The Friends Bookstore is located inside the Central Library at 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach. it is a volunteer-run store offering a large selection of used books, media, and puzzles. It is a great place to shop and it is so quiet. They also have new books, but they are pricey. The service is lovely. The volunteers that work there know where everything is and if you want something that may be way out of date, you might be surprised and find it there. This bookstore helps the library to which it is attached. It is a good way to get a great book and help the library. They have a great selection and you may very well find something great there. They have fiction, cookbooks and a ton of puzzles. Again, the staff is patient and very kind. Be nice to them as they are not paid a penny. read more

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This bookstore is such a pleasant way to buy gently used books and make money for the library. It is all run by volunteers and generates funds from community donations. read more

Great way to buy quality books. Staff is helpful. Wish it was bigger and longer hours. But so happy it's available

I visited your store a few Saturdays ago and was disappointed to see increased prices for new release books that are the highest I have seen in any FOL bookstore. However, the biggest concern was with the volunteer I talked with who said (multiple times) that I have a "choice" to either pay the price or check it out from the library for free which I thought was inappropriate. She then went on to describe the Newport Beach area as a place where people have enough money to buy more expensive books. I thought this attitude was not in keeping with the Friend's of the Library approach. There are plenty of other FOL stores in Orange County and I definitely recommend that you visit them such as Mission Viejo, San Clemente, El Toro, Rancho Santa Margarita to name a few. read more

Absolutely love Friends Bookstore! They offer a wide variety of books and will have something for everyone. Very fair prices and staff is super friendly. read more

UPDATE as of 7/12/21. The bookstore has moved back into its original place (i.e. it is not in the large Friends Room any more). The hours are M-Sat 10:30am - 3pm They've made a few small changes. I love that the shelves are labeled with a box with the name of the topic. (see picture). They still have lots of books at great prices. Their weekly specials are amazing. They had CDs 5/$1 last week! And they were not reject CDs. Lots of popular and oldies music, even a Beatles CD. Donation guidelines are a tiny bit more restrictive. They only want 3 boxes per day in donations because of space limitations in their small back pricing room. But if you have more, you can make an appointment and they can receive them in their loading dock. read more

Some popular titles I saw in the bookstore today: "Unaccustomed Earth" "Breaking Dawn" (part of the Twilight series) "Life of Pi" "Marley and Me" "We Were the Mulvaneys" "Where the Heart is" "The Da Vinci Code" "The Rule of Four" This "Friends of the Library" is tiny, but it is packed with books from shelf to shelf. There are no empty spaces on the shelves. Come browse around, I don't think you'll be disappointed. As I was leaving, this lady brought in like 5 big boxes of books that she had to use a dolly to wheel in. What I would have given to see what gems she contributed to this bookstore.... read more

Great place to pick-up cheap books and support the library's efforts. WARNING: The store is tiny so be prepared to snuggle up to the volunteers and fellow shoppers. Remember it's all for a good cause. read more

This is such a lovely library. It's near MacArthur on Avocado Street, in the same plaza as Bristol Farms. The interior and exterior is beautiful. They always have book sales going on for really cheap. I've bought old hard cover classics such as Moby Dick along with a few fashion + sports books I can add to the office. I usually study upstairs near the cafe since there are floor outlets, natural lighting and I can grab a sandwich for when I get hungry. The sliding doors lead to a gorgeous outside patio. Sign up for a library card in order to use Wi-Fi if you're a constant visitor. Or they can provide you with a temporary access code. The staff here is well informed and friendly. Love it! read more

Friends Bookstore - How cute is this?! - Bookstores Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Great little bookstore. Loads of popular and recent best seller books. A great variety. I personally got "Malibu Rising" by Taylor Jenkins Reid for $6. So excited to visit again soon! read more

Wow! What a great bookstore once you find it. My Google map sent us across the street. Anyway it is in the Public library, and adjacent to an incredible sculpture garden. Great volunteers splendid selection. They happily accept donated books too. read more

Looking at some books and the lady puts the carts away. I asked if I could look inside to not keep her waiting and she straight up says no. I ask what time they close and she says "now!" (3:30, Sunday) K bye b*tch read more

