The Sum And Substance: If you love books, especially those that have lived past lives--get in here. The owner sets a charmingly cluttered, eclectic, and sumptuous table that feels like an endless, enticing spread of literature, music, pop culture, and art--a sentient enclave--every sense engaged--visually rich, tactilely stimulating, redolent, the rustle of perused pages. All at reasonable prices that won't kick the crap out of your wallet. The owner is a decent dude. read more

Interesting collection of used books and vinyls. There are new volumes of books and plenty of used books and magazines. The staff will look up books to buy new for 20% off, too, if they are still in publication. The gentleman behind the desk showed us some special editions of some books. Although we could not buy them, it was really interesting to see. Good selection and genres are well marked so you will be able to find science or science fiction books. read more

The Half Priced Books of the neighborhood of Darien before Half Priced existed as the owner said they'd been there for 26 years. It's got alot to dig through, and I'm sure anyone would find something. I found 1 record, a rare Santa Esmeralda record. It's in a hot town plaza of Homerun Inn and a soon to be Billiards place, Starbucks etc. read more

Who doesn't love a used bookstore?! And one that has a sizable collection like Frugal Muse! I had a blast roaming the stacks seeing what treasures I could find - and I did find one or two. When I couldn't locate a particularly popular author I asked. The friendly staff was more than happy to show me. The prices are right where they should be and you're going to love the condition of the books, no garbage here. I'm making it a monthly habit to pop-in and see what I can stumble upon. read more

Came in to see if they would take older books, DVDs, and VHS. They do, but bewarned that you will not receive much. Their selection, though, is impressive. They have an eye for unique collectable books and have a thorough selection of older works and newer edition books. It's a very fun vibe being in here and getting lost amongst all the options they have. They even have vintage board games, records, and more! The owner was friendly when I visited and seems to have a loyal local clientele that visit and purchase often - he mentioned they've been around for over 20 years. However, the comments about being anti-mask and anti-vax are pretty concerning. Full stars because I did not encounter this in my experience but would drastically change rating if I did see this. read more

I forgot about this little hidden gem in four corners. It's been some time since I've been here but it's exactly how I remembered it. They have a large selection of children's books and fiction. They're organized by author and they have some new books in their selection. You also have the option to order a newer book at a discount (if I remember correctly). They will also accept book donations so don't let those books go to waste! If you've never been, definitely try and check this out. I stocked up on my most recent visit with some good stuff! read more

Frugal Muse Books - Bookstores Near Me - Darien, Illinois

Frugal Muse has it all: books of every genre, music, games, etc. Consider this one of the last free-standing book stores note that everything has moved online. They also teamed up to sell new books as well- it's an online store where Frugal Muse gets a cut of the sale. Be prepared with book authors/titles. That's how I keep from getting over whelmed here. If you're selling books, the average price is $1 a book. Know this. There's no need to get angry and write a crappy review because they offered you $1 for your new hardcover book. Where else are you going to get better? They recently switched to store credit only for sales, so know that as well. Frugal Muse is old school so any gift certificate or trade in allowance will be on a piece of paper. I'd you lose it, you lose it. If you can set your expectations for all the above, I imagine you'll like this book store:( read more

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I love the ambience of this bookstore. Filled with nooks for all categories of books, hardcover and paperback, a room for kids books and some games, and a nook for deeply discounted books. Even a box of freebies. There are events with authors and sometimes music. Best of all, the owner is welcoming and offers a discount on orders of new books. A destination for those who love a cozy bookstore. read more

Absolutely great store, I come here all the time when Im home and they always having something cool/interesting to find. Can't say enough about this store but I'll leave it at that. read more

This used to be a weekly stop -- cheap paperbacks and lots of 'em. Like others, I noticed the anti-mask sentiment getting more and more prevalent. Owner on the phone all the time, loudly decrying vaccines. Last straw and last visit was a little over a year ago: owner and some customer at the register, unmasked, congratulating themselves for not wearing masks, not getting vaccinated, and celebrating the customer's getting thrown out of Half Price Books for not wearing a mask. I put my stuff down and left -- no way was I going to that register! Owner cross posts from his personal account onto the store's Facebook page, confirming he's anti-vaccine, anti-government (with the usual forgiven PPP loans, under Garrison Enterprises), and anti-trans. The anti-trans memes are particularly vile. I spent a lot of money here over the years, and it makes me wonder what other garbage beliefs I supported by doing so. Spend your money somewhere else...anywhere else! read more

