It always puts a smile on my face when I come across a book store. I'm not talking about the large corporate bookstores you see at every shopping outlet, I'm talking about small antique stores. This little gem from the outside appears small and has a small selection on the ground floor. However when you embark on a reader's journey below you will find a basement full of stacked shelves. I was like a little boy rummaging through each aisles flipping through many books just for the smell of used, donated, books that have been passed down. Not wanting to overwhelm myself and go on a shopping frenzy, I decided to leave and come back another time. It was until I reached the counter to claim my bag that I saw the two clerks unpacking and tagging Neil Degrass Tyson's new book. I knew I just had to have it, and didn't think twice about reaching for my wallet. Next time I'll have stronger willpower... read more

After-Words - Aisles upon aisles underground - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Maybe it's not fair as I was really looking for a used book store, but the price structure is confusing and you have to pick up the books to determine if they are new or not. Wide fiction selection. Art selection was very limited. Not a place I'll come back to as seems like there's a lot more they could do with the store. Felt a bit like a cramped library ... not much personality. read more

Comfortable and well stocked - found staff picks downstairs and found one of my very favorites - Night Circus - on the shelf. I think these are my people:-). Nice quiet music playing in the background, not crowded - an introverted book lovers dream of a place. read more

The selection was amazing and they had some really great deals on used books! Everything was also very well organized. The man who checked us out was super nice and welcoming! read more

Came by on a Saturday at 10am and wasn't open, which bummed me out. Selection of used titles could be better. Still, nice big downstairs and very helpful employees. Independent bookstore read more

I am deeply perplexed how I have neglected to review this place, because although it's off my usual beaten path, it is one of my favorite bookstores simply to BE in. Unfortunately, I rarely have much luck buying books here, but I could spend a couple of hours just enjoying the space, especially in the basement. I love the peace and quiet, the padded rocking chair in the aisle and the couch in the corner, and of course the 360 degrees of books. It's an oasis of erudite insularity amidst what I often consider the distastefully superficial hustle and bustle of downtown. As I mentioned, I often find nothing that grabs me, although the store is sizable and the selection varied. (To be fair, I always see books that I could buy, just not usually those magic "finds" or "books that I didn't even know that I HAD to own until I saw them".) This is a good place to come when you are looking for a specific title, as everything is neat and reliably organized, and they don't sell anything decrepit. However, prices are quite reasonable among the used inventory, so you're getting the best of both worlds. If you're shopping used, you will obviously spend most of your time downstairs, but don't miss the handful of cases on the main floor near the front--books which have been recently acquired but not yet priced or shelved. There is bound to be a gem in there that someone has not yet snapped up. I think that I will put After-Words in my top three, along with Selected Works and Powell's. It's just such a pleasure to spend time there that it is worth the trip downtown, and maybe if I keep going back the books will start jumping into my arms more regularly. read more

A really nice Downtown bookshop tucked away on a quiet street, but not far from the Miracle Mile or the river. They stock a mixture of new and used books. On the ground level there's children's and YA, signed editions, graphic novels, and some local interest stuff. Downstairs there's tons of fiction and several categories of non-fiction. Upstairs is nice and homey, downstairs is a little more rustic but they had air circulating. My only problem was that the lighting was a little uneven which made me want to move on from some areas faster than I might want to. I found there was a very good selection, and a good mix of literary and contemporary fiction. My friend and I browsed for over half an hour and each found a new book we wanted to buy. I noticed a few reviews complaining about the staff. One person greeted us on the way in and, after a few minutes, told us what we'd find downstairs. Checking out, the other employee really took their time serving us, to the point I wondered if I was on a hidden camera show or something. It was very odd. For a downtown independent bookstore, they're doing what they do quite well. read more

This is an amazing little tucked away book store. It may not seem like much from the front, but it has what I like to call a "book cellar" on the bottom floor. Lots of rare and eclectic books, both new and used. Several fun gift/non-book items, too. Customer service was amazing. read more

Needed to kill time, and this was nearby. Obviously if you're looking for something in particular, Amazon will be infinitely more convenient - search bar, reviews, selection, everything. But there's something exciting about browsing through a bookstore and seeing something you never know you wanted. I walked out with a cookbook! They have a good selection for browsing, both used and unused books. I like the "retirement discount" they had for books that came into their store over a year ago, if it's a permanent thing. And for the most part it's pretty well organized - clearly labeled sections, the books aren't out of order or in the wrong places, etc. But I asked to find a book on a particular subject, and they didn't have a single book except for things dated 2003 in their system that they never erased. There's also a huge section of old books they haven't priced or cataloged that you can browse... Looks like they're still a little old fashioned in how they do things. Even if it is an old fashioned cute little brick & mortar bookstore, it would help if they introduce some efficiency into their operations. If I think back more carefully, I did enjoy browsing the store. But what soured my overall memory of the place was that the service was not particular friendly. One woman in particular was quite accusatory in her tone that made me feel like I was not welcome there, and when I said thank you, she always replied with a flat and annoyed "uh huh." Sorry I'm supporting your business? Maybe I won't come back next time then. read more