Most books $1. It's my secret place that I don't want to yelp about but I must share...it's the neighborly thing to do. Right? Karma, Oprah's Secret (they usually have a copy of that by the way...) and most of you Yelpers are right there anyway since it's steps from Sprinkle's cupcakes. Located inside the Newport Beach public library - just inside the front entrance, turn to your right and VOILA, the bookstore. All the rich people of Newport buy the bestsellers, never read them, donate them to the library and they're yours for a buck. Great for reading copies of your favorite books. Current bestsellers in hardcover priced $3 - $8. Most books $1. A large number of books 2/$1. All gently used. Many look like they've never been read. Fantastic selection of current titles. They get tons of donations daily so you'll find memoir, fiction, classics, business books, lots o cookbooks, and children's books. Also have VHS, DVD, and books on tape. Occasionally have great CDs. It all depends on donations. I live within walking distance and I'm now spoiled. I can't pay B&N prices any longer when I can find barely read copies of almost anything for under $3 at this 'used' bookstore. No moldy books. Great Quality. The only really old books you'll see will be collectibles. They're pretty good about removing valuable first editions and auctioning them separately to dealers BUT I do see dealers perusing the racks OFTEN. Cash or Check only. Bring your book donations too. read more

Forget Barnes & Noble, this is the place to go for any book you want to read. I am a VERY good friend of the library...I spend RIDICULOUS amounts of money here getting even more ridiculous amounts of books. Like another review said, the rich people of Newport buy books, hardly read them, then donate them, so you get recent releases in pristine condition...most for only $1. Some books are as much as $8, but I have just waited a few weeks and eventually found them for $1. Again, they are in amazing condition, some never even opened, for only one dollar. This is something no bibliophile can resist. read more

Love this little bookstore! We found so many great books for our young daughter. Love that we can find new books to keep story time interesting for her and us. Very friendly staff and great selection of used books. read more

Checked out the bag a buck book sale they were having today and it was great! You could get as many books you could fit in your grocery bag and it was only $1. Because it was getting to the end of the sale, they started doing 2 bags for $1 and people were going crazy filling up their bags. There were a lot of books and I had to sort through a lot of junk to find books but I did get some interesting reads. The people running the sale really knew a lot about books and suggested books to considering reading. After getting my bag of books, I checked out the bookstore itself and they had some decent titles for sale for only a dollar (devil wears prada, prep, the nanny diaries). The library is really pretty inside and a nice pretty building. When I am done reading my abundance of books, I'll head back down to the bookstore to find another book to read. read more

This is an excellent program, thank you rich folk of Newport Beach. After reading a review, I walked into the library and turned to the right to find a closed shop; the sign said that the store has been moved to the lobby (which i was standing in). The Friends store is being renovated for a couple months, the books are in carts along the left side of the lobby. I dont know if they were able to display the same amount of books in the lobby as the shop, but the selection was decent. There is only a small space allotted for the carts, however, and I got to use some yoga poses to help me find books on the lower levels. The older lady and gentleman that manned shop were good company, I think i would go back just to chat it up with them for a few good minutes. I bought a book I've never heard of til I saw it that day- Ben Franklin's Fart Proudly ($1). The man at the counter gave me some flak for that one, although he said that this book is quite the buzz with some (obscure name) folks. Other acquisitions were America's Secret War ($2) by George Friedman and The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer ($8). Stephen King noted that this is the best spy novel not written by (I forget). I was excited to snatch this one as this book is a recent release. Man, I've got to learn to scan faster. There was a man that was hunting first editions (for he proclaimed them so when he found one). Next thing I heard was "Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Il," and I saw that the book found was a fairly recent one on North Korea (an interest of mine given the times). 4 stars for the concept and selection. If you're a Jodi Picoult, WEB Griffin or James Patterson buff, theres a pretty good selection here. If you're a Stephen King fan and got no place to put your books, please consider donating, I'd greatly appreciate it. Unfortunately, the carts and cramped space may cause problems for less limber customers. read more

Set up for disappointment by reading such stellar Yelp reviews, I went expecting the Strand Bookstore (NYC). However, I am very generous and forgiving, ever merciful and gracious. In search for my spring quarter textbooks (I'm an English/Literature major), I was let down. None of my 10 books were available. Not a single one--not even Great Gatsby! *everybody gasp* (But there were at LEAST 4 copies of the Scarlet Letter? C'mon. No one needs that. We all know everybody already has a copy at home--I have three.) After my initial shock, a very nice worker came over and asked if she could help me find anything. I gave her my list and she happily went to the back to see if any of the classics were in stock. Though unsuccessful, I appreciate all her efforts and friendly customer service. 5 stars! Once my academic intentions were foregone, I drowned in my literary pleasures and bought 4 leisure books: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (David Sedaris), Catch 22 (Joseph Conrad), Of Love and Other Demons (Gabriel García Márquez), Memory of My Melancholy Whores (G. García Márquez). My allowance was 1 book (my "practical" side), but my impulsive side permitted my purchases for a grand total of $4. The perfect little nook in Newport. A dollar doesn't go a long way these days (less than 1/3 of a cupcake at the nearby Sprinkles), but here it does! read more

