I don't often, never, go into book stores. Had lunch at RJ Cafe & Bistro and popped in to find my sisters newborn a Christmas gift of a book. I was very pleased with the service from the lady who worked upstairs. She was very helpful and knowledgeable with children books and even gave a lady and her newborn a quick story tell. She also gave me some insight on how to sell my mazes as they had a kids and an adult section for puzzles. Again, very pleased with this store and would recommend stopping in. read more

RJ Julia Booksellers - Puzzle book - Bookstores Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

This is an independent bookstore in Madison with great, helpful service. It's very popular. They have gifts, a cafe, and a lot of books! It's very clean. They have a lot of events. There's free street parking in front. read more

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An opportunity to snag a photo op with work renown model - Christy Brinkley. We stood in line, and eventually had our photo take. Everyone was so nice! She is amazing. Signed books were distributed and there was a chance to purchase an additional copy. It tickets were set at a reasonable price point as well. At the conclusion of the event, we picked up additional books and grabbed an amazing 1990 late. So sweet and delicious! read more

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Cute bookstore- especially with the upstairs floor for kids. There is a whole gifts section that is adorable as well. The adult book selection was sort of small- especially for mystery and romance. But, they had a special editions section for different special edition books, which I loved. read more

Looking for a good book? A gift or souvenir? RJ Julia's is the place. Located near other wonderful shops, it's a great place to take a stroll, browse around, and make a day. This bookstore is very well known and often hosts book signings from famous authors. Bookstores are limited in the area too, the nearest BAM or Barnes & Noble are 30 minutes away. Shopping local is also a huge plus too! RJ Julia's has a great selection of books, gifts, cards, office supplies and carefully curated local items. There was a lot of Connecticut (and CT town) merchandise to show your CT pride--or bring back home from your CT vacation. The shop is laid out nicely with an areas for books, boutique with odds n' ends, and a cafe towards the back. During our recent visit, the shop was bustling. We wondered in to browse and ended up doing a little early Christmas shopping. Everything was reasonably priced because we did check from other sources online before we decided to our purchase. I treated my self with some chocolate covered toffee candies too. We learned from the lovely woman that checked us out that they had a loyalty/rewards program. We definitely signed up since we've been visiting RJ Julia's more frequently. There is another location in Middletown on Main Street, the Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore. We did stop by the cafe, RJ Cafe & Bistro on our way out for a coffee and cookies. I tried the Affogato Latte that was on the specials menu. It was hot espresso over cream. It wasn't very sweet that paired perfectly with the large chocolate chunk cookies. RJ Julia's is a must visit when you come to Madison. We will be back again soon! read more

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Cutest boutique bookstore there is. Impressed my librarian friend when I took her with the selection. But stop asking me if I want to be a part of your book club. I don't and I never have and I never will. read more

I absolutely love bookstores. I especially love THIS bookstore. "But Dana! You've never been to Madison, CT" you might say! "You're right!", I would reply. I have been following RJ Julia booksellers since covid times when I went to one of their virtual book talks (It was Antoni's cookbook to be precise.) Ever since, I have been getting their emails. Their emails alone give me book suggestions for many books I've read over the last few years. When their emails come in, they are not junk mail. I'm always sure to browse through them from top to bottom. I've even looked at their site to order a book because they have signed copies and will ship for $5. And to be honest, it always feels better to give to a small bookstore over Jeff Bezos. Thanks for the years of recommendations RJ: Hope to make it to your store in person one day. read more

This independently owned bookstore is a DIAMOND. Not only is the ambiance ideal New England coziness (complete with some delish smells from the cafe!), but the book sellers have great recommendations and insights. I had a great conversation with the kids section staff, and she not only had ready recs for my child, she identified a series I enjoyed and gave me some others to think of - PLUS wrote the titles down for me on their lovely stationary. In the fiction sections (both adult and kid), there are multiple staff recs on _every_ bookshelf. Their non-fic even included a section I'd never seen before - Transportation! The bookish goodies were adorable too, and I'm sad we didn't have a chance to enjoy the café (too much book browsing!) read more

Has an amazing selection of books to purchase. The staff was friendly and helped me find what I was looking for. Great little bookshop!

Great bookstore Enjoyed meeting Keith Hernandez there a few years ago. He was a gentleman.

