I am a sucker for good independent local bookstores and Books on B is quintessentially everything I love about independent bookstores! First off, Renee absolutely is THE person to own and run this place. She feels like a warm lovable character from your favorite book, the kind you reach for every now and then to read over and over again. I called recently because I really wanted to get my hands on a copy of Nikita Gill's new book "Hekate" and yes, I know I could just order it online from big box stores but I knew I wanted to support my local bookstore. Renee was quick and prompt and while she didn't have it in stock, she ordered it as quick as she could and I was able to go pick it up in the next day or so! And I picked up a few other books while I was at it because who could say no to more books!? I love popping in whenever I'm strolling downtown and I hope Books on B never leaves! read more

Best experience I've ever had in a bookstore. They're genuinely kind people to everyone. I wish I had a bigger need for books just to be around the staff. Give them your business read more

I enjoy long strolls in a book store. The smell of books relaxes me. Touching book pages is like sensory overload. Came by yesterday to support a fellow author friend with his new book! Afterwards I browsed through books and found a book for my son and there were cute greeting cards too! Renee is wonderful and I love her smile and interaction with all customers. Prices of books are decent and it's a cute little book store. Support your local shops! read more

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A great little Bookstore in Downtown Hayward!! I've been in here a few times while walking around B street. A very small place, with very friendly service. And it has all kinds of used and new books to choose from, I can see why this place gets such good reviews. Definitely stop in here if you're in the area!! read more

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This independent bookstore is everything you can want in a local independent bookstore. A delightful entrepreneur, a wide selection for a cozy space, a small but thoughtful selection of calendar appropriate and budget friendly gifts or little extras if you are buying a book gift, a generous spirit of stay mingle, mix and browse, and a broad selection of new and used books. Not only that when she, Renee, the fine proprietress of said bookstore is accepting books to sell she will actually offer you a fair price for you used tomes ( the ones she can use, assuming you have taken care of them) and not the insult you will get at Half Price Bookstore. I would give this shop ten stars if I could. I hope it stays around for a long while. read more

It is always a treat when I visit Books on B! I am always greeted with a smile and a recommendation. I truly love this place, because it always feels like home. read more

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Great local bookstore with great customer service. Ordered online for pickup and was very easy. When I went to pickup, they knew what I had ordered based on name alone--what service!! Better to support a local business than the giant retailers. read more

Wow, Books on B was a pleasant delight to discover in downtown Hayward. I grew up in Fremont and know Hayward downtown well, I had a large candy vending machine route that I built up in Hayward, Fremont and Pleasanton when I graduated high school. I just wasn't expecting a quaint small bookstore run by a stunning, erudite and tall beauty named Renee. To survive Covid and Hayward in general is not easy to do...there is a LOT of action on B Street...good, bad and the ugly kind. All said, happy to sell some books there and buy a few more. Oh man, I was trying to de-clutter and totally failed. Fun local bookstores are dangerous for bookworms like me. Stay away. Just kidding. read more

Great well read and enthusiastic people there. The books you want are there or they are happy to order them for you.

Everything goes well at Books on B, every time I go. . You WILL be welcomed, respected, and appreciated. Enough said.

The vibes are immaculate. When I finally become published I'd ask to collaborate with them.

We've been coming here for years. I stopped by for Christmas gifts and Renee helped me find something for everyone. Send her any book title (and ideally an ISBN) and she will get you the book almost as fast as Amazon and you'll feel much better about yourself. read more

This is a really good bookstore. If I'm in the market for books I usually stop here and support a good local business. They have a good variety of books for all types of readers and even other gifts that are not books. She has a really good location as well being right in the heart of downtown Hayward. On my last visit here during lockdown I sort of knew what I wanted to buy. But I called the bookstore and talked to Renee and she was able to order the books that I wanted to purchase as Christmas gifts and also guide me with good recommendations. Location is great. There are good restaurants and of course Buffalo Bills and The Bistro right on the corner or you can enjoy your new book while having a beer. There is also other destination spots in the vicinity. And if you're from out of the area be sure to stop by the Japanese Tea Gardens. There's a lot to do in Hayward and Books on B is a good place to stop on your journey. read more

Books on B - Some books I ordered as Christmas gifts. - Bookstores Near Me - Hayward, California

Yesterday we went here to have a booth sale for Girl Scouts, staff were so polite, helped with anything you needed, gave the kids chalk to help the sales. Great selection of books, collectibles, gifts and more! I would totally recommend to anyone of all ages! (Story time at 11) read more

Wonderful bookstore and a true asset to the community. Renee is knowledgeable, helpful, and funny. I try to fill all of my book needs at Books on B. Please support this independent bookstore! read more

Easily the most delightful bookshop around. Renee is a blessing upon the reading populace.

