This bookstore is awesome!! I can't believe I've never been here until now, though I have visited…read morethe Campbell location. First off, I love the political signs posted on the windows, like the "everyone is welcome here except ICE". When I walked in, the store looked exactly like what I've always envisioned a cozy community bookstore to be like--filled to the brim with books and with a lot of character. I came here to sell some books and it was pretty quick--I had probably 20-25 books and the employee finished in less than 10 minutes. As I was waiting for my books, I walked around exploring. I was very impressed with the selection of fiction. There were actually quite a bit of new releases, but also older books and editions that I would likely not find at a corporate bookstore. If I had the time, I'd love to spend 1-2 hours here just browsing. I didn't expect to get much money for my books; I was actually going to donate them and didn't realize that they still buy books, so their offer was ok. I was moreso pleasantly surprised that the employee was so nice lol, and also a little chatty. Honestly the last time I sold books was probably 15-20+ years ago at Half Price Books and I remember they were always pretty rude/standoffish lol. In addition to the service, the atmosphere, and the book selection, the cherry on top for me was that they have a special shelf where you can buy a book there for 50% off for them to donate to the library at Elmwood Correctional Facility at a bit of a loss for the store. I used most of my credit from the books to get a Stephen King book for the library.

I've been visiting this bookstore for over 20 years and I definitely have a love/hate relationship…read morewith this bookstore lol. The Bad: The staff can occasionally come across as a bit unwelcoming, and I personally wish the storefront atmosphere stayed more focused on books and less on outside messaging. They sometimes price popular or trending used books higher than what you'd pay for a brand-new copy elsewhere. The Good: I absolutely love the character of this bookstore. Shelves packed floor to ceiling, creaky wooden floors, stacks of books everywhere, and even a cat roaming around the store it feels like something straight out of a fantasy novel. I've visited countless bookstores, and nothing beats the old vintage feel of this place. They have a great selection of beautiful leather-bound books, plus an excellent fantasy and sci-fi section. I especially love when they put books out in under $6! The prices at this location are better, and this store feels much more like a classic old bookstore. The Campbell location feels more like a modern bookstore, and the prices there can sometimes be higher. At the end of the day, this place is a San Jose landmark and everyone should visit it at least once. Even when I disagree with certain aspects of it, I still keep coming back because it's nostalgic.

Came here because I went to the in in JapanTown. JapanTown definitely has a bigger selection, but…read morethis is still a cool spot for little knick knack collectibles and if you're a Manga fan, definitely check this out. Located inside Mitsuwa market to the left. Magazines, calendars and even stationary can be found. The women at the counter were nice and greeted us when we passed the counter. I wanted to buy some stuff, but had already spent enough in the SF location, so I decided to hold off until next time

Cute bookstore with little gifts and pens and notebooks. I saw a cute Sanrio pencil pouch I was…read moregoing to get but it was $30! lol. These tariffs are no joke and not worth the 30 bucks. Overall, it was nice to walk around and see the stuff. We didn't buy anything.

Went to Barnes & Noble on a Saturday afternoon and was surprised (and happy) by how crowded it was…read more Nice to see people shopping and studying and drinking coffee at the last B&N in San Jose. Fortunately, it's a spacious store with room for everyone. It's also nice that there is a dedicated parking lot in the back, again with enough parking for everyone. I went there looking for a specific Miffy keychain, but the Miffy goods were picked over pretty good and they didn't have it. Ended up leaving with two books, a journal, two chocolate bars, a reusable shopping bag, and a Miffy blind box. It was a pretty good shopping spree.

Love bookstores and this one is huge. Probably the last one in the Bay Area. There's a huge area…read morejust for kids books. The store has 2 entrances. The back entrance is probably best because there's more parking in the back. There's cashiers at both doors too. Cafe is directly in the middle of the store with a few tables to work and hang out. They have a decent sized section for animes. I really hope they don't close this one down.

After lunch, I wanted to check the bookstore next door to the restaurant…read more This is a really nice bookstore with a ton of great books. Each area is divided by subject matter. I really love fiction, so I hung out in that area for a bit to see what they had. I really like the layout of this store and how they display the books. They even had a section called "blind date with a book." They were gift wrapped with a tiny quote from the book or description about the book. What a fun idea. There nothing like have a tangible book in your hands to read. I prefer reading books this way, over using a device. I guess I'm just old school. Prices are what's labeled on the book. They also offer a discount section of books.

Books Inc. is my go to bookstore when I'm in the Pruneyard area. The employees here are always…read morewelcoming and friendly and will help you find what you're looking for. They offer some books on sale or clearance at a great value. I have purchased many books here for birthdays, Christmas and for myself. They have the children's book section with plenty of children's books, stuffed animals, and seating for looking at books and reading.

