If you ever have an hour to kill, BVM Books is the absolute perfect spot to just lose track of…read moretime. The guy working the counter is super chill and welcoming, which instantly sets a great vibe the second you walk in. Honestly, the selection is insane.. they have a ton of brand-new books for basically a fraction of the regular price, so you always end up walking out with some incredible, unexpected finds. It's easily one of my favorite places to slow down and just browse whenever I'm in the area.

Great place with low prices for books. I don't remember getting a good buying rate for the books I…read morebrought in eons ago, but I appreciate that I could pick up some cheap books for my kids!

This store is a model of what a bookstore should be. Every shelf was dusted, floors were clean, and…read morethe staff were all incredibly helpful. I stayed over an hour just enjoying the calm, spotless environment.

This bookstore has a very welcoming energy. The employees are approachable and genuinely care about…read moreyour needs. The entire place is well-lit, dust-free, and smells fresh. It's obvious they prioritize hygiene just as much as customer service.

I came across Seekers Books by chance, and it feels like one of those hidden spots only true book…read morelovers appreciate. The space is a bit packed and unpolished, but that's exactly what makes it interesting--you never know what you'll find tucked between the shelves. It has a quiet, slightly nostalgic vibe, perfect for slowing down and browsing. Not a place for quick visits, but definitely worth it if you enjoy the hunt.

The workers here maintain such a high level of cleanliness I could tell they cleaned regularly,…read moreeven during the day. I asked one staff member for a book recommendation and they were so enthusiastic. Clean, helpful, and peaceful that's what this place is.

I'm pretty well-versed in Toronto's used bookstores from Spadina westward, and I got to tell you,…read moreif you're looking for a operated by two grumpy old white men who feel at ease with making inappropriate judgements about your book selection, then this is the place for you. I was looking for Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar" and the stockier gentleman responded "they run out quickly, guess suicidal and mediocre has become in fashion again." This wasn't the only thing I noticed. I was curious about the name "Balfour," and it only occurred to me from the various Israel-themed content in the bookstore that it's most likely commemorative of Arthur Balfour, the British administrator of post-Ottoman Palestine who promised a Jewish state for Zionist Jews in the UK (see "Balfour Declaration, 1917). For a used bookstore that I've been frequenting for at least 8 years now since I've moved to this city, their selection has been consistently in desperate need for non-white authors, especially in their social sciences, religious studies, philosophy, plays, and art sections. The prices, sure, can be low, sometimes lower than other bookstores (especially the smaller, vintage-looking paperbacks at the front), but they've increased over time. $25 dollars for a Foucault book? Come on now! Moral of the story is: if you're a bookworm with a shred of an ethical compass, I implore you to avoid this bookstore at any costs. Don't let the price or the antiquarian section deceive you, Toronto is a reader-heavy city with many competing bookstores that you can visit and indulge your imagination in!

Super warm and wonderful staff! Love this place, will definitely be coming back again many times!read more

A super cute rare book store. The selection was limited but well curated and nothing was…read moreoverpriced. The clerk was friendly but in no way intrusive. Try your luck with the random book vending machine!

We found her way to The Monkey's Paw from a list of unique and unusual Toronto sites. That list…read morespecifically mentioned the book vending machine which I had to try, but as an avid reader and book-collector ("antiquarian" if you're fancy) I was equally interested in simply perusing the store as a whole. The book vending machine-- as of March 2025, for a $5 CAD bill (or credit card), you get a token for the machine which randomly drops a vintage book. I received a hard-cover vintage mystery novel nicely wrapped in a mylar book protective jacket (and a price tag indicating this one was $19.99 at one point). Pretty cool book, pretty recommended experience overall. As to the store itself--friendly proprietor and generally nice layout. But try as I might, I could not find a book to spend my money on. I was intent on purchasing something, and open to splurging a bit. But the closest I came was a 3rd or 4th edition hardcover of Daphne De Maurier's "Don't Look Now" novel printed in the 1970s. I love her work and have many of her books, but not this one which may be her most famous due to the Donald Sutherland film adaptation. However, for $35...I just couldn't quite do it. If it were a first edition, most certainly. If it were $20 for a 4th edition, quite possibly. There were some cool vintage sci-fi paperbacks (Heinlein, Herbert, Aasimov, etc.) that were probably priced in line with the market. But much of the stock reminded me of how "curating" a collection can present items as more valuable than they are. Is a gardening book from the 1950s in VF condition worth $40? Or a map cut out of an old National Geographic matted on cardstock worth $20? I really like the idea of this store and wish them the best because book stores are the coolest places on earth. I just felt everything was about 25% higher than it was likely worth. I would have splurged had I come across a great old edition of a favorite novel, though. Sounds like stock changes regularly and they are set up to encourage perusing, finding something you didn't know you were looking for. Wish them continued success and giving them a solid "3" (which in my book is "good"). Definitely recommend the vending machine!

And not just books... Shop here often. Great choice of books available, but also magazines, Aime,…read moreGraphic Novels, Blu-Ray/DVD +collections, figurines, collectibles. Helpful, knowledgeable staff. Both new and used items. Used are priced appropriately. BMV is my go to, for sure.

The staff offered to help without being pushy which I really appreciated. The shelves were neatly…read morearranged and looked freshly cleaned. Even the windows were spotless. This place clearly takes pride in both service and hygiene.

Indigo is the biggest book store chain in Canada and even though I do prefer a small book store,…read moreI've always been quite the fan of Indigo. This massive location on Bloor is two stories and full of absolutely anything a book store could and should have. Books, magazines, clothing, pens, home goods, plushies, and did I mention the books part? This store is very clean, very well organized, and makes it very well known when a book is put out by a Canadian author with a big sticker right on the cover to let you know, and I sure do love supporting other Canadians. Overall, this location is amazing and probably my favourite one. I ended up leaving with a sweatshirt, a poetry book for a friend, and two books my wife picked out. I very much look forward to coming back on my next trip back home!

This is a lovely large bookstore with a back entrance to a mall. It has tiered floors of books,…read moregames, mugs, some decor among other items. I loved the big open feel and that there were employees around to ask questions. I had researched options for checking out a local bookstore and landed on this one as it was close to our hotel. I could have been in here for hours exploring but luckily brought my husband which saved us lots of money. I thought the variety was good and liked that books by both local and Canadian authors were marked.

Despite this location being in the hussle and bustle of the PATH, I feel instantly calmer when I…read morewalk through the doors. They don't always have the best selection because it's a small location; but the staff makes up for it by assisting you in ordering what you need. They're just sooo friendly. They don't rush people out the door & actually seem happy to be at work. I didn't know that existed. I went in there this week to purchase 2 books. Female cashier looked at my selection and we struck up a conversation about authors in that category. She then suggested 3 more authors for when I was done with those books. Another salesperson walked by and upon overhearing our convo, joined in. When he saw the books I was purchasing, he let me know that one of my choices could be purchased for less in the hardcover version. Decent convo AND cheaper books? Score!

Review is for the online store not the physical location. Olivia, who runs the online store was…read morekind, quick, and responded to all of my inquires in a timely manner! She was able to help me with an inquiry and went above and beyond! Thank you Olivia!!!! Even the staff at the store when I called were friendly and warm! Hope to actually visit in person next time I'm in Canada!

Has such a fantastic selection of books and other things that I feel you wouldn't be able to…read morediscover if you went to a normal book retailer, plus the space is so inviting and makes you want to stay in there forever