Flyleaf Books is a great bookstore. I've been here just twice, but each time I've had a positive experience. The staff is friendly, the book selection is diverse and plentiful + there are customer review/comment cards on multiple books within the store. It's nice to read reviews from other book lovers. Flyleaf also has a number of events every month. I recently attended the Penguin Publisher event. Snacks and drinks were available to those that attended the event and there was a raffle at the end. The event was informative and full of book recs from the Penguin Publisher sales team. Flyleaf is legit! I'll be sure to add this location to one of my favorite bookstores in the Chapel Hill area. read more

Love the used book area and there's a pretty good variety of everything. Service was good and the people were friendly so it's gotten a bit better. The prices are pretty average which is why I frequently just go to the used books which are still a bit high but good variety of titles ($3-10 range). Love that they have their own easy free parking!! read more

Flyleaf Books - Bookstores Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Super cute, clean, and well organized store with a big selection of used books! The employees I spoke with were all very friendly and helpful and I'm already looking forward to coming back! read more

Cute, friendly book store. First time popping into this great store. The store is spacious and well laid out. I love all the comments on many of the books from readers about why they love the book and they have so many nice selections to choose from. They have a used book section where I picked up several books and they have lots of cute gift ideas and cards. They have a membership program that you can join and get a discount on future purchases and they had plenty of parking out front and the store is easy to find. I really enjoy my time in a nice book store. read more

Flyleaf Books - Bookstores Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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I have been a member of Flyleaf for years. They have a good selection, but they take advantage of their patrons. Most recently I took in recently published books in excellent condition and they offered me 1/3 of what Golden Fig Books paid for them. Golden Fig has a standard scale for used books. Flyleaf does not. The attitude of Flyleaf staff is most unfortunate as I remember when they showed they valued their members. read more

Love this little bookstore. Homey, sweet, and tons of books! They even had a really specific one on social work and abolition and calling to pick up was super easy. Would definitely stop in here if you're in town! read more

Running an independent bookstore is no easy task in a climate of banned books and free speech being called into question. That's why I am so grateful for this local bookstore which feels like a safe haven each time I come in. The staff always come through with books I order through their website and even if a book is no longer being published, they'll recommend places where I might find a copy. Who does that kind of service today? Certainly not Amazon Books. I'm also appreciative of the shop's owner who gives opportunities for the community to hear diverse viewpoints by inviting authors to read throughout the year. I truly missed those readings during Covid and only then realized their true value. As another reviewer mentioned, their used book section offers top titles and isn't just a dumping ground for books they want to offload. It's much like the local library's book sale events. Thank you, Flyleaf Books for your inspiration, your diligence, your love of books and please keep going, I can't imagine this area without your shop! read more

Despite its strip mall loc, a delightful space filled with books - both new and used - ample natural light, a space for speakers and comfy leather chairs. read more

Flyleaf Books - Bookstores Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Lovely selection of new and used books as well as cute boutique items. Also incredibly friendly and helpful staff as well who are easy to talk to and very helpful read more

The lowdown: I can see the charm that this independent style book store has for many in this area, but I was not super impresssed. It is super clean and roomy however It is heavily geared toward a certain style of thinking and a bit overpriced even for an independent bookstore. I was meeting a friend for lunch at the Root Cellar next door and she was running a little little late so I decided to stop in the book store since I love reading. I attended school at UNC -Chapel Hill and was excited to be in the area again. I was impressed with the size of the store on the inside, it definately did not look as spacious from the outside. It was very clean, the displays looked great. I like how they also had a back room with used books. The only thing I didn't like is the fact that the book choices were very geared toward a certain way of thinking. I understand that this is an independent store and my guess is that they don't want to represent beliefs or values that go against them, but there were some derogatory things against the opposite way of thinking that caused me to lower their rating. read more

Flyleaf Books - this IS not ok to me. This fits the definition of bullying in my opinion! - Bookstores Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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A treasure. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Better yet, they host the book club at the end at the universe.

Whoah. Thank You Flyleaf. Amazon did not kill bookstores. I am so glad you are here, all big and bold with two huge rooms with shelves and tables full of books that I have to read. All of them. Really. The curation is wide enough for me to be surprised with titles that I did not know I needed, and copasetic. And they did not leave out arts, crafts creative interest, thank you for that. And a full kids section. Oh, and what a fantastic used book selection. Wow. I challenge you go go in and come out empty handed. read more

Flyleaf Books - Tables of awesome titles - Bookstores Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

After reading my review, the owner of the store, Jamie, reached out to me to explain the internet issues and why they haven't prioritized figuring it out. Not exactly her words, but when they would provide a PW for access, people would come in to utilize their employees' time and recommendations, and then just buy the book cheaper on Amazon while there. Heartbreaking! I appreciated her responding to me and would just encourage anyone relying on internet service to do your Goodreads research before going there until they get a better solution worked out. (Which she told me they are working on) Support local, y'all!!! read more

Flyleaf Books - Bookstores Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Bookstore has several sections, other merchandise and best of all there is also a large room of used books. There is a meeting/lecture room also. It is great to find an independant bookstore, although it is not large and all-encompassing. read more

Wonderful old fashioned bookstore with events such as book signings and author talks.

