Timbre Books is a thoughtfully curated independent bookstore in the heart of Midtown Ventura. It's…read morecalm, inviting, and easy to browse at your own pace. The book selection feels intentional, with a good mix of familiar titles, indie presses, and unexpected finds. I've picked up several great reads here for my Caracol Book Club and always feel good about what I bring home. Pricing feels reasonable and consistent for a shop this well curated. The staff pick recommendation cards are genuinely helpful, and the loyalty rewards program is a nice bonus. I also love the seating in the back. It's the kind of spot where you can actually slow down. Journal, read, and sip a coffee from the neighboring coffee shop, Singing Sun, without feeling rushed. In addition to books, there's a solid selection of stationery, greeting cards, and small gifts, plus gift cards that are easy and practical. They also host author events and community gatherings that feel thoughtful and well done. Whether I'm browsing for myself or picking up a gift, Timbre is consistently a good experience. Ventura is lucky to have an independent shop like this.

~ A BOOKLOVER'S HAVEN ~…read more Timbre Books is everything I've ever wanted in a bookstore. When you walk in, you're greeted by a bright, airy, modern, and warm space. There are a couple of two person tables near the front, next to big, dreamy windows, perfect for working or reading. To the right, there's a wonderful selection of children's books and cozy reading nooks. It was heartwarming to see kids sprawled out, reading and lost in their own worlds. There's also a table towards the back with charming cards for purchase. Their book selection is impressively diverse and thoughtfully curated, with many titles featuring staff recommendations and reviews. I especially enjoy horror/psychological thrillers and nonfiction memoirs, and there's plenty of those, as well as the newest, hottest books from social media (booktok). They have a rewards program and a monthly newsletter that's thoughtfully crafted giving us the scoop on new arrivals, events, and book recommendations. Their book club meets monthly and has a laid-back, low maintenance vibe making it perfect for busy people who just want to casually discuss a book. I happened to visit during one of these meetings, and it was so wholesome to see people sharing baked goods, laughter being heard, and enjoying each other's company. The atmosphere here feels like a true community, and it gives you those warm, fuzzy feelings. When I mentioned it was my first visit, Mirna quickly made me feel welcomed by sharing details about the store, answering my questions, and suggesting some of her favorite books based on my interests. It's great that the staff have diverse tastes and can offer varied recommendations! Overall, Timbre Books is a unique gem in Ventura, and I'm excited to come back and join the next book club! *HOT TIP: There's plenty of parking available in the lot behind the store and on the street. *HOTTER TIP: Before heading in to browse/read, don't forget to grab a coffee from the charming coffee shop two doors down!

Sooooooo many books! Piles everywhere! Not perfectly organized, but so many choices. Fairly priced…read more I will say that a good chunk of the store is taken up by Christian-themed books (hence the name?) so you might not find a ton of stuff in the "other religion" or LGBTQ+ books here, but I wasn't really looking.

Bad experience. I paid $70 cash over a week ago for a book and Zack didn't order it. Still waitingread more

This little bookstore makes a big impression! The environment is so welcoming and inclusive and has…read moreservice that exceeded my expectations. The team is so approachable and welcoming, so looking for niche romance novels is never intimidating. I'm a sucker for a good and cheesy romance novel and this spot meets my needs and more. In addition they carry beautiful local made trinkets and have the best selection of book related stickers!! Everything is reasonably priced and you have the added benefit of supporting a lovely Ventura business. Smitten holds release parties and while I didn't get to attend the one I purchased they held my book for me and even kept a pin for me that they gave out at the party! I hear rhag it was a black light event with games and snackies, what a treat! I hope you can visit sometime soon! Okay thanks bye!

This bookstore is on Main Street and has a definite fun, chic, creative vibe. They sell expressive,…read moreinspired books, along with stickers, bookmarks, and tarot cards. I also saw tarot cards for dogs being sold, which made me smile. For a small to medium space, they make the most of fun and original books and other inspired art. In the back, there's a small meeting space. On the website, they have a lot of events - everything from book club meetings, tarot card readings, a journaling club, a writing club, book swaps, and more. I attended one of the book clubs, where everyone expressively and passionately explained the moments they liked and didn't like from the book. I would never have read such an entertaining and creative book if not for Smitten's book club. The book discussion made me like the book even more through everyone's inspiring analysis. Take a look at this fun, community-inspired bookstore!

I am so happy to repost this review with a 5 star review. Years ago I tried to patron the Calico…read morewith my children and the cashier was anti-child. I recently visited Ventura and stepped into the Calico and started chatting with the owner. I told them about my experience and they knew who I was talking about and said that she had been let go years ago and they work most of the time now. so Yay!! Their collection is large, obscur, and some fun rare finds. It's a great space, kids are welcomed again, and he even has a cool kids collection.

