Super Cute book store in Newport News and I love the clever name of the shop. Such a helpful and pleasant staff. There's a charming cafe in the back serving snacks and beverages but it's not affiliated with bookstore! I bought an armload of books and gifts here, the prices were very reasonable. Extremely well organized and tidy bookstore. The displays were adorable. I would definitely come back here to rummage through the shelves of books! A reader's paradise! read more

Paperbacks Ink - Bookstores Near Me - Newport News, Virginia

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How did I not know they were here ? ‍ Wonderful selection of gently read books, great prices... I found titles for men and women, kids, fiction and non- fiction... even a large print section.... And the cafe is adorable ! . read more

We visited this bookstore today and was pleasantly surprised and thrilled to have found this gem. There are so many books to choose from whether used or new. The store is clean and very organized by genres. Inside the bookstore is a small cafe named Tastefully Philly. I highly recommend you grab a bite while visiting the bookstore. Delicious food and beverages. read more

Paperbacks Ink - Wonderful idea - Bookstores Near Me - Newport News, Virginia

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When I walked in the store, the smell took me by surprise. It woke up all my senses. It smelled so good. The store on the outside looks small but its massives. They have over 30,000 books to choose from. Their customer service was impeccable. The young ladies were so helpful and willing to look for 5 different books and make suggestions. I brought 24 new books for just over $80 and received a 20% discount for being a teacher. They have plenty of seating. I came back for a craft night workshop. If they dont have the book, you can order from their website. You can even rent the store for special evens and workshop for pennies. Lastly, they are opening a cafe soon. I know where I will be spending my free time. read more

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This was my first visit to Paperbacks Ink and I was attending a craft event. This is not your average used book store. Far from it. There is every genre of books for great prices. Most are 50% off the tagged price. I bought 4 beautiful children's books and at 50% off I spent just over $15. Score! The staff was friendly, helpful and attentive without hovering or following. The hours today were 8am to 7 pm and they had a steady business of both used book sellers and buyers. There are chairs around for perusing the book selections. My little granddaughter climbed up on a sofa and read to her heart's content. There is a little cafe that is soon to be a deli with shared space with next door Design and Consign. The drink variations in the Cafe rival anyplace else. Coffee is fresh all day. They offer a myriad of events and activities, from craft nights to book authors and readings, special children's offerings and artistic endeavors, most seem to be free or nominal cost. The location is great with ample free parking, great lighting, inviting decor and books galore. If you are a lover of books you must make Paperbacks Ink your own. This is not the dusty musty used book seller of old. This is a modern vibe that is truly welcoming. read more

This place was amazing! They've got a used book section and a new book section. The staff were super helpful and attentive. The store was very well organized and tons of places to sit to look at the books. I bought six books all new at awesome prices. I'd return to the store again in the future once I go through some of my book pile. read more

Okay, haters gonna hate - but if you love to read and go through a lot of books like I do (especially in the summer), this place is amazing. I've been coming to this store since it was in its previous location on Jefferson. Now in its new space on Warwick, it's so much better. It's far less cramped, and they have much more inventory than they used to simply because the space is so much larger. Unlike other used book spots (like Goodwill), they generally only take books that are in decent condition - more often than not, I feel like I'm getting brand new books when I come in. They have been working to mark their organizational system a bit better for customers not familiar with it - but if you don't know where to find something, ask a staff member. They are always willing to help you and more often than not those conversations have led to me finding new authors that I absolutely adore based on their recommendations from my current favorites. On more than one occasion, a staff member has championed a book to me and given it to me for free to try out to see if I like the author. I always return it, and more often than not, then binge read the rest of what they have in stock of that author! The part I love about this place is that you can bring in your old books and trade them in for credit. You're allowed to bring up to 25 books per day (you have to bring them at least an hour before they close, otherwise they will only take 5 in the last hour from 4-5 pm) and each counts toward your store credit. The more books you bring in to trade, the more credit you amass. Then when you find a book you want, you can use your credit to pay for half of the book's price. Most of the books are priced at 50% or more off the cover price, so for a standard novel (around $15 or so), you get the discount + can use your store credit. When I do this, a book typically costs me somewhere between $2-$3 cash. As someone who simply cannot transition to reading on a Kindle or other computer platform and really loves real, tangible books, this store is a godsend. It's also fantastic if you have kids that you don't want to give those high-tech gadgets just yet -- tons of YA fiction and other things that you can let kids explore in the store and find a new favorite. Honestly, sort of the last of a dying breed of places where there is magic in wandering in just to see what you find instead of pre-determining what you want from the internet ahead of time. It's a lovely way to kill an hour if you want some peace and quiet, and you'll probably find a new favorite in the process! read more

