The cutest bookstore! I wanted something where my kids could find books, activity items, stuffies,…read moreand games. This place was PERFECT!! We ended up going back because we didn't have long enough the first time! I love the space too - it was well situated and didn't feel crammed. They also have a few tanks with real turtles which was an extra bonus for the kids. Great book selection for adults as well as journals.

The Book Bin is my go to for interesting books and games. They offer books for all tastes, and…read morealways help me out when I'm looking for something hard to find. They make enjoying fiction or true tales affordable.

This hidden gem in the Ravinia business district welcomes visitors with its small but well-curated…read moreaisles, stocked with antiques, books, and rare finds. The owners are warm and welcoming and even provide a "wish list" notebook for customer requests. This shop, with Vintage Rescue next door, offers a delightful treasure hunting trip, followed by a stop at the Astra Coffee shop or Mil Colibris bakery and cafe a few doors down; or the Chunky Scones vegan bakery around the corner.

Several weeks ago, we went in were looking for a shofar, and we had multiple from which to choose…read more Yesterday, I knocked a treasured menorah off our island and needed another to light for Chanukah last night. I arrived at 11 am as I thought that is when they opened. Turns out they opened next at 11 am ON WEDNESDAY (yesterday was Monday). I called the number on the door, and one of the owners was there in 10 minutes! I found a gorgeous antique menorah I will treasure. AFTER purchasing it and leaving the store, the owners texted me wonderful information they had researched about the piece without my even asking. The selection at Ravinia Books, Antiques Etc. is excellent but it's not as wonderful as the kindness and knowledge of the owners.

This bookstore is the creation of my wife, Nina B., and the store's devoted and talented…read morestaff--just to make clear my conflict of interest at the outset of this review! I have watched over the years (since 2014) as Bookends & Beginnings has morphed from a dream into beautiful reality, but it is still the product of Nina's mind and her dreams. The new location next to Fountain Square was cut from whole cloth. It began as a large empty piece of real estate all painted in white--a blank canvas!--and was transformed into what it is today: a carefully planned and executed space on two levels painted in dark teal, gold, and white, with a hand-picked selection of over 10,000 books arrayed attractively and intelligently. (Not to mention a reak carousel horse and a giant paper-maché giraffe.) The striking floor-to-ceiling mural, the work of her two graphic-artists sons, presides over the store and is visible day and night. You really should check out Bookends & Beginnings, if you don't know it already!

It was a nice surprise that the bookstore was still open after our post-dinner treat. It's always…read morefun to browse, and the store is very attractively laid out, with book covers gleaming and beckoning like inviting gems. I found a new book from my to-read list, coveted a cute display of Studio Ghibli merch, smiled at the witty cards, and soon my companions and I amassed a stockpile of items to purchase and so they gave us a nice tote. Maybe next time we'll skip dessert and head straight here (must check hours to see when the bar is open).

I'm not sure if I'd heard of The Book Stall before. I learned that the children's author Sherri…read moreDuskey Rinker, who happens to live in the suburbs, is doing story time events at several suburban bookstores to celebrate the release of her newest book. My daughter is a big fan of her Construction Site and Steam Train Dream Train series, so I was excited to bring her here for the event. We got here a little too early--about five minutes before they opened, and 35 minutes before story time--but I wanted to make sure we got a spot! The area where they hold story time was really large for an independent bookstore. After the story was over, the author personalized her signed books for the kids. I'm glad we went to this event because in addition to it being fun, we picked up several books and one of them has so quickly become a new favorite of my daughter's that she already can recite pages from it three days later. The bookstore is nice, and larger than I was expecting to be honest. It was fun to wander, even whilst trying to keep an eye on a toddler. They have various events, story time, fundraisers, and so on. I think it has the potential to be kind of a madhouse for some of their bigger events... it seemed a little unorganized getting folks in line for this signing and they don't really have a lot of space for folks to queue up so some people were cutting in front of folks so it might be kind of messy when there's a big event happening. But still, worth a stop if you like bookstores! There's lots of parking around on the street and even a municipal lot.

