Small businesses are the backbone of our Bernardsville community. The Bookworm is the place I go…read morefor books. The staff at the Bookworm are always professional, friendly and helpful

Was in town visiting family and wanted to buy a few books as gifts. Kind of knew what type but…read moreVera really helped me narrow it down to the perfect selection. This place is such a breath of fresh air versus the big book stores and when you really want good advice. I'm so happy to support these types of stores!

I am a sucker for old buildings and books, so when The Book Barn popped up on my Instagram feed, I…read moreknew I had to make the trip. Walking into a centuries-old barn with books stacked from floor to ceiling feels like stepping into another era. Prices are incredibly reasonable, and if you wander all the way to the back, you'll discover a clothing shop and a room full of housewares. I found shelves of delicate china and vintage dinnerware at prices that made me do a double take. My only real complaint is that Saturday mornings are busy. Because everything is donated, this isn't the place to hunt for the newest bestseller. It's where you come for the experience, the possibility of stumbling across something unexpected, and the thrill of finding a great deal on a forgotten gem. I have a feeling this place is going to be even more magical in the fall. I'll definitely be back.

First of all, please remember that this place is run by volunteers and it's a thrift store, so you…read moreare the one looking for good finds aka treasures. You probably won't find the newest books (unless you have good timing of someone just dropping them off at that exact moment). And, yes, you have to dig through stacks and racks, but isn't that what you would expect from a thrifting place? And someone wrote that things were "picked over." It seems like the volunteers are trying their best to put everything out as things are donated and it's all about timing of when you're there. It also depends on season. For example, the gardening book section was full but I was told that during the spring, it becomes pretty bare quickly because everyone starts gardening again. Probably the same for the Christmas section in December. What they have depends on simply what they have. And if some volunteers are getting first dibs for some things, that is definitely an incentive to be a volunteer here because especially during December, they are sorting through boxes and boxes in the cold. I bet when people donate things, not everything is organized or super clean or in the best condition. I do have to share from the beginning that ALL of the volunteers there are soooooooooooo lovely, sweet, helpful, and so happy to be there and to help you. They are the prime examples of great volunteers! One of them, Sue, actually offered to give me a tour and gave me a lot of great information about this place and showed me all the different sections. All books are divided by genre (all possible genre can be found here) and it's kind of fun walking through the maze of books and shelves to check out all the different books. Thank goodness for cell phones because I lost my friend a few times. All the books are donated from people, so again, don't expect the newest books but they have so many books by famous and well-known authors. While I was there, they had a cart with books that were just donated but they didn't sort it yet and I saw that they had Pachinko, which is still currently a popular book. Also, their children's section is so cute! They also have: -games -puzzles -toys -records -CDs (yes, CDs!!) -DVDs (yes, DVDs!!) -random electronics, like a stereo with a tape player and CD player. And a printer! -a room perfect for teachers looking for textbooks or teaching material. -test prep books, they might have them. Not sure how outdated the prep books are depending on which ones you are looking for. You really pay so little for books (25 cents to $5 to some things that have specific prices) and for other items ($2-$10 or more depending on the item). Also, they have a section that is a thrift store of -clothes -bags -shoes -jewelry -random home items, like kitchen items (I wanted so many things from here but I didn't "need" them -crafting items (someone bought a huge handful of knitting needles for $12) -Christmas items -fancy China and glass items -luggage -just so many things other than books My friend and I spent over an hour here, just exploring. If you are a true book lover, you could probably spend hours just peruse through your favorite book genre sections. If I was by myself, I could've stayed there longer just looking at all the fiction books they had. Also, here are some interesting things I learned from the lovely Sue. -All the proceeds they make go to local charities. Literally those in their communities, not national ones. -You can donate, too! I think pretty much anything as long as it's in good condition. I need to go back and donate my printer and teacher materials. FYI, you can only donate 3 boxes at a time. This way, you're not bringing a truckload of stuff and just dumping it on them. -When you donate, the volunteers will start sorting as they come in. Things to know before you go: -There's a private parking lot! Yay! I love it when there is parking. -It's a maze and tight in there, so be ready to say a lot of "excuse me" and be patient as you squeeze past people. -If you want to pay with a card, there's a minimum of $10. No taxes. -Please go with an open mind. Think of it as treasure hunting. And, for books, you might find a book that you would never thought of reading. -I was told that you had to pay for books before going to the thrift store section, but I saw some people paying for books at the thrift store section. So, I guess it depends on who you ask. -I don't know how it is in the warmer months, but it was super cold in certain sections. So dress warm if it's cold. But at the same time, try to avoid bulky clothing because, remember maze and tight spaces?, but also when you are in the thrift store, there are a lot of fragile items, so bulky clothing might not be the best thing to wear?

