Mac's Books is a well-loved indie book store in Cleveland Heights Coventry neighborhood. It's been impressively part of the community since 1982! It's everything that you'd expect from a bookstore - wood accents, endless shelves of books, zines, magazines, bookish souvenirs, and cute bookmarks. This bookstore often makes it to "must visit" CLE bookstores. Selection: Mac's has a wide range of literature from the timeless classics (think Jane Austen) to modern lit (think Emily Henry). There are three levels of books with genres ranging from romance to history. Each category is well organized and labeled. It's definitely the store to find eclectic reads on specialized topics. You'll also find new and used books, greeting cards, pretty journals, bookmarks, bookish totes, and other accessories at this store. You can order everything that you can't find at checkout. I historically purchased nature-inspired reads, and today Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" for my book club. It was a gorgeous and compact version for $15. Who doesn't love a compact book that you can take everywhere? Service: Service is consistently very friendly. They always ask you if you found all your reads in a genuine manner. I really enjoy my interactions with everyone at Mac's - employees and readers. Events: This book store hosts very interesting book events for the community. Open air poetry readings, silent readings at nearby Phoenix Coffee, haikus and meditations, book clubs, and other gatherings are hosted here. Check out flyers at their store or their Facebook page. I previously visited their event with typewriter printed poems for Valentine's Day and had a ton of fun! Parking: City parking garage is available across the street (free parking). There is limited street parking. Availability of the latter really depends on the time of the day. I highly recommend visiting Mac's if you're in the mood to browse. Make sure to check every corner, there are so many great finds for your TBR! Explore the area's dining spots in the Coventry neighborhood while you're visiting. There are some dining gems here! read more

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GREAT book shop on Coventry! Love the wide selection of books, gifts, totes, and more. People who work there are kind and always helpful! Their loft space is also whimsical and cute. Little drawbacks are that the prices of books can be a little high, but better than most bookstores-- and it's pretty narrow. Do not recommend trying to go in with a stroller! read more

Mac's Backs Books - Hilarious little gift options. - Bookstores Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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I hardly venture to the east side of Cleveland but once in a while, I find myself in this side of town. It was nice to finally take a Sunday after church in early February 2024 to visit MAC'S BACKS BOOKS, a bookstore on Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights. I specifically came to buy one of the approved Total Solar Eclipse sunglasses (which I did buy) then I stayed for about 25 mins to browse books. SPACE -- It is a medium-sized bookstore but the main level when you first walk in may be a little tight for moving around but I had no issues at all. If you are in a wheel chair then you can ask for assistance or bring a friend with you. All the books were neatly placed on bookshelves and nothing and I only noticed a few books on the floor. BOOKS (3-levels) -- The main floor has non-fiction, fiction, staff picks, classics (like Jane Austen books), gift ideas (pens, notebooks, socks, etc), and so much more. The basement has a mixture of different books. The top floor (3rd floor if you consider the basement the 1st floor) has science fiction books but it is really a small space up there. After browsing in the basement and meeting a nice law student that I chatted with, I found a book to buy which is a book about the history of the war in Palestine which was priced very fairly for a new book. I also asked a staff member about another book which they had in stock but I ended up not buying it. Mac's Books sells other random items too from nice notebooks that can be used as a journal or diary, pens, socks, etc. Support a local business and visit MAC's BOOKS. From classics, fiction, to staff picks, you will have a wide selection of books to sift through. I will definitely be back if I am in the neighbourhood again. GOAL of 150 reviews in 2024 - 23/150 total reviews in 2024 - 673 total overall Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 2 May 2024 read more

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The best independent book store in our fair state! Suzanne & staff are always doing community outreach with weekly poetry readings & author visits. If they don't have the book you're looking for, they'll track it down for you. It's just not an anchor business for Coventry road & Cleveland Heights, but it's an anchor store for the whole city of Cleveland. Keep up the good work, y'all! read more

For the amount of space they have in here, I wish they had more classics and more nonfiction, even if they only added to their meager Religion and Self-help sections. Those sections could do to be better curated, too, if I'm honest. The whole upstairs is just old old sci-fi, fantasy and mystery paperbacks. Kind of disappointing. Maybe they could make a sign or something to try to entice non-genre readers to find something interesting up there?... I don't know. Lots of hardback fiction; lots of expensive gift items like puzzles and bookplates. read more

