I stumbled upon this bookstore and it turned out to be huge inside! I didn't have much time to look around so I'll definitely be back soon, but they seemed to have a nice variety of used books and good prices. They also allow you to trade or donate books, which is good to know! The lady working seemed friendly and it was overall a cute store that I need to revisit to buy some books. read more

Hidden gem of a local mom n pop bookstore! When you walk in it's like those mysterious, haphazard bookstores that you see in movies, and it's got all the categories plus some DVDs and CDs. Chairs interspersed throughout random spots so you can sit down with your finds. Literally a mom n pop LBS, so it wont be like 99 cents but you can get an encyclopedia of baseball, a literary criticism of Shakespeare, and a jazz CD (saw all three!). The vibe is peacefully cluttered with that awesome book smell we all love. Def a visit I'll make whenever I'm in Philly! read more

Huge used bookstore! They have no database so you definitely need to spend some time in there and look around.

Incredible used book shop in QV, I am really glad I made some time to stop in here. I picked up a copy of "The Dog Lover's Companion to Philadelphia" and if my budget was unlimited, would have gone absolutely crazy. I also grabbed some interesting vintage-y postcards that they have up by the register, and look forward to sending those out to friends and family. The store seems to never end, twisting through room after room and also an upstairs section. The labelling system is the perfect mix of chaos and clarity, which I know doesn't really make sense. I didn't leave enough time to properly look through every section, but I can guarantee that you will find something to pique your interest if that's what you come in for. A great way to spend 30 minutes if you're exploring the neighborhood or in need of some additions to your bookshelf! read more

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Great place with a ton of books, it's huge, all the categories you're looking. It even has medical textbooks! Though a bit older. Lots of novels in every category. There is huge world history, sociology and political section upstairs. Most used books, but you can definitely find some that are like new conditions. Prices generally range from 4.95-8.95. If you have books, interesting mementos, dvds, or cds for sale, take it here and she'll give you store credit. Depending on what it's worth, most of my paperbacks are 2-4 dollars a piece. Overall great service, if you need a specific book, they'll direct you to the right section. read more

Loads of books. Arranged pretty well given the size of the shop and the amount of books. It was a fun stop!!!!

Perfect if you're seeking a bit of bookish chaos. There's something for everyone here, and the titles range in both era and quality. I was hoping to find some books on gardening and found that section to be a bit sparse, unfortunately, but otherwise the inventory size simply cannot be beat at the price range you'll see here. Ask the seller where to find things, or wander aimlessly through the sprawling collection. It's a choose your own adventure kind of thing ‍ read more

The setting in an old factory is really cool and the store has a lot of neat finds. Organization and selection can be hit or miss, but if you're in the mood for some shelf-digging you can't go wrong here. Prices are great. read more

This quaint bookstore is incredible. By quaint, I mean a three-story bookstore with every genre you can think of. I've found a lot of great, classic books here for such great prices. The lady that works (maybe the owner?) there is incredible and so friendly. I guess my only complaint would be that they don't have a database of books, so it's harder to keep track of what they do/don't have. Other than that, I highly recommend this bookstore if you are looking to pick up a good read for a great price. read more

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Such a cool bookstore, and really well priced books! They have cats guarding the books, so make sure to pet them for their service. Visit them next time you are on south street! read more

Mostly Books - Cat surrounded by books - Used Bookstore Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This place has that old used book shop feel that is starting to disappear. Everything is a little everywhere, which is just how I like it. I found some absolute gems on these shelves at fantastic prices. You just gotta take a little time to look. I had a lovely conversation with the people working and they were super friendly. They directed me to other shops in the area as well as made recommendations of can't miss spots! I had a phenomenal experience and can't wait to come back in to peruse the shelves again. read more

I absolutely adore Mostly Books. I had walked by hundreds of times without ever realizing what it was, until a friend brought it to my attention. I love bookstores but don't love the prices of in person book shopping. Mostly Books is a) better for the environment, b) a more interesting and fun experience, and c) cheaper than buying books pretty much anywhere else. I have had rather odd and unpleasant interactions with the staff, however. I won't take off a star because to be honest it won't stop me from returning read more

Mostly Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Stopped by Mostly Books while on my way home from a event and what a good stop it was. I've passed this spot plenty of times but never stopped in. From the outside, you would think it was a small little bookshop...but then you keep walking and there are floor to ceiling books allllllllllllll the way to the back of the building and a whole second floor. I loves me some books and I love everything vintage so the dusty old school style was way up my alley. If you're a Barnes and Noble snob (no shade to you) maybe this ain't your vibe. I didn't grab a book but I was down with the prices. Pretty affordable. read more

Excellent selection.. with many unusual and rare items. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable ... particularly Sharon. Highly recommend