Best place to get used books hands down. It's small but they update stuff constantly and the prices are ridiculous. There are once-read hardcover books there for like a dollar or two and some paperbacks that look like new even go for 2 for $1. The only thing that could make this better is if it was open longer and if they were bigger. But considering it's all run by volunteers, I can't complain. read more

Thanks to Judy for reviewing this little gem!!! I always bring my used books here to donate for resale. I always find some bestseller that I have been meaning to buy for like $1.00-$5.00. It is ridiculous!!!! Totally a best kept secret of Newport!!! read more

I'm not sure that I'm going to keep coming here. Are there wonderful books here? YES. Are the prices outrageous (that means super cheap)? YES. Is it fun to search for bargains? YES. Then what's the problem you ask. Well...it's the ladies who run the place. Not the sweet little old lady volunteers...oh no..these ladies sweet little old lady granny types. The problem lies with the two who seem to be the "leaders" or the "managers" here. Please ladies, stop bustling by people, almost knocking them to the ground so you can arrange the shelves. Yes, I know...this bookstore is teeny, tiny and it gets super crowded but come on...don't paying customers deserve some respect? Also, top staring at my bags as if I'm going to throw some used $1.00 books in them and then run out the door without paying. I usually go to the main library first, pick up any books and movies I have on reserve and then wander in here to browse around. I sometimes put my library books into plastic grocery bags or other plastic shopping bags from other stores. EVERY time I'm in here, the tall blonde one stares at me, stares at my bags, stares at the books I have in my hands as I walk around, and stares me down as if trying to catch me in some sort of act of thievery. I find it extremely rude and offensive...to say the least. If you are so afraid of people stealing books, post a sign that says "Backpacks and bookbags are not allowed"...college bookstore style. Why not? You already stare at people like they are going to rip you off anyway. I have two tons of books at home that I need to donate but I seriously don't want to bring them here and have to deal with these ladies. I think I'll stick to Goodwill or the Salvation Army instead. read more

I've gotten some pretty great rare and fun books to read here. I think you have to have a purchase over a certain amount in order to buy anything (therefore, cash is king). The books are as low as 25 cents. read more

Their prices have gotten out of hand. They pay " nothing whatsoever " for the books. Charging online prices is out of line for a library book store. If it was 30-40% less than online, yes, it would be OK. They are taking high online asking prices, not selling prices as their guide. Gas, time, convenience? Stay home, go online. More than likely cheaper with a much larger selection. read more

So I, found myself with some time to kill in Newport Beach and used the trusty yelp search feature to find a cool used book store in the area. I immediately focused on the fantastic reviews of the Friends of Newport Beach library bookstore. Based on the reviews from yelp I decided to swing by and see what it was about. Upon entry into the library the bookstore is directly to the right as you walk in and it is relatively tiny as mentioned in the reviews. Outside the bookstore were several book carts with smokin' deals on the racks, mainly two for a buck! I selected a couple of 4.5 star rated (per amazon) brand new condition non-fiction books that looked facinating. I then went into the store and preceded to find approximately ten books! I found a nice combo of fiction and non-fiction including a signed copy of a just released Wild Bill biography I wanted but was unwilling to pay twenty plus for currently. I absolutely recommend stopping by if you are in the area, the prices are superb and the staff is friendly, read more

I found myself kneeling into the classics section in deep conversation about modern Nordic detective fiction with a guy, also kneeling, who I had met two minutes earlier and realized this was what original prayer must have been like - for book nerds. I volunteer at The Friends Bookstore at the Main Branch. It's the best gig around if you've ever read a book and even better if you've read two, and so on and so on, as everyone who walks in NEEDS A BOOK and at 2 for 1 prices, they are happiest people in Orange County. Kids clinging to picture books, couples making "book bouquets" for each other, there's a lot of love in this tiny fully stocked space - and it's not just because of the underappreciated romance section. I did weep a bit into the Scalzi in science fiction after helping a husband find "the perfect book" to read aloud to his wife of over fifty years who is suddenly in a coma, but by golly, we did find that PERFECT book. And you will too. Especially if you volunteer (because then you get access to the mythical "back room"). It's as close to paradise, with a paper cut, as you can get! read more