My husband and I stopped over here since we had time to kill before our table was ready at Tommy's next door. Masks are still required in this store and if you don't have one then they will provide you with one. The have a vast assortment of books both used and news. Book interest sections are marked but you will find many books stacked together. I happened to find a book on Abe Lincoln which I had never seen before that I knew my husband would like. He told me he never saw that book before and with it being used and in good condition the price was right. You can find signed editions in this shop but you have to hunt for them. There is also a set of stairs leading upstairs to more books but it is pretty narrow walking up and around up there. I didn't bother going downstairs to the basement. I was intrigued with the some of the totes they carry. They were different and the price tag reminded of an old library card. I picked one up that had "little women" on it because it was so unique. I told the sales lady I hadn't seen totes this good since I was at the Strand bookstore in NYC. She told me special company does their totes. There is no sitting area but a good place to browse if you like reading and have time on your hands. They are a small business and an independent company. read more

Mac's Backs Books - Inside - Bookstores Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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Nice, large bookstore in Coventry. They have a main floor, upstairs and basement. They had a nice selection of new and used- there weren't any price tags listed. The staff greeted us and they strongly prefer you to wear a mask which they provide. We didn't get anything but they had plenty of options read more

Mac's Backs Books - Bookstores Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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When you are looking for a particular book, this knowledgeable staff can help you find it! Be sure to check the whole store out, up and down, as they have some real gems in there! Some real deals as well! This is a linchpin treasure on Coventry and for Cleveland Heights! Be sure to check this gem out book lovers! read more

My bibliophile husband and I adore a good used bookstore. We have some beloved shops at home in Buffalo NY, and love to stop into independent book sellers when we're traveling too. On a recent Sunday afternoon while visiting Cleveland for a Cav's game overnight stay, we ended up in the Cleveland Heights Coventry Village area on a whim. We were tickled to stumble upon Mac's Backs. Mac's is everything we love about local bookshops. It is kitsch-cute from top to bottom. And it does have a top and bottom, with sci-fi, fantasy, comics and graphic novels up in the loft, mostly new books and gifts on the main floor with some used mixed in, and more sections of used books in the basement. Mac's has an eclectic assortment of all genres to explore, all well organized by category/author. Both my husband and I, and our kids all left with something. I grabbed a used Vonnegut paperback I didn't have, and a Bullfinch Mythology paperback, both just three bucks. Our daughter got a markdown zodiac calendar. Our son got a new book, a collection of mythology compiled for juvenile readers, it was under eight bucks. My husband went a little hog-wild. He's an author himself, and an academic scholar, and found a couple new Zizek books he didn't have. His Zizek finds excited him, but not as much as another fun fact about Mac's. My husband loves the film 'American Splendor' the early 2000's bio-pic about the underground comic author Harvey Pekar (played by Paul Giamatti), who was from Cleveland. The hubbs has read his comics too, which we borrowed from our library. We noticed a few 'American Splendor' posters, a couple signed by Pekar, and the hubbs asked the staff about it. As it turns out, Harvey Pekar lived in Coventry Heights, and much of the 'American Splendor' movie was filmed nearby. AND the bookstore staffer (we think it was Mac himself??) knew Pekar, and he was also actually in the movie! My 'American Splendor' fanboy-husband was STOKED. In a second he was able to place Mac in the film, "Oh yeah, you're the guy with the mattress! Average is dumb!" And he was! Mac (we think) explained that Pekar's books are hard to find, because his wife (Joyce Brabner, also depicted in the film), has clamped down on publication, and has held back on posthumously releasing Pekar's remaining unpublished works. Mac didn't think he had any Pekar in stock, but we serendipitously came across an anthology collection of 'American Splendor' upstairs in the used graphic novel section! So of course my husband added that to his pile of purchases, to have his very own 'American Splendor' comics now. And we took pics of him with his Pekar collection outside of Mac's, trying to look like a gloomy guy, as Harvey would have appreciated. ;-) We had a really nice chat with Mac, and found some truly nice treasures in his shop. When we're back in the Cleveland area, Mac's Backs Books is definitely a re-visit destination for us, such a gem! :-D read more

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I'm a zine collector, so when I saw the small collection of locally published zines on the main floor I was super excited. Even more so was the big collection they had in the basement! A lot of the zines were on recent topics like women's rights and general punk culture, with a dash of self-help and how-to books. I ended up getting about 8 zines because I just couldn't decide between them. Lovely place to find locally made books! read more