This first time I was in FM was for a book signing for CJ Box. I have seen him at 2 previous signings, a library in Denver and the museum at Cheyenne Frontier Days (Wyoming) so I have no idea how FM secured him for their location. The store is an odd mix of music, books and "stuff". Since these are pre-owned items inventory is varied and changes frequently. Come with an open mind and no real expectations of what you will find and enjoy the process of looking for that "I need to own" item. read more

Very cool and knowledgeable owner! A lot of genres to go through, plenty of seats to just sit and enjoy the well decorated environment, while you trial books! Very organized, and interesting titles to choose from! Definitely will be coming back to frugal muse! read more

I am not comfortable with the lack of masks. Plus the money given to me for books in great condition is laughable. I will just donate them somewhere else. read more

Wall-to-wall books and rooms leading to other rooms with more wall-to-wall books. I literally spend hours here browsing books from the past to present. All books are reasonably priced and considered vintage for sale. I purchased a few gems that I saw and bought that you could not find in Amazon. Stop by and browse - I can guarantee you will enjoy your time here. read more

This place is a pretty good used book/media store. They're not a bigger name like Half Price Books but they offer similar services in that you can buy items or sell them back here. They also offer the option of store credit if you sell back to them. read more

The cashier and his customer buddy were having an animated friendly discussion while not wearing masks when I walked in. As I was in the store, another customer went to the checkout counter. Cashier's mask purposely didn't cover his mouth when he wore it, and his customer buddy didn't have a mask at all. Walked out to take a call from my sister, expressed my frustration at the situation, and came in to find them talking about how those stupid mask people don't know that the deep state government is fooling them with the COVID hoax. I can't make this stuff up. I expressed my discomfort when I checked out about them not wearing masks. The cashier ignored me, and his customer buddy said he couldn't hear me mumbling through my mask. This is likely because according to their conversation I was a stupid liberal who didn't believe in their conspiracy theories. I won't be shopping here again. I also have approximately 30 local friends and family who won't be shopping there after my experience today. No one said they weren't entitled to their behavior in the store alone together, or their views- but maybe good customer service would have them wear masks around customers and keep disrespectful comments about customers to themselves, at least while those customers are still present in their store. So sad that they are beyond a simple respectful act like requiring masks in their store to reduce the spread of COVID among their customers and employees, and that their customers who do wear masks are complete morons in their opinion. read more

I discovered this place back in 2004 when I was working in Downers Grove. As I live in the city, I don't get out there as often as I would like but always try to make a concentrated effort to do so at least a few times a year. As others have said, this is a great place to browse around. Their selection is varied and unlike what others have said, I have found some great music (both replacements to albums I lost/ruined and newer artists as well as local music). Their movie/DVD selection is OK although I've never actually bought anything in that department. I tend to spend around an hour when I go there....lots to check out for sure....can't say one section is better than the other as I've found items everywhere in the store. And also, for the real bargains, go to the back wall of the store as they have a whole section of $1 books and some video. They also have 2 locations in Madison, WI...I've been to one up there and the same thing...great place to browse around (and a bonus is I found a book by a favorite WI author of mine there) and check out. Frugal Muse is a bargain hunters/booklover's find... read more

I love this place! Did you know...they have an open mic night on the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30-9 p.m.! You can share poetry or other spoken word, music, or whatever your creative heart desires! They ask that you keep it family-friendly as there is no guarantee who will show up, sometimes there are children in the store. If you're a musical act, you may even get to go twice to vary the selection up. It's a very friendly and creative atmospheres with a lot of characters and a lot of fun! There are usually some refreshments, too, and you're encouraged to bring snacks to share as well as your talent, but it's not required. As far as the rest of the store, this place looks pretty jam packed with all sorts of books, comics and music/video as well. There are a few cozy places to sit and relax. The owner is especially friendly and helpful. Great place! I look forward to coming every month for open mic night (as I don't live anywhere close by, that's about the only time I visit). read more

We stumbled across this place entirely by accident while looking for a restaurant in the area, and I'm very glad I did! It's not much to look at it from the outside, but like any good book, it's what's inside that counts. This is a fantastic used book store, and had a great selection of books from a variety of genres and fandoms. For myself, I was able to add to my Dresden Files, Forgotten Realms, and Stephen King collections. They have a nice variety of both hardcover and paperback. That being said, do remember that this is a used bookstore, so they're not going to have everything, and they may only have parts of some sets. The prices were very reasonable. I wish we lived near this place so that we could frequent it! Alas, we live in another state, LOL. Guess you'll have to go and enjoy it for me! read more

