The Book Jewel instantly brought me back to the neighborhood bookstores of years past--warm,…read morewelcoming, and genuinely cozy. It has the kind of atmosphere that invites you to slow down, grab a book, and settle in for a while. Though small in scale, the shop is thoughtfully laid out and manages to offer a little bit of everything. The seating area, with its comfy chairs, rugs, and soft lighting, really adds to the charm and makes the space feel lived-in and inviting. There's even a sweet, sectioned-off area just for the littles, which is a lovely touch. We didn't manage to spot the store cat (must've been on a break), but we did find some great books, so no complaints there. Parking was easy thanks to the large shared lot, which made the visit even more stress-free. We'll definitely be back.

I love a cozy independent bookstore, and this is one of the coziest I've seen yet. Lovely place…read morewith a robust collection of new and used books. Well-organized across a wide range of genres and interests, the inventory is a pleasure to browse. Lots of lovely gifts and toys, too, including local and California-themed items. Service is welcoming and friendly, with knowledgeable booksellers. Parking is ample and the surrounding area has lots of cute little shops to browse as well. A delightful place to visit and shop!

Sideshow Books is a mess, but I love it. The selection is amazing. They have old books and new…read morebooks. Their prices are fair and the service is just amazing. If you can't find it, they will help you. they likely have it. We so need more real book stores. Sometimes I have to drive pretty far to get to one. You never know what you will find here. We love owner and the entire staff is just super knowledgeable. You will love this place. Don't trip over some of the books. The place is not huge and those books have to go somewhere. I think it is important to support any bookstores still standing. As I have said before soon they will be gone. What a shame.

Beautiful and special bookstore, great selection, very kind owner, great prices - definitely check…read moreit out!

What an incredible spot for kids and families! We want to a read aloud event here and it was so…read moremuch fun. The space is beautifully decorated and so thoughtful. They have tables for kids and so many fun events! The books are mostly in Spanish, which is so important to have here in LA for kids!

My rating is on the store. Now as far as location....I wish it was in a nicer area. As soon as I…read morepulled up after missing it the first time I saw a homeless person wandering around and the building next to the book store are abandoned and graffitied. There is only street parking but there aren't meters. When I walked up to the store I noticed it was locked....which at first I was shocked because it was 30 minutes after their store opening time. I peeked through the window and a worked came and greeted me and said it was open. (In hindsight when I went to leave the store I had trouble with the doorknob so maybe it wasn't locked at all and I didn't know how to open the door) lol The book selection is great and most of the books are primarily in Spanish, not too many bilingual books which I was avoiding. The employee was very helpful and pointed me in the direction of the types of books I was looking for. They even have a 40% discount table on some books. Prices aren't bad, average is about $15 a book for the younger board books, pop-ups which is what I went to get. I will be back!

*** No Cash Establishment ***…read more The Ripped Bodice is a woman and queer owned bookstore devoted exclusively to the romance genre (opened in March 2016). This independent bookstore started as a Kickstarter campaign and is believed to be America's first bookstore dedicated exclusively to romance novels. The bookstore was even featured as one of questions on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? The Ripped Bodice opened a second location in Brooklyn, NY in August 2023. [Parking]: Most of parking structures in Downtown Culver City (ABM Parking at The Culver Steps or Cardiff Parking Garage) offer free parking for the 1st hour. No parking validation from The Ripped Bodice so no additional free parking beyond the 1st hour. [Atmosphere]: You can tell that every corner of the store has been curated and decorated with thought and care. Before entering the bookstore, there is a vending machine selling pins. Near the front entrance, there is a small stage with chairs where the bookstore hosting book signing events. [Selection]: The bookstore specializes in but is not limited to the following genres: romance novels, LGBTQ, sexual health & wellness, fantasy/paranormal, erotica, historical romance, etc. The bookstore also sells merchandise like romance-themed stickers, notebooks, tote bags, and other romance-related items. There is also a bookshelf featuring books autographed by their authors and a bookshelf dedicated to the Heated Rivalry series. [Conclusion]: A really unique and cute bookstore that is an absolute must-visit for romance book lovers.

