My husband and I happened to find this bookstore randomly while out shopping. I will say this is…read morenot the store for you if you need a Barnes and Noble type experience. Some sections are alphabetized, some not (there is a color-coded guide to which are which). Books also are not priced; the owner uses Abebooks.com to look up the price online (but this led to the surprise of one trade paperback book I brought up being $50! I let that one go...) But if you want to spend hours browsing for new treasures, this is the kind of shop for you. Go in with an adventurous spirit and you will surely find something! Accessibility is rather challenging: aisles are narrow, and a good portion of the store is downstairs, where I had to shuffle sideways with my cane while also trying not to hit my head on the low ceiling. Even on the ground level, shelves stretch very high and books go to the floor. So you may need assistance reaching something.

Great used bookstore, cool staff, easy donation. Re the "pricing" complaint, I didn't look before I…read morewent, nice guy found it very quickly, said "I'll look up the price..." I checked inside the cover and blurted "it says $10 here" and he said "that's not ours", looked it up and it was $4.75. #leftadonation

So happy to have a neighborhood bookstore in Rogers Park! When I was welcomed in, I immediately…read morefelt at home. Jarvis Square Books has a mix of very affordable used books as well as some new books in the center of the store. I appreciate that they will take a look at your used books by appointment for store credit and they are open to many genres. Can't wait to bring more people in to visit!

I cannot say enough about this small bookstore. I love used bookstores, and make a point of finding…read moreone to visit if possible anywhere I go. This is the best one I've found. In most used bookstores, it's usually a hunt to find something interesting. The shelves will be mostly filled with very common books or niche (or extremely niche) books of narrow interest (e.g., catalogues of small art museums from the 1970s). That's what people bring in to sell, and that's fair enough. Usually, I can find one or two interesting things, but sometimes nothing stands out. At a big store like the Strand in New York, there's enough volume that you can always find something, but small bookshops are harder. I've been to this shop twice and both times ended up finding 5 or 6 interesting things within ten minutes and then stopping in order to not go overboard. For me, they have a mix of books that I've heard of and was interested in but never got around to, books I didn't know about from writers I like, or books on topics that interest me but I'd never encountered before. My wife came with me last time, and she has different interests and tastes but also found several things she wanted, all of it at a good price. I don't know how they source and curate, but it's working. Check them out.

I am sorry for writing this, but this place is way too disorganized. They started a book club early…read morea few months ago and did not contact me, even though I was in the area. Add this to the higher prices and a few other mishaps, I won't be back. I gave them two stars because I really appreciate them being a small business, but they have burned me too many times

Great small bookstore with little extras to pu together a bookish gift, great events, lovely owners.read more

A ROMANCE BOOKSTORE? COUNT ME IN! This is a newer bookstore in the North Shore, and I'm so glad to…read morefinally have a romance specific bookstore for us bookish girlies. Located in the heart of Wilmette, this bookstore is sort of tucked away but when you know it's there you'll be coming back for more. It is a smaller bookstore but packs so much inside. They also host a lot of events for local authors to come in to do signings and more. I came by during one of their first few events and got a few signed books, and some books on my TBR (to be read) shelves. The staff is incredibly friendly and are always willing to make recommendations. They have shelves of young adults, fantasy, romantasy, hot and new, as well as best sellers. Be sure to look at their merch too! You'll find some great hidden gems!

Super cute bookstore focusing on romance novels. The owner is super nice and personable, you can…read moredefinitely talk book recommendations with her. I got a "blind date with a book" and it came with stickers and other extras that are worth more than the cost of the book. Will come back when in Chicago again.

First of all, the new space on Western is lovely, a very old-timey used bookstore without the dust…read more Excellent selection and if you've ever been to Powell's in Portland, it's sort of a mini-Powell's in breadth and depth of books offered. On the other hand, I brought six books in great condition and not run of the mill (for instance, an extra copy I had of the recently published complete notebooks of Camus), and the buyer gave me $12.00 in credit for the whole stack. She also explained that the online account I set up before the move doesn't sync with the store's new account system. If I wanted to redeem the credit, I'd have to come into the store. So much for convenience. Here's a suggestion: use my credit to help an in-store customer who doesn't have enough of their own to buy a desired book. Honestly, I won't mind. BTW, Ramona the exquisite husky spirit of Uncharted Books no longer visits the store. According to the frugal buyer, because Ramona is older now, it's harder for her to tolerate customers' comings and goings. Love you, Ramona, and thank you, Tanner, for sharing her with us. Finally, if you'd like to help Uncharted Books besides shopping in person, you can find them on bookshop.org.

Great prices and a very unique assortment of books in this small shop. They only offer cash for…read more"antiquarian" books, aka over 100 years old and very collectible. If you want to sell your typical used books to them, you will receive store credit. But I think they're pretty generous with the credit they give you. It's nice to have credit and just walk in and pick something out and they ring it up on your tab. It almost feels like getting a new book for free. When I don't know what I want to read next, this is a great place to go. Service is super friendly. If you have an idea of what you want but aren't finding it, just ask! Street parking is pretty open outside using the Park to Pay app. Felix Lectio!