It was so nice to find this darling little place. For any book reader you'll be in your element here. I expected to spend an hour at least here but I found some really good books in a very short period of time. Where I live there are no bookstores so this was really a nice experience. There are books inside and Someone display outside and the whole set up is very quaint and easy to get around. I would recommend it. The bookstore is easy to find as it's in downtown Madison and there are plenty of other places around it including a pizza place in the coffee House. read more

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I always have a great experience at RJ Julia. It is one of my favorite book stores. They also host great events

One of my favorite independent bookstores in the state. I absolutely love the thoughtful displays, like "read before you watch," and I also love the staff recommendation cards placed below books throughout the store. They also have an adorable little gift shop with candles, scarves, etc. Typical gift shop merchandise but a very good selection. This bookstore is also in a nice area to wander around for a bit - heavy on the New England charm. Great coffee shops, restaurants, and little stores to pop in and out of. read more

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The Grilled Cheese on ciabatta at the cafe is to die for!!! I have never had better anywhere in the country! I order the bacon tomato one and hold the tomato. They press it in a panini press which gives it a soft crunch. read more

The most wonderful little bookshop in the world. Walk into RJ and you just feel happy! It's a cozy, welcoming, delightfully stocked bookshop with a great cafe and tons of wonderful gifts and greeting cards (on top of the books!). I find the staff selections to be spot on with providing some excellent suggestions. Love this happy little gem of a store. read more

Such a great bookstore - probably my favorite in Connecticut. It's a beautiful store and has a great selection. I love the layout of the store and that they have a cafe connected to the bookstore. Madison is also the cutest town to visit. I highly recommend this bookstore! read more

RJ Julia Booksellers - Storefront - Bookstores Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

It's the whole package! The atmosphere is classic~antique chairs with dark shelves lining the walls. An abundance of knowledgeable staff in each department (I had 2 children's book specialists helping me find the right item). The mixture of gifts with classic and new books. A coffee shop in the store~AND they welcomed browsing with your beverage. There was a diverse selection of books in each section~two whole floors and incredible picks!! They let people use the restroom facilities even if they weren't customers-somehow that just seems like the kindest thing for a local business. They had no apparent social leanings (yep-the front wasn't blanketed with one sided tomes~so strange!). They of course carried an array of political books, but it wasn't a narrow selection and wasn't the highlight of their store. The overall kindness and service was exemplary-I'm a huge fan and on a previous visit I bought an armful of books. It truly feels like the hub of the downtown. Beautiful, generous, thoughtful and flush with great books~the full package for a bookworm. read more

RJ Julia Booksellers - Bookstores Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

What a fantastic bookstore. We were killing time this morning and stopped by this wonderful gem of a store. Very well stocked and the staff was super friendly. They have a nice cafe and a room with gifts and stationary. A must if you love books and quaint New England shoreline towns. read more

This is everything a bookstore should be - I wish I lived closer so I could frequent it. They have full shelves and tables of books, and even have a decent section of markdowns (a la Barnes and Noble, which is a great way to get a treasure you might not have otherwise taken a chance on). Their displays are relevant and on theme - it takes a bit of work to find enough for a lobster display, and purchasing a book from said display surprisingly put me in the running for a free lobster roll raffle. They have a membership card, and there is a cafe attached to the store. Parking is a bit of a surprise; it's street parking on a divided road. read more

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This store was amazing. I could spend hours in here. So many options, organized perfectly and it just looks beautiful inside. Staff were extremely nice and helpful l read more

RJ Julia Booksellers - Bookstores Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

I've been a customer here for many years. Special gifts are available like heat sensitive mugs that change their images when hot liquid is added. Kitchen and cooking related items are available here too. The Wine and Cheese Pairing Swatchbook was definitely a gift enjoyed by my dad. There are numerous games to choose from as well. I gave my mom WordSpiel a while ago and she still likes playing it. They also have items for cat and dog lovers like kitchen towels and jigsaw puzzles. The employees are always friendly and helpful. Gift wrapping is offered during the holidays for a small charge. It was only one dollar the last time I had a gift wrapped. There is a parking lot behind the bookstore, if you can't find a spot on the street. read more

