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    Leigh's Favorite Books

    4.6 (238 reviews)
    Closed • 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Leigh's Favorite Books Photos

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    LeeLee C.

    Located inside Sunnyvale downtown, this book store pleasantly surprised me in many ways. We entered the store after the sun was set, the warm lights inside the store glowed welcomingly. Stepping inside, there are books, gifts, tea, chocolate, hats, bookmarks and cute stationaries and gifts. I love the croissant shape eye patch and the eye gel patches with the cute cat graphics, the fany novel choclate bars, the unique flavored tea bags, I can go on and on and on. The books are neatly organized with thoughtful staff notes and recommendations. They have a program which for their book store members, you can return certain books in 3 months as a "buy back". The "buy back" % is clearly listed on the book cover, a few of the hot items I see that they are buying back for 50%! The staff member is very friendly and helpful. She helped answer questions, looking for items and she was on top of her job. They have events like meet the author once or twice a month. Overall, this is a great local gem and I'm happy that I stumbled upon it!

    Unofficial award for the best non-book inventory of any bookstore in California. Great selection of books and used books!
    Shawn J.

    My wife and I road trip across California at least twice a year, stopping at every local bookstore we come across along the way. After visiting dozens across the state, we know a great bookstore when we see one. Leigh's Favorite Books is hands down one of the best we've ever been to. The store has a fantastic selection of books and is very well organized, which makes browsing easy and enjoyable. I always love seeing staff picks in bookstores, and this place had plenty across a great variety of genres. They also offer a book buyback program for store credit, which is a fantastic option for readers who prefer to keep their shelves from overflowing. They also carry used books at discounted prices. I personally love used books because they have character, and the bindings are already nicely broken in, which makes them even easier to read. Leigh's Favorite Books also earns our unofficial award for the best non-book inventory of any bookstore in California. Most shops carry the usual boring gift-store items, but this place had a genuinely fun and unique selection. They had such a fun assortment of random items that we wanted to purchase just about everything they had lol. The service from Becky was exceptional. When I mentioned that I read across many genres and especially enjoy biographies, she personally recommended one and even wrote the title down on a sticky note for me. When we talked about our road trips visiting bookstores, she also suggested a trip to Vermont, where you can get a bookstore passport stamped along the way. She was incredibly friendly and great to talk with. We can't wait to come back and pick up more books.

    Inside store
    Janet T.

    Cute book store with a variety of cute stuff and gifts. My friend picked up a guitar shape scoop measurement as a gift for a friend. Overall, if you need a last minute gift in downtown Sunnyvale, this store is a great option.

    Lindsey G.

    Leigh's Favorite Books is everything a great independent bookstore should be--warm, welcoming, and full of personality. The selection is thoughtfully curated, with a mix of popular titles, hidden gems, and unique finds you won't see at big chain stores. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and always happy to make recommendations or help you track down something specific. There's a comforting, nostalgic vibe to the space that makes you want to linger and explore every shelf. Whether you're a casual reader or a serious book lover, this place feels like home. An absolute gem in the community!

    Elie M.

    This is a special store that you'll root for to stay in business forever. Growing up with neighborhood bookstores seems to be a thing of the past, but not here. Although I'm not part of the book club, every time I visit it seems to be a sense of community. The staff know their customers and versa. While their selection is smaller as it is a mom and pop shop, I appreciate that they have a buy back program and sell used books. It's actually the smartest program I've seen a bookstore roll out and it incentivizes me to read more and gives you an opportunity to save more money. Also, they give generous discounts for some books that rival larger retailers, so it's a great value and opportunity to save money and support a pillar of the community. There is always something for everyone here, especially if you like to shop small.

    Maggie W.

    The staff here are very friendly and they carry a good variety of books. I was very happy to see how many of the Star Wars books they have, and if they don't have it in store they can check their catalogue to see if any nearby warehouses have the books you're looking for. I ordered two additional books (not pictured), which came within 1-2 weeks of ordering.

    Nice selection of older used books!
    Vivian C.

    ++++ SELECTION ++++ Great selection of books with nice recommendations. A lot of classics along with lots of new books, they are good at curating books here Sells lots of art pieces and small trinkets and gifts. Small venue. ++++ SERVICE ++++ Daniel was helpful. He helped me when I asked him questions regarding book and if they have a list of recommendations. THEY BUY USED BOOKS! Bring your giant bag of used books here and they will go through it and pick out the ones they can purchase. Then they will give you a giftcard! Awesome! ++++ OVERALL ++++ SUPPORT THIS LOCAL BUSINESS! Amazing book selection, buys and resells books, a great neighborhood establishment!

    Michael A.

    I always love coming here when we are down in Sunnyvale (we live in Fremont so not far). It's a wonderful bookstore that has so many hidden gems! I bought Psalm of the Wild Built and I LOVED it!!! The buy back and used selection is so good and I'm always finding something I didn't know I needed!

    Entrance
    Marc T.

    Super cute bookstore that fits well in the downtown Sunnyvale plaza! Arrived with my friends around 5 pm, and it was great place to shelter in until the heavy rain subsided over the weekend. Not that many people at the same time, but a steady flow of customers throughout the day. The bookstore has a great, expansive selection from children's books, history, fiction, romance, and more! The gifts that they sell are cute, memorable, and affordable. I got myself a new notebook for 2023, so it was worth it to support this independent bookstore. Can't wait to visit again!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Leigh's Favorite Books

    Review Highlights - Leigh's Favorite Books

    “I can absolutely not go into this quaint little bookstore in downtown Sunnyvale without buying something.”

    Mentioned in 23 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Korean Books

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    Drove by today and the shop's location in the mall is empty. Not clear if they are closed or have…read moremoved; the only sign is a For Lease sign.

    I absolutely do not recommend this place. I noticed this business next to Hankook Supermarket,…read morewhich is where my mom likes to do her grocery shopping. I noticed they were closed on Sundays, so there was no luck in checking them out when my mom went shopping. I called them the next day and asked if they had Harry Potter in Korean. I grew up on Harry Potter, and the books are how I learned how to read, so I figured why not use Harry Potter to improve my Korean literacy. The employee I talked to said they don't sell fiction, so Harry Potter was off the table. However, I had some errands to do in the South Bay yesterday, so I figured why not check out this store since I was in the area while they were open. When I asked the employee in-person if they had Harry Potter, he said no, but he would have to make the order if I wanted. I declined, because before I spoke to the employee, I noticed that they had American literature translated to Korean, such as 50 Shades of Gray and other books, so that told me when the staff told me that they don't sell fiction books was a lie. The fact that I spoke to this store's staff over the phone and in-person and got two different answers tells me that this place is dishonest, and if I can't trust a person's word, then I'm not giving them their business. If you're in the Bay Area, and if you're willing to expand your radius for Korean bookstores, check out SoCal or NYC. I found the bookstores in SoCal and NYC were much more honest.

    Leigh's Favorite Books - bookstores - Updated September 2026

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