Opened in early 2021 I would say this is the most popular bookstore in Culver City and my favorite…read more It's located in the heart of downtown on the corner of two of the most popular streets. They also have a fantastic café inside so even if you're not searching for a book or magazine, it's still a great place to grab a bite or drink. There is a covered free parking lot in the back, but it was completely full when I visited so I found free street parking in the neighborhood in the block next to the bookstore. All of the staff that I encountered was very friendly as well. As mentioned the café, attached is terrific and I especially enjoyed their Vanilla Latte and the Turkey Avocado Panini. It was extremely fresh and I loved it. I was not able to find some of the history, business, or philosophy book titles I was searching for so they don't have a huge stock compared to some of the big chains, but I was able to find some alternate titles worth considering. Definitely worth stopping in if you are a bibliophile or in Culver City and I plan to visit again as well.

It's a super cute spot but omg a little crowded around like 11am to 12pm noon but I love that they…read morehave a decent variety of different genres of books, I live for the health section hehe however I got overwhelmed because of how tight the spaces was inside tbh The only thing I love is sitting in their large and fun looking orange chairs outside and the gift shop items inside "but pricey" It's best to come here when there's less crowd otherwise if I were to use this as a study place then I feel like I wouldn't concentrate well due to people moving around so much. I have phobia of people being really close to me since I really respect my little bubble space between other people (: Again, this would be a good place to visit if you like books and prefer the bookstore vibes with the cozy cafe atmosphere. I grew up with Barnes n Noble and that will be my only choice to check out books.

Lovely, warm neighborhood bookstore in a very modern setting that recreates the past. Service was…read moregracious, book selection is a pleasure to browse, and prices are very fair. I wish I lived closer because I would come hang out here and buy books more often. Highly recommended.

The Book Jewel is truly a gem of the Westchester Triangle and lucky to have them in our community…read more We stumbled in one day with our young son (pre K at the time) after enjoying the Westchester Farmer Market and have become forever patrons since that day. As a cozy neighborhood bookstore, what sets it apart is definitely the people (amazing, welcoming, and knowledgeable staff) and the overall vibe. The layout is awesome. Easy to find what you are looking for and a fabulous selection. The children section is impressive in particular and they do at least weekly children book readings. They have both new and lightly used books (indicated by star sticker on spine); definitely try the lightly used as they can be a great value. Lastly, you must find the resident feline (cat) that is always at the store (particularly fun when you're there with kids). Very privileged to have this bookstore in our community.

I have been dying to come to The Ripped Bodice for so long and my husband had a random weekend off…read moreand decided he would take me. We are coming from San Diego so it was only a 2ish hour drive, we found parking right away which was really nice and I was so so excited to check it out. As soon as you step in you're greeted by such a whimsical display of books and I was instantly obsessed. The bookstore is really large and has so many great options for romance books, ya and some children's books plus tons of bookish merch. It was really hard to choose which book to get, but I ended up getting a paperback of Eldritch by Keri Lake, a magnetic book marker and a tote bag, thank you to my husband for that. I love the little Ripped Bodice tote, instead of a paper bag, they offered a reusable tote for I think $2-5? Which was a fun little souvenier! Also super dog friendly everyone was so sweet to our little Kodi!

I cannot say enough great things about this romance-focused independent bookstore. But here is a…read morevaliant attempt: 1. Expertise -- If you are new to the contemporary romance publishing scene, walk in here and be amazed. There are sooooooo many romance titles under every conceivable subgenre, and the choices are almost endless. But maybe you're looking to expand your list of favorite authors or dipping your toes into romance for the first time, and you feel overwhelmed. Fear not! Walk right up to the friendly staff and just throw out ideas. My friend asked for recommendations of romance that involves: (a) career women who takes care of everyone and needs to prioritize herself; (b) older women with life experience looking for love; (c) romance by black women about black women, just to name a few. The lovely staff member said, "I got you!" and proceeded to walk us around the store to show us her recommendations and share why she loves them. Her passion is infectious! My friend found a stack of books she's excited to read. 2. Creativity -- from the moment you walk in the door, the fanciful and whimsical decor catches your attention and exudes joy and wonder. But don't just admire the flying books all the way to the ceiling or the pink skeleton in a Ripped Bodice t-shirt. You must check out the "water closet" before you go. Trust me on this one. 3. Inclusion -- The Ripped Bodice doesn't just do romance, they do sex-positive, inclusive representation. You'll find curated selections on romance with disability and LGBTQ+ representation, romance by BIPOC authors, non-fiction books about women's sexual health and pleasure, menopause, polyamory, trans bodies, etc. and a gigantic LGBTQ+ rainbow flag made of romance covers. And have I mentioned their monthly stand-up comedy show, which features different comedians who have relatable and funny materials without the mysogynistic cringe. This place is a safe space for people of all genders and sexual orientations. 4. Community -- The spirit of community is everywhere in this amazing bookshop. You see pictures of the sisters who started and own the shop and their family (including kids) on the wall. They have book clubs for fans of historical, fantasy/paranormal, LGBTQ+ romance and more. They have a writing club that reads a book together and discusses what works and what could be better. They have book launches and author talks, including a ton of local authors as well as national phenoms. They attract people from all over and are ultra-local at the same time. And you feel like you belong, no matter who you are. Bonus: the store is in the heart of Culver City. Farmer's market, fancy ice cream, movie theatre, and a cafe that plays soccer all the time... they're all right here. 'Nuf said. Go check them out!!

