized and every genre has a great curated selection. The staff are so helpful in finding exactly what you need and chatting about the books, or letting you browse quietly if that's what you'd prefer. I also wanted to shoutout their online ordering system; I ordered a book that wasn't available due to shipping issues, and their staff reached out to me right away to reimburse me and present some other selections. Excellent customer service!

What a gem of a bookstore…read more Local hangout for Westsiders with tonssss of books, a café, lots of seating, and a children's section. They hold different events as well. I love that they have early hours even on weekends for those of us still up at 7am no matter what. Going in at 8am on a Sunday and seeing others already there? *My people* They have "bar" seating along the windows for working use with bar stools. Laptop/reading seating. They have tables and one BIG table for those enjoying café purchases and for those needing back support *cough cough* me. Village Well is just such a nice place to hangout in if you love books and/or need a place to work instead of home so you don't fall asleep. Anywhere that puts passion into books...is my favorite place.

As a local author, I want to share my experience with Village Well's consignment program so others…read morecan make informed decisions. I placed copies of my books there, including a recent title that had been in the store for less than six months. When I followed up, I was told there had been no recorded sales and that books are subject to removal after a period of time without activity. When I returned to the store, I noticed that much of the "local author" section appeared sparsely stocked, which raised concerns for me about how long books are kept on display and how actively they are supported. To be fair, the store did communicate that: Authors are responsible for following up on sales Shelf space is limited Books may be removed after a certain period However, I think it's important for other local authors to understand that: Placement does not guarantee visibility or promotion You may need to actively check in and market your book yourself Unsold books may be pulled without much notice If you're considering consignment, I recommend having a clear plan to promote your work and staying in regular contact with the store. Just sharing my experience so others go in with clear expectations.

Puts all the other Bookoffs to shame... This is THE Japanese, authentic feeling Bookoff that you…read moreWANT to visit if you love anime, manga and Japanese culture. They have a $2 dollar Japanese used manga section on the right side of the store and if you're learning Japanese, this is a great motivator. I've been to Japan a few times and if you want to feel like you've stepped into a portal to Japan for a brief second, this is the place to visit, they occasionally speak in Japanese over the intercom which is a nice touch. They also have Japanese literature, magazines, games, movies, etc. This place is incredible and it's super organized. Many cool finds I've come across here including an oversized GANTZ special edition set print for a very good price. One of the girls who works here even mentioned that they can specifically order books for you and you can buy them and pick them up there for a pretty decent rate. I've only had one bad experience with one guy worker here who got mad I was looking in the storage drawers located in every aisle, but almost everyone here is very kind. I've never had any other Bookoff discourage looking through the extra storage, it was very unusual, there's also no sign that says not to do so. You will occasionally even find books straight from Kinokuniya that are brand new sealed that have been discounted here. This is THE Bookoff to go to, I would say the other Bookoffs in comparison aren't even worth visiting. If you're in the area, this is a must visit for fans of this kind of merch.

I was so disappointed when I first moved to SoCal and found a Bookoff in Costa Mesa but discovered…read morethat they carry ZERO used Japanese books or mangas. Consequently, I wasn't expecting much when I visited the Gardena location but I was pleasantly surprised! This location offers robust selections of actually used Japanese books and hard to find comics. I ended up spending some $132 just buying up all the books and comics to my heart's contentment. I even found a rarely ever seen or heard of Tezuka Osamu comic too. I have read just about everything he ever published but never seen or heard of this particular anthology collection. I was so thrilled!!!! Additionally, the staff here is very friendly and helpful. They share the same kind of enthusiasm and sense of humor about books as I do, which made me feel instantly happy. And the 2 bucks manga deals?! Unbeatable! I'm looking forward to visit again just to see what I might discover next time!