The Book Stall is a treasure. You can always find a great book from just browsing the shelves. If…read moreyou check their inventory on-line for a special book and it shows as being available, it will be! The author events are more than readings; they are intimate conversations. The Book Stall takes its role as an independent bookseller seriously and it does its job well. Writing this makes me want to visit again soon!

Awesome place to get great reads - for travel, anytime reading, and up-cycled gifts. Love to bring…read morethe kids and have them make a cash transaction with the helpful volunteers. A hidden gem in downtown Wilmette!

I love this place. Anytime I'm in the Chicago area, I have to go here, I find so many treasures. I…read moreeven had to get an extra suitcase on my flight back to Houston just to take back all the amazing finds. Books are so amazingly priced, that if you love books, you must visit. Cash is preferred, but you can pay by card upstairs at the front desk.

I've been to Amaranth a few times now, and each time I have been pleasantly surprised. I always see…read morean old book and a new book I want within ten minutes of walking in the door, but to avoid blowing all my money on books and forcing myself onto a diet of instant ramen and kool-aid, that's my limit per trip--one old book, and one new book. By "old," I mean one of many, many genuinely old books Amaranth has, in good conditions and for scandalous prices. I purchased a book of poetry published in 1920 for...drumroll...ten dollars. Not a torn page, not a dent in the cover, not a food spill to be found. I wouldn't call it mint condition, but it was in really great shape. On another visit, I found a book that was a little older, even, about the lyrebird. It just so happens that books about the lyrebird are not easy to come by, and I happen to love them. This book had photographs (black and white, but still), only one loose page, an embossed cover with no damage or flaking in the design, at a low, low price of $8. Regarding new books, I picked up a Sherman Alexie novel for $8 and a mid-90's edition of Anais Nin's "Little Birds" for $4. Again, there are no tears or stains in these books. I have my eye on a Diane Arbus biography that was published a couple of years ago for my next visit, and maybe an old-style illuminated prayer book that looks very pre-Renaissance but is actually from the early '70's and comes in its own slide-out box. You can't beat Amaranth for variety. They have books in several languages, a healthy little section of local history, books on travel, psychology, film, history, biography, and all manner of things, and mixed in with the old books are sometimes really unusual finds (like my book on the lyrebird). I was recently in with somebody who excitedly pulled something off a shelf, held it aloft, and exclaimed, "Ooh, Star Wars!" On another visit, I was all alone in the shop until a mother came in and found her favorite childhood book so that her little girl could enjoy it too. They might not have as many literary journals or last month's best-sellers like Myopic, but here's something that makes up that difference for me: as far as I can tell, if a book is damaged, it goes on the $1 shelf. I don't mean damaged as in, the binding is coming undone and ten pages are missing, because Amaranth doesn't sell books like that. I mean damaged as in, this is a somewhat new book that already looks a little old because of a scuffed cover or something like that. Other book stores will sell multiple copies of the same book, in varying conditions, at the same price. You won't be charged $18 for something that's in bad shape here. Instead, anything that's not in pretty good shape costs one measly dollar. Nice! Of course, this policy means the owner has to be a little discriminating. He can't pay you top dollar for everything you bring in; the store would close if it became one big dollar shelf. Some people can't understand that and get irritated because they want to fund production of a motion picture from the sale of some old Steven King novels or something nutty like that. Don't worry about those people. If you're a customer and actually need help finding something, the owner is wonderful. For example, I asked him if he knew what Sherman Alexie books were in the store, because Alexie writes novels, short stories, drama, poetry, autobiography, and probably something else besides that I haven't discovered yet. If the man also wrote travelogues and horticultural guides, I wouldn't be surprised to find out about it. Anyhow, rather than letting me comb the whole store, the owner said, "I know for a fact we have one of his novels, right...HERE." He pulled it off the shelf for me and the way I was smiling, you could probably see every tooth in my mouth. In addition to being helpful, the owner has also been nothing but friendly to me. I'd like to see a few more newer books, as in, from the past five years, but I'm happy going to Myopic for those, for now. I know I can always come to Amaranth and find a wonderful antique book, possibly on an esoteric subject, in great shape for a great price. Since I can go to Border's and pay only $2-$5 more for a new book than Myopic charges, the premium is really on good old books for me. I'm not trying to put Myopic down; I only want to distinguish between the various qualities and features of the different options available to book buyers. Also, if there's a heaven and I go to it when I die, I hope it smells like Amaranth.