I haven't been to Paperbacks Ink in a few years but they are certainly doing things right. When I first started going there, it was in the 70s and they were a little place by Hoss's. They've always had the best selection of used books around, with the best prices, and their staff has always been so helpful and knowledgeable! They are the best. I surely wish I still lived near them! read more

What a great bookstore! A huge selection of both new and used books, and the best prices I've seen. The staff is also quite friendly and always ready to help. read more

I had a great experience at Paperbacks Ink, very organized store and great customer service! There are many different types of books to choose from I highly suggest this store! read more

My first trip under the new management. When i walked in, got hit with aroma of fresh ground coffee. Awesome. Had a cup while searching books, not the best selection but still ended up walking out with an armful covering diverse range from art history to fantasy. Why five stars? Cause you can tell the ownership is trying. A friendly staff, solid cup of coffee, and some interesting books is a great way to start a day. read more

Now that I've checked around for good used options, I realize that this store actually has a lot to offer. If you take the time to figure out how they organize books, there's a ton of potential to find recent publications as well as classic favorites. The majority of books are paperback and are very gently used, so you get a great deal. They price almost everything as 40% off the cover price, which isn't as cheap as a Goodwill section but is still a great deal for the quality and selection they offer. If you spend a certain amount (around $13) you also get a voucher for a free book. I recant my initial review and think this place is an awesome find with a better selection than I originally thought. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE this bookstore! The new ownership has worked hard and outdone themselves organizing, modernizing, and amping up the variety of inventory in the store! This place is a slice of heaven, with Ana amazing children's corner, and a coffee shop is soon opening inside as well!!! I cannot wait! Tara (the new owner) and Val are darling, very friendly and helpful! If you haven't stopped in to browse their selection of awesome books, or trade-in your old ones, you are doing yourself a disservice!! Also, I love that the place is very clean, and masks are worn by all staff members and shoppers! read more

Very small section of anything other that romance novels, and their prices are completely insane. They are marked 50% off of the publishers price, and some are higher than that. One book I was interested in was marked $30 (a cookbook). The publishers price is $40, but I can buy a used copy from Amazon for $1.76. I don't mind paying a little more to shop local & support local businesses, but not at these prices. read more

This store is so clean and organized! It's owned and operated by military spouses. Tara and Val have such great customer service, are vivacious, knowledgeable, and engaging. What a great experience! The kids corner is welcoming and cozy. They have a little coffee spot that is so fun! Love this place. read more

I have found it very hard to find used book stores. Those who complain of high prices, I guess can go to the library. Where else do you find books like new for half price, or cheaper than that?! This store has discount cards, and lets me trade in my used books for discounts on other books. So much cheaper than buying paper books at Walmart etc. Lots of romance books, but lots of other genres also. I enjoy it and have gotten great help from the staff. read more

I love this store!!!!! The selection is great, and I love the prices. The staff are both courteous and friendly, and I recommend this store to all book lovers. read more

Love, Love, Love this place!!!!!! I stop in at least once a eeek, usually more, since the stock can change from day to day. For the bookworms who burn through several titles a day all they way down to the casual readers, this place is the best. Books are arranged by genre, and there are more of some than others, but every time I come in, I leave with some treasures. I've been able to find books that were out of print and I'd been searching for, books that I had now idea of but was so glad to discover, and even new books. I am never disappointed and always leave happy. The staff are fun and genuinely know their books. They are always there to help you find a book, recommend an author, or help you remember the title of that gem you read ten years ago. You can bring 25 at a time to trade, and if you do, then you pay 25% if the cover price. Nothing to trade and you pay half the cover price. Every 13 dollars spent earns you a free book (handy when cover prices are now topping 16 or more), and they even have a frequent buyer program-fill up the card and get 10 dollars to spend in the store. You will not regret a visit here. read more