I have nothing but positive things to share about this lovely book store. The owner has been nothing but polite, kind, and courteous to me. There's a very wide variety of books, and I have never found myself dissatisfied with the service I've received. You know, there's something very quaint about cozy bookstores like this. I feel very comfortable and respected in this environment. I would highly recommend checking out the open mic too if you get the chance. read more

The long aisles and tall shelves made me dizzy with excitement. I first learned about Frugal Muse from an ex-boyfriend who shopped here. He stole books from Barnes and Noble (now closed), sold them here (including a pricey book I got him on Chicago history) and then spent the money on heroin. But I digress... Frugal Muse is my new bargain indulgence. I purchased 6 books, some hardcover, and spent $30. Some of the new releases were in the $11 range, but I still got newer, well known titles for $5-6 by David Sedaris, Augusten Bourroughs, and a copy of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." The bargain aisle ($1 books!) is plentiful, though I left that area empty handed. The most recognized titles, to me, were Angela's Ashes and Bridges of Madison County. I also got a hardcover book about how disco shaped our society, but I passed on the "How to Overcome Crystal Meth Addiction." Give yourself at least an hour to browse. I tend to be a power shopper, but I was in here for at least an hour. Yes, the shelves are high, but there were several stepladders throughout the store. The employees were friendly and nice, and I wasn't bothered at all while shopping. read more

I've been going to Frugal Muse for years, and it never ceases to satisfy. You can find trade paperbacks for $5 apiece about a month after they hit the regular bookstores. The selection is large and varied, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Once, I was directing a community theatre play that required a character to have a large library. I talked to the owners of Frugal Muse, and they told me how they regularly have to throw away books. They graciously agreed to collect the books they would have to dispose of for a couple weeks. I came back two weeks later, and they had collected 500 books for me, free of charge! It's rare to find such a communal spirit in business owners these days, which is why I am a dedicated customer of this great store. Frugal Muse also carries a selection of new books, which you can browse through upon entering. They usually select some interesting titles, along with a few of the more currently popular bestsellers. The only reason I give this 4, not 5 stars is that they also carry CDs and DVDs. Both of these selections are worth a passing look, and you might find something you've been looking for, but in general they are pretty mediocre efforts at carrying used music & movies. To be honest, I'm not sure why they keep these sections going; maybe they are more profitable than books, but I think they should just stick with their specialty, and add more room for their great used book selection. read more

Stopped in here since I'm new to the area and I love supporting independent book/music shops. This place seems to do a lot for the artistic community - which is great and all, but their main function is being a retail outlet for new and used books and a small selection of music. Their movie selection was what irritated me first - I looked at several DVDs and blu-rays that were priced significantly higher than buying them new from Amazon. The whole point of buying used is to get it cheaper than if you were to buy the item new. Aside from this, their graphic novel selection was less than desirable, and some of them had a smattering of stickers on them...if you buy comic books, you know that every little bit of sticker residue or even sticker leftovers significantly decreases the value. Their book selection was decent, prices for some were comparable to Half Price Books but some were still slightly outrageous. Also, some may see this a good thing, but no one asked me if I needed help finding something the entire half hour I was in there. I won't be coming back, maybe some might find what they're looking for here but I certainly did not...at least not for what can be considered a 'fair price'. read more

Great selection of used books at reasonable prices. They don't offer much for buying and of course you only get the full amount if you take store credit. They run back to their computer every 5 minutes making you feel like there is something shady going on. Small selection of DVDs and CD. A good selection of children's books. read more

I'm a book fiend, with more books than I have shelves. So I was super excited when Groupon offered a deal involving a bookstore: The Frugal Muse. When I went to the store to redeem the $25 Groupon, I ended up spending probably 2 1/2 hours or more in the store browsing their vast and eclectic selection, and I got a ton of books I'd been searching for and unable to find at places like Half Price Books or even my local library. The staff were very helpful and friendly, and I enjoyed the music they had playing that day (Alexi Murdoch, a singer-songwriter). The environment is very laid back and unpretentious; lots of shelves and displays of books organized into various categories, with a few chairs here and there if you just want to read something before you buy it. They have a good size collection of fiction as well as children's books--I didn't look at a lot of the other genres but I know there were quite a few. There's also a limited selection of music and movies, though it's clear that's not the primary focus of the store--which is just fine. I should add too that they do have public restrooms, adding to the comfort of the overall customer experience! There's a mix of used and new items here, and if they don't have what you're looking for they can order it for less than list price. The used prices are quite reasonable--I came away with 10 books for around $50 (including the $25 Groupon). I think overall the prices are better here than at the better known Half Price Books. Frugal Muse also has a large selection of $1 books--and two of my purchases came from there. These aren't in a particular order that I could see, but it's worth it to browse through them because a lot of them are decent books that they just have too many copies of (such as Da Vinci Code and The Kite Runner--books that are so popular they are now in over-supply). I even got a 15% coupon to use when returning, and I definitely will be using it! As other reviewers have mentioned, they also offer online coupons at their website, and those change periodically so keep checking back. I would highly recommend this place to any lover of books or good deals! read more