Such a cute little store! It is actually not little at all though. It seems like this place could be a maze that keeps going. We biked by here today and was immediately intrigued. We parked our bikes and went inside. At first it looks like just a garage but as you go towards the back you realize it's a house of two of rooms filled with books! The books here are in really good condition and for really good prices. My brother bought a comic book/newspaper for just $0.85! We didn't get to stay long but I will definitely be coming back to check out the whole store. Not at night though.. I feel like things could popup anywhere and my brother said one of the room has creaking floors as you step! read more

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I took a stroll down to South Street to check out thrift stores for some cheap books. While I was at another store, I googled where the closest book store was to me, and found this gem. This store is really deep in both its variety of books and the physical space. It seems that you can walk further and further back into the store. They have everything from Fiction to Biographies, History (and very specific sub-genres), Art, Medicine, Religion, Business, Management, Marketing, and, so on. Up in the front, they even have bookshelves dedicated to Chess and Poker. I also saw they carried DVDs, CDs, and a small smattering of modern classic video games. I left with a book on Drawing and a PS2 game for under $10. I would totally recommend checking this place out if you're looking for a great selection of used books and you want to support local businesses. read more

I can literally spend hours in this place because there are two full floors of used books - many are current! If you're into current events or history this is the place to go. I've found so many great WWII books each time I've visited. Their prices are also the best in the city. I haven't seen anything above $9 and the average is between $5-7. read more

We came across this bookstore during a casual stroll, and it totally took us by surprise! It seems quite modest from the outside, but don't let that fool you! You could spend hours in this labyrinth (which we did) and still not even scratch the surface. Thankfully, everything is organized by genre and mostly in alphabetical order by author's last name. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but it was nice to see all that they have to offer- from the classics to very unique titles. I am a big reader, and saw quite a few selections from my TBR list, but I usually borrow from the library. I did pick up a few titles that are not in the library catalog, and the prices were very reasonable. I can't wait to come back and explore again! read more

Mostly Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Awesome expansive selection going back forever! Always the right price too. You'll find a treasure for sure.

I had a really unpleasant interaction with Mostly Books that I wasn't prepared for. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I have been clearing books for me and some of my family and friends. Having worked part-time with used books for a few years earlier in my life, I know there are different standards for what booksellers accept but also there are some consistent standards as well. I like to check the website to see the exclusions. There were several really nice books I had gathered up and I thought I would spread them around to a few places as I was thinking donations would be needed. One place I had bought books from before was Mostly Books and even though they are not close to where I live I thought I would donate a few boxes to them. I saw the statement copied below on their website which led me to believe they were interested in most of the standard book donations. "We love books, sorting through them, organizing them, and letting people browse through them and enjoy them. So if you have a bunch of books(or movies or music)that is just taking up space, or you are tired of moving them around from apartment to apartment with you, bring them down." I drove there and a woman came out to look at my donation. She checked briefly one box in the trunk of my car and saw two Insight Travel Guides (many places do not count the Insight Guides as pure travel guides since they deal mainly with culture) and an old paperback book (not yellow) of Thornton Wilder's "The Bridge of San Luis Rey", and another old hardback book in the box and said we can't accept your donation. There were many other books that were much newer in that same box and we never got to the boxes in the backseat of the car which contained some fine art and architecture books as well as books from a friend's reading club and a set of out of print Charles Dickens' novels I saw was selling on eBay for over a hundred dollars. That was okay - I just wanted to leave at that point anyway ... and indeed I took the books an hour later to a used bookstore up near where I live who gladly accepted them. Will I deal with Mostly Books again - No! But I still will wish them well because I love books and bookshops. read more

This place is big, and at first it looks overwhelming because of the variety and sheer number of books, but it's actually very well-organized and the owner knows his products and can guide you if you're looking for something specific. Since it's now winter, here's a helpful tip: find what you're looking for, then walk toward the back, take your first left, take another immediate left, go straight back to the door, and you will find a room that is warm to preview your books, make decisions, and collect yourself before venturing back into the cold. This is also a great place to spend some time just wandering around with friends looking at books, making an affair of it. There are some real gems - for instance, we found a book about the prostate "for men, and the women who love them," a very old book describing the rhythm method as the hot new form of birth control, and a book entitled "The Mullet: Hairstyle of the Gods." Seriously, what is more fun than getting lost in a huge second-hand book store amusing yourself with silly books with friends? Or did I just out myself as a former English major to everyone on Yelp? read more

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I knew as soon as I wandered into this place that I was going to love it. It's tucked away in Queen Village near South Street, and doesn't look like much from the outside. But do not walk by without stopping in! There are books stacked from nearly floor to ceiling in this store that looks deceptively small. It's actually HUGE!!! It extends for rooms and rooms, seeming to never end! Books are organized by category and (sometimes) by author, ranging from History to Classics to Fiction to Science and much, much more. If you're willing to dig in a little, this is certainly a place you could get lost in for a while! Prices vary significantly depending on the book. Most are extremely reasonable, but some rare / higher value books may run you a bit more. Definitely don't miss this cute find while in Philadelphia. Just give yourself some time, you may be there for a while!! read more

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Great store. Endless titles. Quirky staff. Excited to read my biography of Rachel Carson.

