This space was really cool! I'm so glad I stopped in. If you love the smell of books, this is your place. High quality books, mostly used. My kind of place! read more

See all

A very cute store with an interesting selection at great prices. I've been shopping there for while and I've noticed the staff is very uncomfortable to deal with. Never really been greeted when walking through the door even though the register desk is next to the front door. Whenever I've checked out there is no interaction other than being told how much I owe, expecting I know the drill. I've always said thank you and have a nice day, and I can't remember a time a staff member has responded. read more

Cute bookstore filled with so many treasures! I left with a few good reads. The staff is friendly and I will certainly be back the next time I am in the area! read more

See all

I visited during July 2025 while on vacation. Love this place! The people working were friendly and helpful. The selection was intriguing! Not like a run-of-the-mill big box store. I found books I'm familiar with (Autobiography of Malcom X), and books I've never heard of but am happy to have now. There are also vintage and antique books (individual and in sets), and some collectibles. The genres are well-marked throughout, and there are more downstairs. Speaking of stairs, they were wide and sturdy, and even my bad knees didn't complain. The pricing is very fair for new & old books. Highly recommend a regular stop at Paper Nautilus! read more

Paper Nautilus - Bookstores Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I was walking around Wayland Square and came across Paper Nautilus. There are 2 floors of rare used books and mix of flea market treasures, antiques, and postcards. I spotted a cute teapot set, vintage clothing, and so much more. It was cool to check out the store. The workers were very friendly and offered their assistance. There are a few parking spots available in front of the store. read more

Paper Nautilus - Bookstores Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

If you love old books, that are over hundred years old this place is for you. Even the books that are expensive are cheaper here than in other rare find book stores. But if you like history, there are tons of books here on every subject at a very good price ! Highly recommended if you are a book lover. read more

Super cute bookstore with lots of old books and new ones too. They have cheap old postcards and antique-type stuff. Reasonably priced and good atmosphere! read more

Paper Nautilus - Bookstores Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

As soon as you walk in you get the heavenly smell of old books. The selection is fantastic and the service is great.

I could easily live here. As a matter of fact, my goal is for my house to resemble the ambience offered here. There's endless content of fine reads in every category imaginable ranging in all levels and spread out by category. The zenful energy I picked up as soon as I walked in allowed me to comfortably browse every section with ease as I picked my books. I can tell every item stocked here was selected with intent which made the hint for my next texts even more worthwhile. It's a perfect getaway to escape the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. I always look forward to building my bookshelf to replicate my inner soul so shopping here was truly a delight. I've always thought that books make the perfect gift and it's a great way of growing your awareness of interesting matters so when I spotted this place out on Yelp, I knew I had to make it here while in town. I had a wonderful afternoon browsing and shopping here so I truly recommend it to locals and tourists in the area searching for an alternative activity that flourishes your mind. read more

See all

New Location- Same Amazing Quality and content. They moved (only two buildings over) but now there are two floors of books- upstairs and basement. I didn't think you could improve this store, but they have. Still has that amazing eclectic vibe with book both popular and obscure. I still find treasures here each time I go and recommend it for both locals and tourists. Looking forward to coming back! read more

Paper Nautilus - Well organized and good materials - Bookstores Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

See all

Really amazing customer service! I had an unusual book request that they helped me out with (I needed an odd-sized mylar sleeve last minute) and charged me almost nothing. I was so grateful to find a local store owner who had something in stock. He even helped me by carefully putting it on. What a gem of a small business. I will be a customer for life! They have a beautiful selection of books. The person in front of me checking out had some H.P. Lovecraft and I also saw a large section of books just on Rhode Island (which I've been looking for). I will definitely be coming back for Christmas gifts. read more

Pure magic!! Can't wait to go again! There's something for every age and the selection isn't too overwhelming. There's just enough to keep the whole family entertained. I love the set up & organization. It's easy to find what you're looking for. They don't have "everything" like a larger bookstore has (do larger bookstores even exist still? Lol) but I could still spend hours there! read more

I go here whenever I can. The selection is huge and there's always so many unique items that catch my eye. My favorite is the dollar books out front. They have niche items and there is always one or five things that catch my eye. read more