I love this location. It's very cozy and has a very well curated selection. The employees are also…read morehelpful, which I appreciate.

This location reminds me a lot of the Barnes back in the day when they weren't these massive stores…read morewith tons of tchotchkes. The emphasis at location is mainly books and I love that checkout is at the entrance unlike The Grove where it's at the very back and you have to ping pong your way through tables to exit with your purchase. Location was also very well stocked and organized and the staff were very friendly and welcoming.

Fantastic used section, and very wide array of current books as well. Staff is always available and…read morehappy to help, and the discounts make it hard for you to leave without purchasing something.

Pulp Fiction has always offered a decent selection of new and old comics, and I absolutely loved…read moretheir previous location. That being said...I'm not a fan of their new location. I went down there on a Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago, and right in front was a homeless man and a pile of what was very likely human shit smeared on the sidewalk lol. Now, I know this isn't necessarily a fault of the comic shop itself, and I do sympathize for the city's unhoused population, but having that being my first impression of their new location was kind of jarring. Never encountered this issue at the old location. I do plan to visit again though, and maybe next time can have a more pleasant experience and give the full five stars.

Arcana is a very cool and modern bookstore in Culver City with a lot of different art books to…read moreperuse. You could definitely spend a good 1-2 hours in here!

This store is a dream come true for people who live books about culture, art, music and society…read more The service is personal and friendly and you can easily get lost there for hours, browse and sitting down for a deeper inquiry.

I reluctantly writing this review because I want to keep this book store a secret. This is the…read morecoolest bookstore I've ever been to. To top it off the employee was absolutely lovely and helpful. They have really cool vintage books of all genres. I could be in there for hours.

Open since 2010, this is definitely an eclectic and messy bookstore, but it's extremely enjoyable…read moreto peruse the selection and interact with a friendly staff. Inside is not as organized as many other bookstores and can be a bit challenging to find what you are looking for, but they do have a really interesting selection of choices. They don't have a dedicated parking lot, but it's easy to find street parking on the street behind or next to the shop. Pricing is very fair from what I saw, but I was unable to find any of the titles that I was looking for. They do have a mixture of used and new books, but if you're looking for a new book, you may have a bit of a challenge; however there are a ton of great used options. I would recommend to any bibliophile.

Kinokuniya has all your stationary needs! I love this place. It is very similar to Maido in the…read moreMitsuwa Torrance location but this store has a bigger selection. They sell notebooks and pens galore! If you're looking for a unique gift, this is your place. Although it's not a good deal, they now offer a yearly membership for $25. You get 10% off most items and a $10 gift card if you spend $300...what a deal! -not really.. Nonetheless, I enjoy coming here and looking at their calendars, Moleskine inventory and random Pushnee cat collections. They also sell a ton of Manga, although I'm not a fan the inventory is quite impressive. Kinokuniya is fun and beats the pain of looking for parking at their Little Tokyo location!

I love this store, located inside the Mitsuwa market. It offers a great selection of books, pens,…read morestickers, traveler's Notebooks, and many gift items. You can also find Japanese manga and other unique Japanese goods. Their always excellent selection includes blank books, journals, plushies, and cute tote bags. Also, some T-shirts, mugs, mood rings, and coffee mugs. I came in for adult coloring books. Immediately next door, you'll find a market specializing in all Japanese foods and sundry items. This includes fresh sushi to go and shops featuring all kinds of Japanese fast food. After shopping, you can enjoy a meal there--shop, then eat: it's a great plan. Friendly service. Easy to park!

Honestly a really good selection of books, they had some Tawada here which is not that common of a…read morefind! I was pleasantly surprised because Venice can be so touristy so I was skeptical but it's a really lovely spot!

This is a safe haven for those walking around Venice beach!!! When I saw the storefront sign, I got…read moreinstantly excited and dragged my partner in! Hahaha The store is well organized. It's situated behind a restaurant. It is actually quite spacious and has a ton of great books of all genres. A ton of popular, recent books! Loved the environment and how it's a gem tucked away at the beach.