Rainy Day Books is kind of the best of both worlds - a book lover's paradise staffed by book…read moreworms. It's a cozy space, but it's jampacked with books from all subjects. If you can't find what you're looking for - which for some reason happens me a lot - the staff is happy to order a copy for you. They're book club friendly. They also host a ton of fun book-related and author events. If you're interested, please follow their social media accounts. They'll keep you up to date.

If you haven't been to Rainy Day Books, and you've passed by at any point, you're really missing…read moreout! Every time I go into the shop, even if I think I know exactly what I want, every staff member is so knowledgeable and helpful that I always leave with more ideas on my TBR! The little shop is located in the tiny shopping center off Brush Creek Parkway, which means it can be hard to find parking if the center is petty busy--but it's worth it! They have great sections for adult reads, but they also have great sections for kids and teens--you'll find what you're looking for even if you're not sure what that is. Over the holidays, I even asked for kids and teens recommendations from the staff which they were happy to give! As noted earlier, their shop isn't huge, but full of possibilities. And if at the end of your visit, you really still want that book they don't have in stock, they'll order it for you for pick up or shipping--it's a simple process and they're more than happy to help people find their perfect next read. They may not be a book superstore, but they create value in their suggestions, recommendations, and their tiny book reviews and recs on the shelves (even in the teens and kids sections, written by kids and teens!). So glad to have found this place early on in my time in KC, and so happy that they're still doing their thing in their amazing bookshop!

I had the joy of going to the new location for Monarch shortly after they opened it! I LOVED the…read moreatmosphere, book selection, and the fact that they also had plants and gift items as well. My one lament is selfish, and that's the fact that the antique books were, from what I understand, for display only (I collect antique books, so I always have an eye out for places to browse for them). I believe the person I met there when I went was the owner, who was extremely friendly! Plus I love that it's a locally owned store. Overall I really loved visiting and browsing. Monarch is definitely one of my go-to bookstores now!

What an adorable book store! This was my first time in. Went with a friend for their 6th…read moreanniversary party and it was fun. They had mimosas and cookies. They were selling blind date with a book books. My friend actually got a book she really wanted that way! I don't buy anything because I just can't right now, but I'll be back for sure. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was relaxing.

Always a great and varied selection, very helpful staff, and can not bet the price on the booksread more

I'm decluttering and decided to sell some books. Most of them were on sailing. The store is in…read moreKansas. They pay in part on resell potential. There evidently isn't much demand for books on sailing. I made about enough for a latte and danish. That said, they took the books off my hands so they didn't end up in the land fill.

My husband and I were in the area today for breakfast and so we decided to go into this particular…read morelocation. We both separated inside the store and went to our genres of books we liked. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing and generally quiet. They have a Starbucks café inside to enjoy. They have a wide variety of books, music, magazines, and an assortment of other items. My husband ended up getting some magazines and I bought a journal. The service when we checked out was nice and quick, and the woman was nice. The books are generally more expensive because their new but they do have areas where there are inexpensive books and a variety of sales, they also have a clearance section.

Great, knowledgeable service employees, opinions very helpful. Nice to see a physical book store…read morestill thriving. Incredible selection, could spend days there and barely scratch the surface. Good Starbucks inside.

This was my first time at Afterword (though I have been meaning to go for a while) and I am already…read moreplanning on coming back! I love the vibe of the space, which is lined with bookshelves and they even have a card catalog. The drinks are fun and with some Literary references for the names. I had the poppy war and really enjoyed it. We sat inside but they also have an outdoor patio. The bathroom was also extremely clean. Service was very quick with barely any wait before the drinks were ready. I would recommend anyone that loves a cocktail to stop in!

Cozy, book-filled, and perfect for unwinding with a drink. I tried the drink of the month the…read moreBoozycatipillar, a fun literary-themed cocktail supporting Read to Lead KC delicious! The only downside? Ordering at the bar makes it tricky to hold your seat as a solo guest. Drinks are a bit pricey, but the ambiance is worth it. Great spot for book lovers looking to relax with a cocktail!

It's pretty sad that a critical review from 18 years ago said exactly what I'll say after having…read morechecked this place out today. It smells. The prices are expensive. The selection is far, far from exhaustive. And it's hard to navigate. I finally had to leave without even checking out all the floors because it was so smelly of ... dust? mold? - and I NEVER leave a bookstore without looking at everything. It looks good from the outside!

Such a delight! Enjoyed an hour Saturday browsing their selection-- could spend days here. Looking…read moreforward to returning soon. Purchased a book printed 50 years ago comparing where I lived for two decades in California and Kansas City, MO and an out of print philosophy of fairytales companion. Such a find!

Anyone who looks at my reviews know that a 5 is rare! This exceeded any expectation I had and I was…read moresmiling so Much my cheeks hurt. What an Immersive experience! Books were SO much a part of our parenting I was transported to such deep memories. The attention to detail! The places to sit and read incorporated throughout! We went to an Adults only event just to check It out and we have already bought tickets to take our adult kids next month!!!

This museum is exceptional! I felt like a kid again seeing my favorite storybooks come to life!…read moreEvery single nook and cranny of this space was well thought out and artistically crafted. It was nice to have places for the kids to climb and explore. And there were also spaces to rest and be quiet. I like that each book was unique on display so it wasn't the same old thing over and over again. What I really loved was that they have multiple copies of each book represented in said section. So the ones we hadn't read and were interested in, we were able to discover like The Funny Thing and The Fire Cat. And ones we were aware if were fun to read while exploring like Goodnight Moon (my absolute favorite part), Babar, Frog and Toad, and No, David! The bus ride is a must; so creative and heart warming. We didn't purchase tickets for The Three Robbers experience, but peeking inside I wish we had, it looks great. The docents and volunteers were all knowledgeable of the books. And they were very kind when needing to remind kids of the museum rules. If I lived here I would by an annual membership for sure. And would have gladly paid more than the current $16 admission as I think this experience is worth much more.

I love Barnes & Noble Bookstore!!! I was in the Kansas City…read morearea, and had to go reminisce the old days of coming here. They have such a large selection of books. You'll find best sellers, fiction, nonfiction, romance, mysteries, sci-fi, history, religious, how-to's, cookbooks, comics, kids, and much more!!! They also have cool gifts and toys! There's greeting cards, bags, totes, music, and movies. Overall, a fun place to be! We had fun exploring new books. Hours of fun!!! The employees were very friendly and helpful!!!

Their staff was so eager to greet me and they were so nice! They have great seating options right…read moreby their Starbucks in store for reading and coffee for book lovers. I personally don't read a lot of books but being there made me wanna come back just to buy and book and read it there. Everything is so organized! If your in the area i recommend checking it out

If you need a Catholic gift for any occasion, come to this place! They have everything and more! I…read moreenjoyed just walking around looking at all of the beautiful items! The staff was very friendly and helpful.

Trinity House in Overland Park is always Excellent! Their…read morecustomer service is the best.