I've been to both locations and found them both to be a great find. No pressure , a great…read moreselection of books in a warm and inviting space.

This bookstore is absolutely adorable. Their selection isn't huge, but not bad for the size of the…read moreshop and definitely for the size of the town. It's quite diverse with a large "beach read" type selection (thrillers, mysteries, etc) but also a lot of classics.

Had a book by Ruth Moore that I needed for our bookclub. I called several bookstores without…read moreluck. I called Union River Book and the staff person hunted down their only copy and put it aside. Excellent service and staff.

Great selection of toys as well as books for all ages. We stop here and browse every time we're in…read moretown (7 or 8 times over the past three years). We're always entertained, and end up buying something (or some things!). Friendly people work here and it's just a happy space. Can't wait to return.

A bookstore for book lovers: a small shop with narrow aisles crammed full of used books. You can…read morefind many treasures in the stacks if you want to take the time to search. While we were there, one woman was gleefully surveying the book offerings of a really niche category of interest and was fretting over which books to get because she wanted them all. Much more than your average used book store! The books are reasonably priced, but the kicker is that the proprietor is old school and only accepts cash or checks. We didn't have enough cash on hand, so I sadly put my two book choices back on the shelves. The proprietor didn't greet us at all, just sat behind his desk and read the paper, and gruffly handling transactions. Normally I'd knock a shop for that, but it's just part of the charm. The other major downside is that it's up a big flight of stairs in a building with no elevator, and it's not air conditioned, so it can get very hot in the summer. Worth stopping in, but hit up the ATM first.

Tucked away in Camden, ME, Stone Soup Used Books is a nostalgic treasure. Paul, who's been tending…read morehis shop since 1985, has created a magical space where stories live and linger. With shelves full of fairly priced finds and warm familiarity, it's the kind of place where you can happily lose track of time. I wish I had more space in my suitcase!

A gem of a bookstore. Great selection, staff is friendly and knowledgeable, atmosphere is warm…read moreand "literary."

Great little bookstore with tons of magazines, nice selection of books, postcards, fresh coffee…read more(only a dollar!, er.."dollah" I suppose), and free wi-fi. Employees are incredibly friendly and the internet is completely open, so you don't even have to ask for a password. yay!

We spent 3 weeks in Maine traveling the coast and staying in a bunch of little towns. We stopped at…read morelots of little shops. This, by far, was my very favorite shop on our trip! Wish I could go back and buy more! Perfectly curated and the staff was lovely!

Great store with a vast selection of quality products. Fair prices and friendly staff.read more

I don't like boring souvenirs. You know which ones...the thimbles, bottle openers, shot glasses,…read moreflip-flop key chains. Those. While I might buy a T-shirt here or there that I can style, there are gift shops far more stylish than those themed souvenir stores. In comes Spruce & Gussy about two doors down from our hotel on Mt. Desert Rd. Since many of Bar Harbor's businesses are closed for the off-season, I made sure I didn't leave town without buying anything for my Mom, sisters and Aunt-in-Law. Luckily, owner Michelle and I played email tag to confirm my visit for a Monday morning appointment. Spruce & Gussy has different nooks with Kitchen and Beauty items, Books, a Children's corner, some Women's shawls and gorgeous silver jewelry- all locally made. Search more carefully and you'll find high-end pieces and modest ones also. Her gifts have a distinctive Bar Harbor flair without 'Bar Harbor' being all up in your face if you know what I mean. There's no shortage of choices here. Basically everything she has, I wanted for me too.

What a cute shop with such an adorable collection of children's gifts! Also an assortment of gifts…read morefor pretty much anyone and everyone of all ages. I highly recommend stopping in and checking it out if you are in the area.

I would leave six stars if I could!! This is a quintessential Mom and Pop shop. We fell in love…read morewith one of their custom design sweatshirts, but they didn't have the size we needed in the store. Loren and Shawn went out of their way, even going back to their warehouse, specifically trying to find what we needed then texted us the next day to let us know that they were able to accommodate our request. We wouldn't have gotten that same level of service from a corporate store. This is one of Bar Harbors hidden gems. We truly appreciated their custom service. Great people!!!

I was pretty bummed when I finally came to think that I may have missed them this visit during the…read moreoff-season. Their sign on both stores had remained "closed" each day I drove through town. However, I decided to drive by one last time at noon today on my way back to Boston and THERE WAS A HINT OF LIGHT. I parked, I ran-walked-skipped, and I barged right through those doors thinking to run into either Loren or Shawn. But nay, I was instead greeted by a sweet elderly lady with bright eyes surprised by the sudden intrusion of some random excited Asian dude. "Oh sorry, I'm not really open yet. I hope you don't mind the mess." "ME DON'T CARE." Sasquatch-wannabe-tourist gleefully responds. I came to find out shortly that it was Loren's mom, Grace, and she was definitely a delightful way to end my trip this year. You see, I came to really like this shop last year when I got to extensively talk to both Loren and Shawn during several visits to the shop because they were so fun to banter with. Not only did I receive local tips to the area, I came to really appreciate what they have done here over time through their little business. Their gift bags are printed with Loren's photography and Shawn's paintings! Truly beautiful and different from the other stores in the area. Definitely my favorite gift shop that I've visited so far and will continue to stop by and say hi whenever I'm in the area. Absolutely recommend!

When I first walked in I thought "books, art supplies, nothing for a very active and Lego-addicted…read more7 year old." But it is a magical place so ask for directions from the "Keeper". Give her some idea of the child's interests and a whole world of special toys opens up! Looking forward to bringing my grandchildren here next summer. Thank you!

This is the cutest place I have ever seen in my life. It is everything a younger version of myself…read morehas always dreamed of. I think if more people in the area were prone to online reviews they would probably say the same things. I hope this place never closes and I hope more people give this place their business because I definitely hope it stays in town for a long time.