I love this place! I think it's silly to buy new books unless you absolutely can't find it or it's too new to find used and you need it now. So the hubby and I come here often. We walk out with our arms full of books and spend next to nothing for them. I have gotten not just books for entertainment, but also cookbooks and travel books. They have an incredible selection. It's worth checking out! read more

Many, many things can ruin a used bookstore experience for me. If there are aisles and aisles of books but they aren't *my* kind of books . . . if the selection is great but the prices are no steal . . . you get the idea. Fortunately for me, The Frugal Muse suffers from none of these problems. The selection is remarkably good, and just about everything is $4.98. Unfortunately for me, The Frugal Muse is way out in Darien. Guess I'll have to stock up next time! P.S. The website offers some pretty good printable coupons. Check it before you head out! read more

I love this store. If you're like me and I know I am and you absolutely need a copy of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes at 3:00 PM on a Sunday, Frugal Muse is your bookstore. Just a great selection of books, cd's, and dvd's and a fun and casual staff. Such a breath of fresh air compared to the "upscale" Barnes and Noble. Also, a really great place if you are looking for Comics. I once found an autographed copy of one of Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" comic books here. When does that happen? I'm excited about the efforts to start an open mike night here. Frugal Muse is a real part of the community in Darien, just up the road from downtown Downer's Grove. read more

This is a review of the vinyl record selection only at The Frugal Muse... Compared to other used booksellers who sell used LPs in the wider suburban Chicago are this store is located within (2nd and Charles, Half Price Books, Cornerstone), the section is somewhat smallish. However, it is well-curated, and so although you won't find everything here, what you do find is usually in pretty good shape. They have a decent selection of pop and classic rock, as well as a dash of soundtracks, world, classical, and jazz. On the plus side then, as I said, what they do have when they have it is usually in pretty good shape. On the negative side, the selection is kind of limited. The prices on some things can also be hit or miss. Some records are priced comparable to other stores in the wider area, while others are a bit overpriced for what they are and the condition they are in. Overall, this is an okay place to go for LPs. Generally, the store sits in fair competition with the more average Half Price Books locations in the wider area (Orland Park, Countryside, Naperville), is better than Cornerstone (out in Villa Park), but not quite as good as the better Half Prices (Bloomingale, Palatine, Schuamberg) or 2nd and Charles (Naperville). read more

I've had this place bookmarked for a while, but tonight was my first time visiting. How happy was I when, to my surprise, our trip to Joann Fabrics put us in the same parking lot as Frugal Muse! Unfortunately I arrived just before closing and shut the place down -- sorry! In hindsight, this is probably a good thing, otherwise I would have been there for HOURS. The woman working the front was so personable and helpful and didn't make me feel rushed even though I walked in right before close... Sorry again! I picked up 3 books I've had on my wishlist in great condition for $15. Great prices, HUGE selection. Looking forward to my next trip when I can spend all day in this used book wonderland. read more

The Frugal Muse is a nice, quiet book store. Their selection of books is excellent! On my first visit, I picked up four books that I'd wanted to read for some time. Their shelves are filled to the maximum (their shelves tower above the heads of even the tallest people), however, so it's somewhat difficult to find specific books. On the plus side, their books are organized alphabetically. Their clearance section is a mess. There is literally no organization there. If you're looking for items other than books, good luck looking here. Their CD selection is only okay, as is their DVD selection. They only had about seven Blu-Rays when I was there. They do have some comics and graphic novels, but have more manga overall. They have a wide variety of plays, novels, and other marvelous books. I was extremely impressed by their book selection. Frugal Muse's prices are pretty reasonable, except for a few. Their best selling books are priced at around ten dollars or more per book, which to me seems a little high (I love Harry Potter books, but was turned off by their price of $13 for Order of the Phoenix in paperback). I found a book for $2 in the regular section of the shop, but when I returned home and actually perused the pages, there was writing in it. I don't mind it when there's writing in used books, but they probably should have placed that book in the clearance section, where everything is a dollar or less. The staff at Frugal Muse are lame. When I went in, the two people in charge were fooling around and not very helpful. When I went to check out, the cashier was doing some other work and took her time getting to the register. Not that I was in a hurry, but I found that kind of rude. She also spoke extremely quietly and it was hard to hear her. Overall, the Frugal Muse is a good store. Very nice book selection with mostly reasonable prices. read more