This place is a great place for used books. This isn't one of those bookstores that only has random books you have no desire to read, but some actually good books, and the books are in surprisingly good condition. read more

This place is adorable and reasonably priced. I come in here whenever I'm trying to find a book for school, and I've almost always found it! The staff there is comprised of all volunteers, and they are all very friendly! read more

I like all the "Friends of the Library" bookstores and I've been to many of them. This one seems to have slightly higher prices for used books and they seem to save a lot the books for the 'big sales' they have throughout the year. read more

My favorite place to hunt for gifts for my special people The used book store is like a treasure chest of great books Great selection of music too read more

Books for a dollar or two?!?!?! I could spend hours looking at books and at this bookstore I saw some bestsellers like the Memory Keeper's Daughter and the Birth of Venus. I also saw a lot of classics. The bookstore is really small though so beware if you have a backpack on, you will end up bumping into the bookshelves and people (which I did haha). read more

This is a well kept secret in Newport Beach. I used to frequent the library and walked right past the bookstore many times. Finally, while looking for used bookstores on Yelp I came across this place. My husband and I now frequent it on the weekends! So fun to browse through their huge collection of recent titles and old collectibles. Prices are dirt cheap, too! Our most recent purchase included a beautiful Women of Picasso "coffee table" book, a few cookbooks, and a sought after copy of Little House on the Prarie that I had been wanting since I heard a recent story on NPR about Laura Ingalls Wilder and remembered reading those books as a child. Friends of Newport Beach Library Bookstore is a wonderful place for book lovers and they raise a ton of money for the library, too! If you haven't been, check it out. The selection is constantly changing. read more

Love going here, always find something I love and for bargain prices too. I highly recommend visiting and giving back to the library by making a purchase. I've also found many like new items for birthday gifts, etc. read more

Eh. I didn't get it. Super small store at the front of the library. Walked completely past it the first time. Mostly stocked with Danielle Steele type of novels and reference books. Maybe it was just my visit. I will go back someday and try again. But def not a priority read more

I love stopping in here. My first time was to look for used books to purchase, especially my favorite author. Although I did not find what I was looking for, I kept thinking this will be my go-to for donating my books. Well within the last 2 years I have bought too many books. Gosh I just love books, the smell, the history, the stories...they are all such treasures. Last weekend I dropped off a boxful of books and the ladies were so happy. My favorite author I hear sells out quickly. Awesome!!! That means the library wins and of course I get my little paper for a taxable donation. Today I had 8 boxes of Charles Fazzino puzzles to drop off and they were delighted. They told me they often contribute the puzzles to the Oasis Senior Center and that makes ME happy. I love this little used book store. Wish it was bigger. I am sure they do too. You have to check it out and of course the beautiful library! read more

I consider this one of OC's best kept secrets! This bookstore sells barely used, recently published (or not so recently published..) books for like 90%+ off. I found some really great and popular reads that appeal to me, a 20 year old female, for bargain prices. Do yourself a favor and check this place out! You won't be disappointed. read more

It's interesting to find out that The Newport Beach Friends of the Library Booksale is a "Pay-To-Play" proposition. Standing in line just prior to the sale, I chanced to look into the window at the sale tables when I spied an on-line book dealer with a scanner going through the books. I asked one of the people in charge why there was someone in there an hour before the sale with the obvious advantage of using a scanner to choose the choicest books before anyone was allowed to go inside. The response: "Oh, he spends more than $600". I was livid. Normally, friends' sales are conducted as a way to give their community a chance to buy bargain books. Looking at the impressive listing of donors, it doesn't seem that this library is hurting for donations. The fantastic workers generating income for the bookstore would be the envy of any library in the state. So why the preferred treatment for one person? Will you start auctioning this perk in the future? Why not $700 for an hour jump-start? Why not $1000? Does it come with a free lunch buffet and valet parking? If you treat this man like a Vegas "whale", then why not broker an auction for a real turn at the goods? I'll tell you why...because it's cynical and greedy. Your prices are so wonderfully low because this is not the real moneymaker in your operation. It is your way of culling your stock, keeping your store inventory neat and flowing, and is a great way of giving back to your friends and donors. It would be nice to know that it is not a giveaway to the high-rollers that are in the book-selling game to make a fast buck. read more