I stopped by the Blue Springs store today and Barnes & Noble no longer sells or carries magazines.read more

I went there specifically for the new issue of Sommerset Magazine. I held off getting a…read moresubscription cause Barnes and Noble was opening in Blue Springs. I loved the Independence Barnes and Noble. I'd go every month for....magazines. It closed. I went to the Blue Springs Barnes and Noble to have a look at the new books, and magazines. It's a tiny Barnes and Noble. You could fit 3 Barnes and Noble (maybe 4 the size of the Plaza) into this one. Worse: no magazines! It is a very tiny Barnes and Noble. I don't even think there's a coffee shop. The gift section is tiny, sparse. I believe I'll bypass this one and go to the one on the Plaza.

Rainy Day Books is kind of the best of both worlds - a book lover's paradise staffed by book…read moreworms. It's a cozy space, but it's jampacked with books from all subjects. If you can't find what you're looking for - which for some reason happens me a lot - the staff is happy to order a copy for you. They're book club friendly. They also host a ton of fun book-related and author events. If you're interested, please follow their social media accounts. They'll keep you up to date.

If you haven't been to Rainy Day Books, and you've passed by at any point, you're really missing…read moreout! Every time I go into the shop, even if I think I know exactly what I want, every staff member is so knowledgeable and helpful that I always leave with more ideas on my TBR! The little shop is located in the tiny shopping center off Brush Creek Parkway, which means it can be hard to find parking if the center is petty busy--but it's worth it! They have great sections for adult reads, but they also have great sections for kids and teens--you'll find what you're looking for even if you're not sure what that is. Over the holidays, I even asked for kids and teens recommendations from the staff which they were happy to give! As noted earlier, their shop isn't huge, but full of possibilities. And if at the end of your visit, you really still want that book they don't have in stock, they'll order it for you for pick up or shipping--it's a simple process and they're more than happy to help people find their perfect next read. They may not be a book superstore, but they create value in their suggestions, recommendations, and their tiny book reviews and recs on the shelves (even in the teens and kids sections, written by kids and teens!). So glad to have found this place early on in my time in KC, and so happy that they're still doing their thing in their amazing bookshop!

I love coming to KD's. As an educator, I can always find the "hottest and newest" books for my…read moreclassroom AND for myself! I love supporting local, and I love what they stand for as well. Every time I come in, I am always welcomed with friendly conversation. The price of the books are great, and better than you can get in those big box stores or Amazon. Support local book stores!

This store was fun a year ago when they had used books and fun book treasures, but it's even better…read morenow with an expanded adult section. They no longer have the used books, but they have all the new releases and more. I always stop in here when I'm in DTLS. The employees are so helpful. I love it when they have events. I once met a local author signing books, and we need more of that! I will continue shopping here so we can keep a great indie bookstore in business.

It's pretty sad that a critical review from 18 years ago said exactly what I'll say after having…read morechecked this place out today. It smells. The prices are expensive. The selection is far, far from exhaustive. And it's hard to navigate. I finally had to leave without even checking out all the floors because it was so smelly of ... dust? mold? - and I NEVER leave a bookstore without looking at everything. It looks good from the outside!

Such a delight! Enjoyed an hour Saturday browsing their selection-- could spend days here. Looking…read moreforward to returning soon. Purchased a book printed 50 years ago comparing where I lived for two decades in California and Kansas City, MO and an out of print philosophy of fairytales companion. Such a find!

Original review no longer accurate…read more So, when I first went to this place it was filled with books and heavily disorganized. It got a little better over time. They buy books but only twice I guess? I reached out a couple times to sell books or trade and been told they're not buying. Which is perfectly fine if you don't want to buy customers books. You get final say. It just ruined my view on the business.

We were in the area and we stopped by this bookstore. We have been to this bookstore at a previous…read morelocation years ago. The store itself is completely unorganized and you wonder if the shelves are going to topple in. But he has an exceptional collection of used non-fiction books. He has all types of genres and classic books. His Christian section is better than most Christian bookstores. He has very high-quality authors. He has manuals, a selection for black voices, various countries, cookbook, health, psychology, you name it on the non-fiction and he probably has it. He is friendly and helpful and it would probably be best to ask him where some items might be since the store is overcrowded and not organized very well. Some books have the prices on the inside cover and some you have to ask him and you can bargain with him as well as long as your bargaining is reasonable. Even though the photos that I have submitted show disorganization, he really does have an exceptional amount of good books.

I had the joy of going to the new location for Monarch shortly after they opened it! I LOVED the…read moreatmosphere, book selection, and the fact that they also had plants and gift items as well. My one lament is selfish, and that's the fact that the antique books were, from what I understand, for display only (I collect antique books, so I always have an eye out for places to browse for them). I believe the person I met there when I went was the owner, who was extremely friendly! Plus I love that it's a locally owned store. Overall I really loved visiting and browsing. Monarch is definitely one of my go-to bookstores now!

What an adorable book store! This was my first time in. Went with a friend for their 6th…read moreanniversary party and it was fun. They had mimosas and cookies. They were selling blind date with a book books. My friend actually got a book she really wanted that way! I don't buy anything because I just can't right now, but I'll be back for sure. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was relaxing.

What a gem of a store. Starting with a warning first, there are many narrow/tight spaces in this…read morestore, and there are books everywhere. It's a bit chaotic. Personally, I loved that aspect of this charming store in Oak Grove. There were hidden spots to read the used books, and I kept thinking about how calming this place must be when it is storming. I spent about an hour in the store searching for treasures and found some great ones! I recommend this store if you have no where to be and want to get lost in towers of stories waiting to be read.

This place is AWESOME! Walking in, it feels like a place from a fairytale. The owner of the…read morebookstore is one of the friendliest people ever. She knows exactly where everything is and can help provide suggestions. If you're looking at getting a handful, there is a deal where you can get a bag and fill it with books. This is great for when you find a series or just want a collection of stuff to read. The books are priced really fair compared to most secondhand bookstores. If you are in Oak Grove, this is absolutely worth the stop!

It was kinda overwhelming at first,but I asked an employee where to find what I was looking for and…read moreshe showed me the correct section,Iwas happy with the selection and the price.I will be going back again soon.

These guys were champs at my most recent visit. They continue to buy books during the strange…read morecorona crisis, but you need to make an appointment first, and those appointments go quickly. This is the location of the four in Kansas City that you're likeliest to either get an appointment or run into a cancellation during the week. Good selection and helpful staff.

This is a small book shop tucked away inside a co-op art center. The floors creaked upon entering…read more I was greeted by one of the arts who joked how no one can sneak up on them anymore. According to the workers, their shops were new-ish due to half the space being constructed into a microbrewery. Prior to that, they were spread out around the space. Blue & Grey is the only book store within the four walls. The majority of the selection are history books and cookbooks. I found a large copy of the Illustrated History of Jackson County which detailed postal codes, city development, and land ownership in the early years. Other history topics include WWI, the American Revolution, and the Civil War. I also found the Collectors' Guide to Cookie Jars.There are some VCRs on the shelves too. Everything is reasonably priced. Becky, the owner, was bubbly. She talked to me about what's inside the store and showed me the adjacent art gallery featuring 12 local artists. It seemed that she really enjoyed working in this space with the artists. In short, this space is worth a walk through, and if you can support any of the local artists/vendors inside, do it!

From the owner: The Blue & Grey Book Shoppe has an expanded inventory of Civil War, Local History and other…read moreAmerican History books - New, Used, and Rare. Plus a selection of Fiction and Non-Fiction books, Doll Clothes, Maps, Curated Gift Items, Fine Art, and Much More.