My wife and I road trip across California at least twice a year, stopping at every local bookstore…read morewe 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.

Located inside Sunnyvale downtown, this book store pleasantly surprised me in many ways…read more 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!

Visited this bookstore yesterday, it wasn't big as the other bookstore. But you can still find good…read morebook here

Darling store with a great selection of books and more. Check it out, support local book stores!read more

Soyodo is a place that feels deeply familiar and comforting to me. My parents used to come here…read moreoften, so every visit carries a sense of nostalgia and connection to home. Since Chinese painting and calligraphy are among my favorite hobbies, Soyodo has always been a meaningful place to find traditional Chinese painting supplies and guidebooks esp for maobi, painting flowers, landscapes, and ancient figures. I really appreciate that they also carry crafting supplies and classic Chinese literature, not just generic art books. Everything here feels rooted in tradition and care. The store also offers novels, children's books, Chinese New Year decor, vases, and small toys, which makes it feel like a cultural space rather than just a bookstore. On top of that, the pricing is very reasonable. I've even found books for as little as $2-4, which makes browsing and discovering new reads even more special. The owners are an older Chinese couple who are quiet, reserved, and genuinely kind. One of the things I cherish most about Soyodo is how peaceful and calm the store is. It's the kind of place where you can slow down, browse without pressure, and feel grounded. Stores like this are rare and I truly hope Soyodo continues to thrive. If you value culture, tradition, and supporting a small family-owned business, this is absolutely a place worth visiting and supporting.

I'm amazed that a place like this exists in the Bay Area. There's moxibustion supplies,…read moreart/calligraphy supplies, as well as tons of Chinese books. Thanks for bringing the highlights of Chinese culture to the Bay Area.

I could spend a whole day in this bookstore! This store carries so many different types of books,…read moreboth used and new. The selection was overwhelming. I stopped by on a Tuesday evening, and it wasn't overly busy. I meandered through the aisles and was blown away by the genres/styles/options. Whether you love mystery or memoirs or illustrated novels or fiction, there is a book for you at Recycle Bookstore. What's more, since they sell used books, there are so many options at an extremely affordable price. I was able to pick up a Spanish vocabulary book for less than $5! The service was unremarkable, which is exactly what I want from a bookstore. I was able to slowly check out all the books without any rush/pressure. There was so much cute merch in the store as well, ranging from tote bags to stickers. If you're looking for a book to read or even some fun souvenirs, check this spot out!

I take back what I said!!…read more This store is a headache and a half. The buy backs on this store have gotten continually AWFUL throughout the years. I recently went with three large boxes of books, and got $4 cash back for everything. There was probably 50 - 70 books total. I remember going here as a kid, the charm, the cat, and now they don't even have a cat, and their service has gotten awful. Same goes for their Almaden location, too. TLDR: Not worth your time at all. Selection has gotten worse over time, too.

Hicklebee's is such a lovely small bookstore with a wonderful selection of books for all ages. If…read moreyou are part of a school, they also offer story time for children. Hicklebee's is a truly special place for the community in the Willow Glen area.

Hicklebee's Bookstore has been around since 1979. While their emphasis is children's books, they…read morehave something for everyone, including infants, toddlers, kids, teens, young adults, and adults. Besides books, they offer toys, games, and fun gift items, as well as author's readings and other literary events. I was there recently searching for something good to read in the adult section. The adult books include fiction, biography, cookbooks, sci-fi and fantasy, and more. I found several books that looked interesting and settled on a new one by Lily King called Heart the Lover. I don't know anything about it, but enjoyed her last book. I also bought myself a cute canvas shopping bag with cats and a book club theme. I keep thinking about a couple of the books I left behind. I'm pretty sure I'll be back soon to pick them up.

This is one of the best bookstores. Recently moved a few blocks away from its original locale…read more Yes, one if my favorite quirky bookstores. I just want to sit and let the words envelope me. Takes me on journeys from a sitting position. This is truly a special spot . No, a holy spot where literature and west coast ease come together. Mashed and spiced with ideas of love and loss. Science and fiction. Her story and His. Excellent service. Real and not plastered plastic. Excellent selection of used treasures. Best value for dreams and dreaming.

Stumble upon this nice used bookstore. No only does it have its own personality overall, check out…read morethe variety books. Great selection from which I picked up two books myself. Best part of strolling through the stacks are the interesting comments, images, and quotes throughout the store. So check out those bookshelf end caps for some thought proving wisdom. Parking in the lot behind the building is easy. Great location in downtown in a walkable area near other places to also ready and enjoy your great finds here! Oh, and they sell vinyl LPs also!