1. Paper Trail Books

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Royal Oak, MI

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Paper Trail Books

4.7 (22 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

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Jessica N.

I really enjoyed walking through Paper Trail Books and feel like I could get lost here for hours. It's a small shop but there is a large selection of used books. I was really impressed with how extremely well organized and maintained the store was. They had a large selection and wide variety of books from every genre including fiction, mystery, sci fi, history, political science, occult, metaphysical, regional, diet/cooking, children's, travel, photography and more. Large selection of fiction books with lots of great finds at affordable prices. Most books were around $5 - $7 and seemed to be in very good condition even though they're previously owned. You can bring your used books here and trade them in for store credit. I purchased a Clockwork Orange for around $7 and saw quite a few other books I was interested in. Looking forward to stopping in again.

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4 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Andre!

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3 months ago

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1 year ago

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David B.

Thank you, Tim!

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1 year ago

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David B.

Thank you, Corey!

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1 year ago

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David B.

Thank you, Karen!

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2 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Jason!

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8 months ago

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David B.

Thank you, Id!

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1 year ago

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David B.

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2 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Mary!

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8 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Jessica!

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2 years ago

Such a GREAT book store!! The prices were amazing too and I found a wide variety of different books!! Will definitely be going again:)

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David B.

Thank you, Anna!

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3 years ago

Great selection and probably the most organized used bookshop I've been to. I've been able to find several on my TBR list each time I visit.

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David B.

Thank you, Sarrah!

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3 years ago

The owner is always kind and great selection of books with most at great prices, love the new age/metaphysical section.

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David B.

Thank you, Everett!

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7 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Nicholas!

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8 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Sarah!

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8 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Robin!

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6 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, David!

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4 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Rambo!

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9 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Cheryl!

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8 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Haroun!

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9 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Meg!

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9 years ago

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David B.

Thank you, Mianna!

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Ask the Community - Paper Trail Books

Review Highlights - Paper Trail Books

“Excellent, cozy and cool used bookstore with many titles and a wide selection of books.”

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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John K King Books North

John K King Books North

4.1(30 reviews)
2.1 mi
•$

What a fantastic place. When the only complaint I can think of for a place is it's too difficult…read morenot to spend too much money there it's pretty much a slam dunk for five stars. And the thing is most of the books here are very reasonably priced if not outright bargains. It might be heresy but I think I like the Northern iteration of John K King books more than the OG King store in downtown - and that too is five stars. With just one level and a layout nothing like the sprawling labyrinth of the flagship store, the Ferndale spin-off is much more manageable and browsable. Not too mention not as freezing in the winter or boiling in the summer. (I just gave my review of John K King South - now nine years old! - a quick reread and I was so reverential to that store I didn't even mention that. No crying in bookstores, I guess.) It's been far too long since I've been to JKKN. In fact I asked the sole employee tonight, wearing a bandana almost just like mine as a mask - I think his might have been midnight blue and not black - if they still had a cat. He told me no, that was before his time. I already figured it wouldn't be the same cat, but it's too bad that late feline doesn't have a successor. Bookstore cats are even more of a dying breed than old school indie bookstores like this. I came in for a cookbook or three, as it's embarrassing how little cooking knowledge and experience I have in my forties and I'm looking to step my game up. I ended up leaving with almost $70 worth of books, with a $5 2 disc DVD set of Cream in concert being part of that total. I got a John Waters hardcover memoir of hitchhiking for $8.50, well below the $26 cover price. I picked up the first collection of Walking Dead comics for $5.95, a big beautiful coffee table called Masters of American comics for $12, Academic Graffiti by W.H. Auden and some sports guidebooks from the 70s for my dad. Nothing local, St. Louis Blues, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Flames, but they're wonderfully vintage. There were also a handful of books that tempted me mightily but some modicum of self control kept me from snatching up. A book about The Stooges, one about erotic comics and one about the Cannonball cross country race are still on the shelves waiting for a lucky patron to take them home. When I finished cashing out my bandana clad clerk asked me if I wanted a bag or a box. That dude knows what's up, as I had some serious weight in that stack. Now I got a nice old Xerox box when I get my purchases filed away. The North remembers!