Mac's doesn't even sell Mac's make up. False advertising! Really great bookstore and long live the independent bookstore in general. I'm a big fan. However, considering the prices on some of these books, and the fact that their selection seems large but is often somewhat limited, I think it averages out to 4 stars. Still, a really great part of Cleveland Heights/Coventry. read more

Mac's Backs Books - They don't even sell mac's and cheese. False advertising. - Bookstores Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

I love books and I love bookstores. If I could spend my life just reading I would, with some food adventuring thrown in of course. The thing is Mac's is a strange bird so it's a bit of a challenge to rate. The Pros -There's three floors of books - three very very packed floors. This means a lot of books, a lot of different books from a multitude of genres. -The staff is very friendly and very helpful. -In what seems like every nook and cranny, you can find bookish things. By this I mean literature themed toats, socks, etc. There's also lovely cards and stationary - very nice if you want something less generic. The Cons -Despite this store being three floors, those floors are not large my friend so it makes browsing tricky if there are people there and overwhelming since everything is so close together. -It breaks my heart but I have to say the books. The thing is, Mac's is a mix of old and new books. So it's not like I expect there to be a greater number of one or the other. I also don't expect them to have every book under the sun. My problem is the pricing. I have to say some of the books seem overpriced. I'm not talking about pricing compared to Amazon because that would be ridiculous. This is a locally owned brick and mortar store so I'm not expecting door busting deals. I am confused, however, when a used paper back is priced at the same price if not a dollar or two higher than its new counterpart when it's not signed or a particular edition. It's still used and I can see the flaws that result from that use. I've seen this sort of pricing on more than one occassion. So while I do love to come back, despite how daunting it is to browse, I can't say I've left with a book very frequently. Come check it out yourself, maybe you'll have better luck than me, read more

Mac's Backs Books - Bookstores Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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I took a trip to Cleveland a couple weekends ago and notice the book store which looks adorable from the outside - unfortunately we didn't have time to stop in. Later we made a special trip up to Cleveland for the store, but I miss read the times so we showed up 5 minutes before they closed. When Amy, the person on shift, heard that we made such a long drive she granted us extra time to browse after they closed! Another family walk in as well since she put off locking up. It was after her shift time and she still encouraged us to browse as long as we liked and didn't make any move that made us feel like we were imposing. I found 3 books on my list (contesting another review this book store had the most expansive classic section I've seen - I skipped over many on my list) and my boyfriend got 5. Such a wonderful selection in just the short time I was there. I'll be back to look around in a more relaxed timeframe for sure! read more

I love me a good indie bookstore, and this one was no exception. They have a great selection, especially for sci-fi and fantasy, and for both used and new books. Service was friendly, but also hands-off unless I needed something, which is nice - some places seem to have forgotten that people like to just browse shelves sometimes. They also have a great assortment of local art and gifts, if a book won't hit the spot for a birthday present (not that I understand that, but some people are weird, I guess). There's a basement and an upstairs (that's where the sci-fi is), so definitely make sure to check out all three floors. It's a bit tight, but worth the squeeze. read more

Awesome little bookstore in the heart of once of the coolest neighborhoods in The Land!

I ordered a hardback online and when I opened it I saw that someone had taken the time to wrap it in paper to protect the cover. It was a really thoughtful touch! read more

This store has a fairly good selection and I like to buy from local sellers when possible so I try to patronize Mac's, but my fiancé and I have been followed around the store on numerous occasions. One time when we were approaching the cash register (after being followed) the owner said "You changed your mind about Angela Davis?" Because she was holding the book earlier and he was seemingly concerned that she was trying to steal it because she no longer had it. She responded that I was purchasing it and gestured to me because I was holding it in my stack. I showed him and He said "Oh okay." And we paid and left. Again, I really like this store but would not recommend it to POC. read more

Great book store with wonderful selection of all types of literature. Really love the layout although the books are a little disorganized. Found a Georges Sorel book that I haven't seen anywhere off the internet, so there are some great finds to be made here. Some books are arbitrarily overpriced, but I will definitely be returning. read more

Mac's Backs Books - Bookstores Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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Book lovers will thrive here (and most likely empty their wallets). They have the newest titles, plus a unique selection of various genres and a large selection of classics, ranging from all kinds of versions/editions. You can definitely find an interesting gift here or something to treat yourself, especially if you're a book lover! Last time I went, they had literary tshirts with amazing designs. It was hard for me to choose one, but I settled on the one of Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" which is one of my favorite novels. Excellent service as well. Pleasant conversation with the staff and they have great recommendations if you're not sure what you're looking for or want to read something new. read more

