So deceptive from the outside. Before walking in, I assumed the interior would be as unassuming As…read morethe outside! I was clearly very wrong. Beautiful build in bookcases and shelves. Really engaging and helpful staff, many nook to bury your Nose in silence! We came and spent about 1.5 hours just being at peace with the stillness this place has to offer!

How do they do it?! Do the literary hounds of SSI simply have better taste then most? And take…read morebetter, much more gentle care of their books? Does the gulf island air make them give up their mint condition hard copies freely? Whatever Black Sheep Books is putting in the water - continue on, continue on. My guess is there is more then SSI generosity in the mix but that doesn't change the fact that this is perhaps my favorite used book store. Period. Why? Well first off, their staff picks section is a gold mine. Seriously. Every time I poke my head in the door I could easily take the entire four shelves of staff picks happily home with me. Second - they are organizational wizards. Their expansive fiction section is alphabetized to perfection, poetry is broken down by region, photography by subject, hobbies by... well hobbies. This two story building is a prime example of the right way to use a label maker. Thirdly - they have an excellent eye for rare and eccentric oldies. I will be honest, I am not the most astute when it comes to limited edition novellas but the section front and centre when you walk through the door boasts everything from full edition encyclopedias, to hard cover, leather bound copies of Gatsby, and on occasion, 50's smut... hellooo peek of a garter! Behave you! It's a playground of eye candy and definitely worth the shuffle through. Lastly, the prices are fantastic. Sure, the aren't the rock bottom prices you can find at some used book haunts but for the quality and condition of the books, it can't be beat - a hard copy version of the complete Maus series? $20. Most novels - big or small - $6-8. Plus, if there's something specific you seek they are absolutely excellent with making note and calling you... even if you happen to live in a completely different city. This place is aces. Book worms take note and pop in when you run away to the island...

Lovely place to pop in, quite popular when we visited but the wait was not too long and the staff…read morewere friendly and quick. Coffee was tasty and reasonably priced. Plenty of seating options, and a whole wall of books to read. We didn't stay very long but it was pretty cozy, i recommend this as a place to visit when in the area

This coffee shop was the highlight of our recent trip to Chemainus. The owner and her right hand…read morewere so friendly and personable that they added to our experience. We had the iced Americano and a muffin and we would go back for both everyday if we could. I wish I could try all the baked goods as I am sure they are all equally delicious. They are made from ingredients from the owners farm so are super fresh. But alas we are from Phoenix, Arizona so it will be a year before we can return. If you are nearby do stop by! You will not be disappointed, I can assure you! The books, produce and lovely flowers for sale were an added bonus.

Beautiful store! Very friendly staff, the recently updated interior, and the view of the beautiful…read morebay make this one of the best bookstores I have ever been to. Highly recommend coming here! Very good selection of books as well

A cozy little bookstore to browse around leisurely on a cold morning. Staff was very friendly &…read morehelpful. Introduced me to a small Vermont local artist named Beth Mueller, super cute!

Love this place, I was visiting from out of town and felt very at home here. They have a great…read moreselection of books (I prefer fantasy and history) and the man at the desk and his daughter are very friendly and know where the book your looking for is. The place has that old musty book smell that I love and makes me want to go back again and again, I looked around there for an hour and it felt that no time had passed.

What a great book shop! The piles of books stacked…read moreeverywhere makes it even more magical. It is like you stepped into an adventure! So many great old books and the proprietor and his lovely assistant knows where each and every book can be found. I was lucky enough to get three hardcover mystery books from the 1950's!

One of my favorite places in the world! You can't ask for a more scenic way to spend a Saturday…read more The lighting is great, the smell of coffee and classic books is intoxicating. A couple baked vegan options! I get the oat milk latte. It's really smooth and doesn't need any sweetener. Just wish they were open on Sundays!

Oh my stars! This bookstore.....is simply perfect!!…read more This is honestly the cutest book store I've ever been to. Great place for pictures, affordable great quality second hand books, and oh did I mention it's also a coffee shop. I mean could it get any better? No I don't think it could. I genuinely felt so happy the moment I stepped inside this store. It's just such a beautiful space that feels cozy and inviting. After walking around a bit I went to order a coffee. And I honestly don't think I've ever met nicer baristas in my life! They were all so sweet and kind and helpful! I tried out the fig leaf latte and the autumn tea latte and both were spectacular! Great flavor and smoothness. Overall I love this bookstore and it's well worth the drive! Definitely a hidden gem! I'll be back!!

Great place lady that works there was very helpful and i was able to find what i was looking for…read moreand they also give you free hand made bagds

We love to see a bookstore thriving!! This is so much more than just a bookstore (and adjoining…read morepaper/confectionery/novelty shop). Its a community hub! I recently moved to Bellingham and Village Books (and paper dreams) actually really swayed me to move here. Its a book palace, 3 stories of well organized selection. The front facing books are well chosen, and the used books are interspersed with the new books. There are quite a few staff picks sections, all of which are super interesting and worth looking over. Three days before Christmas 2025 I was there trying to pick out a horror book for a friend of mine. Horror is not my genre (more of a fantasy and literature gal myself), so I for sure needed guidance. The shop lady spent so much time reviewing the whole horror section with me . When we couldn't find the main book we decided on me buying, she spent the time looking everywhere for it. She enlisted the help of two additional staff members. When she was needed for another task, she made sure one of the other shop ladies had me covered. I ended up ordering the book, which came in a few days and they texted me when it arrived. Easy peasy! I will never forget that experince, especially as the store was jam packed with x-mas shoppers. Village books in fairhaven is the spot! My only note is that their bookclubs could be better. The bookclubs are during the day and don't have different genre selections (they are mostly nonfiction). There is a silent reading bookclub that I might try. They could be cultivating different types of communities (ie book clubs geared towards romantasy, sci-fi, literature, etc.), but maybe that will come with time.

I really wanted to love the store. I'm long time book lover and one who worked in the book…read moreindustry for over 20 years. This store seemingly has it all; great selection of books, both knew and used, lots of old wood, and a staff that seems knowledgeable if a little bit unhappy. The last part can explain why the vibe is just off. It just doesn't feel comfortable nor welcoming, and if I had to put my finger on the cause, I would say it is likely due to management. I witnessed firsthand how the store manager ignored customers in line waiting to pay because he was on the phone. You never ignore the customers who are right in front of you. I wish the store all the best, but I'm gonna take my book shopping business elsewhere.