For a book lover, this is a slice of Heaven. We stopped in for a gift and ended up buying a large…read morebag full of gifts for ourselves!! Alfred, the owner, is remarkably knowledgable and very helpful in finding what you are looking for. He has some rare, collectibles and a wide variety to suit all tastes. We will be back again!

The owner is extremely pleasant (despite the one unfavorable review of him on here), personable,…read moreand overall a good guy to talk to. He has a strong knowledge of books ranging from non-fiction topics such as baseball or theology to his fiction and children's books. If you're looking for something, it's a good chance he knows about it, and a decent chance be has it. The store is extremely cluttered, and frankly, if he does have a book you ask for, I'm not confident he could find it in a timely manner. Just boxes upon boxes of books everywhere. It's extremely overwhelming. His prices aren't the best, either. While he's not gouging you, many books I've picked up aren't in good enough shape to justify selling at a "like new" pricepoint (where most his prices tend to lie). There's certainly not a better bookshop in the area, and he's got the options. I just wish he'd clean it up.

Lovely collection to browse for yourself or as gifts. Loved their puzzles and candles as well as…read moresoaps and lotions. They also have an espresso bar upfront - nice touch!

Such a cute little store with a coffee/drink shop inside. I didn't take any photos inside but they…read morehave a lot of fun Knick knacks like books, small gifts, jewelry etc. as well as a coffee shop. I enjoyed coming in with my sister-in-law and checking out what they had to offer.

Cute little bookstore. Most of the books seem to be for children though and are religious based if…read morethat is what you are going for then it should be great for you! They have a few other books by more mainstream adult authors but overall kind of a limited selection. Lots of puzzles and toys and things for children. Almost seems like a toy shop... almost. Cute little place though.

Another must-see in the Amanas. I can't say that they sell anything truly 'original.' It's like a…read moreHallmark+Barnes & Noble all under one roof. They sell collectibles (John Deere, Willowtree, etc.) coffee table books, cook books, baby books, kids books, crafting books, greeting cards, calendars, knick-knacks and more. Prices are moderate and I've never actually purchased anything here (mainly because I can buy whatever it is on Amazon for a lot cheaper), but it is a fun store to shop.

Friendly staff and an amazing selection of books in such a small space. Excited for their expansion…read moreinto the space next door!

Beautiful well stocked neighborhood book store! Great selection. Attended an author visit that was…read morefun too!

I think in all of the IA Indie Bookshop Tour, I spent the longest time in this shop. There was so…read moremuch to look at, a cozy loft to just chill for a minute and try to narrow down my selection to 2 books - which ended up being 4... They have a wall of pre-loved books in great condition for great value and I also found a graphic novel I've only been able to find on Amazon. I am so glad I was able to find it and support an independently owned bookshop with it's purchase. I was next to tears by how many families with kids were in visiting the book shop, and carrying books the little ones picked out. Plus, the little reader nook in there is adorable. Also, something that really warmed my heart is the all gender private bathrooms (at least the one I went into) had a changing station and lots of room. Great coffee, good vibes and a great time. Can't wait to visit again!

Passing through to Des Moines, we stopped at Dog Eared Books. What a lovely shop! The exterior is…read moreso fun and welcoming and the inside is just the same. We were warmly welcomed by the staff. They have a great selection of books, including a shelf of previously loved with discounted prices. They have a great variety of merch too. Stickers, socks, t-shirts, etc. I will visit anytime I am down that way.

The absolute best indie bookstore I've ever visited. The owner is kind, funny, and has so many good…read morerecommendations. The selection is incredible given the size of the store, and we found books for ourselves, our teenager, and as gifts. They host book clubs and other events and you can't beat the location in Newbo. I have saved the best for last: there's a bookstore cat! When I went in a few weeks ago, I picked up a book called "The Rabbit Hutch" just to see what it was about. The owner told me a little about it, said he enjoyed it, and recommended it. His recommendation was so compelling that others shopping in the store also grabbed the book! He was so kind and appreciative to everyone who bought books and the best part is ... the book is just as described and a great pick! It wasn't a generic recommendation and his love of reading shows. Prices are reasonable - books cost what they cost. The store has lots of cute gifts as well, especially for pet people, books people, and candle lovers!

Love coming here! A cute selection of books and friendly owner. The ambiance inside is very…read morewelcoming. Highly recommend

Honestly, really good collection. There are a lot of magic cards there. Service was nice. A very…read moreincredible amount of funko pops I will say. Even though it is a sick funko pop, I paid 18$ for a anbu itachi.

Awesome place nice people 1$ comic books are amazing you should come until you are brokeread more

There is just something about going into independent bookstores that feels like taking a step into…read morethe past. This was definitely the case when I stepped into Prairie Lights Books. I was in town visiting campus and needed to bring something back for my kids. A friend recommended the store so I walked the couple blocks over from my hotel to check it out. A lot of bookstores neglect books for kids. To my amazement the entire lower level of the shop was for kids. It was fantastic. I walked around for a good 30 minutes checking out what they had to offer. The upstairs has more traditional selection of books. I was in a hurry so I didn't have time to check it out. It was a place though you could easily get lost just browsing the shelves. Looking at some of the reviews I somehow totally missed that there was a cafe attached as well! I'll have to check that out the next time I'm in Iowa City.

I love visiting independent bookstores when we travel. There's no better way to get a feel for the…read morecommunity. I loved how the store was laid out. All staff was very helpful, even some staff members that weren't on the clock. I saw a lot of books I had not seen on shelves before. There was a great selection even though this isn't a giant store. Seek this place out if you're in downtown Iowa City. (Cafe area looked cool... just didn't have time to explore everything...but did buy books!)

Service here was pretty sad. The employee did not greet customers and provided poor interaction…read more She wasn't paying attention and also took forever to check us out. Book prices are amazing here, though. I have trouble understanding how they stay open with prices so cheap. If you don't care about customer service and want cheap books, I'd recommend book warehouse.

I was really excited to see Book Warehouse in the Outlets of Des Moines. The store is fairly large…read moreand has a lot of good books. However, I did not see any any newly released books though. A lot of the books were 60% off and because I had a coupon for the store I was also able to get an additional 20% off one item. I purchased a book that was retailed at $27.99 and after all the discounts it ended up being less than $10. What a great price! Much cheaper than Amazon too! Service was fast and friendly here. I'd definitely recommend any book lover to check this place out.