An insta reel led me to Books for Life, and I'm so glad it did. Used bookstores are often…read moreoverwhelming. Books for life is not. It is organized in a very easy to identify way. I took my 12 year old, and she thought there was a small section appropriate for her, but for me... oh my gosh, I withheld because there were so many gems that I wanted to bring home but held back so that others could enjoy the selection, too. I'm talking hardcover, sprayed edges Onyx Storm for 10 dollars. How is that even possible??? Needless to say, we will absolutely be back, even with a 35 minute one way drive. Oh, it's in a totally nondescript warehouse space but is clearly branded. They also take trade ins, which I'm guessing is part of how they curate their selection. Lots on BOTM offerings. Go, just go. You will have zero regret, only new books.

My new favorite used book store. It's like the selection was catered specifically for me and my…read moredaughter. We will be back soon!

Cannot recommend this place enough! The staff is amazing and kind, the selection is great and $2…read morefiction novels?! Cannot beat it. I've been to a few used book stores and this is genuinely my favorite. The membership pays for itself even if you just go once (but trust you'll be back!)

I don't often write reviews on this website... but I have to say, the customer service was non…read moreexistent. I love supporting small business, I always have. But there are some stores that just are not worth any support. The woman behind the counter had such an attitude to another lady who was just asking a question about exchanging books or something... The lady was kind, soft spoken and kind with how she asked the question. And the response and tone of voice the worker lady responded with was absolutely unacceptable. This is not how you run a small business. All you will do is drive away customers (like myself). Seek therapy.

Amazing selection of second hand books. All the books I saw were in great condition. The store is…read morevery well organized by genres which makes shopping simple. I found great books and was suprised with how diverse their children's book section was. Will definitely be going back to buy more soon!

Amazing selection of books, puzzles, games, even crafts, very well organized also. There is a…read moresummer reading program for kids. All money made after facility operating expenses is used to assist refugees. Everyone who works here is a volunteer. Stop in first before going to Amazon!

This bookstore is awesome! When I went on a Friday afternoon recently, it was pretty calm and…read morequiet. Not too crowded which I liked as it can get pretty tight since there's many books and many shelves. Service was fine although I didn't really talk to many people while there (was more preoccupied with finding the books and checking them out). I'd say this place has great value as the books i got (3) were charged a total of just under $5. I can see why the staff put up flyers stating to be mindful with how many books the customers get as they're priced pretty low, allowing you to collect a decent amount. I'll definitely be back to check this place out again :)

Second Story Books is worth the drive or long Metro ride from Washington, D.C. Housed in a large…read morewarehouse within walking distance of the Twinbrook Metro station, Second Story Books houses over 500,000 used books on literally every topic. Want three aisles of kids books like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys? Go here. Need every book C.S. Lewis wrote? Stop by Second Story Books. After visiting nearby ZavaZone with our seven-year-old daughter, we stopped into Second Story for a few minutes, which easily turned into an hour. Every book is 50% off. We left with 15 books for just under $21. The books are well organized and maps help navigate visitors to each section, but know that the warehouse's narrow book aisles can get cramped. It adds to the appeal! There are even harder-to-find rooms with other items like posters for sale. They also sell CDs and DVDs. Staff are helpful. I lost my wallet and within an hour a staff member messaged me on Facebook letting me know they found it and it was safe at the checkout desk. If you have used books, Second Story Books buys them from people.

They took all the books I was trying to get rid of textbooks self help gardening fiction ans non…read morefiction

The selection is AMAZING. So many books, so little time! The staff was super pleasant and easy to…read morework with when I asked to leave my growing pile up at the front while I shopped more. Everything is very well designated and prices are more than fair.

It's so refreshing to see a local bookstore that truly cares about its curation and being apart of…read morethe community. As stated on their website, "We take pride in being more than just a bookstore. We are a vibrant community hub, hosting events, book clubs, and providing personalized reading services that deepen your connection with stories and fellow book lovers. We believe that everyone can find themselves in the pages of a book, and we're here to help you on that journey." You can clearly see that mission reflected as you walk around the store. The book selection, displays, and merchandise all demonstrate thoughtful attention to detail. Everything is well organized, making it easy to browse, and the staff is knowledgeable and happy to help with finding the right selection or suggesting information about upcoming events. They also offered to order certain books to store if they were not on the shelf! In regard to community outreach, their social media pages clearly communicate upcoming events and highlight their wide variety of book clubs. I attended the Dark Romance Book Club and was please with how well the store facilitated the discussion, especially given the large size of the group. Coming in for the meeting, chairs had already been placed out in a circle for members to sit. The conversation was engaging and well organized with employees asking questions that had clearly been researched beforehand. My only complaint is that parking can be scarce during busy hours such as book club events, particularly after snowfall when available spaces are more limited. Overall, I love visiting this bookstore. It has a lovely charm and a makes a wonderful connection with its customers. It is an asset to our local community as a small hub. I look forward to seeing how their small business grows. I felt comfortable to ask followup questions - I love to talk!

Love supporting local! The selection of books is pretty good and it's easy to find genres…read more Docking a star for the friendless of the girl behind the counter, but otherwise loved this spot and the location is very convenient as well! I picked up my latest book club read and will be back for sure.

It's so wonderful to have our own bookstore in Catonsville!!! There's an excellent selection of…read moreused books for very, very fair prices. She also has a great selection of new books for children. I also like to order new books from Jen. You might not get them by the next day, but it's worth it to me to support this wonderful spot. Not only is it in Catonsville, but it's an independently owned company. Independent stores are my favorite type of capitalism. Not to mention - Jen is super! I like to give my money to good people rather than to Amazon, who will be laying 500,00 off in the next few years. I hope more of my neighbors will do the same so we don't ever lose this gem!

Was just there and Jen, the owner, helped me select books for everyone on my list. Great customer…read moreservice, well-organized displays, lots of options, easy parking. Great experience!

I barely even read, however the look of this bookstore is and overall vibe is great, the workers…read morehelp constantly, ask about your day, and help you find the true types of books you would like. The pricing of the books, however reasonable, I feel they were a tiny bit out of budget. Still, they have an amazing selection and they're always in stock.

I was out and about on a beautiful saturday afternoon and decided I wanted to read in the park,…read moreonly I forgot my kindle at home so I didnt have anything to read. Since I was nearby I thought id pop in and see if they had anything good to read. I ended up not only finding a book for the day but also a book ive been wanting to add to my collection! They have such a large variety of books and everything is laid out so well. Next time i go i plan on picking up a blind bag of books just to see what kind of wanders I find!

I love this hidden gem. Floor to ceiling rows of used books. What more could you need!?read more

A massive selection of books at very reasonable prices. Shelves are double stacked which can make…read moreit a bit difficult to find what you're looking for unless it's a popular author. Honestly the search is part of the fun. As one of the only used book stores in town (unless you head into the city, no thanks), I will be coming here frequently.

I stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and immediately fell in love. Gramp's Attic Books is exactly…read morewhat I'd hoped - a well-curated bookstore with used books, many of which are in excellent condition. I thought the prices were reasonable, and it was fun to look at some of the incredible first editions he has in there.

Great selection if you can find him when he's open. The gentleman who owns/works there is very…read moreknowledgeable. Love this place