Gavin’s Books

Y'all there were records in CDs on the top floor like right in your face after the elevator and it…read morewas so cool I mean, of course everything is expensive. I was hoping to do getting like some worksheet thing or something so I can help learn a language which they do have a language section and it was just like kind of expensive. I don't really go to these franchise stores that often. Also, their bathroom is on the second floor. They took me later. Only two stalls were in the women's, so hopefully it never gets busy. It's nicely air condition. There's also like two benches right outside the front door. Some nice knickknacks café and a nice little children's section Definitely a wide variety of selection and a nice little clearance area

I absolutely love going to Barnes and Noble to peruse new titles, look at the beautiful journals,…read morecheck out the games, and more. You can find local interest items as well. There is a great variety in prices, so if you are looking for a gift or something for a set price, this is an easy source to utilize. The only downside is the customer service at Barnes and Noble. It may be that I always visit when they are busy, but the staff never go out of their way to help, don't seek to care if you find what you are looking for, I have stood at the "customer service" desk several times and had the person at the desk completely ignore me. They didn't even offer an, "I'll be right with you." One even walked away to do something while I was standing there. Wow. All in all, I will still visit for my book needs, but I never expect good servic

Upstairs and down

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Seaglass Hunters dream (guide for literally ANYTHING you find)

The Book Den

4.7(81 reviews)

53.8 mi

SUCH A GREAT SELECTION! I absolutely love a good bookstore featuring used copies and this was the…read morefirst one I've wandered into since coming back to CA. I walked out with three incredible finds after like 20 mins of exploring and probably could've stayed for another hour if my party wasn't waiting in me. The used prices were higher than what I'm used to at my usual place in Boston, but I think that's just because we're in CA. Highly recommend book lovers to check out the Den if they're ever in SB.

The Book Den is an awesome indie bookstore located on State Street. To get here, there is a nearby…read moreparking structure or street parking all around the area. The shop is on the smaller side but definitely very cozy and packed with tons of good finds. The owner of the shop is friendly and helpful. There is a good selection of different book genres and books in both new and used condition. The books are also definitely reasonably priced. Come stop by and support a local business and pick up a good read!

Inside

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Phoenix Books

4.3(124 reviews)

28.1 mi

Incredible amount of used books, cozy ambiance, and great people! Could have spent multiple hours…read morein Phoenix Books.

Cheap good Sure, the books are all over the place, but like…read morethis is a true bookstore got a lot of different variety. I found the language books near. I think the stairwell area or maybe it was near the door that had just a cloth over it in the room to the right I think it was just really cool to find some Egyptian books and geological section was just pretty big and when it's overfilled, it just has piles on the floor and it's its own thing which is just really cool I brought my friend with me and she felt like weird vibes from whoever was at the front desk, but I wasn't upfront there too long so I didn't feel or see that Some of the space gave like Fnaf feeling like the children's section with the LED light that's kind of faded. I think in like the slanted roof and just like the doorway with only a cloth over it and kind of a dark corner. Nothing really against that. Just kind of a creepy silly feeling. It definitely had like all of the young adult and just teen books that anyone could want I think it's a really great place

Back in 2021 when masks were mandatory I still pulled mine down long enough for a photo and a deep inhale of the old book scent!

Vintage building

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Books

Botanica La Divina Fe

5.0(1 review)

2.3 mi

This store is very cool. The lady who owns it is really chill and knows a lot about Mexican…read moremysticism. If you go check out the whole store because it's filled with amazing sculptures and art.

The Book Loft

4.4(150 reviews)

28.0 mi

I'm going to preface this review by saying I go to The Book Loft any time I visit Santa Ynez or…read moreSolvang. The last time I went was in July, and I spent over $200 on new books. I received one paper bookmark with my purchase and I asked for a few more (I'm a teacher in the LA area and I like to put them in my classroom for my students) and the woman ringing me up made it awkward and reluctantly gave me one more. I found it funny but also quite weird. It was like giving up an opportunity for free advertising! Anyway, I'll still go back because I love this place and the people who work there are usually very friendly and helpful. The bookmark awkwardness was an anomaly. The shop is cute and it's always so well curated. Sometimes they have blind date picks that are cheap and fun to open. I always find so many books I want there. I like their used book selection upstairs as well. Must visit as indie bookstores are so few and far between these days!