I'm so tired and hassle lately since I have a lot of work. I came here to erase my stress by reading some books. It is also peaceful here and no one will disturb me. This place was good for those people who love reading. They have a lot of different varieties of books. There are a lot of choices you can make. You can also smell the fragrance of books and it smells like old books. If you love reading you will smell it so good. After I choose what I want to read I just sit at their table. I spend my whole day here and my stress fades. I got relaxed and I feel so good today. I will be back here again. I highly recommend this place. read more

Such a cozy place, I was at a Starbucks looking for some peace and remembered that my sister took me to this bookstore once and I was now, very close to it. It's very quiet and chill and a hidden gem. read more

After-Words - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very cute local book shop with very friendly employees who have great recommendations!

Great independent book store with tons of genres and notebooks. I love the venue and the staff is super friendly. I woul dhave passed it if not walking or if I had prior knowledge. read more

What a lovely discovery. The staff is great, space is inspiring, Hey readers. Stop by. :). read more

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Great bookstore, they have a mix of both used and new books! I didn't end up purchasing anything, but the staff were friendly, and it is worth a visit! read more

I wish we had bookstores like this in Los Angeles. The only city where I have seen independent bookstores of this size is New York- specifically Brooklyn. I visited After Words several years ago while on a business trip. If I had time I could have spent the whole day here. I still have their business card on m dresser. read more

This might be the only bookstore left near downtown. It is a calm sanctuary from the noisy bro culture area. Knowledgeable and (somewhat) friendly staff. read more

Great selection and the perfect bookstore vibe. Found books I don't see in other shops, and also love the amount of used books they offer.

This is an interesting place. My first thought is to say it's "A-OK" but I keep returning to buy items. Part of the attraction is the "used" aspect and the "find it if you can" thrill. The prices are great to begin with but their prices decreases as the book sits on the shelf. A pricing style based on moving books out the door; it's like a lottery for books. The staff is not overly helpful, but they seem interested in helping. It's just the nature of the store. They do have a wonderful policy about birthdays. Sign up and they will send you a birthday card with a discount for your next purchase. read more

Fine selection but they could really back off the hyper-Covid vigilance at this point. It's not very welcoming to be hectored about hand-sanitizing and mask-wearing two years after the fact. I don't mind following the rules but the sign on the door really suffices. read more

After-Words is a nice little bookstore right off Michigan Avenue. I found the shop from Yelp, and my friends and I decided to check it out. The bookstore is nice, with most of their book selection being found underground. When you walk downstairs, you will find a wide selection of new and used books in all different genres. Prices are reasonable, and even some of the books are discounted based on how long they have been in the store. If you are looking for something to do off of the Magnificent Mile, this would be a good place to check out! read more

Everytime I go downtown I have to visit this place . The stock amazing and the staff is wonderful. Don in particular is my favorite. He is very knowledgeable and very attentive! Amazing store! Five stars :) read more

I sadly wasn't that impressed with After Words. I love cozy, individually-owned bookstores, but this one just didn't do it from me. The upstairs had some solid titles but the downstairs was large yet unimpressive. I didn't find a couple of popular books I was looking for, and there was nothing that caught my eye. They sell both new and used books, so if there is something specific you're looking for, they may have it for well below retail price. The used books are in great condition. I didn't see any with spinal folds or any tears. The ambiance was a little lacking. I would have appreciated a little nook to read in or at least better lighting. read more

Rude customer service. Asked to look into my girlfriends backpack 2 minutes into our visit. Won't be coming back here again.

Did not have a good impression. I called to inquire about selling books for cash (offered on her website) and the person went on to tell me about how I could get store credit for them. I said that I was interested in a cash sale, and she said that cash is only for rare books (for example, over 100 years old). That didn't upset me, what upset me was that it's not written on the website (if it was, I wouldn't have called, as none of my books are rare). She said it was and went over the website with me, she said that for cash, you have to call to inquire and that is where you have a conversation to see if it could be a cash sale. If that is the way it is, that's fine, but here is what is says on the website, I quote "cash book buying is by appointment only" and "10% of cover price is given in the form of cash or 15%-20% in the form of store credit which never expires." Nowhere does it say that cash is only for rare books. She said it would take pages for her to say what exactly qualifies for a cash sale. Just saying that only rare books qualify for a cash sale is enough. I found it to be very misleading. read more

