I walked in and I was immediately greeted by a dog. I told the owner, who was holding a book club…read moremeeting, that I was happy about that because I had seen a picture of the dog while researching the store and I figured that the dog wouldn't be there anymore because it was a three year old picture. They all laughed. After that, I took a cursory look at the fiction section. Then I wanted to look at the nonfiction section, which was next to the book club. I observed them for a minute out of curiosity. The novel they were discussing seemed interesting. I then spent a good five or ten minutes skimming through a book I found interesting and looking up information about it online when the owner walked up to me and asked me to go to the other side of the store because she thought I was eavesdropping and worried it might make the others uncomfortable. I apologized and sat down in a chair for about half an hour while I waited for the meeting to end so that I could browse that section again, but I eventually had to leave because I ran out of time and needed to be elsewhere. The book selection looked good from a distance. Wish I could have checked it out. At least I got to pet a dog, though.

Possible Futures is a bright, colorful, quirky bookstore in a little corner of edgewood. I came…read morehere for an album-release event hosted by my friends which Lauren, the owner, graciously supported. Walking around the store, I perused through all of the carefully curated book selection from culturally-savvy children's books to invigorating reads on advocacy and change-making. The store's environment is one of warmth which invites you in for a friendly cup of tea or one of their many events like a mahjong night I'm looking forward to attending. Once you make it, you'll want to stay and have a convo with the many regulars who swear by the magic of this store . Everything about this place embodies acceptance and welcome. Possible Futures is my new favorite bookstore in New Haven and I cannot recommend a place more. Bonus: Lookout for Sugar, the bookstore puppers!

Our bellies were full and we needed to burn off some calories while in downtown New Haven, so my…read morefriends took my wife and I over to Grey Matter Books since we are big readers and don't care to just walk into the Barnes and Noble down the street. From the moment you walk into this place you are slapped in the face with the lovely smell of used books. This shop is filled from front to back with thousands of used books all separated in little sections. This place definitely doesn't have a ton of newer titles, but is definitely the type of place you can spend an hour or so in just digging through everything and finding some weird and quirky reads. Overall, Grey Matter Books is a very solid used book store with a wide array of different types of books. Although I didn't leave with anything (I live in LA so I can only travel with so many new books, which is a shame) this place is definitely somewhere I'll continue to stop at when visiting Connecticut in the future.

I had been to their "main" (original?) store in Massachusetts, and was so excited to see them as I…read moredrove through New Haven. In fact, even though they were not participating in the Dessert Crawl I was there for, they were my first stop. I made such a smart decision. This store has the same type of fantastic inventory you find in Massachusetts, just fewer ducks guarding it. Every space that can reasonably hold a book shelf has one. It's clean, well faced, and has the occasional folding chair to sit and take it all in. The clerk let people browse quietly, which was more appreciated. The prices were written on the inside cover, so it was nice and clear. I'm excited to go back for the next Crawl and include this store as a stop!

We love Syd's! Just…read morepulling up to their location with the welcoming signs for book lovers makes it apparent you are about to walk into a vast collection of books! We were immediately welcomed and shown the book sections. Syd's has an active social media presence and shows new books coming in. They had just had their sale so they no longer had the book but I'm glad as their sales were so successful l! I got one book for just $3! What a value and so excited to help their mission. You can donate books at any time and we saw some had been left at the front door and many people stopped in to drop off books while we were still there!

As a local author, reader, and small business supporter, this place is top tier…read more The selection is large! You may have some issues finding some specific books if you're looking for a particular title, but overall a massive selection of a range of authors. Since this is a donation-based bookstore, they typically have only 1-2 dublicates of a title. The value is also very good, with the books --even new ones-- being well under market value. The prices range from $.50-$9 on average and you can buy brand new books for cheap! Much better than Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Great if you just want a book to read or find children's books! The service is outstanding! Very friendly staff that love to strike up a conversation. Locally owned and a nonprofit so the owners are very passionate about reading and books and the town itself. Always fun to stop buy and have a chat while browsing and checking out! Will be returning and donating whenever po

I am so grateful they had a sign pointing the direction of Whitlocks Book Barn on the main road - I…read morewasn't 100% expecting it to be in a residential area. But it is, and the store itself is lovely with the books split between two barns. The upper barn (as was explained to me) is where the majority of their fiction is and the best prices on used books. The lower, or main, barn with the cash register has their newer and rarer inventory. The floor is a bit warped so just be careful with your step. They do accept credit cards despite the initial appearance of a vintage register.

Neat place. Two…read morebarns off the main track. Good prices on used books and a cool atmosphere. It's been here since 1948, a very hidden gem.

Very cute little bookstore. Books are free - just donate something. It is not closed contrary to…read morewhat Yelp says.

