I was thoroughly impressed by the excellent selection of gifts and good-quality used books. I…read morewalked into the bookstore just to browse, and I ended up leaving with a bag full of souvenirs and used books!

Longfellow Books is in the heart of Portland- within walking distance to a number of my favorite…read moreshops and restaurants. They always have a great selection, and I especially love their bargain section. So many of my favorite books have come from Longfellow's, and I'll forever be thankful to them for that.

This is a fun bookstore with a robust children's toys and trinkets section! A definite must stop…read morespot in Portland!

I hadn't planned to stop by this cute bookshop, but it was a real treat browsing for gifts and…read moreseeing the latest in fiction and what books are recommended or popular. The selection is definitely heavy on fiction and more contemporary/popular names. Everything was very organized, and the staff were friendly. It wasn't too crowded on a weekday morning when I went, so this wasn't an issue, but the aisles are narrow so it's more of a one-way street.

If you are a book lover and looking to get lost in browsing for a few hours this may be the spot to…read morecheck out. While my wife and I did not find anything to buy it was worth checking out. They definitely seem to lean more towards history/war/military and older books. If you are a fan of those types of books you could find a lot of hidden gems I am sure. There is a little bit of a musty smell due to a combination of the old books and lack of airflow in the older building. Also beware space is limited so be ready for for changing directions or getting out of the way if other patrons are nearby. Shelves upon shelves of books with some taped to papers letting you know the section you are in. While it does have some order in this sense at the same time it's chaotic mainly due to crammed space. Can't really speak to value all that much as I did not see the prices for many books and honestly I would not have a good sense of the actual value of the books either. As I said a must visit for book lovers in or visiting Portland to lose yourself while browsing. You can tell a lot of time and effort went into building this collection of books! The one star deduction is solely due to the largest portions of their books are just genres I generally don't have any interest in. I do appreciate it for what it is though and would recommend it.

Yes Books- I stumbled in here one day, and spent an hour looking around. Honestly, it felt more…read morelike five minutes. Everything was so wonderful, I was sad I had to leave. I've been back quite a few times since then and I must say that Yes Books always gets a Yes from me!

You might have a little reading or writing nook in your home. Maybe grandma's secretary and a few…read morequill pens, some tchotchkes or knickknacks from the antique store on display, or maybe even a couple of those wooden shelves with the glass partition. Well, this entire place is like a showroom of that paradise. I wanted to touch and play with everything. I adore places like this! By no means am I (yet) an antiquarian book collector; I've watched some YouTube videos and have been advised that once you start collecting, there's no end. I also can't read, so that isn't very helpful. I spent a fair amount of time perusing the shelves for a book I might buy, paying closer attention to the old hardbound volumes with decorative covers. There are many of them, but not all of them desirable. Behind the counter and hidden away is the good stuff you probably can't afford. I did walk away with a few inexpensive items, positive I would come back, not least thanks to chatting with Cathy, one of the owners, at the counter. What could have been a simple 5-second exchange, turned into a glorious reverie that I would gladly make a journey for, to have the pleasure of again.

This is a gorgeous bookstore. The selection is immense and well organized (and the place smells…read moreamazing!) Cathy was knowledgeable, helpful, and a pleasure to speak with. Being from out of town, I was pleased with the prices. I can't find such deals at home. I was delighted to find a 9 book boxed set of my childhood favorite for $20. The set was in great condition, and though not all would consider the series a treasure, my third grade self was giddy. I wish we lived closer. I may have to buy an extra suitcase and return before we head home. Thank you, Carlson and Turner!

Don't be thrown by the location - this is a neighborhood gem. We went in right before closing with…read moretwo energetic kids. The staff could not have been more kind or helpful. They took time to get down to the physical level of my four year old, asking him what he liked and helped give us recommendations for his first chapter books. The diverse books and Maine authors featured made me really happy and although the shop is small, there was quite a wide variety. They also made it very easy to order anything they didn't have in stock. We will definitely be repeat customers!

Great place and very helpful service. The woman with whom I dealt even mailed the gift certificate…read moreI bought!

I mean it's a book store…read more Always end up getting 2 or 3 books. Great selection, staff are always friendly and their recommendations allow for expanding your reading interest.