What listings and notices fail to mention is that Amaranth's selection of rare/used books is…read moreinexpensive, in some cases surprisingly so. Thumbing through some mid-19th century curiosity it comes as a shock to discover such a seeming rarity priced at under $5!

For the amount of times I've shopped at the various Barnes and noble location in this mall I'm…read moreshocked I have yet to write a review. Throughout high school, I spent SO much time at the location on the other side of the mall by Nordstrom's and was heartbroken when I was told they were closing only for them to reopen across from Cheesecake Factory. Then I was told they were relocating again and I'm actually loving this new location. I do wish they had a cafe in the bookstore but there are so many nearby coffee shops in the mall that it doesn't make much sense. But they didn't have very many spaces for folks to sit and read and enjoy like they used to but in return, I think the layout is set up with more intention and more eye appealing. The staff has always been incredibly friendly in locating books and making suggestions. Pro tip is to get the membership because it basically pays for itself if you buy even 5 books during the year.

I love the fact that they retained Barnes & Noble at Old Orchard. It used to be the staple store…read morewhen it was located front and center facing Skokie Blvd. It was a frequent place to visit as it was a massive two floor venue. It closed down for a bit but was revived in a location right across Cheesecake factory. It is now located next to Anthropology. The store is so inviting and the service is amazing! The workers cater to your needs and are so friendly. They really have a passion for books. The selection of books is not as large as it once was but it is supplemented by their online catalog. From the value perspective, you can find online outlets with a more price competitive offering BUT there is no replacement for browsing the aisles and loojo g through the books and selection of titles for an intriguing options to read. I'm so happy that my daughter can continue to enjoy the benefits of Barnes!

Do I like throwing away money? Do I like spending more than I should? I guess I must because I…read morereally like shopping at book stores. Can't we have both? Yes we can. I really should make a point of stopping in here first. I brought a friend here recently and bought them an art journal. For half price (or discounted to be accurate). They were pleased with the journal and I felt good that they felt good and I also felt good that it was not full price.

I went in yesterday to bring in a complete set of lost in space VHS (all seasons), and a few full…read moreboxes of older books and other book sets. The people and especially one of the guys in the buyback section was somewhat rude to me and told me to leave the area while they looked at my boxes and books. I told him that I wanted to go through one of the boxes before I let them digest the donation. I was concerned about something accidentally being in the box. He was still rude and told me to go away. Eventually when they called me back to the counter, they only showed me a few of the items that I had brought and offered me a pittance or penny on the pound. They also broke up the Book collections and the VHS TV series collection and said they only needed three of the videotapes and none of the duplicates. I immediately knew that they didn't even check that there were no duplicates and it was a complete TV series. I also asked what happened to the other stuff that I said I wanted to check before they did something to it and they said that they were going to donate it or give it to another store. They didn't offer me any cash value for the items that they wanted to donate or trade to another store. After a bit of time, another manager was called out and said it was OK for me to see and check my donation. But they wouldn't let me go behind the counter and claimed that I had to do everything over the counter. They had placed everything behind the counter. The Schaumburg store was a lot more friendlier and more engaging and understanding. There's something really off about this store location and it made me highly uncomfortable.