This place is outrageously priced for a secondhand bookstore. Brittle, yellowed sci-fi novels whose original retail price was $0.75 being sold for $4? Insanity. It's an interesting place to spend an hour or two, looking through the hundreds of old snapshots piled up in suitcases (although I would never actually buy one at that price). I've bought stuff here occasionally, but only when the book was rare and I was willing to shell out $15 because I had to have it right then. Even when you include shipping, you can buy almost anything here cheaper from Amazon Used or from Ebay. One of the people who works here is friendly, the other one behaves as if you are invading their privacy by coming in the store. It's clearly a store owned by a book-lover, but whether that person actually wants to let go of any the books... hard to say. read more

I wish I could say only good things about this place, since I love used bookstores and try to support them in any way possible. On the contrary, this place was somewhat disappointing. It's a really cool place, with lots of fun things to look through. The old photos are my favorite, but I would never spend $2 for three old photos, unless I found a really, really cool one. Most of these are random snapshots of random, boring people. If you really dig, though, you can find some cool really old ones, but who has the time? I went there the other day (my second time there) to look for records. There was some good stuff, but it was way overpriced for the quality of the records. Most were priced between $4 and $6, which would be okay if they were in great condition, but most weren't. If you're looking to kill some time and are in the area, I'd recommend checking out the place to see the sheer volume of stuff they have. But if you're looking to actually buy something for a reasonable price, I'd steer clear. read more

Like Book Trader, this shop has lots of charm. There's a fun appeal of wading through used books in a messy old attic environment. I do like that they have used DVDs to browse in addition to the books, photographs, VHS, magazines, and records. What really irks me are the prices. VHS is ancient these days. They are still charging them for $3-4 each. Yes, we did walk out with some but not by my choice. The books are also competitively priced despite their conditions and there is even a sign that says that despite their look, they are not a thrift store... you can't haggle the price. Maybe some of us just don't want to spend $4 on a dog-eared paperback? That's just me expecting flea market prices. It's their shop, they can run it however they want. Doesn't mean I have to like it. read more

When Philadelphia AIDS Thrift packed up for its bigger home on Passyunk, Mostly Books moved in on the next door spot that used to house all of the thrift stores furniture. The end result really succeeded in clearing up a lot of the clutter and making things much more easier to find. You'll still sift through some random oddball stuff from section to section, and find the occasional rows in total disarray. But at least that treasure is much more accessible, which succeeds in making the store a little more reputable. read more

Love this place! They have a great selection of books with low prices. It is pretty well organized, especially for this kind of a shop. It's also WAY bigger than I thought, as you walk through, new rooms keep appearing! They have VHS and DVD movies for sale, along with old magazines, newspapers and photos. Most movies and books were $6-7. I got a copy of Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends for 6 bucks! That's surely a good deal to me! Great place to go if you have an open mind about what to read next! read more

How do I love this store? Let me count the ways... The delightful owner, the stacks and stacks of literary nuggets, that amazing book smell, the "Why yes we do take credit cards" sign. I would move in but I'm sure that would be frowned upon. Give this place a try! read more

This place can be overwhelming! They have a great selection of books, but it is organized in an odd ways...so good luck finding something specific. It is a great place to go if you have a lot of time to kill. They have a little bit of everything, so you will be sure to find something of interest. They also have old photographs for sale, which are fun to look through. Also for sale are some odd pieces of furniture as well as VHS tapes. At one time they also had some 8tracks, but when I was there this past fall, they were no longer there...probably made their way to a landfill by now...how sad! It is an odd store, but a lot of fun to look around. Just wouldn't recommend it if you are in a hurry to find something specific. read more

Mostly Books has high prices, labyrinthine organization, and service that is mostly nonexistent, but rude when they are around. I was originally excited to find Mostly Books. It's exactly the kind of store that I usually like, in that it has lots of used books spread over a lot of space. However, my experiences there beat that excitement out of me. Mostly Books has a large selection, but finding anything is more a matter of chance than perseverance. The sections are confusingly marked and sometimes go from one room to another seemingly at random. There has been some attempt at alphabetization, but it is inconsistent enough to make it frustrating as often as helpful. This might not be a problem if there was staff willing to help, but in my visits to Mostly Books I had to try and answer more questions from fellow customers than I ever had answered myself. The books are also fairly expensive for used copies in average to below average condition. Pairing high prices with a decidedly low cost atmosphere isn't a great combination. The one time I actually had staff ask me a question it was to stop reading a book I'd picked up and was planning to buy. Despite the many chairs throughout the shop suggesting otherwise, apparently this is not a bookstore where you can read some of the book before you buy it. I wouldn't have a major problem with this if everything about the store didn't seem designed to have people spend some time. I was also told that the reason I needed to get up was because the chair was for all customers. Considering the store had maybe a 5:1 chair to customer ratio at that point, this seemed like BS. Suffice to say, it's not my favorite bookstore in Philly. read more

