Who knew?!!? A classic bookstore tucked away in a…read moreWestchester mall. Date night?? Restaurants and a bookstore that features authors and discussion groups.

This was unfortunately a really disappointing experience. We've tried The Book Jewel several times,…read moreand every visit has left me feeling like children simply aren't welcome there. On our most recent visit, my 4-year-old daughter was happily exploring the store and being completely quiet, but she was skipping through the aisles and her jelly shoes were making a little noise. It was 1pm on a Friday afternoon and there was only one other customer in the entire store. An employee named Alicia came over and told us we needed to leave because of her skipping. It wasn't communicated politely or kindly, it was extremely rude and unwelcoming. As we were walking out, Alicia even said, "I don't play that." The irony is that a significant portion of the store is dedicated to children's books, stuffed animals, and a kids' reading area, yet the overall atmosphere has consistently felt very unwelcoming toward children. The selection is also fairly limited and, in my opinion, overpriced. I've given this store several chances because I wanted to support a local bookstore, but after this experience, we won't be returning. Children can be excited, curious, and skip, especially in a children-focused bookstore. There are kind ways to redirect a child, but making a family feel unwelcome and speaking to us that way was completely unnecessary. Really disappointing customer service and an experience we won't forget.

I have been dying to come to The Ripped Bodice for so long and my husband had a random weekend off…read moreand decided he would take me. We are coming from San Diego so it was only a 2ish hour drive, we found parking right away which was really nice and I was so so excited to check it out. As soon as you step in you're greeted by such a whimsical display of books and I was instantly obsessed. The bookstore is really large and has so many great options for romance books, ya and some children's books plus tons of bookish merch. It was really hard to choose which book to get, but I ended up getting a paperback of Eldritch by Keri Lake, a magnetic book marker and a tote bag, thank you to my husband for that. I love the little Ripped Bodice tote, instead of a paper bag, they offered a reusable tote for I think $2-5? Which was a fun little souvenier! Also super dog friendly everyone was so sweet to our little Kodi!

I cannot say enough great things about this romance-focused independent bookstore. But here is a…read morevaliant attempt: 1. Expertise -- If you are new to the contemporary romance publishing scene, walk in here and be amazed. There are sooooooo many romance titles under every conceivable subgenre, and the choices are almost endless. But maybe you're looking to expand your list of favorite authors or dipping your toes into romance for the first time, and you feel overwhelmed. Fear not! Walk right up to the friendly staff and just throw out ideas. My friend asked for recommendations of romance that involves: (a) career women who takes care of everyone and needs to prioritize herself; (b) older women with life experience looking for love; (c) romance by black women about black women, just to name a few. The lovely staff member said, "I got you!" and proceeded to walk us around the store to show us her recommendations and share why she loves them. Her passion is infectious! My friend found a stack of books she's excited to read. 2. Creativity -- from the moment you walk in the door, the fanciful and whimsical decor catches your attention and exudes joy and wonder. But don't just admire the flying books all the way to the ceiling or the pink skeleton in a Ripped Bodice t-shirt. You must check out the "water closet" before you go. Trust me on this one. 3. Inclusion -- The Ripped Bodice doesn't just do romance, they do sex-positive, inclusive representation. You'll find curated selections on romance with disability and LGBTQ+ representation, romance by BIPOC authors, non-fiction books about women's sexual health and pleasure, menopause, polyamory, trans bodies, etc. and a gigantic LGBTQ+ rainbow flag made of romance covers. And have I mentioned their monthly stand-up comedy show, which features different comedians who have relatable and funny materials without the mysogynistic cringe. This place is a safe space for people of all genders and sexual orientations. 4. Community -- The spirit of community is everywhere in this amazing bookshop. You see pictures of the sisters who started and own the shop and their family (including kids) on the wall. They have book clubs for fans of historical, fantasy/paranormal, LGBTQ+ romance and more. They have a writing club that reads a book together and discusses what works and what could be better. They have book launches and author talks, including a ton of local authors as well as national phenoms. They attract people from all over and are ultra-local at the same time. And you feel like you belong, no matter who you are. Bonus: the store is in the heart of Culver City. Farmer's market, fancy ice cream, movie theatre, and a cafe that plays soccer all the time... they're all right here. 'Nuf said. Go check them out!!

Amazing selection - tons of treasures! Reasonable value books and so many cool finds. Owner is…read moresuper friendly and the complimentary espresso was such a treat!

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.

This store is a dream come true for people who live books about culture, art, music and society…read more The service is personal and friendly and you can easily get lost there for hours, browse and sitting down for a deeper inquiry.

Arcana is a very cool and modern bookstore in Culver City with a lot of different art books to…read moreperuse. You could definitely spend a good 1-2 hours in here!

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.

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!

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!

Truly an LA/WeHo hidden gem. The guys that run it are so knowledgeable and fun to talk to about all…read morethings books. They're so welcoming and if you don't let Booksie, you're missing out. It's not a place you go to buy the newest page turner, but instead to buy priceless memorabilia. That being said, it will be a bit more expensive, but you're getting from people that truly care.

It is a hidden gem! The place is perfect for book collectors to buy first editions, original…read morescripts and signed ones. The owner is really nice, you can chat to him about the bookstore that is a precious little place. It is price for many but it is a nice place to visit at least. Many actors like the bookstore. The owner has a cat and feeds the squirrel.