We went on a big family trip this month, and in the chaos of packing and leaving for the airport, I…read moreforgot to take a book. Thankfully, Book Soup has a little bookstore inside the international terminal at LAX, and I dropped in for a quick shop before it was time to board. I love the main Book Soup in West Hollywood, as well as its larger sister store Vroman's in Pasadena. This airport outpost is less interesting, of course, but it's an excellent airport bookstore, with a good selection of titles organized for easy browsing, plus plenty of gift items to impulse buy near the register. I picked up a copy of Andrew Sean Greer's new novel "Villa Coco," which seemed like the perfect read for a vacation in Europe, and a paperback of "Bunny" by Mona Awad. I also got a cool Los Angeles-themed bookmark for my kid, who recently started reading books on his own. Buying two books for a trip with kids was beyond hopeful (I believe I read 25 pages total before coming home), but they were books I wanted anyway, and I look forward to reading them. If you have more free time on your trip, I'd highly recommend a visit to Book Soup before you go. At the very least, it's a fun place to browse.

Excellent selection but the staff just ignored us! Two staff members doing something far more…read moreimportant than checking out our selection. No sale.

Doors are locked, no signs, no voicemail, looks closed. Been…read moregoing downhill fast since new management took over.

Went by today 5/16/2025 to check if the shop was really closed, unfortunately I saw an eviction…read morenotice. This is truly a shame. I loved coming here and visiting Agatha the sweet cat. Book prices were always reasonable and the selection was vast especially for a small shop. This was truly a hidden gem in our South Bay. I am not sure if the online service will still be available. I'd love to somehow support this business another way. I am leaving 5 stars because I loved this little book shop. Heart is broken

I did not shop here but wanted to commend the lovely lady who phone-helped me while I was looking…read morefor a very specific item. She was very informative, and I actually ended up finding what I was looking for from a different source...but with her help. You don't find too much customer service these days, whether it be automated, or from actual humans (once you actually get a hold of them) so she was a clear standout from the start. I'm grateful she took the time to inform me about the company I was searching for. Looking forward to making a visit when I'm down this way again, or at Agape on a busy Sunday-

This bookstore has a reverent feeling. It's beautiful, peaceful and has such a lovely atmosphere…read more The most incredible spiritual books line the shelves. Staff is knowledgeable and pleasant.

I wanted to take a moment to leave a review for Reparations Club…read more I first heard about Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America on NPR and wanted to grab it as a birthday gift for a friend. I'm big on shopping local, so when I saw it was available here, I immediately placed a pickup order. They offered beautiful gift wrapping, with sustainable, eco-friendly packaging, which made the whole experience feel extra thoughtful and special. When I went in to pick it up, I ended up finding Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin, with an introduction by Roxane Gay, who I absolutely love, so of course I had to grab that too. The ambiance of the store is something else. It feels peaceful, energetic, and inspiring all at once. The music selection really sets the tone, and the staff are genuinely warm and welcoming. I'm a huge believer in shopping local. Every purchase is a small act of resistance against mass consumerism and extractive capitalism. If you have the option, choose local. Support Black-owned businesses. Always

This is a book store you must check out in LA!! There is a teeny tiny parking lot but most people…read morepark on the street in the neighborhood. There was a line when I got there and we had to wait to be let in. I was both confused and surprised by that but learned why once I got inside. I was there on a day there happened to be a book signing and meet and greet with author Nedra Glover Tawwab for her newest book, The Balancing Act! That was really cool to witness. I was here on a Saturday afternoon and it was busy! The space is beautiful! I love the art and the colors and the way it's all organized. Staff were incredibly kind and helpful. There were so many books to choose from but I ultimately landed on a title I've been eyeing for a few years: My Sister, The Serial Killer. Really excited to read this book and can't wait to come back!

This bookstore was a pleasant surprise in the mall! It's on the second floor kind of across from…read moreNordstrom Rack. Everyone here was so nice and helpful! I had my hands full with my toddler but one of the staff members kindly helped recommend books and even read the dust cover summary for me. lol! They had a great selection of signed books! I love independent bookstores and this one was such a great one to visit! Parking is free and plentiful at the mall!

Malik Books was once a true community treasure. Sadly, it now feels like a reminder of what some…read morepeople become after achieving success. The everyday people who supported the business and helped build its foundation seem to matter less once celebrities and high-profile customers enter the picture. Success should never make you forget the people who believed in you before everyone else knew your name. Although I am disappointed by this change, I will continue to support Malik Books because I believe it is important to have books and bookstores in our community. My continued support, however, does not erase my disappointment.