Used and discount bookstores are pretty much my favorite thing and this one is a great find and easily my favorite in Providence. Awesome selection and cheap prices. I got a book about the psychology of con men, a memoir of a crack addict, autobiography of Bert Lahr, and a book about Hemingway's favorite cocktails all for $20! Can't wait to come back! read more

Paper Nautilus - What I bought at my last visit! - Bookstores Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I love perusing the language section of used book stores. Prior to visiting this store, I had never seen in a language section Shona and Egyptian language books. I give this 4 out of 5 stars because of the unique finds in the language section. Hell, I had to Google while standing in the store where the Shona language section was spoken. And this place has a Shona grammar book from the early 1900s and a Shona language workbook compiled recently for those specializing in this language. Definitely unique! read more

My gosh, this place is so eclectic and interesting! And the dollar book bins are FABULOUS! Inside, there is a great selection of second hand titles, little nooks and crannies to grab a chair and read in, and a surprise brick patio out back! I immediately went to the Food and Wine section, and found some very nice books, in great condition and reasonably priced! The gardening section in the back room was also impressive! The owner, who seemed a touch reserved at first, was very conversational and pleasant at check out, and when I discovered I still had euro coins from Ireland he was so interested in them that I gave them to him. After that he asked me how I liked Ireland, and related some stories that he has heard from other travelers. I genuinely enjoyed our chat, and felt like we had a nice connection which is very refreshing in our current retail culture that often feels very impersonal and automated. I realize we can all find second hand books for very cheap on a certain mega corporation's website... But I don't mind paying a bit more here, and being able to support such a lovely local business with so much to offer the community! read more

Great "secondhand" bookstore. Big selection, well organized, and beautifully decorated. It smells like books. In the heart of Wayland Square. Pick up a book or two and head across the street to the outdoor patio at L"Artisan for coffee; or vice-versa. read more

Paper Nautilus - Back room at Paper Nautilus - Bookstores Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

See all

A friend told me to check out this bookstore and I stopped in here recently and was pleasantly surprised by the variety of books they had. I love the charm of this place and it reminds me of my days of living in NY. I love that there are all these old gems hidden within the shelves amongst newer books. I came across a great little book on mythology that I had to pick up and I'll be back for sure. read more

Hum, very confusing... Recently, I was looking for local used bookstores to find some obscure books for my husband. I knew Myopic Books was in the hood, so I Yelped it... yuck... consistant bad reviews based on customer service. I am embarrassed to say... I went to check it out myself (not that I did not believe you guys...). To my surprise, it is not Myopic books anymore. It is "renamed" Paper Nautilus. Per one of the other Yelpers, and it's own website, it is still under the same ownership. I have visited the store three times since Christmas, and all three times the same woman has been working there, and she has been very quiet and polite, listening to NPR; no heavy sighing, no pressure, no rudeness. (Maybe I just got lucky.) She let me poke around and explore without saying a word to me... and that is how I like it! And I guess that is the meat and potatoes of it... I just really enjoyed combing the stacks, discovering cool books at my leisure. I found some really interesting books in their economics section, and religions section and their little essay's revolving bookcase, etc. It has been hit or miss on finding what I am looking for each time I am there, but I have made some cool purchases. I felt like I got a great deal on the hardcovers I bought (50-65% off cover price), but I wish their paperbacks and kid's books were a bit less expensive. read more

Stopped by there today for the first time and it won't be the last. Two steps in to the place I could smell that musty odorous that only a used bookstore could produce and if on cue the floor creaked. Loved this place. It has a very wide range of topics and scattered about little non book things that were pretty interesting. It reminded me of a used bookstore on the upper end of Newbury street in Boston from back in the day whose name I've long forgotten but still remember spending a lot of time there. This place is a true gem in the convenient but empty world of on line shopping. read more

i am a bibliophile and love bookstores. i especially find used bookstores romantic and full of surprises. this place has a nice selection of trade paperbacks as well as a fantastic if small selection of everything else. letters by vonnegut, or old medical textbooks, for example. however i must warn you to beware the dour petite woman that owns and runs the place. i have never met anyone so consistently dour. whether she's ringing me up or buying books from me or looking a book up for me...i'm sure there's a reason she's sullen and withdrawn, but i certainly think twice before walking in there if i know she's around. you're much safer if the guy mitch is there. much friendlier, nicer, more helpful, more welcoming. read more

We absolutely love this place! It is one of our favorite gems in the city. THANK YOU for staying alive in this Amazon world!