I visited John K. King Downtown a few years on my first visit to Detroit. I visited the King North…read morelocation last week when I was in Ferndale with my family. This location doesn't have the four floors of the downtown location, but it's still an incredible used bookstore. You walk in and you just smell old books. It's a little musty, it's packed wall to wall with books, and you can definitely find a gem here. I found two books I couldn't be parted from, while my mom found one of her own. If you don't need a particular book, but you're just in the mood for a browse, this Ferndale satellite store is worth a visit.

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John K King Books North
John K King Books North
John K King Books North

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Books A Million - Books

Books A Million

3.6(46 reviews)
4.5 mi
•$$

I really miss Border's Books so much. Some of their locations became BAM. When I get I chance I…read morelike to road trip to Sandusky, OH to BAM because they still have their coffee shop, Joe Mugs, and I really enjoy a bookstore with a cafe. I have not been to particular location book store for decades, but the moment I stepped through the door all of my Border's Books memories came flooding back with all the good feels and all the good vibes. I really missed coming to a place like this. Like Border's they have some great deals, fun products, and a nice selection. The kids love manga, and they had a nice section. A very helpful and enthusiastic worker helped them find some books and had a lengthy and fun conversation. I simply enjoyed walking around hunting some good finds. Since I am big into holiday shopping, I was excited to find fun books and trinkets. Plus, anyone who has listened to the news lately and has gone to other big box shops, there is a bit of a toy shortage and they seemed to have plenty of good ones here. But I was informed that they do not have their full stock of books and items due to the current shortages. For me the only reason this establishment does not get five stars is due to a lack of coffee shop. I miss the full experiences, but if I remember correctly, this location never had a cafe. Since I am very big into coffee, I would have frequented this store more if there was a spot for some caffeine and snacks. But now that I have seen what they do have to offer, I am sure we will stop by again soon.

Books. Books. Books…read more I'm slowly getting my momentum back when it comes to reading, and it was time I put a dent into my wishlist. I came here the other day specifically for Pete Souza's new book, which is hysterical and amusing after only three pages. I would've saved around 10 bucks had I ordered online, but I couldn't wait 3-5 days. The employees don't seem too high strung, and seem very eager to help you out, which is great because it can be annoying when it's obviously that you need help, yet staff just walks by you. When I initially entered the store the first thing to catch my eye was a mug. I end up picking it up, only to add to the 40+ mugs I already have and don't really need. In addition to mugs they're tons of gadgets, cards, keychains, ect... This store almost feels like a an outlet Barnes and Nobles meets Borders. Plan on return to do some Christmas shopping for friends/family who also loves books.

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Books A Million - Books-A-Million in Beverly Hills MI

Books-A-Million in Beverly Hills MI

Books A Million - Books-A-Million in Beverly Hills MI

Books-A-Million in Beverly Hills MI

Books A Million - Books-A-Million in Beverly Hills MI

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Books-A-Million in Beverly Hills MI

Classic Book Shop

Classic Book Shop

3.2(30 reviews)
3.7 mi
•$$$

I thought this store was a gem in the crown of the great used bookstores I've been to in my life…read more This medium-sized store was packed to the gills, but not overflowing with boxes on the floor and triple rows of books on shelves. The books were in very good condition, I happened to buy 4 of them, and they were all in mylar coverings and very reasonably priced. I was super impressed with the selection, not the size, perhaps, but the quality. There were a lot of things that made me pull them off the shelf and Other people mentioned the guy behind the counter. We greeted each other when I entered, and he was listening to the radio and talking to himself ("the French resistance saving Paris is the biggest myth in history", or something like that) but other than seeming a little strange, he wasn't unfriendly or unprofessional to me. I'm sorry others have had bad experiences here, but I will hop, skip, and jump back here on my next visit to Detroit for some quality used books for my collection. This is a place where you could find a great gift for somebody you really like.

The guy was super rude to me because my books were dusty. Next time I'll donate them to a library…read moreinstead of collecting a piddly 5 dollars. It would have been one thing to just ask me to dust them or maybe just sarcastically ribbed me about it a little, but he was genuinely bitter about it! "Why clean them when you can just dump them on me?" he said. Like okay, I'm not perfect and didn't realize quite how dusty these old books are, but at the same time, maintaining the physical condition of books is part of YOUR job, my guy. I didn't need that crappy attitude. Hopefully one of the books I gave him has termites in them or something. Go somewhere else!

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Classic Book Shop
Classic Book Shop
Classic Book Shop

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Paper Trail Books - usedbooks - Updated October 2026

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