Service is always special, warm, welcoming. If you can't find a book, they will order for you…read more Their new store is FABULOUS because of the space and layout. As a local, You are not trying to shoulder past many tourists just coming in out of the cold with their kids to get warm in winter... or to stay cool in summer. When you go into the store you are with people who desire to be there and have intention to support our local bookstore.

Bank Square Books is beautiful bookstore in downtown Mystic. It is independently owned, by the…read morecurrent owners since 2006. It has been a bookstore in this very location for 35 years. When I first walked inside I was under the impression that this is a tiny bookstore, the further I walked the more books I would discover. This isn't a tiny bookstore, it is moderately sized. I loved the variety of books available. There's fiction, history, brand new releases, kids, and specific interests such as birds. In addition to the books, they also have some giftable items. There's wrapping paper and cards here also. They also have comfy chairs and couches so you can get comfy while reading. This is such a beautiful bookstore that I'm glad to support in downtown Mystic.

Great place that has a variety of items. Books, snacks, anime items, T-shirt's, I can keep going on…read morewith the list. And it's so fun to browse all the items. Not just a bookstore. We always find things here, even items we didn't know we needed.

This bookstore is very well curated and has one of the best selections of books in the area. I knew…read morethat BAM was known for its large selection of Manga, but I was even more impressed by the selection of business and home and hobby books. There are some good deals in the bargain section too. The staff was friendly and helpful, and a special thanks to Kyle who found my phone and kept it safe until I turned around to retrieve it.

Wow, just wow. I went here to check it out since it has been awhile from my last visit. I did not…read moreexpect all the variety of items here. Thinking we might get one thing, I wound up with a cart full. Toys, books, Xmas items, candles, just too many things to list. Definitely is on my stores to shop from now on.

First and only time shopping was pre Christmas. Got amazing gifts (mostly books), and some…read morehousehold things like bathmats. Loved this store. Will return!!

We loved it. 10/10 will come back! Great selection of old and rare books at reasonable prices…read more Thoughtfully curated and alphabetized. For a frame of reference, the prices are not as low as an estate sale but definitely lower than antique store prices. Colleen was super friendly, and gave us a deal because we bought a lot of books. The dogs were super cute and made us smile! For people with allergies or sensitivities, be prepared for a tiny bit of a pet smell and lots of old book dust! Similar to the Book Barn with their cats and old books. By our standards, all the best used bookstores have pets to greet you.

Fantastic local spot. Great vibe, great selection, friendly, knowledgeable staff…read more A highlight of any day well spent in Mystic.

This is a beautiful bookstore in Essex on the Main Street. Service was nice. There are really some…read morespecial books. They have new and used books and antique books. It's very peaceful and quiet inside. Prices seem low for the high quality!

I don't often, never, go into book stores. Had lunch at RJ Cafe & Bistro and popped in to find my…read moresisters 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.

This is an independent bookstore in Madison with great, helpful service. It's very popular. They…read morehave 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.

Quaint bookstore located off the town square in Colchester. Provides a selection of adult, young…read moreadult and children's books along with a range of book themed gifts. Staff was polite and engaging and available for assistance as needed. A great independent and affordable bookstore. A great way to support local businesses.

Staff were kind and helpful. Lovely bookstore with cool gifts and books. I would recommend and…read morevisit again.

Was obsessed with this haunted little bookshop from the moment I saw their window display (see…read morepicture). Inside, curated sections of adult horror old and new, novelty books, and my favorite: ghost books (etc.) for kids! We walked out with one of my favorites, Gustavo the Shy Ghost, but I could have purchased the entire store. It's small but the employee was super nice and I'm sure everyone loves working there. The Gustavo book, hardcover and gorgeous, cost an expected 20 dollars. I'd be happy to spend all my money there, really, please stay open. This shop really adds to the already high charm of Mystic.

Very cute bookstore! If you Love books this place is for…read moreyou! Many great book finds for all ages! Fair prices. Friendly atmosphere from staff. Great place!

We happened upon this delightful independent bookstore after enjoying a late lunch at the…read moreMediterranean restaurant next door. It's brightly lit and beautifully arranged by theme, with lots of staff pick summaries/comments posted all around. Friendly staff and welcoming vibe. Great book selection of books!

This is such a cute and cozy bookstore! The River Bend Bookshop is set inside a refurbished old…read morehouse in downtown Gastonbury. It's an adorable New England town that looks like it was plucked straight from a movie. When you go inside, the store is so cozy. It's packed full of books and bookish merch, but so well set, there is plenty of room to explore. There are books in every nook and cranny, sorted by genre, with bookseller recommendations and plenty of signed copies. The booksellers are very knowledgeable and helpful too. If you are looking for a gift for an avid reader, they will definitely be able to help you find the perfect present. This is going to be a permanent stop for me every time I head through Connecticut.

You start in one barn, then realize there are paths, sheds, rooms, and outbuildings everywhere…read more They hand you a map, which sounds excessive but I stared at it for several minutes trying to figure out where to go. What impressed me most was how organized everything felt despite the scale. Sections actually make sense, shelves are labeled, and you can wander without feeling like you are digging through chaos. Pricing is great too. I kept pulling books thinking I would narrow it down later, and somehow still walked out with an armful without feeling irresponsible. The selection is broad without being dusty or sad. Newer releases mixed in with older paperbacks, art books next to cookbooks, random surprises everywhere. There are goats roaming around and a couple of cats who seem fully aware they are part of the charm. If I had one minor complaint, some of the outbuildings get a little tight when it is busy, and browsing can feel cramped. Still, that did not slow me down much. I already know I will be back, probably with a bigger tote next time.

As Connecticut's equivalent to Strand Book Store in Manhattan, Book Barn is a bibliophile's…read moreseemingly bottomless treasure chest! Indeed, dispersed at three distinct locations, BB provides three seemingly bottomless treasure chests. Be prepared to spend several hours browsing their shelves and, if you're game, to buy several armfuls of books. Be prepared in other ways. At the main location, the Barn and its many satellite sheds have some aisles that are damp, dusty, and musty, so if you have respiratory allergies you are advised to wear a face mask there. And while you're at it, dig into your spelunker gear and wear a headlamp, because some of the corners and bottom shelves are so dark you must strain your eyes to read the book spines. Nevertheless, such perils are worth enduring when you arrive home with your trove of cherished books. 5-stars for buying books at Book Barn. An advisory about selling books to BB. You might return home with half of your books unsold. Lugging heavy books from home to car trunk to BB and again to car trunk and again to home rarely can be worth your time and effort. Best to leave at home your paperbacks, and to bring only your hardbacks, as you are more likely sell most of your hardbound books. And best to arrive in the morning soon after they begin buying books, else you must wait in line behind other people selling their books. But, and this is the big BUT. At the conclusion of their hasty appraisal of your entire load of books while you watched helplessly as they rummaged through your trove, be prepared for disappointment, if not humiliation. What they offer to pay you is dismal. They quote you one lump sum for your load of books, never for individual books, but the outcome is as if for, say, your scholarly hardbound book published by an academic press, a first printing in mint condition with its dust jacket intact, they will offer to pay you one-tenth of the price at which they will eventually sell it. To its credit, BB is hardly different from other used book stores in its book buying protocol. Unless you are impoverished, you're better off saving yourself the time and trouble, and instead to donate your books to your local public library. Yet, even your public library will be as selective and unwelcoming, and most of the books they do accept from you will be sold at their annual book sale. The sad fact is that 99-percent of all used books, when measured solely in monetary terms of resale value, are totally worthless. 3-stars for selling your books at Book Barn. So 4-stars total.