Great fun! All kinds of things - check out the other levels of the shop, there's just tons of stuff. Look for new indie picks & great magazines. The shop communicates with Tommy's, a wonderful little diner/restaurant next door. Lots of great vegetarian fare there. If there's a wait, you can browse the book store. read more

Mac's Backs Books - Bookstores Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

There's a huge selection of science fiction upstairs, and I recommend all readers check out the shelf under the stairsvwhere there are free publishers advanced copies (free with any purchase), which is a great way to preview gebres or authors you wouldn't otherwise try or hear about. read more

Mac's Backs Books - Bookstores Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

This independent bookstore has been around for 40+ years, I think, and it's easy to see why. THE BOOKS: They pack a lot into this space, it's great! In addition to new books, kids books, local authors, classics, sci fi, thrillers, etc. the basement holds a lovely selection of used books that are super affordable. Their local books and poetry section are my favorites. COMMUNITY: This place is a local hub of culture. They host readings, open mics, writing groups, book clubs, and probably some other things. The owner, Suzanne, is passionate and very knowledgable. (Also, their trade-in policy is fantastic, so if you have books you need to get rid of, check out their guidelines for trade-ins-- which are SOOO much better and more fair than places like Half Price Books! I'm never trading in books anywhere else.) They also carry items such as notecards, postcards, bookmarks, and fun odds n ends, so this is one of my favorite places to shop for gifts. The staff is always very knowledgable and happy to help! Can't recommend enough. read more

Don't be mislead by the name. They offer a lot more than paperback books. I think they've been here a long time but there isn't an overwhelming sense of that. The staff was helpful. With 3 floors there is a lot to explore. And the offer more than books. They have some gifts, games, and puzzles. read more

I came in today to browse books as one does at a bookstore but I had the unpleasant experience of being watched as I walked around the store. The two employees working there who didn't respond to my greeting when I first entered had no problem staring me down while I shopped. It was only after I returned a look that the caught employee offered assistance. I left shortly after coming in because I felt uncomfortable under the constant gaze of the employees who believed that I was going to shoplift something. It was unfortunate because this store has many good reviews and is close to my home. Although this is not a new experience for me considering I'm a young black woman. read more

This bookstore has saved my life and sanity, more times than I can count!! I could easily live here - Tommy's next door - all I would need is a full-service loo and dog privileges! The people who work there are amazing - Suzanne, the owner/manager is a wonderful feminist book wizardess! Grace, Allen, Rosa, et al. - all of them are unique, caring, intelligent, true blue and so book savvy! And the author events, the political events, poetry events - really, what more could one want? AND the unique, literary-related gifts... I love Mac's Backs to the moon and beyonce! read more

Love love LOVE this place. This store makes me happy every time I walk in. It has a cosy small bookstore feel but also has an extensive selection with 3 floors of books in all different genres. In the age where bookstores seem to be becoming a rarity, I'm so glad that there's still a gem like this in Coventry. They sell unique and artistic little gifts and cards as well. I've noticed that they hold various book clubs monthly and I hope to check out a meeting in the future because the books selected always seem interesting. The staff is incredibly knowledge and willing to help with any request. I could spend literal hours here!! read more

Mac's Backs is my favorite bookstore in Cleveland, no doubt about it. You can always find something fascinating. On my final trip, I found a first edition of Ntozake Shange's Sassafrass, as well as a book of Talmud commentary in Hebrew from 1922. The Talmud commentary is one of the loveliest books I've ever seen, and it only cost $5. There literally is something for everyone there. I never come away empty-handed, but can get lots of great books and avoid overspending. I recommend subscribing to Mac's email newsletters to keep up with bookstore events. read more

I come here every now and then when I'm in the area. This is a neat bookstore that has a lot of character. You can find pretty unique books. I find it's a little pricy but I love supporting local businesses (especially book stores) so it's worth it! read more

Mac's Backs Books - Neat fun winding bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Mac's is a wonderful bookstore in Coventry. I was going to write that it's a wonderful "little" bookstore, but it's actually not that little. OK, well maybe it is. But actually, it's not. It's got the perfect combination of being cozy and cavernous--as in being meandering and multi-leveled like a cave--and they actually have a poetry section. I don't think I bought too much stuff from here, but I was a lowly volunteer at the time, and what was lacking in actual financial support was made up for in the hours I spent browsing the used paperbacks, strange history books, and chapbooks. Yes, they have chapbooks. read more