I think, if you're going to come to a chain bookstore, this should be the place you visit. It's so…read morenew; it's got that new book smell (not really, but... maybe, kinda, sorta?)! 1. So much easy, free parking in their huge shared lot. 2. There's a Starbucks-adjacent cafe. NOTE: it's NOT actually Starbucks though, so you can't order ahead or pay with your app. Just a heads-up! The cafe portion of the bookstore is spacious and clean, with the tables themselves also being spaced quite far apart from one another. It creates a real sense of privacy no matter where you sit! 3. The atmosphere/layout here is very modern and inviting; the selection itself is enormous. Genres are clearly labeled, and there's a tremendous amount of content available no matter what you're looking for (so be prepared to spend some time here wandering around and taking it all in... then you'll probably have to come back, because there's no way you'll actually be able to take it all in on the first visit!). They've got new releases, popular books, recommendations, board games, and more. And, of course, the random armchair for you to sit and peruse your possible purchase. Obviously, support local first. But if you're looking for a slow-paced, wide open, very quiet, very tidy spot to spend a little bit of time (without feeling rushed or forced to purchase something) finding your next favorite read, I'd suggest visiting here!

Following first speculation I saw online of Novel closing then after they confirmed they would be…read moreclosing my wife wanted to make sure we came by before that! She is a book lover and we both love our coffees and cocktails. This is a spot that offers all of that and is a third space I think that has been popular and will in general be missed. We even visited during their opening day back in December 2023. They will be closing their doors on April 17th 2026. I will say that due to them getting their books from a local used bookstore they do not have the latest and greatest selection of books that you'd expect if they were a bookstore. I have not had complaints during any of our visits here. I have enjoyed their coffee as well as their chai lattes along with enjoyed all the cocktails I have tried. I have especially enjoyed the espresso martinis and have liked the fact you could in fact get the coffee drinks and cocktails any time of their hours opened. During the majority of their time open they would offer specialty espresso martinis as well. Some of my favorite cities to visit have many coffee cafe meets cocktail bar and is a concept I wish were more popular in Portland. It is a difficult time currently for all and any local business so with yet another closing I encourage you to support your favorite places when and how you can! Cheers to Novel and thanks for the space you offered to locals and visitors!

A place like Novel was long overdue in Downtown Portland. Coffee, cocktails, and books all day…read morelong? Yes, please. And they're open on Mondays?! The minute I walked in, I was surprised by how big the space was. But heads up, it's already a popular spot. I assumed a Monday visit would mean a quiet, empty cafe, but nope. Every table, couch, and chaise was taken, so I grabbed a seat at the bar. Not a problem, but if you're expecting a hidden gem, this isn't that. The ambiance was cool, hip, and laid-back. It's the kind of place where being solo feels encouraged. The only group chatting while I was there was practically whispering, so if you're looking for a catch-up spot with friends, this probably isn't it. But if you're in town alone and want a good drink and some quiet time, then it's the perfect spot. I ordered The Raven, and it was a delicious and balanced drink, just pricier than expected at $14 (though that's sadly the new norm in Portland). I also got a Negroni, which I just asked for offhand, and surprisingly, it was great and cheaper than my cocktail. Wish I'd known that was an option first. Overall, a fantastic addition to Portland and one I'll absolutely be back to.

My wife is a very avid reader so we are always on the lookout for checking out different…read morebookstores. Due to her reaching half-way to her yearly goal of books read for 2026 so quickly I wanted to treat her to grabbing a couple books at a new to us bookstore. Scanning around our general area this one stuck out as one to check out. Due to its location parking is no problem which was a great plus. Stepping inside will transport any reader into a sense of literary paradise. They have the popular/trending books like you'd expect, all the classics, and everything in between. Including a large well stocked used book section with extremely well priced books. This was a section my wife could have spent so much more time browsing but ended up selecting 5 books from this section. Which if you bought 3 used books you'd get a fourth free which they were already well-priced. Once she made all her final selections we checked out and signed up for their free savings membership. The staff were extremely friendly and we had a great conversation with them. The type of interaction that makes you want to return to a place! Worth your time to visit for those who love reading or those looking to buy gifts for those who love reading!

Great book selection, and the staff is so kind and knowledgeable - staff recommendations make it so…read moreeasy to choose a book you will love. This store also has the best card selection anywhere, and they carry a great selection of gifts and games. I also love the fact that they are so supportive of local artists, teachers and families.