I love all bookstores, no matter what, all of them…read more This one was slightly harder to love. First the positive: it has a great name. But alas, no cats. Second, I did find about four or five books here (used) that I have not been able to find elsewhere, so that is a big positive. The organization of the books here leaves something to be desired. Some of the books are in alphabetical order. But many are not. That is a bit maddening. There is also no obvious organization of the books by subject matter. But it is a small shop so it is not that difficult to snoop around. If you are looking for the latest pop novels, this probably won't be your happy place. But if you are looking for classics or hard to find books, this just could be your happy place. If you are willing to overlook the somewhat chaotic organization of the books, you could spend some time here and find some real nuggets. The prices seemed fair to me.

GETTING HERE: Barnes & Noble is located really close to the 101 freeway in Ventura. You can access…read moreit from several directions as it's at Main and Telephone Roads. You can look for the Michaels and Sprouts and you'll be a hop, skip, and a jump from all the boooks! REVIEW: Bumping up to 4 starts because for the years and years I have been coming to BN, even before shut down, they are always fully stocked with books and other items. I love it here! I can easily spend 2 hours here perusing the aisles of all the goodness BN carries. (I just recently came for some Harry Potter merch and a planner for next year.) Service is not what it was once was, sadly. But I am old so I remember the good ole' days with fondness. Today, it's basic enough. Thankfully, one doesn't get screamed at across the store of "Welcome!" as it happens in other businesses. Most employees I saw were behind the registers when I was looking around. I did see one employee on the floor, but she was laser focused on something. Prices are on the higher side, thanks to the current state of the economy. However, I feel that the books and other items are of good enough quality to somewhat warrant the $. Be sure to check out upstairs. Also, just a thought, grab a snack or one of the Starb cookies on your way out. It's OK. It's good. It's books. It's BN. :)

I want to thank Rachel at the Ventura CA/Ventura Gateway store for helping me with an in-store pick…read moreup order I made online. She was able to go above and beyond in helping me 10 minutes prior to the bookstore closes. Took care of my special order request very professionally which that made my day. I am very grateful for people like her.

Stopped by the Mystery Shop today and was pleasantly surprised to see a big selection of products…read morefrom comics and graphic novels to trading cards and various toys. The last time I came a few months back, there seemed to be ongoing reorganization so I wasn't able to see everything they had to offer. While I could see it being a nice place to play for some especially with it boasting many weekly events for a variety of card games (Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic, Pokemon), I felt the sealed and single selections were both pricey and less plentiful compared to what I have seen at other shops. Some services such as the charging station are great to offer especially when games of commander can take up a an hour or more!

Such a great comic shop! I brought my nephew and he absolutely loved it. There's a great selection…read moreof comics and fun collectibles, and the staff was really friendly and welcoming. You can tell they care about the community. We'll definitely be back!

CASH OR CHECK ONLY: It was so lovely! I don't think there's anything above five dollars and I got…read moresuper cute cards that came with envelopes for 5¢ each! They have a white selection of books and even some newer popular ones too! This is my first time going into a friends of the library bookstore and it was a great experience!

This is one of my best finds of the year and has easily become my favorite used book store of all…read moretime. It's located adjacent to the Camarillo Public Library and the library cafe. There is such a huge variety of books to choose from, my go-to's are the thriller/suspense and self-help sections. They also have children's, cooking, young adult, and history sections and even CDs and puzzles! I always find such great books for a steal ranging from $1-$5. Folks are always dropping off donations daily so you'll definitely find something and if not, check again in a week. They only take cash or checks but can place books on hold for a week, if you're like me and often forget to keep cash with you. I would also recommend bringing a bag or tote to carry out all your new goodies if you're an avid reader. I just want to say a huge thank you to the amazing staff and volunteers that work so hard to sort through the donations and keep the shelves rotating and full. - JB *HOT TIP: don't skip past the cart outside, these books are heavily discounted.

Huge selection of vinyl, CDs, and music... best independent record store in VC. Band T's, unique…read moreand fun gifts, incense, jewelry, posters, books,patches and stickers and lots of fun novelty items. Fun atmosphere! Whimsical and unique. Full smoke shop. There is something for everyone there.

I am a big fan of this place and have been for years. It is always very clean and organized…read more Recently my daughter wanted to attend the Arianna Grande Petal event. We arrived early and the place was nearly empty. I walked around their DVD area and picked up one my son wanted. I then went to purchase the new Arianna album with my other selections. The lady at the register was very nice and informative. She gave me some freebies since I was getting the album, which was a pleasant surprise. The DVDs were a little expensive ($5) but they have cheaper sections (near the front doors) so you can surely find something good there. I will definitely return as they also have a neat 2nd floor that has some nice gifts and other trinkets.