My wife and I road trip across California at least twice a year, stopping at every local bookstore…read morewe come across along the way. After visiting dozens across the state, we know a great bookstore when we see one. Leigh's Favorite Books is hands down one of the best we've ever been to. The store has a fantastic selection of books and is very well organized, which makes browsing easy and enjoyable. I always love seeing staff picks in bookstores, and this place had plenty across a great variety of genres. They also offer a book buyback program for store credit, which is a fantastic option for readers who prefer to keep their shelves from overflowing. They also carry used books at discounted prices. I personally love used books because they have character, and the bindings are already nicely broken in, which makes them even easier to read. Leigh's Favorite Books also earns our unofficial award for the best non-book inventory of any bookstore in California. Most shops carry the usual boring gift-store items, but this place had a genuinely fun and unique selection. They had such a fun assortment of random items that we wanted to purchase just about everything they had lol. The service from Becky was exceptional. When I mentioned that I read across many genres and especially enjoy biographies, she personally recommended one and even wrote the title down on a sticky note for me. When we talked about our road trips visiting bookstores, she also suggested a trip to Vermont, where you can get a bookstore passport stamped along the way. She was incredibly friendly and great to talk with. We can't wait to come back and pick up more books.

Located inside Sunnyvale downtown, this book store pleasantly surprised me in many ways…read more We entered the store after the sun was set, the warm lights inside the store glowed welcomingly. Stepping inside, there are books, gifts, tea, chocolate, hats, bookmarks and cute stationaries and gifts. I love the croissant shape eye patch and the eye gel patches with the cute cat graphics, the fany novel choclate bars, the unique flavored tea bags, I can go on and on and on. The books are neatly organized with thoughtful staff notes and recommendations. They have a program which for their book store members, you can return certain books in 3 months as a "buy back". The "buy back" % is clearly listed on the book cover, a few of the hot items I see that they are buying back for 50%! The staff member is very friendly and helpful. She helped answer questions, looking for items and she was on top of her job. They have events like meet the author once or twice a month. Overall, this is a great local gem and I'm happy that I stumbled upon it!

Visited this bookstore yesterday, it wasn't big as the other bookstore. But you can still find good…read morebook here

Darling store with a great selection of books and more. Check it out, support local book stores!read more

Went to Barnes & Noble on a Saturday afternoon and was surprised (and happy) by how crowded it was…read more Nice to see people shopping and studying and drinking coffee at the last B&N in San Jose. Fortunately, it's a spacious store with room for everyone. It's also nice that there is a dedicated parking lot in the back, again with enough parking for everyone. I went there looking for a specific Miffy keychain, but the Miffy goods were picked over pretty good and they didn't have it. Ended up leaving with two books, a journal, two chocolate bars, a reusable shopping bag, and a Miffy blind box. It was a pretty good shopping spree.

Love bookstores and this one is huge. Probably the last one in the Bay Area. There's a huge area…read morejust for kids books. The store has 2 entrances. The back entrance is probably best because there's more parking in the back. There's cashiers at both doors too. Cafe is directly in the middle of the store with a few tables to work and hang out. They have a decent sized section for animes. I really hope they don't close this one down.

Cute and bustling shop in downtown Mountain View. We stopped by on a Saturday evening, and it's fun…read moreto see literary being promoted. Staff are helpful and friendly, so ask away. Pretty good recommendations in the small manga section they have. Some series that have anime adaptations so it's a good balance for people who aren't super dipped into the otaku world yet, like Demon Slayer being recommended, and also some peak, like Kaiji. There's a children's section too with some plushies and lots of recommendations throughout. There's a wall at the front with events that they have, community resources, and much more. Not bad.

While I'm sad that Barnes & Noble had to buy Books Inc., I'm also glad that they saved them and…read moreBooks Inc was able to keep its name. I love the neighborhood bookshop atmosphere (including the warehouse sales that B&N doesn't have), and the staff are kind and helpful. Note that they don't necessarily have the same stock as B&N, which is special in its own way.