This store does have rows and rows of romance novels. So, if that's your thing, this might be a great store. But, for everyone else: Selection: Very poor and disorganized. They do have dedicated sections for general section, classic literature, sci-fi, horror, and young adult, but each one is very, very small and is not likely to have what you're looking for. To make things worse, these sections were not organized at all, making things impossible to find. (The romance section seemed to be very well organized, though) Trade system: Complicated and unfair wherever possible. They charge 10 cents just to LOOK at a book for trade. So, if you bring in 20 books, and they don't want any of them, you might leave owing THEM $2 for nothing. That is insane. I've never heard of such a preposterous surcharge in all of the 100+ used book stores I've frequented over the last 25-35 years. Also, their trade system is dizzyingly complicated. From what I gathered, you can trade "general" for "general" I think, but if you want to take home a book from a genre that you haven't traded in there's an extra charge or something. I never figured out all of the intricate details. Staff: Extremely rude and unhelpful. The two ladies at the counter were nothing but rude the entire time I was there. Every single thing they did (look at my trade books, answer a couple of questions, ring me up, etc.) was done with a huff, begrudgingly, with muttering under their breaths. I got a strong impression that anyone who was not an old woman and/or looking for romance novels was not welcome. They also complained loudly to each other about everything in the world while I was browsing their store (which was very distracting, as they were loud and the store is very small). They also seem to have no knowledge of books. For instance, I asked if they had any books by Neil Gaiman (specifically The Graveyard Book, 2009 winner of the coveted Newberry Medal). They were like, "I have no idea. Who's that?" Seriously? You own a book store. Knowing about books is your business. They couldn't answer my question even by looking it up, as they have no database or record of what's in their store. In the end, they told me to look in horror... It's a children's book. read more

I'm giving this store 2 reviews. If it was based on staff alone, it would be a -1. Here are the pros and cons: Pros: -Very large selection of books that are somewhat organized. -With no other used book stores in the general area, I guess they are As good as you are going to get around there. Cons: -Staff all acted like they had someplace better to be and something better to do. My mom brought in books for trade. They told her they only allow 25 at a time. That is fair enough. However, we had them in a box such as one that reams of paper come in. The woman at the front desk treated us like low class citizens for even thinking of bringing a box into the store. She stated that they require books to be in bags because there is no room for boxes on the counter. Uh okay. I get that space is limited, but dang...it was our first time in there. You could be nice about it and not act like we just ruined your year by bringing in a friggin box! There is a door in the back of the store that was open. My husband asked if we could go back there and the lady from inside the room shouted "no! This is the office and is off limits! No customers allowed!" Again....Uh....Okay. Then close the door or put a sign up. He asked nicely. He didn't just walk in. Holy cow! Perhaps everyone that was working the day we went had just received terrible news and that is why they were in such a mood. Or perhaps they just realize that their store sucks. -The trade in value on the books was good, but they have a very complicated system in which you can use your credit. They way rude girl #1 explained it was that you can only use 50% of it on 50% of your purchase or something like that. Said something about they'd be out of business otherwise. So, we ended up deciding to leave. SInce my mom has tons of books she asked if she could just leave them there and rude girl #1 was trying to talk her into accepting the credit. FInally mom asked if she could just give it to another customer. Rude girl #1 looked at her like she had 3 heads and was not really sure how she wanted to proceed so my mom asked a guy in line with books in his hands if he wanted her credit. He said yes and was happy and rude girl #1 looked crazy confused and we bid her a good day and left. We went down to Goodwill and found some of the same paperbacks that they were asking over $4 for. We paid $1 each. So, save your money and go to Goodwill. If you have a Second and Charles near you, go there. Much better prices and very organized. Needless to say, we will not be returning back to this store. read more

This place is PHENOMENAL! Love the friendly staff and wide selection of paperbacks, audio books, and DVDs alike. The employees are genuinely knowledgeable about each of the genres and care about helping the customers find a gem among the stacks. Whether you're looking for a quick read or trying to get into a new series, their recommendations never fail. Bonus: they are locally owned! read more