What a gem! Loved this bookstore in the heart of Solvang. But it's not just a cozy comfortable…read morebookstore. The selection is great and the presentation of books and related gifts make it wonderful to wander and discover different topics to engross yourself in. Great place to shop for a thoughtful gift. I also appreciated the kind and friendly bookstore workers :)

11/25/25

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11/20/23

The Book Odyssey

4.8(30 reviews)

41.5 mi

This is a great used bookstore. The selection of books for sale are very well curated and…read morereasonably priced. They had many books that I was interested in getting which I can't always say is the case for many used bookstores I have visited.

We're... shocked? While I don't expect an overly exaggerated greeting, I do expect to at least get…read morea 'hello', especially in return. We came in the night before but didn't have enough time to really look through all of the books. Today, we came back to buy a few books each and as we walked in, I said "hello!" And no one responded. I follow up with "ok great" aloud in which the worker then responded "hello?? Can i help you?" In a sarcastic and rude manner. I then am completely taken aback by the tone and say "nope, we're just browsing." And the worker responds, "ok well i was just trying to greet you so..." At the desk she was at, was a man visiting that clearly was a friend or boyfriend and they then proceeded to laugh and roll their eyes. She was clearly upset that we walked in on her conversation while she was at work. I really hope this was a one-off situation as we are really surprised at the attitude of this employee and were hoping to find a new local bookstore. I hate posting reviews like this especially when they seem like "drama" but attitude is everything. If you're not going to greet people when they walk in-- fine. But if someone says hello upon walking in, you should at least say hi back, even if you're with another customer. Might have to go somewhere else from now on! Bummer.

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The Parable

Locally owned & operated

I loved my experience here!!! So sad that I had to drive 50…read moreminutes south of my home to find a shop like this. But that further gives me the ability to commend this little gem for remaining open! The owner and staff were lovely and helpful!! Thank you for staying in business, as I was told this is the only shop of its kind on the central coast!!

I did not spend a lot of time in the bookstore, but they had what I needed and I will go back. It's…read morevery lovely. They've got all kinds of things there and I was able to find a nice New Testament with proverbs and psalms in it for somebody that I know that's not quite made the commitment yet to Jesus and she's about to have surgery so I wanna give that to her the person at the store think her name is Sarah anyway she was very courteous to me and I use my GPS and it routed me very wrongly and I ended up miles away from there when it was something really easy to get to and I spoke with her on the phone and she was very helpful to me and just told me the exit to take when I came back this way and I did and I purchased what I needed. It was a good experience all the way round except for the time, wasted trying to find it when I had the wrong directions.

921 Rancho Pkwy, Arroyo Grande, CA

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Spare Time

4.8(40 reviews)

50.9 mi

What a great bookstore discovery…read more You should definitely stop by this small bookstore when you're in town. The selections are very organized and the staff is extremely friendly. They keep the AC on so you will be comfortable while browsing. They will soon have a coffee shop next door - with a connecting door! I'm a local and I can't believe I hadn't stopped before! Look for them on social media under Narrative Books Cafe Insta- @narrativebookcafe

A lovely little bookstore in Paso! Lots of great options and the decor is very beautiful. Visiting…read morefrom out of town and will definitely be back!

Pick a book, ANY book!

Another angle of the front counter area (so cozy!)

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Book arch, fantasy table, sci-fi table, new books table, and fiction wall

A To Z Books

4.6(9 reviews)

16.3 mi

A to Z books is an adorable little quaint local used book store in Arroyo Grande! Most of the books…read moreare half off the price listed on the back of the book (or even lower) which is great! I snagged four books I was looking for - two of the Outlander books and the first two books of the Red Sparrow trilogy. They were in great condition and in total I only paid $21 for all four! They have a good selection for not being a huge store, I was impressed! The woman helping me was great and we briefly chatted about the book she is currently reading! Can't wait to come back here again soon and pick up some more books! Highly recommend!!!

