This place was awesome! I love bookstores like this. Wide range of books, gifts, fun bags, blind date books, fun stickers and the owner was so fun to talk with. Make sure to make the stop. read more

Books to be Red - Favorite stop on the island!!!! - Bookstores Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

I came here with my grandkids while visiting the island for a day and the owner of the bookstore caused such a HUGE scene. She was yelling about someone and made everyone in the bookstore uncomfortable. Especially me and my grandkids. We go on vacation to get away and relax and the way the owner went about this disagreement was horrible. The issue she had with a customer could have been taken outside however she decided to cause a scene instead. She said and I quote "people can hit me on Yelp and I will fight back" so after purchasing a bag for my daughter here I am. I shouldn't have supported this business because of the immature scene this woman caused, however we did because she really wanted the bag. The entire store was visibly uncomfortable and so were we. read more

Love this place and love the idea of the wrapped books. Wanted to buy a tea shirt and was surprised they were not stocked prior to the season, so I had to turn and leave. But the place is a great location and some good cool finds read more

Great little island bookstore! I love that they had books with stories based on the local islands right up front. They also had a date with a mystery book section which I love. Definitely a spot to check out! read more

Cutest little island book store! I love a good bookstore even though I prefer reading on my kindle just for the convenance. The young girls working were nice. The shop had a nice selection of books. New ones, to island specific ones and a kids section. My kids left with new books! Super cute. read more

Books to be Red - Bookstores Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

Inclusive, supportive, and creative atmosphere. This is my favorite shop on the island, for its wide variety of books and gifts and for the owner, Leslie, who's just about the most generous and wonderful person you could encounter on the island. They've got an LGBTQIA+ section, a great selection of art supplies, handmade unique pottery, and all the books you might be considering picking up for your time at tne beach. It supports products from local artists and small businesses! It's got a slew of books for all you history buffs and those curious about various religions! It's got classics and new favorites of children's books for those of you who know the value of reading early on. It's truly the best place to walk into and is surely a must-see of your Ocracoke experience. read more

Owner or perhaps a female associate working seemed bothered and annoyed that my young son , husband, and I were in the store looking for items to purchase. We walked calmly to the back to the children's book section and she flew to the back bewildered and panicked, only to see us simply looking for books. It was off putting. I didn't see "no children allowed" signs, so the reaction was bizarre. I wanted to support this small shop but she clearly wasn't interested in our business. read more

A quirky and quaint indie bookstore in the Outer Banks village of Ocracoke. Located on the same side street as the public library and local school, but sign is visible from the main road. Other reviewers have noted that a lot of the inventory is geared for kids and young adults - which is true, but the shop also has a good section of adult fiction and nonfiction. A good selection of David McCullough's works on American history, and a whole bookshelf of nautical/maritime nonfiction--and still another section for local and regional interest (Ocracoke and Outer Banks history, especially on Blackbeard the pirate!) Would definitely make another visit! read more

This is a bit hard of a review to write: their specialties: kid and young adults - about half of the store's stock, aren't my cup of tea at all. That said, there's fresh product - all of it new. There's also a shelf or 2 worth of selection of notebooks and art supplies (pencils, paints, etc). It also has a small smattering of the crafty homemade trinkets (soaps, purses, etc) that you see at the OBX artisan shops. The store isn't large, no more than 1000 sq. feet. read more

This is a must-visit on any trip to Ocracoke. What a great selection of books, gifts, local offerings, jewelry, and kid's stuff. I make a point to hit this place last because I always buy so much stuff, I don't want to carry it around the island. I always find an interesting book (or 10) and amazing kid's toys and books. It is a very well-curated store. The building is one of the best parts, with its old porch and creaky wooden floorboards and meandering rooms. It's like the Outer Banks embodied in a building. I will be back year after year, until they offer me a place to stay, and then I'll just move in. :) read more

I really really wanted to love this shop - we were excited to get a souvenir book for our kids who love new books. I'll admit my kids were not the best behaved as they're really very young, but their behavior was not atrocious at all. The worst my toddler did was sit on the floor and cry because we told him not to touch the books. A female employee made passive aggressive, loud comments about how books should be treated - in this case, a book accidentally knocked to the ground by another adult patron and the dust jacket fell off. I apologized for something my children did not do to get her to stop making the comments. It felt uncomfortable and we felt unwelcome. Almost everything at this shop can be found online or in a large retailer, including the book we bought. We're here as tourists on vacation and trying to support small businesses but it definitely felt like our business was not wanted here. I gave two stars because from what I did see, it looked like it had a pretty good variety of kids' books, I saw some new release books, there is a large shaded reading area outside, and the prices were reasonable. read more

Simply put, this is a great little bookshop on Ocracoke Island. Books to be Red offers a more than decent selection of both adult and children's titles with a great section dedicated to local reads as well. However, what truly gives this shop its character and charm is the wide assortment of locally crafted jewelry, candles, blown glass, vases, handmade journals, and the like. It's certainly tough to walk out of this shop empty handed! Furthermore, the staff members are super friendly and welcoming, which only heightens the wonderful ambiance that is ever present in this creaky and cozy building. So if you're lucky enough to be on Ocracoke, be sure to stop in and pick up a paperback to tote back to the beach with you! read more

A for effort. I went in to get my regular fix of David Sedaris books. Sadly, they didn't have his latest, but a staff member told me to come back on Thursday after 2:00 when the next shipment was in. Well, it's Thursday and I was all abuzz for some great beach reading. I came around 2:30, and while the shipment came, the presumed owner let me know that there was a mistake, and the book was on backorder. BAH! I appreciated the staff letting me know when it would be in, but bummed it didn't work out. Overall, the store is awesome. Beyond the books they have great toys, games, jewelry, and gifts. Totally worth a stop-in. read more

There's lots of great reading packed into a small space at Books to be Red. It's obvious whoever selects the stock has terrific taste. If you're looking for a great beach read that's thoughtful and challenging, this is the place to find it. There's also a lot of beautiful merchandise that will serve as souvenirs of Ocracoke. Do yourself a favor and stop in...you will be delightfully surprised. read more

We love this place and makes point to stop at least once during each visit. We used to go for the great gifts and for summer reading, but now that we have a young child, we love the toy selection, too. Very quaint, well-stocked shop. read more

Whenever I go to Ocracoke, I visit Books to Be Red. It is a delightful shop with an impressive selection of books and a wonderful array of unique items, including pottery, purses, art supplies, and locally made treasures. While there is a large and magical section of the shop devoted to children's books and toys, this store has something for everyone. read more

Books To Be Red is a gem of a bookstore here on Ocracoke. Leslie has a great selection of books, gifts, and just "fun" stuff. I especially love browsing around in her extensive coloring book section, and am always pleased to find just the perfect book or toy for a gift for either of my granddaughters. As an innkeeper here on the island, I always suggest the store as one of my "must stops" for any of my guests. read more

Books To Be Read is an amazing bookstore and gift shop. A well stocked children's book area and interesting books for adults. There are many books about the local history and novels written with Ocracoke as the setting. The gift part of the store has many unique items. Be sure not to miss this shop on your visit to Ocracoke! read more

Books To Be Red is a little gem of a bookstore. It's a warm and inviting place where you are made to feel welcome. The owner and staff are friendly and always willing to help you find just the right thing. They offer a variety of books, including a great local section. They also have a fun children's area with books and toys galore. Besides books they also have a variety of gifts; everything from dishware to jewelry. I bought a lovely hand woven scarf, perfect for a chilly morning. Make sure you go when you can chat awhile and learn about some of the local history. This is the perfect place to spend an enchanted hour or two. read more