What a fun spot! There are sooooooo many books crammed into the shop you won't know where to look…read morefirst. Looks of vintage and retro stuff here as well as stuff from indie authors. Oh also a ton of kids books and comic books. If you're in the area it's a definite must stop.

I love a good used book store...and I seem to have helped develop the love of books in both my…read morekids-which makes me very happy. My daughter called me recently and told me about Ray & Judy's Book Stop and wanted to meet me there...how could a Dad say no? I found a parking spot about a block away (there is only local parking, though there's a small Quick Chek across the street) and made my way over to the store. As of this writing, the owner still asks that anyone coming into the store wear a mask (he's an older guy so just do as he asks...if you don't want to mask up just go somewhere else). This small bookstore is laid out pretty well and they have a great collection of books. They have a pretty large selection of science fiction and westerns (my guilty pleasures), but really a nice collection of everything. These days so many people use electronic readers, but still have a love of having an actual book in my hand. I walked away from the store with a few nice purchases and my daughter had a full bag. Owner was a really nice guy, prices are good, it's well organized and they have a nice selection...for someone like me that's all I can ask so I'll be back.

Delicious ice cream-LOTS of flavors to choose from. They even have no dairy alternatives (parole…read moreice cream). Clean bathrooms!

I was very impressed with this bookstore. The last time I visited, it was closed for renovations,…read morebut they have reopened and boy did they do a great job. The entire store is very clean, well laid out, and even has drinks for sale. You will NOT go wrong spending time at The Book House and don't forget to stroll around the adjacent Millburn businesses. You will be pleasantly surprised and accommodated.

Good and larger Barnes & Noble location…read more If you know Barnes & Noble, then you already know the layout and all that they carry. On this occasion, I went for the physical media (movies). I've been to dozens of Barnes & Noble locations, but this one had one of the larger and overall better physical media sections (movies/music). This was probably the best maintained and most organized out of all of them as it pertains to the movie section. So if you're going for that, it's a good choice. The rest of the store is neat, clean, and most of the staff were friendly. This is standalone, so plenty of parking. Overall one of the better Barnes & Noble stores I've been to and one I'd happily return to if in the area again.

Relaxing atmosphere and good book selection. I always enjoy browsing and having a coffee from the…read morecafe.

Nice Barnes & Noble location…read more This is one of the "modern" versions and is a little smaller than other locations, but still big enough. With those modern versions, inside can seem like a maze and if you're used to the non-modern locations, it can take a little getting used to and knowing where you need to go. Everything was clean and well stocked. If you're going for movies, there's a very small selection for that. They also have CD's and of course vinyl. Of course they have the selection of books they always have and if something is not in the store, they can always order it for you. The employee who rang me out was very friendly and welcoming. This location shares the space with several other businesses and is part of a larger shopping area, which includes a Walmart. There is plenty of parking, though the overall parking lot is not the best designed. Overall a good location and one I'd return to if I'm in the area again.

Another B&N trip to help promote my partners book for author signing time…read more We were set up right to the side of the entrance so made it very convenient to get people's attention. A lot of people wanted to help get her book into the school systems. As for the store itself, well marked and easy to navigate around.

What a cool bookstore! They had a great selection, prices were fair and the owner was very nice and…read morehelpful. It's a bit hard to get to, GPS doesn't take you to the correct building but if you follow the road all the way down to the dead end, you'll find it!

A great used bookstore and you can find some amazing books here. I often come here to buy science…read moreand philosophy books.

Beware. You could spend a lot of time in here getting lost amongst shelf after shelf of used books…read more The staff greets you warmly from "the back" and allows you to browse. They have a great selection of books. Titles are well organized and in good condition. Madison is a cute town. Street parking is plentiful enough and free. There are several public lots behind the store fronts as well. It's worth a stop when in the area.

LOVED this bookstore, so many cool gems and the shop owner is friendly but not too pushy. I…read moreespecially liked the historical documents section, they have items from the 1800s which was so cool to see.

This is wishful a great bookstore! It is well stocked - in fact it is far better stocked than most…read moreindie bookstores and I think can rival some of the bigger chain stores! Plus the staff is highly knowledgeable and helpful (a former book store owner and writer, a PHD professor and writing tutor, a children's library and literature expert, and every staff member has a genre they help make picks in and support in store!). The store is bright and welcoming and they offer free coffee, tea, waters, and snacks plus a free kids craft table that's always set up and available. Their kids section is delightful with a great safe space to leave the kiddos to play and read while you shop. The overall vibe at this store is so welcoming and their events are so fun that this is a favorite stop of mine every weekend !