I stumbled across After-Words on my way to Navy Pier one day and was very pleasantly surprised to find out that they also do wedding invitations. I looked through all of the books and received great customer service from the owner, Beverly. After about an hour in the store, my fiance found thank you cards that he loved. I looked through the rest of the books, searching for invites that I loved just as much. There were a few that I really liked, but nothing that was perfect. Beverly wrote up three different quotes for us, all including the thank yous that he loved and the invites that I was considering. I confirmed with her that even if we didn't go with the invites, we could still order the thank yous for the discounted price that she quoted us and she said yes. Well, as you can probably assume, we found invites at another store that I love and ended up buying those instead. I was truly sorry that I couldn't order from Beverly after all of her help and wrote her an email saying so. I also called her to personally apoligize for not ordering the invites but still wanting to order the thank yous. And let me just say that when I called her, I was planning on writing a rave review on Yelp.... Then, I received the worst customer service since moving to Chicago 2 years ago. She told me that she didn't need us to "throw her a bone" and she wouldn't let us order the thank yous. After about a minute of her talking down to me, with my face red from the embarressment / shock, I thanked her anyway and hung up. I cannot believe that in this day and age, with the economy what it is, that she would deny our sale. We had been considering her for the other wedding stationary items but I am so disgraced after her outburst that I will probably never go in her store again. And I'd reccomend you stay away too, unless you enjoy owners with attitudes! read more

After-Words, I am at a loss for words. This bookstore is just fantastic and has become a frequent stop whenever I'm in the River North area. The location is unbeatable as it is sandwiched between the shops on the Mag Mile, the restaurants of the Near North Side, and the bustle of the Loop - making this bookstore an oasis for book lovers or anyone looking for a temporary escape from the both the city's extreme weather patterns and the shop's wallet-busting surroundings. With the plethora of foodie spots and countless shops, the downtown atmosphere becomes dangerous after a while. So, when I'm feelin broke and need to resist the urge to eat and shop, I drop on in to the paradise that is After-Words Bookstore, where I explore the many aisles and lounge in the basement area to pour over a good book, or, if I'm feeling too lazy - I'll flip through some cookbooks, scanning the pages for all the pictures of food :) The shop has any and every genre you could think of and the books are reasonably priced. I'd definitely head down to their lower level, where tons of the books are even more so on sale. And I also love how great their hours are, as they are open until 10 or 11pm almost every night! This is truly an amazing place and somewhere I plan on going to for years to come when looking for a good book or a space to chill. Check it out. read more

During that precious hour of the day, often referred to as lunch hour, I try to fit as many errands in as possible. Sometimes those errands turn into mini shopping sprees, this is where After-Words steps in. After-Words is a hidden treasure trove full of glorious books. New books, old books, any kind of books you may want to read to satisfy that literary need. I have come in here and ended up spending my entire hour browsing the used book section. A wee pricey for used books, but in a pinch, when I only have that one hour to browse and desperately need something for my commute, I am willing to shell out a couple of extra dollars. Their new section is just as great, in fact I have purchased several gifts from their new section as I always seem to find something that a special someone needs. If you are in need of a new or used book in the River North area, and sick of the big box stores, After-Words is your place! read more

I had a few minutes to kill before a meeting a few blocks away and thought I'd browse. I love the way the arrangement of wooden shelving felt like an elementary school library. Conversely, I hate the way the lone clerk copped an attitude with me when I asked if they had a gaming section. As the only potential customer, not just in the store but on the entire block, at noon on a weekday you'd think he'd be a little less condescending. But what do I know right? I'm just a guy who reads and tries to support the brick and mortar in industries I like rather than order online and have the exact items delivered to me at lower cost. I like used book stores and I still like this used (and new) book store. It's well organized and spacious. I just don't need a pasty douche pursing his translucent lips when I don't ask for the hipster approved surrealist literature or vegetarian cookbook section. Remember small retail business owners, Amazon allows me to find what I need more easily and cheaply. I don't need conversation super cool dude, just answer my questions and kill the funky nonverbals. 4 stars for the store. 2 stars for the only person in the entire place while I shopped. I feel generous giving an average. read more

Books books everywhere. Books for you and me. New books, Used books. Check it soon and you will see... I'm happy to see an independent book store alive and well in this area. It isn't giant like old B&N, but there is a very nice selection of new books on the ground floor and used books in the basement. Both sections are well laid-out and clean, and I was glad to see a nice-sized display of Chicago-based literature/Chicago authors. I ended up purchasing a second-hand trilogy of stories and was surprised they took off 10%, I must of missed the sign somewhere. But even without the discount, the price was pretty reasonable. The lower level has some reading chairs and a table if you want to hang out and read. They also have a nice but small selection of greeting cards and postcards. Friendly service. Great place to browse. read more