Such a cute bookstore in the heart of Lake Forest. Located right next to Starbucks if anyone is…read morehaving a hard time finding it! When you walk in, it looks small but it carries tons of incredible titles. To the left you find all the shelves with trinkets, and fun gifts along with toys and children's/young adult books. Our little guy loved looking and exploring the toys. On the main side of the store you'll find best sellers, bookseller recommendations, even a section for Chicago Themed goodies. I love support indie bookstores whenever I can, the staff were so friendly and the shelves were super organized. They even had hand written notes of book recommendations which actually helped me pick out the book I purchased. Overall a great experience and I look forward to visiting when I'm in the area again soon!

This is a small shop with a great selection of books, cards, gifts packed into the space. I stopped…read morein to see what might be available for the neighbors and there was a plethora of items in all price ranges. I loved their seasonal Halloween offerings and the kids section was the best! When I have more time, I'll gladly peruse the titles of this independent book shop. Conveniently located close to the square and train station. Lots of available street parking. Friendly staff.

This is the book store I always wished had been at this location! Prior to Secret World Books…read moreopening up here, it was a religious reading room. The space was so nice looking, and they had this adorable little garden in the back that I had only gotten glimpses of for years (like as far back as the 1990s) - but it didn't cater to my tastes and beliefs, so I never really visited there. Secret World Books recently occupied the space, and turned it into everything I love about small independently owned book nooks, which makes me so happy! They have a nicely-curated collection of books. Such a small shop obviously cannot compare to major book stores in sheer volume, but runs laps around them when it comes to style and vibe (sorry, I'm probably gonna say 'vibe' a lot here, please bear with). If you want books from local authors, if you want well-loved hidden gems that maybe missed the "[Insert Celebrity Name] Book Club™®©" spotlight, if you want to find some gently-read books with character unique to used books, if you're looking for some retro magazines, if you like comic books / graphic novels, if you're into tabletop RPGs, if you want books catering to out-of-the-box thinkers, and might enjoy an inviting safe space for people of all walks of life... Yeah, this just might be your place. And if you DO want the latest greatest manufactured-viral or pop culture hit, the Secret World staff can still get it for you, and seem chill about it. Hey, sometimes I just wanna read the latest entry in a best-selling megacorporation-owned franchise, without being judged... It's all good. Just go to the front and ask them to get a copy for you; easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Just maybe also consider looking behind the counter at their collection of books from local and lesser-known authors, who might have something that'll pull you in. It's so tough for local artists, crafters, writers, and other creative individuals go get traction; IMO, it's always bodacious when you put a little effort into checking 'em out, and generate some word-of-mouth magic to help them advance their message and/or skills. You might even just run into an author you know. They recently had some poets reading from their works, including Katana Smith and Highland Park's own poet laureate Laura Joyce-Hubbard. This weekend they'll have authors Jenna Satterwaite and Beth Kander. Seems like this is a somewhat common occurrence here... Pretty cool, huh? Oh, man, and the atmosphere here is sooo... I dunno, my ADHD want to say "cozy" and "crunchy" at the same time. "Crunchozy?" Thanks, wacky-internal-monologue-voice! Secret World feels nice and chill, but still filled with positive lively vibes. It's physically just comfortable, too. They have some comfy seats and a tea station that adds to the vibe, plus a gorgeous view of their secret garden. Dude, they even call it the "Secret Garden," which - funny(ish) personal story - I've been calling it for years. Literally, for decades, I had known there was a cool little secluded garden back there; but it's completely walled in, so I could only catch fleeting glimpses. I had a running head-canon that I would unlock an Elder Scrolls-esque mission there someday. I finally got to see it in person, and it's even cooler now! No RPG mission yet, but I'll be back to see what the zen racoon has to say. Okay, sorry, I've babbled on enough. Secret World Books book store: Cool place. Nice books. Friendly peeps. Comfy vibe. They spread the word on exercising your 5th amendment rights. They have complementary hot tea. Plenty of free street parking, near some 2-hour-free public parking lots. Neighbors to Curt's Café. Yeah, pretty awesome. Books; check 'em out!

This place is great! I was able to find a cool board game for a party. I also found some cool…read morecomics here as well!