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    Novel

    4.7 (26 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Novel Photos

    NOVEL ATMOSPHERE

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    Samantha G.

    An utterly charming bookstore where the staff makes everyone feel welcome! The color scheme and atmosphere were so fresh and inviting, which perfectly matched the friendly staff. There is a wonderful selection of books for both adults and children with selections across multiple genres. I especially loved the 'Blind Date with a Book', 'Rochester Reader Reviews', 'Staff Picks', and 'Liked This? Try This' sections. These are such thoughtful ideas. Our coffee and latte came in disposable cartons. A win for sustainability! The Italian sandwich and cinnamon roll were delicious! A great lunch. Every downtown needs a bookstore, and Novel is such a charming addition. I can't wait to visit again soon!

    Inside and front door.
    Bella B.

    Logistics. Downtown Rochester, west of Rochester Rd between 3rd and 4th Steets. Vibe. Whimsy. Open. Small. Drafty (Entrances from front or back). Thoughtful displays. Modern more than librarian den aesthetics. BEST PART: Jazz music. Not too loud. Two main seating areas: 3 bistro tables with 3 chairs each, and couches with coffee table. Seats about 18? Comestibles and Potables. Coffee (@whiepinecoffee) no cream (sadly), basic espresso menu, cold reach soda, juice, etc. Pies and breads from @crust_fenton; excellent local purveyors that know and love their craft. Yum! Sandwich menu limited to 5 types; artisan, gourmet, and filling. Though good, the meat for Roast Beef was lacking in comparison to the pics online, 2 slices vs 4 slices. Hospitality. Super friendly. Met Rachel the owner. Welcoming. Of note. Metered street or metered lot parking. Loos clean and stocked. Keep coats on because it is a little cold; no vestibules to stop the chilly draft from whipping through the store or when the basement door is open. Looking forward to coming in when weather warms or they get vestibules. Is it ok to bring a book to read while I eat your sandwiches, Novel?

    Lee B.

    Love love love this place! Such a cute bookstore and we were shocked to discover their cafe is actually amazing. Delicious food! And the girls working were incredibly lovely and helpful. We drove 40 mins to check it out and we will certainly be back!

    Abhilash T.

    Owner is a Quebec Nordiques fan; that alone deserves five stars but the sandwiches put this place on the map for me. They have a different special each weekend and one week it was this amazing ham sandwich with pineapples in it!! It was phenomenal. All the bread and baked goods are courtesy of Crust out of Fenton. I feel like it's in a perfect location and all the books and coffee make the whole spot extremely inviting. I've been here a few times with my daughter and she loves the place too. You must absolutely come check this place out!

    Turkey Caprese
    Cheney H.

    Really cute addition to downtown Rochester! We tried the Turkey Caprese and Roadt Beef Chimchurri sandwiches. The fresh made pesto and chimchurri were both delicious and added such a fresh and herbaceous flavor to the sandwiches. The interior is super cute and the books are curated with everyone in mind! The staff was so nice and friendly and you can tell really love the business. We will be back for sure.

    Italian sandwich
    Beth C.

    Such a sweet little shop! Great book selection, tasty coffee, cool music/vibes, and delicious sandwiches. One of the owners Rachel is a book wizard and can help you find the perfect book! The other owner Elliott is usually making the sammies and/or chatting everyone up. Very welcoming and friendly space. Can't wait to come back for my next book (and to try more of the sandwiches)!

    Caramel Apple muffin

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    6 days ago

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    3 months ago

    Novel feels like very much a community gathering spot. From its cute atmosphere to the friendly service it's easy to keep going back.

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    7 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Sandwiches were delicious! I love that they offer sourdough. Will be back! Love to shop for books while waiting.

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    1 year ago

    This is a great little independent neighborhood book shop. Awesome sandwiches and a nice selection of books.

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    1 year ago

    My favorite indie bookstore! The store is so cute and it's an added bonus that I can grab a delicious sandwich while I'm there.

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    1 year ago

    This place has great food and I enjoy the cozy atmosphere. I also love their book discussions.

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    Review Highlights - Novel

    The color scheme and atmosphere were so fresh and inviting, which perfectly matched the friendly staff.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    LoveBook

    LoveBook

    2.5(35 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    What started as something that was so exciting to create has turned into an overpriced headache. I…read morecreated this book hoping to give it to my boyfriend for Valentine's Day. I noticed I entered in our anniversary year incorrectly less than a day after creating it. The company responded with an invoice for me to pay to fix this one simple issue. Not to mention the book already cost me close to $100. After I received a email that the book was shipped out. I checked the edit again and the company added a page to the book with a typo. I notified them and they said it's my fault because I didn't review it. I said this was not my issue this is a typo on typo end. I begged and pleaded that they kindly fix it and send me a new book or refund me. They went ahead and sent me another invoice for me to pay for their mistake. I reviewed everything thoroughly before approving the book the 2nd time and now have to deal with their typo because they won't fix this issue. I would not do business with this company. The concept is really cute and can be a very lovable gift but they are not very compassionate when it comes to helping their customers. They are also not very worried about creating the perfect book fr you-if so they would also proof-read the pages and notify you with any issues before publishing it. It seems that they are really just working to overcharge and rob you