This store is delightful! There is always something good on the used bookshelves and always a thoughtfully curated collection of new books! Renee is so fun to chat with and always has great recommendations and can always find a book you're looking for if she doesn't have it! This bookstore is a treasure to have in our community! Definitely take some time to check it out! read more

Very nice setup: friendly atmosphere, wide range of readings (if not quantitively large). Did not pick up any trinkets/accessories, but very neat (pins, totes, cards). Good condition books at a good price. I got there near closing (I think) and stuck around a bit after; they were kind enough for me browse even after the supposed 4PM close. read more

Renee is a delight, and the most important thing to know about the store. Pro tip: If you get into one of the Hayward Gift card 'Yiftee' promotions where you buy a $100 card and get one free, you can use it for a gift card at the store. She'll keep it on file and you can order books as you like. read more

Books on B st. was an unexpected discovery. saw it while pursuing another thrift store. it's very neat, clean and organized. books shelved by categories ala history, cooking, social studies, etc. there's a mix of new, slightly read books and children's books. there's also a table with candies/chocolates upon it. was tempted but passed. leaving these for the kids who would enjoy it more than me. . discovered Books was a follow thru by the manager of Book Store from across the street which had closed. the store is less than half the size of Book Shop. new books can be ordered with an arrival time of a few days. read more

Yes, books are back on B Street & thank goodness! Also fun: Books on B sells shop-swag in the form of cute totes, t-shirts (yellow), mugs (also yellow) & pint glasses. Books on B is an open, airy space. The walls are a very light-green, if I remember rightly, and the front windows emit a ton of natural light. There's an immediate sense of 'ahh' when walking into this shop. If you're expecting a musty-dusty book experience, then be happily surprised by this shop. One is able to find, among other subjects: LGBT-themed texts, history books--with a solid emphasis on local history, women's lit., children's lit. (some Spanish language titles as well), auto-biography, sci-fi/fantasy, and cookbooks. There are two comfy chairs on premises for those who wish to sit and browse a spell. Currently, there's a wrap-your-own-gift-book table that looked very inviting. Next year's calendars are in stock. Single and boxed cards are sold as well. I was particularly taken with the selection of hummingbird-themed box sets. On a lower shelf of a lovely wooden table (also for sale) was a small selection of community-event flyers and cards. I don't know if this is an everyday thing, but I also spied a box of freebie books out front. -very nice, as is the bookstore. Long may it reign! *closed Sundays read more

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I feel such a sense of community at Books on B. Readers Unite! When the Book Shop across the street closed, so many of us were heartbroken at the loss of our little readers' paradise in downtown Hayward. It was made golden by its manager, Renee, who was always ready with a smile and the perfect book recommendation. So the community got behind Renee in her endeavor to open her own shop to fill the void. Books on B is what the Book Shop was and more. Come in, check it out! If she doesn't have it, she'll order it for you. Support small business, downtown Hayward, and BOOKS! I believe the current hours are 9am-1pm daily. read more

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Truly one of the best bookstores in the Bay Area. Customized service. Walking library and owner Renee is a gem!

What a gem! We stopped by today when it also happened to be their anniversary! The entire store has such an amazing calming vibe and the books they carry appear to be carefully selected. The store owner was so friendly and made my kids feel welcome and special. The calming addition of having someone play soothing sounds on his guitar was the cherry on top for us. We'll definitely be back instead of pumping our money into amazon book orders! read more

Books on B - Bookstores Near Me - Hayward, California

Memories..lol I remember back in the day where this book store was up the street alittle and I could have sworn a tad bigger (and I was a kid). Anyways, a nice little book store to stop by and hopefully help support since bookstores (locally owned/ma/pa owned)seem to be a dying breed these days especially with the digital format and big box stores. Overall, just browsing around they had a nice collection of everything, classics, kids, current, etc. The cashier was extremely nice and from the sounds of it when we talked about back in the day stuff was from the area. In the end, what a great place to see and know is still around after these so many years! read more

Wow what a fantastic surprise! I was here checking out the food and the bands and I happened to come across this fantastic little store. The first thing I noticed is how clean and tidy the store is. It is absolutely immaculate. It is so fantastic to see that independent bookstores are still alive and thriving! I really like their Travel section. If you look around the travel shelves they even have a special on the Lincoln Highway. Did you know that the Lincoln Highway went right through this area? I should also mention it went through my hometown, Dublin. Don't miss the children's story time every Saturday morning at 11 a.m. And finally, there is a really interesting history of this store. There used to be a bookstore for many years across the street called the Book Shop. It went out of business and then at the same time this store opened. Believe it or not the football team from Castro Valley High School came over and moved the inventory across the street. What a fantastic story! The owner, Renee is really informative and very friendly and is happy to explain about all things literature. I think you will really like this little shop. read more