3 stars for being a bookstore. It's brutal these days, and I give them props. The selection just didn't do it for me. The top floor is all new books, but there wasn't enough variety in the fiction section, and everything is on the pricey end. If you have different tastes from mine, perhaps you'll love the selection. The bottom level is used books. The selection was kind of like my local library's used book sale - books that are gladly discarded by their previous owners (though in great shape). I went shelf by shelf and couldn't imagine who's reading these books. Or who's writing them. The prices are on the high end for used books. The browsing's better at the record store next door. read more

A nice little indie bookstore is a rare thing downtown when seemingly everything is a behemoth chain. The upstairs part is spacious and easy to browse, while the downstairs is more cramped and crammed with used books, as it should be. Stop by for a new book and dig around downstairs for some older titles. Be sure to sign up for their birthday program, where you get a $5 coupon on the month of your birthday. read more

After-Words - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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After the piper is paid, the loans are doled out, the bets are placed, drinks are drunk, and the eats are eaten...I have little reserved for my book fund. However, thanks to After-words and other great priced used booksellers, my thirst for knowledge does not have to suffer. After-words offers a good selection, but it's a bit hit or miss. However if you keep looking, you're bound to find something good for a great price. As they say...reading is FUNdemental....and it sure is a hell of a lot more fun when it's affordably priced. read more

This is NOT what a used bookstore should feel like. It's too...clean. Not to mention expensive. And the staff didn't even say hello when we entered. Incredibly unwelcoming atmosphere--they have signs posted all over that tell patrons not to re-shelve books, because they don't like things to be messy. I mean come on, I'm perfectly capable of putting a book back where I found it. Not to mention, used bookstores should be messy anyway. read more

Open late? Check. Helpful staff? Check. Convenient location? Check Comfortable places to sit and read? Check. Good selection of new and used books? Check. Great if you like browsing for books. They're not a Barnes and Noble so they might not have the specific title you wanted in stock. I like that they're open until 10pm most days. read more

It actually pains me to write this review and give After-Words only two stars. I used to love this place and wander around it perusing the titles of the thousands of books, a peaceful and independently owned bookstore in the heart of all things focused on tourists. The last couple of times I've gone in however, have been unpleasant. I haven't found any books I've wanted to buy and have even been turned off from walking up and down the aisles in hopes of a new book. Recently I went in during my lunch hour to find a book I've seen at every Borders in the country, but I specifically went in here to support the local business. I was greeted by a woman that I'm pretty sure was on downers, she could barely mumble "hello" and when I asked about the book she dragged herself to a computer to tell me they don't have it in stock and that I should check the "Health and Fitness" section. Well, first I expected her to offer to order it for me and second, it's a sociology book about the food industry and obesity in america...not about a low-carb diet. After her less than helpful assistance, I decided to browse anyways and then was startled when another sales associate jumped into the room and started singing very loudly to EVERY WORD that was playing on the radio...for the next 15 minutes. Anytime someone walked by he nearly scared them by loudly asking "Hey! Did you see this book?!?" I was happy walking out the door and sad that one of my favorite bookstores has a less than wonderful staff and book selection. read more

Excellent bookshop in the downtown Chicago area. They have the best hours of any other bookshop that I'm aware of (10am - 11pm on the Friday I dropped by). The owners were kind and helpful. Their selection is wide. Walk downstairs and on the basement level is a great mix of used (1st edition through paperbacks) copies and new ones. Will visit again! read more

Beverly was incredible! Such a cute store with the kindest lady. Definitely recommend!

I like this place. I've been looking for good used bookstores in my area, which is hard to come by because I live in the Gold Coast area, but I'm glad I found this place. The top floor is all new stuff, and then the bottom floor are all used books. I like that section. I think I spent an hour in it the other day. I went away with like 5 books for under $30. It was great! They've got this cool thing for your birthday month, they'll send you a coupon for $5.00 off. I would have given them 5 stars, but their new books seemed a little more expensive than they should have been...I guess it could be because they are an independent store and though I got books for really cheap, some of their prices were higher than what I thought was necessary. read more

There are plenty of better used bookstores in Chicago, but After Words is notable for its location, which is great for lunch hour browsing. Upstairs you'll find new books; downstairs are the used ones. They have fairly large specialty sections in art, photography, and law, but the literature section upstairs is pitiful, and it ain't much better downstairs. A lot of popular fiction, though. Prices for the new books are generally what you would pay at a chain store, but the used books are expensive; a book that might cost you $5 at a Myopic or The Gallery will probably cost at least $8 here. If you need something to read at lunch hour or are just wasting time by browsing, though, it's a decent enough place. read more