    This website is a fraud. Do not waste your money. They charged me $95!!!! for my order that has…read morenever been delivered. 7 days of back and forth emails, with no resolution, customer service is rude and absolutely not helpful. There is literally no one to speak to, all automated AI replies. If you take a risk and spend your money on this shady expensive bs I would recommend you to find better place to waste your money on. Complete disappointment and SCAM. Stay away. I wish i would read reviews and comments before I placed the order.

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    LoveBook
    LoveBook
    LoveBook

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    International Book Centre

    International Book Centre

    1.0(2 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    I will give this book store props for its extensive collection of foreign books. I found a book…read morehere that I have been seeking for a long time. It was listed for a fair price on its website, so I ordered it. I even called and inquired about whether there were additional copies. So I think my enthusiasm for the book prompted the owner to regret her pricing and reconsider it. So within a few days, she notifies me that she's cancelled the order claiming that the guy I spoke with gave me the incorrect price. I contacted her and told her the price was listed on the website and that's how I purchased it. I didn't even discuss pricing with the guy on the phone. She didn't care, and just cancelled the order and said if I wanted it, I would have to pay the higher price, which if I recall correctly, was like double the original price. Because availability of this book is limited, I ended up paying the higher price that she demanded. I feel like I was taken advantage of. Once an online retailer posts a price, and someone purchases it at that set price, the whole matter should be done. That's not how it worked here. Imagine if all online retails conducted business this way. People would not be buying stuff online. That's for sure. I used to have a copy of this book, which is an Albanian cookbook, but it somehow disappeared (I think a family member took it), and I have been searching for it for sentimental reasons. My dad is Albanian and there aren't any other Albanian cookbooks around. After all that, I haven't even cracked the book open once yet.

    Kind of creepy.... it said online that they were open but when I FINALLY found the place it didn't…read morelook like the picture and no one was there. All the lights were off and there was random junky looking nik-nak's and papers hanging in the windows so I could barely see inside. There was not a big sign out by the road like the pictures online depicted so it was very difficult to find especially because it looks like an abandoned, unkempt shack. Looking further online, the name of the store is a bit misleading, "international" book store... give me a break. EVERYTHING is Arabic, there's really nothing for any other language or culture. Everything was just a total let down and waste of time finding.

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    International Book Centre
    International Book Centre - Front of store.

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    Front of store.

    Barnes & Noble

    Barnes & Noble

    4.0(5 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    Really nice in here! Perfect place to read or do homework!…read more I came in here to check it out as it's a relatively new location. The shelf layout is really cool and they have tons of books, games, Legos, and puzzles. Inside there's a Starbucks too. I didn't buy anything but I will be back to do so if I need something!

    I was devastated when the previously Barnes and Noble closed across the street. I spent many hours…read morethere and wasn't sure how a smaller store would work since I am not a fan of the village location but I am very happy with this new Rochester Hills location! First, the store is larger than I expected. I knew it was going to smaller than the previous store but I think they did a good job with the layout of the store. It was designed for browsing, which I love! It doesn't feel like a generic chain store but it is modern and clean. They utilized forward facing displays on the front shelves and it is very effective. I love seeing all the book covers and featured titles right when I walk in, I am always finding something new and interesting right off the bat. I notice I find different editions of books each time I come, I like that they carry a little of everything and stock seems to rotate often so I am discovering new books each visit. All the genres are condensed so each section isn't quite as extensive as before but they seem to have covered all the bases. Still offering magazines, music, games, puzzles and a great kids section complete with a Lego table. Stationary and journals weren't left behind either, still plenty to choose from in the novelty gifts section. They really make use of every inch and it flows well. You can tell they did their research to maximize their inventory and it's working! Staff was friendly and happy to point you in the right direction as needed. They keep the store very organized and stocked, which is appreciated. The cafe is updated and offers plenty of space to enjoy your drink and a book. The menu includes a variety of food items. If this location is as popular as the previous one during the holidays, I can see it getting a bit crowded. The areas are less spread out and smaller overall so it may get a little tight for holiday shopping but I'll gladly shove myself in a corner surrounded by books to get out of the way if I have to. I am so glad to have our neighborhood Barnes and Noble back!

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    Barnes & Noble
    Barnes & Noble - Front

    Front

    Barnes & Noble

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    Novel - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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