Came here because I went to the in in JapanTown. JapanTown definitely has a bigger selection, but…read morethis is still a cool spot for little knick knack collectibles and if you're a Manga fan, definitely check this out. Located inside Mitsuwa market to the left. Magazines, calendars and even stationary can be found. The women at the counter were nice and greeted us when we passed the counter. I wanted to buy some stuff, but had already spent enough in the SF location, so I decided to hold off until next time

Cute bookstore with little gifts and pens and notebooks. I saw a cute Sanrio pencil pouch I was…read moregoing to get but it was $30! lol. These tariffs are no joke and not worth the 30 bucks. Overall, it was nice to walk around and see the stuff. We didn't buy anything.

Soyodo is a place that feels deeply familiar and comforting to me. My parents used to come here…read moreoften, so every visit carries a sense of nostalgia and connection to home. Since Chinese painting and calligraphy are among my favorite hobbies, Soyodo has always been a meaningful place to find traditional Chinese painting supplies and guidebooks esp for maobi, painting flowers, landscapes, and ancient figures. I really appreciate that they also carry crafting supplies and classic Chinese literature, not just generic art books. Everything here feels rooted in tradition and care. The store also offers novels, children's books, Chinese New Year decor, vases, and small toys, which makes it feel like a cultural space rather than just a bookstore. On top of that, the pricing is very reasonable. I've even found books for as little as $2-4, which makes browsing and discovering new reads even more special. The owners are an older Chinese couple who are quiet, reserved, and genuinely kind. One of the things I cherish most about Soyodo is how peaceful and calm the store is. It's the kind of place where you can slow down, browse without pressure, and feel grounded. Stores like this are rare and I truly hope Soyodo continues to thrive. If you value culture, tradition, and supporting a small family-owned business, this is absolutely a place worth visiting and supporting.

The store has a large selection of Chinese calligraphy brushes, tools, Chinese novels and…read moretranslated Western -authored books. It also has herbal ai cao 艾草related products and other health tools , and other Chinese culture-related accessories.

You can smell the herbal magic inside this gift shop. Sure, there are some books available on the…read moreshelves (especially the self-help variety), but this store offers so much more. Buddha statues and figurines, tarot cards and oracle decks, zen gardens, wishing activity kits, art supplies and coloring books focused on self-care, rainbow candles, clothing, kitchenware, and dragon and unicorn themed products. A therapeutic setting, with alluring decor and even a beautiful fountain sculpture near the back. I purchased a gratitude tree and zen gong before leaving, and service was fast and friendly. A great experience overall.

This review is in regards to my Sound Healing experience with Julie. I was made to feel comfortable…read morefrom beginning to end. Loved sharing space with the beautiful crystals, especially the large amethyst! I loved everything about it, in particular Julie's drumming and singing. My body thoroughly enjoyed this particular vibration. The singing bowls were great too! I mean, what's not to like? I would highly recommend treating yourself to this unique healing experience.

One of the best bookstores in the Bay Area! Love their selection of books, hijabs, gifts, scents,…read moreand more. The staff is friendly and it's a lovely place to access inspiring knowledge.

This bookstore has a great selection of books, clothes and musks and really anything related to…read moreIslamic culture. The service is always great and welcoming, their prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend this little store!

Wonderfully cozy and bright bookstore that kids and folks of all ages will enjoy…read more Great place for kids' birthday party gifts, whether books or Linden Tree gift cards. Service is always friendly. Linden Tree is a fun local business in downtown Los Altos to support.

I've, literally, walked past this children's bookstore every week for years, and I've never walked…read morein because I buy children's books like maybe once a year. I found a really interesting book about bibimbap here. For my little nephew. His dad spent years in Seoul, so I thought a children's book about bibimbap would be a great book for him to read to him. The book is called Bee-bim-Bop! A Korean American girl celebrates food and family in this cheerful book about cooking a special meal by Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park. I bought another book for my nephew called Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer here. But then almost immediately after buying it, I gave it away to a friend whom I bumped into just a few steps from the bookstore. Her son was with her in his stroller, and he's just a few days older than my nephew.