This book store is a bookworms heaven!!! You go in and think "oh this is a nice small bookstore" and then the deeper you go it's HUGE! The books are in good shapes and a in sections that are very well organized. Don't even get me started on the old book smell that's divine! read more

I. Love. Books. So do the people here, I suspect. It's huge. Fun to walk though and browse. This is a great place if you've cultivated that thrift store mind-set ... not looking for anything, but eye out for everything. Multiple rooms filled with walls of books and media await you. Being open to anything keeps you from being overwhelmed. It's also a fun visit for curiosities when you're showing someone around the town (I always show people around this area of town when they visit) - there's a very strange trunk of old photos (who buys those?) among the other wanderings around. Nice way to take up 20 minutes on a visit from a friend. read more

Mostly Books is mostly messy. The store is completely unorganized, and while they have a lot of books, also pack things like old TV's, broken dressers, and perhaps a used waffle iron. If you find something in there, great. If not, just go and check out how far the mess stretches. Sure to be a good time. PS. They are happy to trade books. read more

Lovely title. And yes, they sell books. This is a place, again, with "character". You will not find the a hardback version of Hannibal Rising or Freakanomics here. Most of the books are all piled outside on the sidewalk and there are some dusty old men who linger. This is a great place to poke around and find some antique books, collectibles or just beat up and worn books you never knew existed. read more

Going into Mostly Books always lulls me into a dreamlike state. The store is piled high with books and goes far back, and has the feel of someone's attic. It's one of those stores you can browse in forever. It is not for people looking for an organized, polished shopping experience. It's for people who like to rummage and don't mind getting a little dusty doing so. Most of the books are a couple dollars, and I've gotten some great stuff there- books about 1920's Paris, 1910's children's picture books, campy 70's novels. I also like their record selection, priced from about $2-10. It's usually full of those kind of basic records that are keystones to people's collections- you know, like Rumors and Blonde on Blonde. I got an album from The Move there that is definitely hard to find for $4. The trunk of old photos are 75 cents each or three for two dollars. They also have a very organized photo section with photos in plastic wrap that cost more like $2 each. Again, this could get pricey if you want to buy tons, but I don't think this is an unfair price at all when buying a cheesy new greeting card costs twice that (and using old photos to make your own birthday cards is way better.) I've also traded stuff here and they took everything, so it was fun to roam around with my credit slip and see what I could get. I think part of people's issue with the prices is that books, unfortunately, have become undervalued as so many bookstores close and fewer people read and there is stuff like amazon.com taking over, so people balk at paying $4 for a book even if that's the same price they paid for their morning latte. read more

Wow! what a find. stumbled upon this place while looking for someplace else. talk about a literal cave of books--this place is huge, filled with used books of all sorts, makes you feel like you could look forever and still not be done looking thru it all. worth checking out if you love a good book store. read more

Mostly Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If you're a bookstore junkie, please head to Mostly Books ASAP. This place is a used book lover's haven. Stacks of books flank the entire store, which, by the way, is gigantic. Sections are easily labeled, but in true used bookstore fashion, books are not always shelved in an orderly fashion (which, if you ask me, is half the fun of perusing!) There's a decent-sized kids section and they have records, DVD's and VHS tapes. The only downside is that it can get a bit toasty during the summer months, but there are fans. Plan to bring a bottle of water and block off a few hours of your day if you want to get the most out of your visit. I will definitely be back! read more

I love this place for the character but agree with earlier reviews that the prices are a bit out of line with the product being offered and the products themselves are anything too exciting. It's a fabulous place to wander through when you have some time. They have some interesting offerings like the old photographs and VHS tapes (neither of which really interest me). For me, it's all about the books. As I mentioned, nothing they have is too exciting but the process of wandering through old bookcases and finding a strange hodgepodge of topics is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. But this may be more about me than the bookstore really. So, if you are like me and yearn to be surrounded by books regardless of the quality - this place is for you! read more

I have to admit that most of what everyone else criticizes about this place is what makes me really love it. Of course its cluttered, of course you have to dig to find the gems . . . but that's what makes it endearing. If you have a bit of time, go peruse their book selection. They have TONS of great used books and you can easily spend an hour looking through them all. Also - they take credit cards . . . that always deserves a star in my book. read more