The first time I went to Paper Nautilus it was still called Myopic Books. I was 17, in Providence for the Summer attending a Summer course at Brown.My class had asked the grad student teaching us if there were any good 2nd hand bookstores within walking distance of the campus. Since it was a nice day he offered to take us to Paper Nautilus, which was a short walk away in Wayland Square. I fell in love immediately with the charming little bookstore. In terms of selection and price the Nautilus may not be able to compete with huge bookstores like The Strand or The Brattle Bookstore. But pound for pound it's hard to find a bookstore that matches it. They won't always have the book you're looking for, but they will have something interesting and they'll sell it to you at a reasonable price. When I moved to the East Side of Providence I became a regular customer. The store is well laid out, and the staff will let you browse in peace without hovering over you asking if they can help you find anything. A good place to go when you want a book but aren't sure which particular book it is you want. read more

Book selection is quite solid. As others have noted, the woman at check-out wasn't easy to engage with. She seemed skeptical of customers or something. It was a little strange. The gentleman in front of me also tried to engage with her and she had very minimalist responses. My friend straight up thought she was rude. I probably wouldn't return just because I believe quite strongly in customer service. But if you're only focused on books, it's fine. Not the world's greatest used bookstore, but it's decent. read more

Every time I wander into this bookstore I enjoy my time and end up purchasing something. They usually set out baskets of books for $1 each when it's sunny. Some of those books can feel like a real steal. Last week they were doing a sale where they were giving a percentage off of all their books, all week long. Naturally, all the books are discounted already since they are used. What I love about this bookstore though is that it's very calming and they decorate nicely with mostly vintage items like old books or old art prints or old tea sets or old phones. You just never know what you'll find in here but everything is available for purchase so it's almost like you can get a lil taste of antiquing/thrifting just by stopping in. I could easily find a gift in here for someone I know. I will admit, I've been tempted to buy very random things from this store. Mostly I purchase books here, occasionally I'll buy a record or a figurine or something else. Last time I was in I scored a great deal on a few biographies. If you're looking for a certain book you can always call ahead or email to make sure they have it before you venture out. Their selection is pretty random and the location is modest so it would be odd to expect them to just have something specific (no matter how common). I've also used their Art-O-Mat machine, so if you like inexpensive surprises you can always stop in and try that (It's a vending machine with surprise local art inside. They have them all over the country in random locations). Mostly I just love that this bookstore exists and that the people who run it are chill and nice. It's definitely a calming place to visit every now and then. As a bonus, L'artisan cafe across the street is delicious too! *i never have a problem finding parking nearby on the street* If you want to know more about Art-O-Mat: http://www.artomat.org/ read more

Great place for books but somewhat disorganized and clerks weren't the most enthusiastic

What a gem of a shop! Beautiful to look at in every way: art on the walls, varied yard sales type oddities, wacky and wild plants! I always find something fabulous there that I didn't know I needed until it called out to me. I live in New Jersey and stop in every time I am in Rhode Island visiting family. I even travel north on 95 with used books to sell! Her collection is very wide ranging, although I don't always find what I went in for, I always find something great. I gravitate to the art and design collection, along with fiction. My husband buys non-fiction and history, but it is my 12 year old son who walks out with the largest pile of books! He has been introduced to the best old children's literature through years of reading Paper Nautilus books. Wish this shop was closer to home! read more

Made a quick visit to this eclectic enclave today, it was a pleasure to reacquaint myself with the Nautilus. The owner greeted me warmly, and guided me expertly right to the book(s) I was seeking, foreign language dictionaries which she in fact had several different editions to choose from. I prefer a traditionalist approach to language learning, and these previously-owned editions are inclined this way -- exactly what I was looking for. When you stop by make sure to look at some of the exotic (and low cost) offerings, such as old postcards and momentoes, I left with British Museum postcards from 100 years ago, I already treasure them. The owner gets my plaudits for her persistence and good humor considering her job of running (for many years now) a "used" book emporium in this day of Amazon and Ebay. She and her store have justly earned their reputation on the East Side of Providence. I will return soon. Albert , East Providence, RI read more