I heart this place...been to bigger spots, been to better organized spots, but I will always walk out of this joint with a few books and only a few dollars short in my pocket. Obscure sci-fi stuff? They have it. Those novels you couldn't be bothered to read in high school? They have it. Wacky crap you can't believe anyone ever noticed, much less wrote a book about it? They have it. Sure, tall folks (like me) will have to hunchback-it a bit downstairs, but its worth it. I get annoyed when locals get down on places like this...I've been to several other, bigger cities, and with few exceptions none have anything like this. Savor it. read more

Perfect bookstore and a fun find in Cleveland. I asked the staff to point me to a book that was set in Cleveland and they put something great in my hands. Loved it! read more

I've been going to this bookstore for decades (it used to be across the street). I grew up not too far from this location and it was always a great time when my friends and I would head to Coventry and pour over all the used books and records (yes, that's how long ago I used to go here). I'm not sure how many books I bought over the years, but most visits resulted in some kind of purchase. Even though I live across the country, I still return whenever I visit. I was recently back during the holidays and reminded how much I loved this bookstore. As I browsed, I couldn't believe how many memories flooded back as I saw old book titles I never seem to see anywhere else but here. The science fiction / fantasy section has its own floor in the loft including tables where one can sit and read if they like. The woman whom I presume owns the store is incredibly nice and hospitable. Suffice to say, I love this bookstore and while I know all good things must eventually come to an end, I hope Mac's Backs finds a way to go on forever. read more

We'd visited this store 8 1/3 years ago before eating dinner at Tommy's, and yesterday we did the same thing. Apparently Mac's has been in existence for eons. The two young women working there yesterday were pleasant and I enjoyed browsing, but the selection is limited (undoubtedly because of the space constraints). read more

There are three floors (well, two floors and a loft) full of mostly new and some used books. You can get store credit for gently used books, but I come to this indie store for the monthly book club (third Wednesday of the month) , sometimes having coffee and a nosh next door at Tommy's first. read more

An independent bookstore with an outstanding selection of books. In my case, I was looking for poetry and they had an abundant selection including chapbooks. Staff is incredibly patient and helpful. I will definitely return. Bonus is that once you find your books, there is a coffee shop/cafe in the next room where you can read your finds. read more

I came here for a reading last month and left happy. I am glad that there is a store like this in town. Everybody seems to be buying from the internet and reading Nooks and stuff. I got the new issue of Found magazine and it was funny as usual. Keep hope alive. read more

Mac's is my favorite bookstore in Cleveland, hands down. Whether you like it or not will have a lot to do with what you're looking for. Mac's is primarily a used bookstore, with some new stuff mixed in. Their basement houses mostly history and a fair amount of other non-fiction - I never spent too much time down there but have found a few keepers in the racks. The main floor is where most of the fiction is, with a solid collection of literature as well as contemporary popular fiction. But the upstairs? Ahh, the upstairs is a haven to sci-fi and fantasy fans! I've never seen such a great collection of genre in a used bookstore as you will find here. I have spent hours up there and come away with piles of treasure. When living in Cleveland, I had to restrict my visits or I would have bankrupted myself on all of the great books up there! The selling part is a bit less awesome. You can only get cash if you are selling back science fiction or fantasy (and if you're a SF/F fan, you know how hard it is to part with those favorites). They will buy other used books, but are picky and primarily seem to want rare or unusual titles. Mass market, blockbuster fiction titles are less likely to be taken, and unless it's sci-fi/fantasy you will get a store credit instead of cash. When using your store credit to buy books, you can only pay for (max) half of your purchase with credit, the other half has to come out of your pocket. The staff is super-friendly and there are good finds everywhere in the store. But it's the SF/F that keeps me coming back every time I'm in town. P.S. Pop into Tommy's next door for a milkshake while you're there. Best shake in town, worth the wait! read more

Was not into it. Cramped, small space so when there's more than 5 ppl in it, you're gonna run into someone. Overpriced books are one of my pet peeves and they nail it. Selection is ok though they have a pretty good sci-fi and fantasy section. Skip it. read more

Excellent! Love this book store. Browsing is fun and it's nice being left alone. Yet, if needed there is always a friendly employee ready to help, and who understands customer service. I have called looking for books and the person answering always goes above and beyond to help me find the book I'm looking for, see if it's still in print, or offer advice on where I might find it! Great place! Long live Mac's Backs... read more

once, while rummaging through books at mac's backs, i found a pop up version of the kama sutra. i'm still in therapy from that day. read more