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.

Indie bookstores are the best. This one being the oldest in KC, just celebrating 50 years is…read moreabsolutely amazing. They have amazing author events either in their shop or the Unity Temple on the Plaza. There is a great kids section with a ton of options. Employees are super helpful and will help you look up books as well. I needed to make sure a book was appropriate for kids and they looked up the details for me! Great bookstore all around!

This was my first time at Afterword (though I have been meaning to go for a while) and I am already…read moreplanning on coming back! I love the vibe of the space, which is lined with bookshelves and they even have a card catalog. The drinks are fun and with some Literary references for the names. I had the poppy war and really enjoyed it. We sat inside but they also have an outdoor patio. The bathroom was also extremely clean. Service was very quick with barely any wait before the drinks were ready. I would recommend anyone that loves a cocktail to stop in!

Cozy, book-filled, and perfect for unwinding with a drink. I tried the drink of the month the…read moreBoozycatipillar, a fun literary-themed cocktail supporting Read to Lead KC delicious! The only downside? Ordering at the bar makes it tricky to hold your seat as a solo guest. Drinks are a bit pricey, but the ambiance is worth it. Great spot for book lovers looking to relax with a cocktail!

Well put together museum where all the books you grew up comes alive…read more Brought my kids and their cousins here. They loved it. Got to sit on a story time and caught the bus. Make reading great again!

An incredible way to experience books…read more I went with my nieces and we had a wonderful time. My sister had read most of the books to them before they went so they were familiar with the stories. I loved that the books were in the exhibits. There is a parking lot a block south of the facility ( on Knox Street ). There are team members throughout and kids are able to play as well as experience the settings of thier favorite stories.

I go to romance bookstores in cities I visit and Under the Cover is probably the best I've seen!…read moreIt's large and organizes books by tropes. There's just a lot of small details that the owners have taken note of and implemented in the store. It's 2 large stores now (it's gotten bigger) and the decorations and gifts are wonderful. Very Instagrammable. Lots of books and gifts like candles, shirts, bags, knickknacks. Cute signs and decor. Books by local authors are highlighted. Staff is very helpful. Bathroom is clean and cute. There's lots of ladders that remind you that you're not Belle, do not stand on them! A must-visit if you're in KC!

I used to be in the bookstore business. Remember bookstores? Those cavernous spaces with endless…read moreshelves of books of which maybe only 5% actually got purchased? Yeah. Good memories. That's not the case at Under The Cover. This is a legit, almost boutique-ish, book and gift store. It's not a warehouse of books and just 'stuff'. No, their specialty lies with LGBTQ+ literature, awareness, and advocacy and that theme is everywhere in this cozy space. Under The Cover is moving books aplenty and their merch and sundries game is amazing. Throw up a hand if you're an LGBTQ+ supporter. Heck, throw up a hand if you're on the other side of those lifestyles, because Under The Cover will WELCOME you, too. There are plenty of Christian bookstores, so balancing that ledger with inclusivity and love by patronizing an alternative choice & lifestyle business should be on anyone's radar. The service is uber-friendly and they will give suggestions for just about anything. Sign their guest book (so fun!) or just drop your email to receive future discounts, notice of specials, or even in-store author events. Support local is not just a rallying cry for farmers markets or service industries. It's critical to buttress our friends and neighbors who pour their hearts and souls into offering the great city a neverending array of shops & locations by supporting their businesses. The value in a place like Under The Cover is not just in the price tag of the items. No, it's more in the merit of small businesses and their place in the fabric that is Kansas City. Parking is city-style, which can mean you're on your own. Prices are fair and consistent, and you will appreciate what this space has become and how it can add to the Union Hill area. Take the time, and the opportunity, to stop in and feel the love.

Wise Blood is a lovely bookstore in Westport and is a great addition to the area! They have variety…read moreof genre selection (including used and new books), a kid's books section, coloring books (adults and children), notebooks/pens (moleskin style stuff), and were very welcoming when my husband and I walked in. They feature local art on the back wall - we went to a "meet the artist" event one evening (Hubbard Savage is the local artist featured - he's super talented!). There were also some musicians who played and also did some spoken word type of stuff, both of which were delightful! They have a little seating area that's comfy if you wanna sit and flip through a stack of books when you're trying to decide which to get. I will definitely be back - this place is amazing. Highly recommend you stop reading this review, get in your car/on a bike, and go check it out!

Amazing book selection its a good mix of new and used books with a great nonfiction section…read more Employees were lovely.

Yeah, I give it five stars. Big whoop. Wanna fight about it?…read more Back in the day there were multiple bookstore chains (I even used to be employed by one of the biggies) and the books game was somewhat cutthroat. Nowadays, less & less people want a tangible BOOK, because digital. Sorry, techno kiddies, but you simply will never be able to replace the feel of a book, turning pages of a thriller, or flipping to the back of a choose-your-own-adventure with some gizmo. And B&N has stayed the course, while incorporating digital options for those that like screens, but they stay locked on their core business: being a bookstore. The Plaza location is flagship-y, what with a multi-floor layout and escalators seemingly running in MC Escher directions. The cafe is on L2, kids' stuff is at the top, non-fiction & fiction are clearly marked but separated by floors, and on and on. Find something that you want to peruse? Grab one of the many chairs and read to your heart's (or schedule's) content. The bottom level, below the street walk-in, has all the music you could want, with a solid vinyl selection. If vinyl's comeback doesn't signal how hard it is to kill a media format, then I don't know what to tell you. Books may not have that kind of resurrection, but B&N isn't letting go of the rope just yet. There are value buys everywhere, from large coffee table books to older titles (in the biz they call these 'remainders'), boutique-y items with themes, and one of the best LEGO selections outside of a specialty store. If you need help, then there are friendly folk here and there, or you can use a self-service kiosk to help you find something. Foot traffic from the Plaza drives this store and you are pretty much guaranteed to walk out with something you like. And you'll be glad you did.

Alright Barnes & Noble still has their fastball…read more My girls were going a bit stir crazy his was a wonderful way to spend an hour or so on a frigid Sunday. Easy parking in the garage next door, and tons of stuff to do here. We needed to get a Lego set, and there's a really decent selection. In the age of online shopping, it's a nice change up to actually go in a store and look around. There was one book that looked good and I happened to notice it was half price on Amazon vs in store, which is how it goes, but worth noting. There's also a Starbucks cafe, and then a kids section up top that's a lot of fun. My girls each got to pick out a book and they ended up spending a lot of time looking around and having fun. Honestly, really great all around. Fun way to spend an hour or two and so many great things that the kids enjoyed.

Monstera's Books is sooo cute! I love that there are plants along with supplies and books to take…read morecare of the plants. It's a small place but has plenty of variety. They found the book I needed asap and were so kind! They also had cards and stationary items that were so cute. There were also some free book marks at the counter that were so cute!

Omg !!!! LOVED this bookstore. I live in the Northland so I don't often make it down to the OP area…read morebut stopped in here on a day out and I totally will be back at some point! They had a great selection of books and easy to find your way around with the organization of the books. Walked out with a nice little haul :)

Love this place! They have books for all age ranges and topics. The books are reasonably priced and…read morethe owner was super sweet to me. Helped me find just what i needed.

They have a wonderful collection, the owner is an incredible young entrepreneur with a zest for her…read morecommunity! Great atmosphere, always helpful and friendly! Highly recommend checking out this super cute shop for your reading pleasure!