Matchmaker Bookshop is exactly what downtown Highland Park needed. It's the rare independent…read morebookstore that feels both thoughtfully curated and genuinely welcoming. The space is cozy without feeling cramped, with inviting book nooks that make you want to slow down and stay awhile. The selection stands out--smart, eclectic, and clearly chosen by people who actually read. You'll find titles you didn't know you were looking for, for both adults and children, and small, interesting gifts. What really sets it apart, though, is how well it works for families. There are comfortable spaces to sit and read with your kids, along with playful areas that make browsing feel like an experience rather than a chore. It's a charming, well-executed addition to the neighborhood--and the kind of place you'll find yourself returning to often.

Love this little shop! The staff was so kind and friendly and they had such a fun selection of…read morebooks and trinkets. I was overjoyed to find the Dungeon Crawler Carl special edition of Maeve chocolate there unexpectedly. It has been my white whale and I think I scared everyone in there when I involuntarily gasped upon seeing it. The joy it brought me cannot be overstated. I also chatted with the staff about books we like and I forgot for a second that they were strangers I had only just met. What a gem of a store!!!

This is the book store I always wished had been at this location! Prior to Secret World Books…read moreopening up here, it was a religious reading room. The space was so nice looking, and they had this adorable little garden in the back that I had only gotten glimpses of for years (like as far back as the 1990s) - but it didn't cater to my tastes and beliefs, so I never really visited there. Secret World Books recently occupied the space, and turned it into everything I love about small independently owned book nooks, which makes me so happy! They have a nicely-curated collection of books. Such a small shop obviously cannot compare to major book stores in sheer volume, but runs laps around them when it comes to style and vibe (sorry, I'm probably gonna say 'vibe' a lot here, please bear with). If you want books from local authors, if you want well-loved hidden gems that maybe missed the "[Insert Celebrity Name] Book Club™®©" spotlight, if you want to find some gently-read books with character unique to used books, if you're looking for some retro magazines, if you like comic books / graphic novels, if you're into tabletop RPGs, if you want books catering to out-of-the-box thinkers, and might enjoy an inviting safe space for people of all walks of life... Yeah, this just might be your place. And if you DO want the latest greatest manufactured-viral or pop culture hit, the Secret World staff can still get it for you, and seem chill about it. Hey, sometimes I just wanna read the latest entry in a best-selling megacorporation-owned franchise, without being judged... It's all good. Just go to the front and ask them to get a copy for you; easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Just maybe also consider looking behind the counter at their collection of books from local and lesser-known authors, who might have something that'll pull you in. It's so tough for local artists, crafters, writers, and other creative individuals go get traction; IMO, it's always bodacious when you put a little effort into checking 'em out, and generate some word-of-mouth magic to help them advance their message and/or skills. You might even just run into an author you know. They recently had some poets reading from their works, including Katana Smith and Highland Park's own poet laureate Laura Joyce-Hubbard. This weekend they'll have authors Jenna Satterwaite and Beth Kander. Seems like this is a somewhat common occurrence here... Pretty cool, huh? Oh, man, and the atmosphere here is sooo... I dunno, my ADHD want to say "cozy" and "crunchy" at the same time. "Crunchozy?" Thanks, wacky-internal-monologue-voice! Secret World feels nice and chill, but still filled with positive lively vibes. It's physically just comfortable, too. They have some comfy seats and a tea station that adds to the vibe, plus a gorgeous view of their secret garden. Dude, they even call it the "Secret Garden," which - funny(ish) personal story - I've been calling it for years. Literally, for decades, I had known there was a cool little secluded garden back there; but it's completely walled in, so I could only catch fleeting glimpses. I had a running head-canon that I would unlock an Elder Scrolls-esque mission there someday. I finally got to see it in person, and it's even cooler now! No RPG mission yet, but I'll be back to see what the zen racoon has to say. Okay, sorry, I've babbled on enough. Secret World Books book store: Cool place. Nice books. Friendly peeps. Comfy vibe. They spread the word on exercising your 5th amendment rights. They have complementary hot tea. Plenty of free street parking, near some 2-hour-free public parking lots. Neighbors to Curt's Café. Yeah, pretty awesome. Books; check 'em out!

This place is great! I was able to find a cool board game for a party. I also found some cool…read morecomics here as well!

Great service. Really good selection with lots of $1 books and $5 trades. Well layed outread more

I was in the search of a new comic book store after we moved. Buying digital comic books is…read moreconvenient and all, but it's soul sapping as well. There is something about giving your hard-earned money to Amazon that is cold. Comic books are anything but cold. I walked into this shop and immediately knew I would be setting up my pull list here. Joe was super helpful and kind. The subscription service gives you a 20% off for all trades which is a great value, better than Amazon. I can't wait for Wednesday.