Everything a bookstore should be! Fun and wide ranging selections and an absolutely darling atmosphere. And best of all, an owner and staff who are into it. They love reading and recommending books. And anything you are looking for that isn't on the shelf, they will gladly order just for you. P.S. make sure to keep an eye out for the murder mystery Annual game. SO much fun! read more

Cute bookstore after a trip to the coffee shop nearby. They had nice book accessories and other potential gift items. Yesterday was their fourth year anniversary, which also happened to be Indie Bookstore Day. Service is great and support local businesses when you can. read more

The cutest bookstore! Don't let its small size fool you - it's packed with a great selection of books and bookish gifts. You're immediately welcomed by a table of cloth books of the classics which you are guaranteed to drool over. My favorite part of the gift selection were the bookish themed puzzles. I left with a gorgeous puzzle based on The Great Gatsby and I can't wait to get started on it. This is a book lovers dream store! read more

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Very cute, classy, and charming bookstore nestled in the heart of this community. I'm so glad I made a stop. There was a very nice lady who was so helpful to me with picking a book for my daughter. She was so knowledgeable and patient, we ended chatting for a bit about the town. This was such a great find! read more

Monarch Books - Children's section out back - Bookstores Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

Cute little bookshop with great gifts for the bookworm in your life, or to get kids excited about reading! read more

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My family and I were happy to discover this delightful bookshop on our last visit to Arroyo Grande. It is full of an obviously carefully curated selection of books - a beautiful arrangement of classics with cloth-bound covers immediately greets the customer - as well as offerings of bookmarks, stickers, book bags, notepaper, candles, and anything else the bibliophile in your circle of friends and family could want! It also has a sweet children's section and a very classic atmosphere, with hardwood floors and plenty of light without being bright and sterile. The shop owners obviously take pride in their store and want to provide quality over quantity - there may have only been one copy each of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but they had beautiful covers that, when lined up in order on your bookshelf, create a full picture on the spines. Fantastic! The kind of books I'd want on my shelves. :-) read more

This is a charming little bookstore in the heart of Arroyo grande. The bookstore is small, but they have a wonderful selection of books for everyone on your list. They carry all sorts of genres and if they don't have it, they can definitely get it for you. The children's section is located in the back of the store and is super sweet and charming. They carefully curate the books to not only the popular titles that everybody knows and loves, but other books that you may not have heard of before. Over the holidays they had a book tree in their store to help support teachers. Educators in the area could choose books that they would love for their classroom and these book wishes were placed on the tree. Customers coming in and out were able to look at the tree and choose a teachers book to donate to them. It was such a kind and thoughtful thing to do I love a bookstore that helps support educators in their endeavors to support their students and encourage students love for reading and learning. You're such a fun bookstore, whether you're going to browse or to buy and help support this local business. We will definitely be back. read more

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Very well curated adult and children's sections. Half the store is children's books. I felt like I wanted to purchase practically every book in the store! The staff was pleasant and knew about the books we bought. read more

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Beautiful shop with a very knowledgeable staff. A wonderful addition to the Village of Arroyo Grande, I highly recommend it.

Excellent independent bookstore that rounds out the Arroyo Grande village atmosphere. Open, comfortable space with easy parking. A full-service website and friendly owners have made this our go-to for special-order gifts. read more

This is a gem of a bookstore our community is lucky to have! Great selection of quality books and service is always friendly. Online ordering and in store pick up is super easy if there's something not in stock that you want. A lot of cute items for gifts as well! read more

Wonderful selection of books and book-related gifts. Cute bookmarks and great puzzle options.

I absolutely love this bookstore, and I'm in at least twice a month. The owners and staff are so friendly, there's a little bit of everything to peruse, the children's section is top-notch, and it's just a happy, cozy place to be. If you need to order a book not in store, whoever is working will order it for you or you can order on their website, and the books usually show up within a week. Also a perfect place to buy bookish gifts for the readers in your life! read more

I've loved small(ish), independent bookstores as long as I can remember. Always seeking them out, particularly if I'm actually looking for an honest opinion of a book, often poetry, counting on the judgement of people who actually read the books they sell. The kind of place you "follow your nose" to the book(s) you buy, rather than grab them from a typical "Best Seller" pile. Walking down E. Branch St. (the main drag) in Old Town Arroyo Grande the other day, it was like I was someone tickled my ear and said "look up dummy, look at this place". Not kidding. I was at the entrance to Monarch Books, and couldn't help myself. All three of us walked in and were pretty amazed at what we saw/felt/experienced. The vibe is so easy, friendly, well thought out, artful, full of the little special vignette collections of "Neighborhood Writers", specialized children's books, in fact at least a third of Monarch Books is dedicated to the little ones. It's even to their scale. We started a dialogue with Taneesha Regez, the owner/creator of Monarch, which reminds me of Moby Dickens Bookshop on Bent Street in Taos, NM. Not as big or as old and there isn't a cat watching over the cash register. There still isn't a "patina" yet but there will be. I have no doubt that it will be there for a long time. The intention is so clear, as is the point of view. And, it's lovely, designed by Taneesha who also designed the unique pendant light in the entry area, which is covered in antique printed pages of old books and told me a lot about why Monarch Books is special. Her hands touch everything. Besides an incredible selection of reading material, there are also gifts galore, gorgeous handmade greeting cards made by a local artist, PEEPERS reading glasses, (my favorite kind). We will return and likely be regular customers. NOTE: MB also hosts book readings in their delightful, sunny space, several were posted. I think there's even a special Christmas one. So happy to have found it, so happy to share it. read more