Books on B is a beautiful gem in Hayward. The owner of this book store is so inviting and passionate about her book store. She is welcoming and very helpful in finding the right book(s) you are looking for. Books on B has a wide range of important books around social justice, women empowerment and just the right amount of anything and everything in between. The children books selection is a huge range of books that really mirror the community of Hayward. A mixture of used and new books, a delightful and cozy inviting space to walk into. I highly recommend it. read more

Books on B - Bookstores Near Me - Hayward, California

I came in last week looking for some books for one of my classes, and despite not having all of them available at that time, Renee ordered them for me and set them aside for a later pickup. She is so sweet and knowledgable and was such a great help! Love this local book shop and I definitely encourage any avid readers and book lovers to shop small and local! Books on B is a great spot run by great people. read more

What else can be said about Books on B that other reviewers haven't already said? We are SO LUCKY to have Renee and Books on B! A not so hidden jewel of downtown Hayward. Other "old timers" like myself will remember Renee when she was "just" the manager of the original B St Books, which was across the street where the lovely Max's Cakes is now located. You cannot even COMPARE the two book stores. While we loved and appreciated B St. Books, Renee has created the loveliest, most welcoming community space in addition to a GREAT book store! Thanks to community support she survivied Covid and lockdown. THIS YEAR she survivied being closed for most of the year thanks to a lousy landlord who dragged his feet repairing the damages due to flooding last January. Books on B is fully reopened and better than ever. Filled with great books and gifts for the holidays. I went there this week to get some lovely books on the Winter Solstice for our grandson. First I stopped at Max's to get a couple of treats (one for Renee) and Max told me a delightful story about how the previous weekend they'd had a toy drive which a lot of folks didn't know about. So when they bought their treats, they walked across the street to Books on B, bought some gifts for kids and then delivered them to Max's for the Toy drive. What a serendipitous story of community support and small businesses! On Saturday, December 23rd they are having live music, which they often do. They have regular children's story telling events, and ALL kinds of things going on! Check out their calendar! You won't regret it. read more

I only spent ten minutes in here, but in that short amount of time it was clear that this place is so much more than a bookstore. It is a little small with an unassuming face to the street, a community builder, and full of wonder and the love of books. This is the kind of bookstore that you read novels about. I wish I lived closer. Wendell Berry book count: 1. (But I have a feeling Wendell Berry books are flowing in and out from person to person on a regular basis...) read more

I remember meeting the owner of Books on B before the store opened. This happened a few years ago during the Hayward Wine Walk. Today I had a reason to stop in. It's Mark's birthday and I'd neglected to get a birthday card when I shopped for dinner at Safeway. I'm glad I did. After stopping elsewhere on B Street to get the perfect dessert, I looked across the street and saw Books on B. I thought, "This looks promising". Sure enough, they have a cute selection of handmade cards and there was one by Julie Bayless that was perfect. I didn't check out the rest of the store. I really was there for a card, found exactly what I was hoping for and headed out. The shop owner (I really should get her name) was delightful. Maybe I should stop by more often. read more

I absolutely LOVE Books on B and Renee so so so much. Renee has given me so many good book recommendations during gifting occasions and answered so many questions for me. Of course, supporting a local independent book store is the cherry on top of any shopping experience here. Why are you still reading this review? You could probably be in the shop by now... read more

Great indi book shoppe. Owner truly Loves books! Special orders are her speciality. Always welcoming warm place to indulge the book lover in you! Fabulous eclectic selection! read more

Rene'e is more than great, She takes time to do The digging and the fingers To search for her customers Needs And a really people person To everyone that calls on the phone Comes in or an e-mail that comes in Her in box That the reason I buy books from Her business For lots of years Darryl S read more

A gem of a bookstore thanks to the owner, Renée. Super fun to browse in the store and extremely easy to place an order for quick pick up. Support a local small business that is one of the hearts of this community. read more

Best bookstore in the bay with a wonderful selection. Renee makes everything bright and lovely

This is a lovely, inviting independent bookstore with a good selection of books and a friendly proprietor. This is a great place to pick up a gift. I like the fact they have a nice children's section. This business has been a great addition to the neighborhood. read more

If you like books and want to support a local business then stop in here. I didn't realize they had moved across the street and can be easily missed unless you're in the area during a street fair or farmers market a few blocks down. For a small book store they have a wide array and it's especially great for children!! It's sad to see that books stores are slowly disappearing and this one is unlike the Walden's or Barnes & Nobles of the past. It's the best of both worlds. I went looking specifically for a book in Sue Graftons' alphabet series and found another book that is a mini series by that author that I didn't even realize existed!! read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Renee! There have been days where I have walked into her shop and said, I want a beach read, or something historical, and my favorite a mystery. Renee always has a recommendation and they are always good reads. My family loves her shop and the joy of going to a local bookstore is such a joy! read more

Books on B is my bookstore. Renee, the owner, has been in the bookstore business for most of her life. I go to her for recommendations, and, of course, to order books. Warm and accepting, they make everyone feel at home. If they don't carry it, they can get it for you in a few days. read more