Who knew a toddler could enjoy store so much stopping to Barnes& Noble to get a book for my son and…read morewe ended up spending over an hour there because he had a blast!. The kids section was pretty ample and they had a nice little table and chair set up that he enjoyed just sitting down and looking at a couple different books which helped us make a selection. They also had some plushes including a very hungry Caterpillar one that he absolutely loves, which we ended up getting as well. The one plush did not have a sticker of course and the people behind the information desk were super helpful and. I ended up getting something from my mother at least while they were willing to go in the back to check stock because they were out of it on the floor and that you able to get me one. I feel like the prices of bucks are pretty standard as their prices are listed on. The cover is typically so I don't think there were any more or less out of line with other booksellers. They also happen to be running a sale at the time so the whole store was 25% off. Would hesitate to bring him back here. Maybe we can buy another book but as far as a retailer goes pretty kid friendly and the staff has always been super nice.

As a self-confessed bibliophile, I never want to do anything, if I can help it, to hurt the…read moresurviving brick-and-mortar bookstores that still exist Truth be told, though, most of what I order is through Amazon these days. I was saddened when the Border's chain collapsed, and I was seriously depressed when the Barnes & Noble in Paramus closed (I loved that place for years). I also was a regular at the Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie when I was up that way, but I haven't been up that way in a long time. When I worked in Florham Park, I would occasionally stop at the Barnes & Noble in the Livingston Mall. And I would visit this particular store in Bridgewater when I was in the company of my old friend, and he was driving. I've never been inclined to spend much time in Somerville or Bridgewater (I detest the Somerville Circle and brave its rigors only when I need to get an oil change at the Raritan Valvoline). Outside of the late, lamented store in Paramus (which was thoroughly and delightfully unique), most Barnes & Noble stores are pretty much the same. Even the store in Poughkeepsie I visited only because they had many "local history" volumes on my beloved Hudson Valley. I'm not all that interested in the "local history" of Bridgewater or Somerville. Still, this last Halloween, I was desperate to get out of my digs. I loved Halloween as a kid, but as an adult, I have no patience for handing out candy (and.. yes ..I do feel guilty about that). In the past, I'd hang out in NY, but that hasn't really been an attractive option for me in recent years. A few times, I hid out in my darkened condo like a timid, terrified pariah, furtively watching a volume lowered TV while the kids knocked on my door, but that finally became too pitiful even for me. In desperation, I called my old friend, but he wasn't available. Everyone else I knew was working, or somewhere far away, or actually doling out candy to the neighborhood kids. The bookstore beckoned. At the very least, I could maybe kill an hour or 2 there. I drove Rt 287 South, onto Rt. 202, and then a hard right just before the Somerville Circle, into the Somerset Shopping Center. It's been a while since I was here, and the state of the Somerset Shopping Center, while not as bleak and depressing as the ghost mall that the former Morris County Mall in Cedar Knolls (which I wrote a review about only to have it removed by Yelp) has become, was...well...pretty bleak and depressing. I never spent a lot of time here, but I've visited occasionally over the decades (the TGIF restaurant where I ate a few times with my parents long ago is still standing, although I don't think it's long for this world). A lot of empty stores. But the Barnes & Noble is still there and seems to be...if not exactly thriving...at least still operational. There are enough parking spaces (not surprising given all the empty stores) but you still have to be careful, as you can only travel in 1 direction or the other, according to the specified painted arrows and signs. I parked, walked in. The cafe had some customers. There's a big magazine section. An area for discounted books. I check out the local history section, the true crime (I've never been too interested in big media crime stories, but I have to recommend "The Devil at his Elbow" by Valerie Bauerlein; the story of a family dynasty that functioned like a Southern Mafia is fascinating, and Alex Murdaugh is one of the more evil monsters you'll ever read about), current events, history. There used to be a CD/DVD section in the back, but that seems to have been transformed into a "children's section." A few DVDs available toward the front, but the selection is very small. I ended up buying a novel by Luis Urrea. In past reviews of Barnes & Noble, I've mentioned how uncomfortable I am about the check-out process. Are you a member? No. Would you like to become a member? No, thanks. There are a lot of benefits to being a member. You get discounts and... what is your email, by the way? ... Feels more like an interrogation than a buyer-seller transaction. There was 1 check-out counter manned by a young woman in Halloween garb. I paid for the book with cash, and she asked...inevitably...if I was a member? I answered no, and... thankfully ...she let it drop. Still, I didn't get a "Thank you," or "Take care," or "Get lost." She gave me my change and stared wordlessly off into space. I'm not as prickly or sensitive about such things as I used to be (I don't think I am, anyway), but if you're trying to keep potential regulars away from Amazon and want to encourage them to patronize your store for their book-buying needs...it's not great customer service. Just sayin.' In other words, this particular Barnes & Noble is no better, and no worse, than any other one (with the notable exception of the erstwhile Paramus location). If that counts as a recommendation, then I guess I recommend it. I hope it stays in business, and I hope it thrives.

I love it here so much, I come here often to check out what they have and I love the store. I loved…read morethe advent calendar I got, and I got a painting for my dad which was super cool. I love everything I've gotten and the people here are so so nice. I'm so glad I found out about this place :)

Small businesses are the backbone of our Bernardsville community. The Bookworm is the place I go…read morefor books. The staff at the Bookworm are always professional, friendly and helpful

Was in town visiting family and wanted to buy a few books as gifts. Kind of knew what type but…read moreVera really helped me narrow it down to the perfect selection. This place is such a breath of fresh air versus the big book stores and when you really want good advice. I'm so happy to support these types of stores!

Paul, the owner, is a superhero. We forgot to grab one item from our purchase and left to go have…read morelunch. And just from mentioning that casually on our way out, he tracked us down physically 10 minutes later and made sure we got it. Aside from that their selection is awesome, from staples to collectors items, and the pricing is more than reasonable. Highly recommend treasure hunting through their old PC games stack. You never know what you're going to find.

The selection is fruitful and varied, and the staff create a welcoming environment. 10/10 will be…read moreback.