Just recently discovered this used bookstore and love it! Selections are plentiful. Owner is very…read moreknowledgeable, can make recommendations based on interest and can easily search inventory. My new go-to place when in Pismo area.

Great inventory & selection, knowledgeable and helpful staff.

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Mystery & romance sections

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6 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Alex H.

Elite 26

1876

478

7973

2 years ago

I visited The Bookworm in Santa Maria on a Saturday, and it was quite busy. They offered a decent selection of books, though some sections were a bit disorganized, making it challenging to find specific books or authors. The gentleman at the front was eating and wasn't particularly helpful or friendly, which was disappointing for a bookstore experience. However, I did find a lovely copy of one of the books from the Outlander series for just $3--a fantastic find! They also had a nice variety of collectible editions at reasonable prices. Overall, it's not my favorite bookstore of all time, but I would definitely return to see what new books they might have in the future! read more

Ms R.

15 years ago

I LOVE THIS BOOKSTORE! If you're looking for something out of print, or something hard to find- this is your first stop! The Bookworm's inventory is hands down- the best in town. The owner is very sweet, knows her trade and works very hard to satisfy every customer. I don't think I've ever walked out without a book in hand and a smile on my face. read more

Jay J.

9 years ago

Small place. liked it. Think its cool to see a small home style book store. Other than the smell of old paper or something I think I would return to look for that book. read more

Jo W.

11 years ago

I am a big fan of bookstores and this one does not disappoint. The staff are nice as well as helpful. Very nice store.

Katherine E.

14 years ago

Great little used bookstore with friendly, knowledgable staff!

Samaire P.

13 years ago

All kinds of treasures to be found here~

Gavin’s Books - bookstores - Updated October 2026

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Beautiful bookstore with cats, books, and a cozy atmosphere!!…read more They have so many books that are expertly and carefully organized into easily browsable sections. I saw so many great, used books in the classic literature section I wanted, but I currently have way too many books I need to read and so little time, I didn't purchase any during this visit. But I am definitely coming back in the future to stock up on good reads! The kitties that roam the bookstore are also so freaking adorable. There are three: and orange tabby, a fluffy calico-looking kitty, and a grey and white kitty. The grey and white one greeted us instantly when we walked in, and s/he definitely made us feel welcome and at home. The other kitties were so adorable and friendly too! They weren't as affectionate as the grey and white one, but they let us pet them and looked so content in the bookstore. Rest assured I'll be buying my future books from Nan's, and I encourage anyone who finds themselves in Grover beach or the 5 cities to stop by and pay this magical bookstore a visit.

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We usually come here once a month or so to pick up our comic subscriptions. Having a comic book…read morestore locally is much more convenient than ordering online, which I try to avoid. I'm new to the world of comics so I enjoy visiting the store. I like the store its small and conveniently located in the mall. The store is clean and organized easy to find what your looking for. If you need assistance someone will help you. Great customer service. The store owner is very nice he always greets us when we walk in and remembers my husband's name.

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The last review a row it was before the store changed owners. Since they're changing ownership The…read morestore is still adorable. There's a lot more clothing for sale than there was before. Everything the store offers is great quality and super cute. I love all of the ladies who work there. They are so friendly and helpful. They treat you like you have known them for years and years, like you're a part of the family. Their baby/child section is adorable and they have so many unique items there. I love their handbag selection and the jewelry offerings that they have. They sadly no longer carry curly girl designs. I loved their greeting cards and other merchandise from that company but they just don't have it anymore. Some thing I wish that they did have more that they don't anymore is cute little quick gifts. You know when you just need a little something to say thank you or you want to get a quick little something to surprise her friend with. A lot of that has gone away or not a lot offered. along with the holiday decor. I loved going into the store and seeing the holiday Decour up towards the front. They still carry some just not as much as they used to and the variety isn't as great. With all that being said this is a wonderful gift shop and I am a continued customer and will continue to be so. If you need a nice gift or something for yourself this is definitely a place to look. Fingers crossed that they bring back more of their home decor and seasonal items.

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