My top-tier chum from the Kingdom of Sussex and I came here for Stop #2 of the 2nd Annual NJ…read moreBookstore Crawl (a 5-star extravaganza in and of itself) last Saturday morning. We hit up all three Sussex bookstores, and this was my chum's very clear favorite of the batch. I was a big fan too, even if ultimately it wasn't geared toward my literary demo. Our carefully planned itinerary suffered some issues with this one because Black Dog apparently moved fairly recently to more spacious accommodations further up 15. My chum frowned in confusion in a parking lot in the downtown Lafayette area for a few minutes before we got our bearings and retraced our steps north. I think that's on our Crawl Itinerary Expert but without context/knowledge of the move (which must have been at least KIND OF subtle since she lives within a few minutes of here and had no idea) an easy mistake to matter. No matter. Very easy to find once we had, you know, the actual address. And for the record, my chum said this was a HUGE upgrade over the prior location. All's well that ends well. I was REALLY hoping that someone took the name Black Dog Books literally, so it was an absolute delight to encounter a dark-tinted, wizened canine on the premises almost as soon as we walked in. Anya the chiweenie was a real trooper and an excellent addition to the festivities. I will say she's clearly an older pooch and didn't seem enormously thrilled by some of the younger human pups frantically taking selfies and whatnot (in my mild defense, I professionally took one tasteful photo and then gave her some space), but she handled it like a champ. I will say this for the record - every indie bookstore should have an accompanying canine chum. Apparently the Lambertville bookstore had a bloodhound, which is next level (massive FOMO but is what it is). But this was a good one. Thank you for your service, Anya. Unlike its literary counterpart in Branchville, Black Dog has much better lighting and much more space. It's no knock on them, but I just like the mild claustrophobia and overall personality that comes from having to get creative with the space you have and the massive amount of books to display. All due respect, this didn't feel as unique to me. I will say that out of the three bookstores we went to up here, Black Dog was the most enthusiastic about the Crawl, which is probably a huge reason my chum had the best experience here. They were giving away raffle prizes, naughtily had free wine(!) available before 11am and someone offering free fairy hair. I took her up on that generous offer but then belatedly realized it meant I had to stay still for more than five minutes. I just wasn't made to be an adult. My other slight issue with this bookstore (and again, this is me and I'm sure plenty of people have zero problem with it) is it just doesn't have the inventory that other places do - they leaned into presentation and more chairs and non-book products. And that's not necessarily a bad thing at all, but for me, it meant there was less overall space and options for the books I might potentially purchase. Also like a lot of bookstores in this day and age, a little too much chick lit for me; just not my thing. Very familiar with being a chick already; hashtag 1984 birth. The proprietors were VERY nice and accommodating. I didn't notice, but my chum said one of the employees was walking around giving customers recommendations based on their interests, which is a nice touch if welcome/slightly solicited. You felt good vibes throughout the store, which is important and should be a pre-requisite for any small business. (Truly love the Crawl for bringing stuff like this to my attention). Shameless judging books by their cover, I ended up purchasing Anthony Doerr's 2021 novel Cloud Cuckoo Land. Haven't gotten a chance to read it yet, but I selected this one because the design on the front was intriguing and it had stickers denoting it as a NY Times Notable Book and a National Book Award Finalist. We'll see if I agree with the powers that be. Pleasantly surprised at the abundant literary options up here in the Kingdom, and a solid stop on our adventures.

When I think of going to a quaint, local bookstore.... THIS is what I envision. Friendly people…read moreworking to assist you in finding your next favorite read, enough books, quantity and variety, to offer the customer a diverse and amazing amount of ideas to make it difficult to decide on a single book, and Chatsky's to make it difficult to settle on a single item. The next time I am in New Jersey, I will definitely be stopping in here! As for the attached restaurant next door, I have nothing negative to say. The food was fresh and had a great taste, and the people were friendly and helpful with everything. We sat outside because the weather was fantastic, and they delivered the food to us and picked us up afterward.

For those of us who are old enough to remember the movie You Got Mail . This gem of a book store…read moreis " The Shop Around the Corner " . The staff was young so they admittedly didn't get my reference LOL .Has the quaint & cozy vibe . The selection is expansive , albeit they may have one copy of a book on the shelf , understandingly given space . The Kids section is 4 doors down . Also great selection . Awesome space . No Big Box store feel here . Just note , for those parents who do take oversight to what their child is exposed to , know there is lots of material & books SOME parents might not find unsuitable for your OWN child to be exposed to . Literally there is a " Banned book " selection for young as toddlers .