Amazing selection of books, found a great heated rivalry inspired hat that I just HAD to take home…read more:) Lots of cute stickers and accessories and goodies inside, definitely stop by! It's worth the visit :)

A Good Used Book is a neighborhood & independent bookstore that focuses on - as you can probably…read moreguess - used books. The bookstore is best known for Every Sunday Funday Markets from 12 PM to 4 PM, but check their IG page to confirm dates and get details on vendors. They also host occasional Saturday pop-ups like Saturday School (12 PM to 4 PM) - again check their Instagram page for specific dates. [Parking]: Street parking only (free), but I found few spots available on W Court Street on Saturday afternoon. [Saturday School]: Our group visited one of their Saturday School pop-ups and vendors like WEPA Pa'l Mundo (Puerto Rican food) and Ako's Tea (specialty teas with a modern twist) were set up in front of the bookstore. No outdoor tables so expect to eat or drink while standing or inside your own car. Our party came at 3 PM on Saturday and most food from WEPA Pa'l Mundo was already sold out. However, our party did end up getting a drink from Ako's Tea and Sticky Rice Pu-erh Tea was quite refreshing. [Bookstore]: I could tell firsthand that the staff here handpicked the used, vintage, rare, and new books. The bookstore has an interesting book selection. Smaller used books are wrapped in plastic so you can't browse them for previews, but larger books are unwrapped which allow visitors to flip through the pages. [Buying program]: The shop selectively buys used books in the following categories: vintage paperbacks of all kinds, modern and literary fiction, classics and cult classics, translated fiction, radical theory, cultural nonfiction, art, photography, film, design, and music. Canonized and outsider, essential and unexpected. Condition matters (clean and readable) and they offer a percentage of what the store sells for. Please do not bring books to sell on Sundays due to Every Sunday Funday Markets. [Conclusion]: A great small and curated local bookstore with a personal touch.

The owners are super kind and welcoming. They've got a great selection of books, all in excellent…read morecondition, and everything is well organized so it's easy to browse. The vibe is chill- nice music playing in the background (I definitely Shazammed a few songs while I was there). One of my favorite touches is that they ask to take a picture of you with your book purchases to post on Instagram- such a cool, personal detail. Parking was easy to find on a Friday morning. Definitely a spot I'd come back to.

Hennessey + Ingalls Bookstore is a one stop shop for some of the best selection of art and…read morearchitecture books. This spot is located in the Arts District of LA where street parking will be your best bet. Inside, they have a pretty spacious setup with a wide selection of books. Their books are organized really nicely with different categories ranging from Fine Arts, Art History, Graphic Design, Photography, Fashion, Cooking, Architecture, and more. All of the staff here are friendly and welcoming. You could definitely browse around and spend up 1-2 hours here!

Great for artsy and not so fancy bike, in arts district so def design focused and Art. Super nice…read morestaff & open air type store.

The Black Lantern Book store is minority owed and operated. You can find things there that you will…read morenot be able to find at any other bookstore. They also have special events with authors and others. The next one is on 10/25/25. I have been to one and it was great. It had a wonderful energy and all are welcome. The Legacy Library and Black Lantern Books is a wonderful way to preserve the life long collections of texts. Many of the books were the property of Kwazi Nkrumah. He started collecting in the 50's. himself started collecting in the 1950's. At the end of his life, his son and others gained access to the wide collection. In an interest to support, others stepped up to ensure that the books were not just safe but would one day become the Legacy Library. The bookstore was planned to add funds for rent etc. It is not a large place and it is not beautiful. What is beautiful are the people that work there, the service is amazing and the collection of books that you will find.

The pearl in the oyster of a bookstore. It makes me sad I do not live closer so this could be my…read moreregular book haven. The world needs more book stores like this. While I was purusing, I heard the sales associates helpiing others with book searches and book club information. It sounds like they have a number of book clubs going at the same time which makes me green with envy. Somebody please open a bookstore like this in Santa Clarita Valley, Ca.! At the time of my visit there was a children's reading event going on in the children's section. There were young adults picking out their spring break reads. There is also a courtyard and coffee shop somewhat attached. I did not try the coffee, but will the next time I am in Manhattan Beach. This is a charming bookstore, well designed, with sooo many staff picks and recommendations. Make sure to pay them a visit when you are in the area. And if you live close by, I hate you :) I paid to park on the street very close to the shop, however there may be other parking I am not sure. Happy Reading!

I absolutely loved my visit to Pages, a friendly neighborhood bookstore. The shelves are…read morewell-organized and every genre has a great curated selection. The staff are so helpful in finding exactly what you need and chatting about the books, or letting you browse quietly if that's what you'd prefer. I also wanted to shoutout their online ordering system; I ordered a book that wasn't available due to shipping issues, and their staff reached out to me right away to reimburse me and present some other selections. Excellent customer service!