Open mic Saturdays. Music improv last Monday of the month. Great intimate book store. Uncanny and…read morecommunal space. Kind creative people.

I regret that I don't have any photos to add to this review. The day I went to Harbor Books, it was…read morepouring down rain. My date and I walked to the bookstore in the pouring rain, and not only did I not want to get my phone wet, I also didn't want to have to keep her waiting for me under the downpour any longer than was necessary. I guess I'm a nice guy...Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone! When I realized I would be meeting someone for a date in the area, I went online to see what Old Saybrook has to offer on a Sunday. I hadn't been to Old Saybrook in at least a couple years, and I'm not too up-to-date on the goings on in the area. My search turned up a small cafe nearby...and Harbor Books. After a small but pleasant lunch, we walked to Harbor Books in the rain. Upon first walking in, I noticed a $1.00 bin where all the books were on sale for, yep, a dollar. I noticed one title in there I decided I would pick up and purchase on the way out (I did), one of Mary Higgins Clark's older novels, hardcover, in excellent condition. Looking through Harbor Books, I quickly realized I would need much more time in there than I suspected my date was willing to spend. I guessed 5 hours. No joke. Not only do they have a great selection of titles, they also have a great selection of vintage and antique books. Many of which are in excellent shape and are marked with a great price. There are probably more antique books in this little bookstore than at the antique shop a couple towns away, that has a ton of books. Five hours is likely an understatement. While looking through the bookshelves, I happened upon a book by a local author whom I had met at least a couple times, now about 10 years ago. I picked up the book, and asked the store owner how long he had had that book in stock. He estimated 7-8 years. I put the book back on the shelf, stepped away, then immediately turned back and grabbed it. After bringing the book home, along with a couple others I purchased along with it, I looked up the author online, wondering what he might be up to these days. Turns out he's up to nothing. He's dead. He died about 4 years ago, while his book was sitting on the shelf of this little bookstore, waiting years for me to come and pick it up. I got to thinking: what are the odds? This book, which I am certain had a very small print run, sat on a shelf waiting 7 or 8 years for me to find it, authored by a man I had met 10 years ago, who is now dead. I took it as a sign that the copy of the book had always been mine, waiting there on that shelf until just the right circumstances led me into Harbor Books and to it. The thing is, I'm willing to bet Harbor Books is JUST the right kind of store for that sort of thing. And I think the next time I go in there, I'll likely find something else that was there waiting for me, somewhere in those tightly-packed shelves. What will I find when I go there next? And will it really take 5 hours? We shall see.

My husband and I were in Old Saybrook for an overnight stay. We stayed at a local B and B, had…read moredinner at Penny Lane Pub on Saturday night and attended a wonderful blues concert at The Kate. Sunday morning we had breakfast at Mirsina's which was delicious. We then took a walk on Main Street. We were talking about what a sweet town this is and the friendliness of all the people we interacted with. We enjoy book stores and decided to explore Harbor Books. When we walked in, we greeted the woman at the desk. She was the wife/ owner I believe. We made small talk and looked around for books we might want to buy. During this time, a male patron came in and was talking about a 20th century European history book he had read and asked for help finding 2 other out of print books by the same author. I was preparing to make a purchase of at least 1 or 2 hardcover novels and my husband was interested in local history. A conversation took place between the owner and patron and was pointedly opinionated political talk that was very disturbing and inappropriate. Needless to say, we abruptly left. I am sorry our wonderful overnight was marred by hateful this experience. I will never go there again.

If I could give them 5000000000 stars I would. This is one of the cutest bookshops I have ever been…read moreinside, and the fact that it is all romance books makes my heart flutter with glee. It is quaint. It is cute. Mr. Darcy would most definitely approve of it. I found myself a cute connect the dots book of leading literary men and a sparkly smut sticker for my laptop. I could basically just move in here and they'd never know because I'd be curled up in the corner just reading with a good book. It's just lovely and I love it here so much.

Connecticut's first romance bookstore is here! Montgomery and Taggert had their opening this…read moreweekend and it is a perfect addition to the cutest town, Chester. They are a small shop with a great selection. Books are organized into type like period drama, romantasy, etc. There are chairs throughout that make you want to curl up and read. The owner was lovely and so was the experience. I see a very bright future for them. Welcome!

Love love love ! Super cute place. I love to read and they had so many options !!! Can't go wrong…read morewith a good book.

THOUSANDS OF BOOKS!!! Any book you can possibly imagine!! This nostalgic book barn has many things…read moreto offer, including some friendly cats and a few goats that you can treat with some snacks! Anything from drama, teen, horror...not sure just ask!! Staff are friendly and very helpful! Books are always being traded, sold and donated so there are always different books available! Big chess board, kids play area, mazes and and all around family environment! You can always count on them to decorate according to season/holiday! It's nice to step out of the world of technology and sit down and relax with a good book!!