A wonderful place with an impressive selection of books; the resident cat is an added bonus! You…read morecould easily get lost for hours exploring the different genres and editions they carry. They also have fun extras like tote bags, and the cashiers are incredibly kind and welcoming. A truly lovely spot to spend some time.

I had some time to kill while in San Jose so naturally I found a local bookstore to peruse…read more Recycle has a vast array of selections to choose from. You can get lost walking around the hallways of books and browsing all the different sections. Bonus points if you find the napping bookstore cat. Every bookstore needs one of those. They're fortunate to have a small parking lot in back for customers and a public bathroom. The merch up front wasn't half bad either. Staff was friendly and prices were actually pretty reasonable. I didn't leave empty handed and I would go back the next time I'm in the area.

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.

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.

After lunch, I wanted to check the bookstore next door to the restaurant…read more This is a really nice bookstore with a ton of great books. Each area is divided by subject matter. I really love fiction, so I hung out in that area for a bit to see what they had. I really like the layout of this store and how they display the books. They even had a section called "blind date with a book." They were gift wrapped with a tiny quote from the book or description about the book. What a fun idea. There nothing like have a tangible book in your hands to read. I prefer reading books this way, over using a device. I guess I'm just old school. Prices are what's labeled on the book. They also offer a discount section of books.

Books Inc. is my go to bookstore when I'm in the Pruneyard area. The employees here are always…read morewelcoming and friendly and will help you find what you're looking for. They offer some books on sale or clearance at a great value. I have purchased many books here for birthdays, Christmas and for myself. They have the children's book section with plenty of children's books, stuffed animals, and seating for looking at books and reading.

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.

I love Leigh's Favorite Books. Such a lovely bookstore with a wide range of different books…read moreavailable. I especially love the Bay Area / Sunnyvale merchandise as well. Everyone is super friendly here, and they are always willing to do additional research to find a book if they don't have it available in stock.

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

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.

I could spend a whole day in this bookstore! This store carries so many different types of books,…read moreboth used and new. The selection was overwhelming. I stopped by on a Tuesday evening, and it wasn't overly busy. I meandered through the aisles and was blown away by the genres/styles/options. Whether you love mystery or memoirs or illustrated novels or fiction, there is a book for you at Recycle Bookstore. What's more, since they sell used books, there are so many options at an extremely affordable price. I was able to pick up a Spanish vocabulary book for less than $5! The service was unremarkable, which is exactly what I want from a bookstore. I was able to slowly check out all the books without any rush/pressure. There was so much cute merch in the store as well, ranging from tote bags to stickers. If you're looking for a book to read or even some fun souvenirs, check this spot out!

I take back what I said!!…read more This store is a headache and a half. The buy backs on this store have gotten continually AWFUL throughout the years. I recently went with three large boxes of books, and got $4 cash back for everything. There was probably 50 - 70 books total. I remember going here as a kid, the charm, the cat, and now they don't even have a cat, and their service has gotten awful. Same goes for their Almaden location, too. TLDR: Not worth your time at all. Selection has gotten worse over time, too.

Hicklebee's is such a lovely small bookstore with a wonderful selection of books for all ages. If…read moreyou are part of a school, they also offer story time for children. Hicklebee's is a truly special place for the community in the Willow Glen area.

Hicklebee's Bookstore has been around since 1979. While their emphasis is children's books, they…read morehave something for everyone, including infants, toddlers, kids, teens, young adults, and adults. Besides books, they offer toys, games, and fun gift items, as well as author's readings and other literary events. I was there recently searching for something good to read in the adult section. The adult books include fiction, biography, cookbooks, sci-fi and fantasy, and more. I found several books that looked interesting and settled on a new one by Lily King called Heart the Lover. I don't know anything about it, but enjoyed her last book. I also bought myself a cute canvas shopping bag with cats and a book club theme. I keep thinking about a couple of the books I left behind. I'm pretty sure I'll be back soon to pick them up.

This is one of the best bookstores. Recently moved a few blocks away from its original locale…read more Yes, one if my favorite quirky bookstores. I just want to sit and let the words envelope me. Takes me on journeys from a sitting position. This is truly a special spot . No, a holy spot where literature and west coast ease come together. Mashed and spiced with ideas of love and loss. Science and fiction. Her story and His. Excellent service. Real and not plastered plastic. Excellent selection of used treasures. Best value for dreams and dreaming.

Stumble upon this nice used bookstore. No only does it have its own personality overall, check out…read morethe variety books. Great selection from which I picked up two books myself. Best part of strolling through the stacks are the interesting comments, images, and quotes throughout the store. So check out those bookshelf end caps for some thought proving wisdom. Parking in the lot behind the building is easy. Great location in downtown in a walkable area near other places to also ready and enjoy your great finds here! Oh, and they sell vinyl LPs also!