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My review is for the children's department of this bookstore. I was very disappointed in the picture book collection in the store. I quickly gathered that there was a tremendous energy, put into older readers and graphic novels, and then the other focus seems strongly for the baby and board books. What lacked for me was being able to walk over and pick up award-winning books by several author illustrators. I consider these classics having won the prestigeous Caldecott award. I had a hard time finding any. It is understandable that they cannot carry all the past picture books but to me at least the award-winning books should be available since I know they are still in print. I was formerly a school library media specialist so quite aware of these titles. I took my couple hundred dollars that I plan to spend and visited the chain store. At least I kept some money in the state rather than ordering from the big A. read more

Was looking for a educational bible and bought one on line from Amazon. I read all the reviews and I thought I was all set. It was a great bible, except the print was so small and light, I, Could not comfortably read it , so I returned it. I contacted RJ Julia and they could not be more helpful. They pulled the book from inventory and had it at the front desk for me to review when I got there. The book was just what I was looking for, and the print was readable. It was also cheaper than Amazon. read more

This bookstore is a favorite of myself & my daughters. The store is larger than it appears from the front, downstairs are the adult requisites and bestsellers as well as a large unique gift selection chocolates from Vermont, and a cafe/bakery in the rear. Upstairs is a fantastic kids area and teen area with gifts scattered about as well. They have many books that have been signed by authors and they host many events with author talks & signings. I love to support independent bookstores and this one is truly fabulous, they offer a discount card with a yearly fee if you are a serious bibliophile shopper. read more

This is my favorite bookstore in all the world. I live an hour away, but drive here to shop for gifts or just to browse (who am I kidding, I always leave with something). I love the staff recommendations, which have never disappointed, and especially love when they say "for fans of 'XX book'" because I have found so many great titles this way. Additionally, their café is awesome and the food is top notch! I can't say enough good things about RJ Julia. If you don't live nearby, order online. They deserve it. read more

I ordered for the QNA thing with Charli D'amelio MULTIPLE times. The order WONT GO THROUGH! Now it's too late and I don't wanna tell my mom we just got scammed. I wanted to meet Charli so bad, i'm her biggest fan! This book store owes me ALOT now! read more

Terrific selection of books, customer service is excellent, indoor cafe offers delicious treats.

A favorite destination for a day trip. Browsing the books, enjoying the coffee shop and enjoying teh Bosoton Post road drive!

A fabulous charming Bookstore and cafe with a lovely staff. RJ Julia is one of my happy places.

Just the right book... store. R.J. Julia (RJJ) is what bookstores must aspire to become, from the quantity and quality of [new] books, to the cozy cafe stocked with delicious treats and meals, to the gift shop with unique gifts, to the outstandingly kind and helpful staff. If more people knew this to be what a bookstore is, then we all would agree that online book-ordering should be vanquished. I am truly impressed by this book shop. Stocked from ceiling to floor, shelves are packed with all sorts of books. There are sections for each genre with everything from the latest reads to old favorites. Each section and each foot of the shop, really, is well-maintained and well-staffed. There is a help desk, too, though each staff member is ready to help you. I literally got wicked excited the moment I stepped foot into this shop, and I couldn't shake my excitement the entire time. (I love books, all right? Book shops are my happy places.) The most notable part of RJJ is the book staff. Each person is incredibly kind and helpful. This staff knows its stuff with books and will make excellent recommendations for you. You can provide them a sample of what you like to read or you can simply go by what they think. Either way, you will find a perfect read. I asked one staff member--Emily, I believe--for a recommendation, and noted that I like mysteries as well as general literature and fiction. She immediately led me to the Fiction section and pulled out a book she had recently read. It was one I had never heard of, but one that sounded exciting and interesting by her depiction of its plot. I scooped it up right away, not waiting for her to ask if I would like to buy it. My only tiff is that RJJ is not completely accessible. While the main part or the heart of the book shop and the cozy cafe are directly [handicap] accessible, there is a second floor with no visible elevator and the gift shop on the main floor is down two steps. (One could go back out to the street and in to the gift shop's entrance, but it is not right for someone in a wheelchair or on crutches to have to go back out and around simply to access another area of the shop, making them feel different or making them go out of their way to get to where they would like to go.) This tiff is particularly relevant for me now, as I am on crutches after a broken leg. With a friend as spotter, I carefully stepped down the two steps into the gift shop so I could peek around there. (I had no idea there was another entrance from the street until I felt the cold air when someone came in that way.) I would have liked to have perused book stacks upstairs, but felt I should not yet tango with stairs on crutches just yet. I wish RJJ had another means to get up there so everyone could enjoy everything about the shop. Until my leg gets better--and with my findings of dark chocolate pieces and a good book--I will have to wait to venture through the whole shop. RJJ is the definition of a hidden gem. There are not many brick-and-mortar book shops left, so please visit them. At RJJ, you will most certainly not be disappointed as you will find a whole new world opened to you, both in stepping into this shop and in opening the pages of a book you find in it. read more

