My first visit to Riffraff was for a book signing last weekend, but it won't be my last. I truly…read morelove the concept of this well stocked bookstore that is also a coffee shop and...get this...A BAR! The space is divided in two parts: The bookstore area and the cafe/lounge space. This is the perfect place to host a book signing or an open mic and intimate in the best way....cozy, but not crowded. It was daytime when I went, so there were plenty of pastries on display and they all looked amazing. The coffee and bar spirit selection were excellent, but I opted for a mocktail and was not disappointed I can't wait to come back and definitely want to go for one of their summer film nights in the courtyard. The movie schedule looks top-tier.

Love this place such a cute spot! Good vibe between customers and employees, tasty drinks and…read moreplenty ofbooks

It was a bit cold outside and I needed to kill time so I was delighted to stumble across this…read morebookshop! First, I love that they have free non perishable goods outside for people to help themselves as they need it. The shop inside is very cute, they have a diverse selection of books inside a cozy space. I liked how it was organized, enjoyed featuring of local artists work, including cards and bookmarks. Prices were what you can expect from a smaller book store, nothing incredibly expensive and overall a good deal. They also had a pile of books by the door that were completely free, which I thought was a great idea. Definitely a great place to stop by if you're looking for a new read!

My favorite bookstore, hands down…read more The team at Heartleaf has created such a welcoming & eclectic environment. They've carefully curating a wide variety of stories, accumulated so many sweet little goodies & knick knacks, & built a wonderful, irreplaceable community in Providence. They put a LOT of effort into highlighting BIPOC & queer authors in their collection. The range of genres & narratives - especially considering the tiny size of the store - is a masterclass in diverse inventory. The very best thing about Heartleaf, though, is the manager. She alone is worth a visit to the store. If she's napping, it's a cardinal sin to disturb her. You'll just have to come back another time to give her a scratch behind the ears. (Penny is the manager. Penny is also a cat. I promise I'm not randomly scratching humans behind the ears.) Thank you Caroline & Mads for everything you do. Long live Heartleaf!

Such a fantastic shop run by super sweet people. Super plus that you can bring your pup along and…read morethey have treats. They always have the books I am looking for as well :)

Love books on the square! My go to spot for holiday gifts or baby shower books. Great selection and…read morefriendly staff. PLUS they are dog friendly.

Cute bookstore filled with so many treasures! I left with a few good reads. The staff is friendly…read moreand I will certainly be back the next time I am in the area!

I visited during July 2025 while on vacation. Love this place! The people working were friendly and…read morehelpful. The selection was intriguing! Not like a run-of-the-mill big box store. I found books I'm familiar with (Autobiography of Malcom X), and books I've never heard of but am happy to have now. There are also vintage and antique books (individual and in sets), and some collectibles. The genres are well-marked throughout, and there are more downstairs. Speaking of stairs, they were wide and sturdy, and even my bad knees didn't complain. The pricing is very fair for new & old books. Highly recommend a regular stop at Paper Nautilus!

This small book shop is located inside The Arcade. It's focus is on 'the weird', aka books related…read moreto sci-fi, horror stories, tarot, witchcraft, and more. They have a few t-shirts for sale too. Books include local authors, famous authors, fiction, the history of witch trials such as in Salem, MA and several other non-fiction topics. I picked up a book I have been hoping to find for years now; the original stories by the Brothers Grimm. None of this tinkerbell fairytale stuff. This is raw, gorey, brutal stuff. The woman who assisted me was such fun to chat with and made some recommendations based on my interests. Definitely more books here I plan to return for. They even have a small area out the door (in the center of the building) to sit and read if you have time, or can't wait to begin your new book. Seriously, I have passed this shop half a dozen times and didn't realize what I was missing until I read their write up in Rhode Island Monthly magazine. Very glad I did!

We visited over the summer because my husband is a huge H.P. Lovecraft fan. The store was a little…read moresmaller than expected, but it was jam packed with awesome stuff! We really liked looking through all the memorabilia and books. The staff member that was there was very friendly and knowledgeable. My husband was satisfied with his T-shirt purchase and gets compliments on it all the time! Check this place out if you're curious about learning about local authors and other weird stuff!

