We were quite excited to check out this bookstore during our vacation. We had just arrived in our…read morecar with our 13-year-old Labrador Retriever (we planned to take turns in the bookstore with the other hanging out with the dog), when our cellphones let us know that we were under a tornado warning and should take shelter immediately. We had no place to go, so my husband ran in and asked the manager/owner if, given the circumstances, we could take shelter there until the emergency was over. We thought, given the types of folks who tend to run independent bookstores, that question would be a no-brainer. To our stunned amazement, he said no. "Nice" guy. Our everlasting thanks to the employee who ran out into the parking lot and helped us find our way to the local Tractor Supply Company, where we took shelter. We give this place 1 star - zero for the bookstore and its owner and five for the employee, because at least one person in that place has a truly kind heart.

Owner was very helpful and a nice selection! We stopped in after walking near the river, and he…read moregave suggestions for around town for our short stay.

I am more of a food reviewer but will still give my honest experience and insight…read more Came in to assist my girlfriend in setting up and promoting her book, "A Tale of a Service Animal." When we arrived the store had already had a table set up with balloons and such to add a nice touch. It was nice of them to also allow her to promote her artwork as well as an abstract artist. It was a good crowd for a Sunday, she sold most of her books and made a bunch of connections too. The store aloud her to stay a little later than her allotted time with the traffic that she drew in. A success in both our eyes. I was able to walk around the store and look around so she could do her thing at times. I found the place fascinating, I draw mazes so I was really into the puzzle area of the store looking for such books. The children's area brought back memories of books that were once read to me. There are games, legos, and much more throughout the store. I don't read much, have picked up a book more within the last year though. I can always find something at a tag sale for a quarter so spending money here seems silly short term. Could see myself doing some last minute Christmas shopping here though in a punch knowing what is inside.

I love this store and the staff. Today, I had the pleasure of working with Trudy and she was…read morefantastic: professional, thorough and friendly!!

Updated** Came back for my crystals and all things related!…read more I was stuck on a purple kick, something about my stress and needing a calming presence in my life! I was drawn to literally every purple item, dint even look in other directions. It like it spoke to me Variety of things to choose from. Tarot cards, books, loose crystals, geodes, cut rocks, jewelry you name it!! I love all of the variety and you definitely can get lost. We spent almost 1.5 hours here. Two sides of the store depending on what you are looking for

Mondazzi is definitely a hidden gem! I've been traveling here for years. The mineral and specimen…read moreselections are insane. They have a large selection of natural bead strands, jewelry, books, etc. Anything you're looking for, you'll most likely be able to find it there. The employees are so helpful and are very knowledgeable. I will always return to Mondazzi for anything crystal related!

1st stop this morning on my "Used bookstore trail in MASS" journey. The SF/Fantasy section was…read morefairly diminutive, only took me a short time to scan everything and realize there was nothing I was interested in purchasing. Didn't see anything else interesting, but as another Yelper stated, the Romance section was pretty extensive. On a side note, they had the music cranked up REALLY loud. Decent tunes, but I still found it a bit annoying. Jumped back in the vehicle and Hit the road again !

A nice place to get lost & decompress. Love to browse in hope of finding something of interest…read more Something to take me out of the present moment.

As Connecticut's equivalent to Strand Book Store in Manhattan, Book Barn is a bibliophile's…read moreseemingly bottomless treasure chest! Indeed, dispersed at three distinct locations, BB provides three seemingly bottomless treasure chests. Be prepared to spend several hours browsing their shelves and, if you're game, to buy several armfuls of books. Be prepared in other ways. At the main location, the Barn and its many satellite sheds have some aisles that are damp, dusty, and musty, so if you have respiratory allergies you are advised to wear a face mask there. And while you're at it, dig into your spelunker gear and wear a headlamp, because some of the corners and bottom shelves are so dark you must strain your eyes to read the book spines. Nevertheless, such perils are worth enduring when you arrive home with your trove of cherished books. 5-stars for buying books at Book Barn. An advisory about selling books to BB. You might return home with half of your books unsold. Lugging heavy books from home to car trunk to BB and again to car trunk and again to home rarely can be worth your time and effort. Best to leave at home your paperbacks, and to bring only your hardbacks, as you are more likely sell most of your hardbound books. And best to arrive in the morning soon after they begin buying books, else you must wait in line behind other people selling their books. But, and this is the big BUT. At the conclusion of their hasty appraisal of your entire load of books while you watched helplessly as they rummaged through your trove, be prepared for disappointment, if not humiliation. What they offer to pay you is dismal. They quote you one lump sum for your load of books, never for individual books, but the outcome is as if for, say, your scholarly hardbound book published by an academic press, a first printing in mint condition with its dust jacket intact, they will offer to pay you one-tenth of the price at which they will eventually sell it. To its credit, BB is hardly different from other used book stores in its book buying protocol. Unless you are impoverished, you're better off saving yourself the time and trouble, and instead to donate your books to your local public library. Yet, even your public library will be as selective and unwelcoming, and most of the books they do accept from you will be sold at their annual book sale. The sad fact is that 99-percent of all used books, when measured solely in monetary terms of resale value, are totally worthless. 3-stars for selling your books at Book Barn. So 4-stars total.