Flyleaf Books is a pretty good size and spacious bookstore. They have many table displays and shelves they even have a back room full of used books. I enjoy just wandering the store, browsing all of the different sections and going through all the used books for a good deal. My only complaint would be that despite the large size the selection can be limited at times especially if you are looking for specific book. If you are just browsing or wanting to try something new they have tables of staff recommendations and various different books on display. read more

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Great bookstore! They curate an amazing collection and can order whatever they don't have. Their little gifts in the front are fun to browse. Highlights are the used section and the kids' section. So many good kids' books! Top points for giving teachers a discount. read more

We were nearby for lunch, otherwise we wouldn't have made a special trip here. That would have been a big mistake! It's a well-organized, clean, independent book store. They even have a room with used books (some as low as $1), and an adjoining room that's used for events and signings. None of the departments is huge, but they all have good selections. The staff will order books for you, too. A friendly associate helped me with my purchase and told me more about the area. read more

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If you have fond memories of the Bull's Head or have gotten tired of the mall "book stores" turned toy stores, Flyleaf is your refuge. Flyleaf is the reason I've stopped buying books from Amazon. read more

Flyleaf is a great spot. It's smaller than, say, Quail Ridge so the selection is a bit more limited (and thus a bit more curated). The strengths here are literary fiction and an ample children's section (which is nicely divided into books for early and middle readers). I also appreciated the smaller used/remainders room where you can find barely used copies of books at a discount. There are certain sections that are smaller than you might expect from an indie bookstore (e.g. poetry). But the tables at the front where Fly Leaf staff display their favorites-- some which will be familiar, and some which are delightful surprises-- helped me discover some new books. Check their website for their limited covid hours. read more

Great selection and even better presentation! I was in town for a wedding, but always make sure to check out the local bookstores wherever I go. This store has some neat finds from independent publishers, as well as a large used selection at very reasonable prices. read more

Wow. Horrible service will never shop here again l. Flyleaf is the whitest bookstore ever and doesn't care about non-white customers. I hope they go out of business. What's also funny is they say "all are welcome" but as a non-white person their customer service tells me they'd rather deal with white customers than non-white. They try so hard to be a "welcoming space" but they're just another white store in a white town. To the owner that replied: DO NOT blame this on a busy day or lunch or whatever excuse. My experience today is the experience I receive EVERYTIME I go into your bookstore. I do not want excuses. Every single time I have never been helped or even greeted. Every single time I feel invisible and uncomfortable. Flyleaf really needs to take a good long hard look at itself and reassess their whole liberal progressive aesthetic. You can have pride flags, Cornell West books, RGB stickers, and MLK speeches for sale, but when your clientele and staff is mostly white and caters to a white community the fake social justice pastiche washes away. It's not just me who experiences this treatment at Flyleaf, already I passed around to people in the UNC and Chapel Hill community my experience and you would probably be surprised how many people have had the same. And I am not going to reach out to you to yet again be another Brown person who has to tell white folks how to be better about creating safe spaces for non-white people. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE LABOR OF NON WHITE PEOPLE. Go ahead and put up more posters and stickers and merchandise to show how liberal and progressive you are, but at the end of the day many people can see right through it. read more

I was in Chapel Hill for work recently and decided to stop by Flyleaf, I love indie bookshops and try to go to at least one whenever I visit a new town. This one was great! Vast selection of new and used books, cute merch, large event space, clean bathrooms. I bought a stack of books and the lady who checked me out was very friendly. Will definitely stop by any time I'm in the area read more

Flyleaf Books - Bookstores Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Flyleaf is your quintessential independent bookstore, and I can't recommend a visit enough (whether it's in-person when places reopen or online in the meantime). After a decade of living in the northeast and frequenting renowned bookstores for browsing and events, I was thrilled when I visited family in Chapel Hill several years ago and re-discovered Flyleaf! It's a local treasure without a doubt. For in-person shopping, you will find a well-designed sales floor with various displays of curated staff recommendations, some in typical categories (new fiction, nonfiction, etc.) as well as other creative clusters. The organization is inviting for browsing--perfect for exploring what to read next and for finding gifts for others--and also clear enough for you to locate a specific title if you have one in mind. There's also a large used books area with an impressive selection and reasonable prices. Perhaps the asset that most sets a great bookstore apart from an average one is the quality of the booksellers, and I've found every interaction with Flyleaf staff to be even more helpful than I'd hoped. In these covid times, I've placed a couple of online and phone orders and have most appreciated Flyleaf's help and clear communication. As of late May, they are offering curbside pickup, which I've found to be an incredibly efficient way to purchase books that are currently in stock. My pro tip in case there is a book you'd like sooner rather than later is to call during the hours that they process orders by phone--I was able to get some books available on their shelves within mere hours. Happy reading! read more