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I try to visit and support this little local bookstore whenever I'm in the area. We've order books online so we can plan a visit. Arroyo Grande has such a great small town vibe and Monarch Books is one of many attractive businesses in the area. read more

We have a tradition with our grandkids - when they visit, we all visit Monarch Books. We are so lucky to have them in the Village!

Monarch books is hands down my favorite book store, whenever i am heading up to that area i always stop by. They have a well designed store where everything is easy to see, the kids selection is great and the owner provides great customer service for anything you may be looking for. It is a great place to find gifts and i always find books to add to my grandma book library cabinet At home. read more

Super cute bookstore. The owner was running the shop when we were there and she is so kind and friendly. We will be going back!!

Great little independent bookstore (at Amazon ) - very nice owners and young people at the register. Great selection of books and eclectic book related knick knacks. If they don't have it, they'll order it for you My good friend spends a fortune there regularly and just loves the place. It's at the far end of the Village and a nice place to peruse cool books and amble mindlessly read more

I love this book store! One day I was walking in old town arroyo grande and stumbled upon this cute little book store. It has a fun back room filled with children's books. I love the reading nook, perfect spot to check out the latest books or read to my niece and nephew. I love the book decor on the back of the cash register area, great idea and the book pages light! This place is full of magic, special little touches and fun for readers old and young!!! I've found some awesome new authors based on the owners reviews. She's so knowledgeable and very friendly. I've been sending all my bookworms to this perfect little book store. Go check it out!!! read more

Monarch Books - Cute little reading nook - Bookstores Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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I dreamed of having a bookstore in the Village, and this checks all the boxes! Well curated selection, bright and open displays, excellent staff. The events they hold are great as well! read more

So many cute stationary supplies and a wide variety of adult and children's books! Everyone was very friendly! read more

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Monarch Books is amazing - a small, independent bookstore that has something for everyone. Along with a thoughtful and always interesting collection of books for all ages, they have beautiful gift items - stationery, cards, items of local interest, and more. The staff is amazing as well. Knowledgeable and honest, they always help you find something wonderful to read. The ambiance is perfect - like stepping back into a calmer, quieter world, where you can set aside your worries and get lost in a good book. It's a wonderful addition to the Village of Arroyo Grande! read more

What a delightful bookstore! One of my birthday plans was to get to Monarch Books and treat myself. Terrific independent shop with friendly folk. I am looking forward to stopping by again. Don't miss this little gem in Arroyo Grande! read more

I love this bookstore and its location in the Village makes for a lovely visit. The books are well selected and I can always find gifts for people in their stationery and bookmarks and other "bookish" items. Taneesha goes above and beyond to find special request books and order them for you. The local vibe and small town welcome from all the workers there is one of the many things that make local, independent bookstores like this one such a joy to shop. read more

Loved this book shop that I came across randomly during my visit. The selection is great and the gift shop items are very unique and fun. Very family friendly also. Time easily flows by as you look around and browse through. read more

Walked by and then back in. Nice selection of books. I wasn't really planning to buy books but got some nice birthday cards instead. I will return read more

This is a wonderful addition to the Five Cities! I LOVE their card selection!!! and at a good price! Jesse is helpful and friendly checking you out. read more

Yay! An independent bookstore in the village of Arroyo Grande! Family friendly, nice selection of books and I found exactly what I was looking for. read more

Seems odd to leave a review for a shop I haven't actually been in yet. The over the phone customer service was so outstanding that I can't wait to get down to AG. Reading and hearing about their mission and dream takes me back to my small town, beloved (independent) book shop that helped shape who I am. We thought they were gone, but thanks to brave hearts like Taneesha and Aaron, young and old will discover the joy of browsing and buying new books in a cozy setting. Can't wait for later ... I'm on my way now. read more

So nice inside! Beautifully arranged books, reader supplies (peepers, bookmarks and other nice goodies) plus jigsaw puzzles plus more in there for you to find. Something of pleasurable reading for all ages. read more

Best place in downtown Arroyo. The staff is friendly, and more importantly, honest. If you want recommendations, they will tell you. If you ask their thoughts on a current best seller, you will get the truth. They are not about selling books but ensuring you, the reader, gets the right book. I can not recommend this place enough. read more

I absolutely love going into Monarch Books! I have always been a reader and love browsing in bookstores and libraries. Taneesha, the owner, is so helpful, friendly, and amazing at book recommendations! I take my 2-year old in every chance I get to hopefully have her love books as much as I do. There are plenty of kids books for her all the way up to adulthood. read more

Lovely bookstore that was an absolute gem to visit! Very easy to find and very welcoming. A good selection of books and gifts for the book lovers of all ages. read more