You start in one barn, then realize there are paths, sheds, rooms, and outbuildings everywhere…read more They hand you a map, which sounds excessive but I stared at it for several minutes trying to figure out where to go. What impressed me most was how organized everything felt despite the scale. Sections actually make sense, shelves are labeled, and you can wander without feeling like you are digging through chaos. Pricing is great too. I kept pulling books thinking I would narrow it down later, and somehow still walked out with an armful without feeling irresponsible. The selection is broad without being dusty or sad. Newer releases mixed in with older paperbacks, art books next to cookbooks, random surprises everywhere. There are goats roaming around and a couple of cats who seem fully aware they are part of the charm. If I had one minor complaint, some of the outbuildings get a little tight when it is busy, and browsing can feel cramped. Still, that did not slow me down much. I already know I will be back, probably with a bigger tote next time.

We happened upon this delightful independent bookstore after enjoying a late lunch at the…read moreMediterranean restaurant next door. It's brightly lit and beautifully arranged by theme, with lots of staff pick summaries/comments posted all around. Friendly staff and welcoming vibe. Great book selection of books!

This is such a cute and cozy bookstore! The River Bend Bookshop is set inside a refurbished old…read morehouse in downtown Gastonbury. It's an adorable New England town that looks like it was plucked straight from a movie. When you go inside, the store is so cozy. It's packed full of books and bookish merch, but so well set, there is plenty of room to explore. There are books in every nook and cranny, sorted by genre, with bookseller recommendations and plenty of signed copies. The booksellers are very knowledgeable and helpful too. If you are looking for a gift for an avid reader, they will definitely be able to help you find the perfect present. This is going to be a permanent stop for me every time I head through Connecticut.

A small bookstore with a great selection of books. They also serve wine, which is a nice touch. We…read morebought three history books. The service was good . We were greeted as soon as we walked in. Overall, it's a lovely little bookstore.

I LOVE bookstores and really wanted to like this one. To me…read morethe success of a book store such as this one is in making you feel welcome to come in, pick a book off the shelf, and read a page or two in a cozy nook. Given they do not have a huge space, I think they had a smattering of books across various genres. The reading "corners" didn't look particularly inviting to me. Maybe that's coz I went on a very busy rainy summer Saturday afternoon. Also maybe coz I'd just been to the Shaker Mill bookstore in the morning and thought I could spend an entire afternoon (or a weekend!) wandering through the store and perusing their offerings. People working in the store were nice albeit a bit hurried and harried given the aforementioned rainy summer Saturday afternoon rush :)

Very good used bookstore that is quintessential Berskhires. In two adjacent buildings, one of which…read moreis a barn, sit a lot of older (new, discounted), used, and rare (first edition) books. The staff were very pleasant, and I found lots of great choices.

A charming independent bookstore in a lovely location, the selection of books is excellent here,…read moredespite the smaller space. You can find some old gems here, with all the used books here. They also have new books as well, and prices seemed reasonable. Service at the bookstore was friendly and had a nice conversation with staff. With all the browsing you can do here, it's a nice place to spend an afternoon.

As a West Coaster I have many bookstores to patronize and usually order from Amazon as I read as…read moremuch as I can. However after finding this little gem of a bookstore I can now say I order from Broadside! The shipping is more than reasonable and the selection is as all encompassing as I see online. The staff is tenured and reliable, one of the staff "Brenna" keeps a running log of what I read and like and when they have three or four they go ahead and charge my card and ship them out. It is so delightful to find a package of books waiting for me when I get home, I just dive right in. Thanks Broadside, Brenna and the rest of the fabulous crew for making reading even more fun.

Very cute new book store in Northampton! It's across the street from the Smith College Academy of…read moreMusic, in front of a "15 minute free" curbside parking spot. In addition to books of all genres, they sell a lot of adorable book related accessories - I do regret not getting the book earrings, but love my ribbon bookmark (the purchase of which helps with community hunger). They also have POSTCARDS! There's a bunch of local cards for Northampton and Smith, and the rest of vintage pictures, political, or just best described as random (but would be perfect for someone out there). Masks are required as of April 2022.

Lots of great reads to find here and also so many music selections both new and old as well as cd…read moreand vinyl! Cannot believe how many areas there were that had been filled with books, yummy lunch options at the cafe as well!

Haven't been to the mail for quite a few years since I moved out of state. Decided today to try it…read moreagain and check to see if it's the same. Thank goodness it really hasn't changed. It's just a fabulous little place. There are so many books in this place at a really good price. If you are of any kind of reader, this is a must go check. After I bought three books, I decided to try their restaurant. Service was fast and the food was fabulous. Had the udon noodle bowl. It just packed full of flavor And filled that empty spot. I'm quite sure you'll find something on the menu and enjoy.