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Incredible book store I love going to RJ Julia's. It's my favorite independent book store to visit. I picked up an incredible book that I can't wait to read. read more

Great little independent bookstore I visited while on the way to visit friends in Mystic, CT. I'm a big fan of stores of this type - you can't beat the feel of a local, independently run, bookstore. Amazon and online shopping will never match the simple pleasure of wandering around a lovely bookstore and browsing for books, checking out the recommendations, and thumbing through some old favorites. This place also has a great little cafe. read more

In my opinion R.J Julia is the BEST bookstore in Connecticut. My husband and I love this independently owned bookstore so much. If you love books and love to read, it is well worth the trek to Madison. The store has great idea's for book clubs. I love how they offer up new ideas instead of going by the Oprah's Book Club, which almost all bookstores seem to do. There are little signs all throughout the store offering up book suggestions. For those with children, there is an amazing children's section. We usually stop here to pick up a few books for our nieces. A great place to shop for birthdays or the upcoming holidays. There is a small cafe which serves up coffee and light meals. I can't really review the cafe as I have only had a cup of coffee from there. I can say I did enjoy that cup of coffee. I suggest checking out their website rjjulia.com for a list of special events. Each month they have famous authors come to speak or read from their works. read more

This is my favorite bookstore. I have to come and buy a book from this store when I am in town, no matter if I need one or not. Everyone is so helpful in finding something to your liking. A great little add on is the cafe. It is really relaxing to read a book and have a cup of coffee on their pillow bench. read more

R.J. Julia is by far my favorite bookstore. The staff is very knowledgeable and their section of suggestions is always full of really interesting books. They even put their suggestion cards throughout the bookshelves which is convenient if you are just browsing. The best thing about this store are their author events. I have seen some great authors through this store and many of them are free. They also do a buyback program a few times a year where you can bring your used books to the store for store credit. If you plan on doing this, you should check your books online first because they are selective about which books they are taking at which time. (It is need based so more popular books are usually not taken.) Unfortunately, they do not have a used books section of the store, which is something I've always thought would make this store even better. read more

I know it has (sadly) become an outdated concept to shop in never mind buy in a local brick and mortar bookstore but R.J. Julia makes it worth it. Always check out the website for authors who will be coming to R.J. Julia for a book signing. It's impressive. Over the years I've seen Anne Rice and Hulk Hogan there, and enduring the traffic through town with Secretary Clinton came. There's a quaint cafe in the back and a great children books section upstairs. I think supporting local business and this lovely shopping experience absolutely makes it worth paying full price every now and then. read more

As good a bookstore as there is anywhere. One of the primary reasons we chose Madison when we moved to CT. After exploring/walking through town and wandering into RJ, I decided that any town that could support a bookstore like RJ, had to be a great town. Great staff, well thought selection, very comfortable. The kids love coming here too. read more

There is no place like RJ Julia. From the moment you enter the store, you are surrounded by books that feel like friends. You want to take every one of them home. The reviews by staff are very helpful in deciding which ones to choose, and the books are so well chosen and displayed that you want to stay and browse and browse. I worry about how the Kindle and its brethren might impact a treasure that is this store. I hope Roxanne and her able staff will be able to adapt, because the loss of this bookstore would diminish the world. read more

The cutest bookstore ever- so many cute books and little nooks to get caught in reading. Great staff selection choices and they have an awesome selection on Connecticut. Def worth a stop- one of my top bookstores read more

RJ Julia is a perfect example of why independent bookstores matter and should be supported. You get actual help from the knowledgeable staff, the selection is stellar and the atmosphere is so cozy and warm - you could spend hours there! I always make sure I visit the store each time I head home to CT and their "Just the Right Book" subscription service is amazing! My Mom bought it for me and they haven't picked a bad book for me yet. And each book comes gift wrapped! It's like your birthday once a month! read more