Expect to spend hours perusing. If you don't have aimless hours to spend, expect to get increasingly frustrated. As I inched from section to never-ending section, my irritation grew. I think it's because I didn't have an infinite amount of time to look at every book title. And perhaps because what I was really looking for, I wasn't finding. And then I realized that's what I use Amazon for, and I chilled out. But, that's my fault. Not theres. And it's used. So, what the hell should I expect. Seriously. I overexert myself with thoughts sometimes. I left with 2 books. Total of $9. I'm pretty happy with that. Most books are $4.98. It's a chill atmosphere, and a good way to blow some time, and a little moola. I will definitely go back and buy some more. I could care less about the CD's and DVD's, but they have those too. And I think it's awesome that they have a ginormous section for kids, It would've been my favorite place to go when I was little... If it had been in existence back in the screamin' 80's. Oh memories... read more

This is an ok, smallish used bookstore that I've visited a few times in Darien. They actually purchased and gave me a decent price for a stack of new hardcover books in like-new condition that I had bought to read when we were moving (I'd previously brought them to another place and they didn't take a single one) . Their own selection didn't really meet the needs of what I was seeking on those occasions, but like most used bookstores it's most likely just catch as catch can. Signage could be better. Loved the big box of postcards to sift through. read more

I've lived in the DG, what, two years now. I am a total junkie for used book stores. My cell phone provider is two stores down. And I never saw the place until today. It was surprisingly large, with the proper kind of high shelves. The thing that struck me most was that it seemed a proper used book store -- like you would find in a city (most of which are gone) but not as comprehensive as one on a college campus (comprehensive meaning lots of yellowed paperbacks unloaded by the estates of retired professors). Here in the suburbs most of the things that pass as used or discount bookstores are outlets for remainders and have nothing that I would want. This place is neatly organized into sections and had a goodly deal of non-fiction. Let me clarify, had non-fiction that was more than cookbooks, coffee table books, or "inspirational" literature. The music selection was so-so, I did pick up a copy of the Reality Bites soundtrack out of the $1 bin. I was not buying it ironically -- it is the Garden State of my generation. We cleaned them out of chess books too. Used books are half cover price or as-marked (for older pre-ISBN books). Nice discovery, probably a place I would visit every couple of months when I am nearby -- or when I need some classic for a kid's high school class. read more

1. Cheap 2. Alphabetized (almost) How often do you find a used bookstore with these two characteristics? Usually used bookstores only alphabetize fiction...the best part is that you can go in looking for a book and know whether they have it or not. Also, the book selection is decent given the prices. read more

In my opinion, a great used music or book store should have an unusual selection, and an inventory that turns over frequently. If I visit regularly, and I routinely find unexpected items that weren't there before and might not be there again, I'm happy. If it's organized, that's a plus, and if the prices are fair, that's even better. The Frugal Muse is a winner on those counts. Pros: Great selection of music and books, at decent prices (in my experience). Cons: Very conventional movie selection (again, in my experience), and a weirdly bad selection of graphic novels. Definitely well worth checking out. read more

Great pricing and a big store for what it is. I like popping in just to look around. Usually leave with a book or movie in hand read more

I found this place with a google search because though I love reading books on my iPad, there is little to no savings. I found the selection of books to be great and the prices very reasonable. My only complaint was I felt the selection of books for my two year old was small at best. The books I did find for her were pretty beat up. Overall, I love this place and will be a regular. I may try bringing in some of my daughters books she no longer reads to see how resale goes. read more

Frugal Muse has a great selection of previously owned books, cds, dvds, old school vinal records, etc..... I was impressed with the quality and price of the items I purchased The store is also maintained and organized very well, and the employees were courteous and helpful when I visited. read more

Love this store!! Staff is great especially the owner!! Love that I could trade in unwanted movies & books to get ones I want at a fair price read more