Spacious and giant bookstore that also sells school supplies and Brown University apparel and…read moremerchandise. I went on a shopping spree and purchased several items featuring Julia Gash's art, including a tote bag, apron, coasters, a trivet, etc. Even got a free copy of the hardcover book, "Brown: The History of an Idea."

Was lucky enough to find parking near the bookstore and went inside to browse. Got a nice magnet…read morebecause why not? Kids found a quiet play area upstairs to relax and enjoy their time instead of walking the campus. There were kid tables and chairs. Staff are friendly. Also saw a discounted 50% off section but nothing interested us. Found a coke bottle with our kids name on it and husband bought it. Never been to Rhode Island before until we came to Brown!!

I just took my niece to get some pen, pencils, journals and the such. She loved the choices and…read morethe selection of all those items. I spent some time checking out the RISD inspired items like t-shirts and mugs and I loved the designs and the colors. Very bright and colorful. The staff was helpful and friendly and there was always someone close to ask questions

I arrived at the store today, Thurthday, 1/22/2026 at around 11:00 am to purchase watercolors. The…read moresaleswoman at the main desk remembered me from previous visits. Suddenly, the police were called. Two Risd police officers arrived, detained me, and demanded my ID. I had no idea what was happening and was completely shocked After speaking with the store manager, the officers told me that about two years ago, when I purchased earrings at this store, I HAD TRIED THEM ON, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY NOT ALLOWED TO TRIED THEM ON! .. The same saleswoman who sold me the earrings at the time was at the desk today and she/or the store mange called the police today. she disappeared immediately when the officers arrived. The police officers themselves seemed surprised by the accusation. I am still struggling to process what happened today. I do not recommend purchasing anything from this store--mainly of course because of the disturbing and behavior and ridiculous accusation made by the saleswoman/manager , as well as the store manager's entirely lack of judgment, also of the exorbitant and unrealistic prices of this store. Therefore, I returned the set of necklace and the earring. The entire incident caused me significant emotional distress, and I remain shaken and upset by the injustice event I experienced due to the store manager's poor handling and poor judgement It is a shame and a disgrace... He/She showed a complete lack of judgment and caused me trauma for no fault of my own. If the saleswoman had asked me not to wear the earrings, there is no way I would have worn them.I complied immediately, after she asked not to wear the earrings.I am confident that the store's security cameras will fully corroborate my account of these events. The decision to involve law enforcement over an alleged incident from about two years ago about trying on earrings that, In addition, I would like to clarify that I purchased the earrings, and returned them in full compliance with the store's return policy. After the incident, a third party who heard about what occurred speculated that the saleswoman may have lost her commission on the returned item. Its raise the possibility that she made sure to inform the store manager that I was in the store, Since almost intentionally the moment I arrived at the store until the police arrived, she was busy texting on her phone. What deeply concerns me is that despite the fact that approximately two years had passed since that purchase and return, the saleswoman appeared to act in a retaliatory manner. Her behavior felt targeted and disproportionate, as if she were deliberately singling me out or "hunting" me, which ultimately led to an unfounded and humiliating escalation of the situation.This whole Spiel were not in my awareness when the officers approached me. This was and still shocking, absurd, unjustified and demonstrates a serious failure of managerial judgment. This action caused me undue distress, profound public humiliation and emotional stress, for which the store bears responsibility! The police made me sit on a chair at the store entrance while questioning me, as all customers watched, causing me public degradation and personal shame! I expect an internal review, and apology from the store manager. This is serious and troubling enough and on its own, and it raises the concern that it could happen again to any customer! The question also arises as to whether calling the police over the wearing of earrings on my ears is lawful and legitimate??? The store manager's actions constituted intentional harassment and abusive conduct! There was no legitimate basis for the manager's action, He abusing his authority and exploiting his position. I believe the manager targeted me as an immigrant, identifiable by my accent, believing I was easy to haras, as well racially motivated, despite my being an American citizen with 40 years in the field of education. Such behavior from management is unacceptable and warrants attention!