Oh my goodness, what a treat to find an independent bookstore! They have a great selection of books, and offered to order me one that was not in stock. They have a good selection of used books as well, and the staff was very helpful. This is my new favorite place! read more

Flyleaf Books makes me happy! This place is an excellent bookstore with a great vibe. It's relaxing and quiet in here. The staff are always nice and don't make you feel awkward for taking your time looking at all of the books on display. I love the little signs with recommendations from the staff. The location is perfect, being on MLK Jr. Blvd in Chapel Hill right off Franklin St. Parking here is usually easy to find and always free. The Root Cellar next door is a nice place to do work as well, so I usually hit both of these places up at the same time. read more

Flyleaf is the kind of bookstore that invites you to linger--lots of space, warm colors, soft but good lighting, and friendly, knowledgeable staff. I came here most recently on a Tuesday night to hear a friend read from and sign copies of her debut novel. When my friend and I arrived, about 20 minutes before the event, they already had everything set up in their lovely gathering room and had promotional material scattered throughout the store. They did a soundcheck and a walkthrough--all very professional. After the reading, they had a good layout for the book signings, and we didn't feel rushed at all, even though their closing time was approaching. The whole thing went "like buttah." For the bookstore itself, their strengths include a wide selection of local/regional books and interesting staff picks. Another plus: Unlike some indie bookstores, especially in college towns, they appear to have a fairly even split between liberal/conservative books. I appreciate that. Their buyers are clearly open to buying good books of all flavors. read more

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This amazing book store is one of my great pleasures. I can't think of anything more fun that to have some free time in Flyleaf with no agenda. I love the ambience and the light and the organization of the store. It is all about discovery for me and this is such a good place to do that. The staff are truly top notch and once they get to know you they have such great ideas on books you would love to read. Spending and hour or two just looking at their perfectly curated selection of books and so much more is wonderful time and makes the perfect day for me at this shop. Walking into this bookstore is like magic. Love Flyleaf! read more

Flyleaf offers such a welcoming and visually appealing space. I could spend hours browsing. The staff are always so helpful and kind. If I can't find the book I'm looking for, they order it for me and ship it to my house. The personal touches of shopping small (plus the great selection of books and other fun things) makes Flyleaf the top notch place that it is. I'll never buy a book anywhere else! read more

If you want a bookstore to browse and get lost in, then you should visit Flyleaf Books. I walked in to the store with 20 minutes to kill and it was not nearly long enough! I love how there are so many books on display, with handwritten reviews that you can read without even having to pick up the book. To me, I am much more likely to try out a book if it has been recommended and I can see what others have to say about it. But there is something so much personal about it being in that person's handwriting instead of typed up on a book review site. They had a little bit of comfy seating for those who might want to peruse more before buying. Everything is clearly labeled, so you should be able to find the genre that suits you easily. I like that Flyleaf doesn't feel like your typical chain bookstore like Barnes & Noble. It feels much more inviting and cozy, if that makes sense. It feels more personal. My wallet may be in trouble though, because after reading so many of the book reviews they had on display, I see many book purchases in my future. read more

Flyleaf Books - So many handwritten reviews! - Bookstores Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Wonderful place for an introvert to spend the day! Amazing place to get unique notebooks or gifts for loved ones! I will be back soon if not later today! read more

Flyleaf Books - Bookstores Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I loved visiting Flyleaf Books! The entire staff, especially Kat, helped me find great books, including an amazing illustrated copy of Pride and Prejudice. I will definitely visit again! read more

Fantastically arranged store by people who clearly love books. Wonderful for browsing around, or finding and picking up exactly what you're looking for. I totally recommend this place. read more

This bookstore follows a long tradition of independent bookstores in Chapel Hill and let's hope it can continue. The rest of them are gone(not counting the glorious McIntyres, because it's not actually in town, and Internationalist Books, kind of specialized), It has become a destination kind of bookstore, where you go for books as well as the staff's experience and helpfulness, and the events, of course. That is what they are doing well so far. A good place to drop in just for a 'literary' or 'cultural' moment in time(out of time). Update 6/13/2012: Went in the other day and was delighted to see that 3 of the staff present on that day were former Creative Writing students of mine at UNC---which means they are hiring actual readers of contemporary works, who are also writers themselves, a very good thing for a bookstore, and not always the case. Flyleaf gets an extra star. read more

Okay so I just found out that The Book Shop in downtown Chapel Hill *AND* Chapel Hill Comics are BOTH CLOSING, so I felt compelled to post a review of the last remaining independent book shop in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. :( In any case, Flyleaf is amazing...from their well-curated selection of new books to used books to the best event space I've even seen in a bookstore, this place is a fantastic store and worth a visit. Lots of little nooks to sit in/on while perusing your books, too, and you can have lunch at Lucha Tigre or Root Cellar afterward, which are both right next door. They also have super friendly booksellers, writing supplies/journals, lots of local author readings...etc etc. OK SO GO SHOP THERE. xoxo read more

Woot! Chapel Hill's literati finally gets a worthy indie bookstore! While this place is not winning any extra points for its decor (burnt orange carpet and an event reading room that feels a bit like...well, a gymnasium right now), it definitely deserves a shout-out for its awesome staff and thoughtful selection. I was pointed right to the Bananagrams game (sold out everywhere!) I've been desperately hunting down for an xmas gift and I even picked up some staff selections from their recommended reading table as my own holiday brain candy! I love how just about every bookstore has its own unique personality, and Flyleaf is no exception. It's very open, with no nooks and crannies to tuck into with a book BUT it's brilliantly located right next to Foster's. Which means I naturally had to enjoy my new novel over a cup of coffee and a fresh sammie. Their event space is pretty huge, and I anticipate they'll start booking some solid authors real soon. The grand opening is coming up on 1/9 with headliner Daniel Wallace (Big Fish). Definitely stop in on them! read more

Ahhh, Flyleaf Books. You make me want to read again. I idled in one weekday on a random whim, and immediately fell for your slightly unorthodox layout, your lovingly-penned staff recommendations, your big community room in which all sorts of wondrous things probably occur. I couldn't leave without purchasing a novel called 'The Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England'. I'm about halfway in, and it's splendid. I studied English years ago at college, and the suddent pressure to read a fairly conservaitve list of 'classics' squeezed almost every ounce of passion for fiction out of me. I think you, Flyleaf, might provide my path to salvation. I'll be bringing my wee one in for storytime soon. read more

It is so nice to have a local, independently owned bookstore in Chapel Hill. Never will I drive to a chain in Durham for my book needs. It is easy to get to so even trumps ordering online. We needed a few books for a reading assignment for my daughter and I was able to find a great selection of books for all levels of readers. What was a nice twist to the shopping experience was the handwritten reviews that previous purchasers had made that were tucked inside the book. They also do a brisk used book business with trade and consignment. There is an entire room devoted to this alone. I will definitely be back with more time to browse next time. The only disappointment was that no one greeted me when I came in or asked me if I needed help finding something which really would have be nice as it was my first time there and one of the selling points to small businesses. But once I approached the desk they were very friendly and helpful as I made my purchase. read more

Magical. If The Bookshop on Franklin Street left you, bibliophile and bookstore-o-phile, slightly wanting, Flyleaf knows exactly what you were missing and couldn't quite put your finger on. While The Bookshop goes the dusty and creaky tried-and-true route of loveliness that is a well hodge-podged used bookstore, firmly defining reading as a solitary event, Flyleaf, with its many staff recommendations, open rooms, and soft seating,embraces books and reading as a communal activity. Something(s) keenly lacking from The Bookshop through no fault of their own is accessibility and open space, the ability of the reader to spin around in awe of the wonderful bookcases and book towers all around. If The Bookshop is your secret closet stash of stockpiled books for curling up in, Flyleaf is like the warm fireplace, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and squashy armchairs of the famiily room. Sorry, this wasn't supposed to be an essay comparing my two favorite bookstores in Chapel Hill. Anyway, Flyleaf has a great selection of books, though their used book selection falls just a bit short, sadly. I personally love used books so that's really my personal preference and disappointment - I daresay anyone else who visits would find no such fault/dearth of used books. (I'm also spoiled by my favorite bookstore in the world - Powell's.) The staff here is so friendly and warm, like a good book in human form! First time coming in, both staff members helped me find two books within seconds of asking them the titles. Also, I traipsed in a bit self-confidently and asked if the book posters in the window were for sale - and they didn't shoot me down at all, instead encouraging me to let them know if I did have my eye on any in particular for the future. I really felt like I was among great, book-loving people in a truly special place. Will most definitely be heading back here for the many great readings and book signings, and, as one of the staff members informed me - CAKE! - to celebrate the 5-year anniversary of this wonderful establishment. read more

An awesome bookshop​ in a warm neighborhood midst of Chapel Hill. I love Flyleaf because it has a coffee shop vibe, where you can grab a book and just cuddle on a couch and read. The books are displayed in a fun and 'easy-to-find' way where you can grab and go. Sections are separated based on genre and some based on themes (ex: traveling, cooking, etc.). They are open most days of the week until 9 pm and are right next door to great restaurants and a cafe. There's parking available too! read more