Still a bastion of sanity, art, culture and decency in Harvard Square and in a crazy world. I did…read moremy undergrad at Harvard, and spent many a day in this bookstore, and I spent many a hard earned dollar there too! That was when there were a dozen of bookstores in Harvard Square. Downstairs, a lot of great used books, at great prices. Wonderful selection, pretty cool special events, and a great staff. Highest of recommendations. No negatives whatsoever.

Harvard Book Store sits on Massachusetts Avenue in Harvard Square and has been a fixture of the…read moreCambridge intellectual landscape long enough that it functions as a landmark rather than just a retail destination. We walked past the large windows and stacked displays visible from the street, and they invited us in before we had made any decision to enter. Once inside, the floor to ceiling shelves and the density of the selection created an atmosphere that is difficult to rush through even when we came in with a specific title in mind. The main floor covers new releases, staff picks, and a broad selection organized by subject across fiction, nonfiction, and a range of specialized categories. The curation reflects the surrounding community in the best way, with titles that reward browsing beyond the obvious bestseller tables. Staff are knowledgeable and genuinely helpful when you want a recommendation or need to locate something specific, and the information desk handles navigation questions efficiently without making you feel like you are interrupting. The basement is where the store distinguishes itself most clearly from a standard bookshop. The used and remaindered book sections downstairs cover an enormous range at a fraction of the cover price, and the quality of the used stock tends to be high. Spending time down there is one of the more rewarding ways to move through the store, and we came up with something we were not looking for when we went down. The remaindered section in particular offers discounted new copies of titles that did not move at full price, and the selection rotates enough that regular visits continue to surface new things. For an independent bookstore that delivers on depth, curation, and genuine value in the basement, Harvard Book Store is a Cambridge institution worth returning to again and again. It is the kind of place where you go in for one book and leave with a stack, and that is exactly how a good bookstore should feel.

A cozy little used bookstore hidden on Spring Lane in Downtown Boston. They have a nice selection…read moreof old books, comics, vintage maps, and other interesting printed materials. The store is small and a little crowded, but that actually adds to the atmosphere. A fun place to browse for 20-30 minutes if you're in the area, especially if you enjoy old books and vintage finds.

Definitely a book lovers bookstore. It's actually located in the alley where the early pilgrims…read moreobtained their freshwater in the early days of Boston. An absolute plethora of little gems to be found all over the place here Definitely the best bookstore that I saw in Boston

When my friend said she wanted to go to this book store on our short trip to Boston, I was lowkey…read moreside eyeing her. But man oh man, I'm glad she made this one of our stops!! Walking up, there's an outdoor section with books for sale that is aesthetically pleasing. We didn't go through the books but I saw sales as low as $5 a book. This book store is one of a kind! There's 3 floors. The stairs to the second floor are beautiful. The top floor has an impressive collection of rare books. We spent 30 minutes just looking through all the titles and oooing and ahhhing at how awesome it would be to own them! This is a book lovers dream and honestly just stop by to see how cool it is!

Brattle! I was so excited to visit this bookshop as a tourist. I made sure it was one of the places…read moreI stopped at while in town. There were so many books, everywhere in the store and outside the store. I didn't find anything outside. I don't think it was anything written in the last 20 years outside. All old or hella old books. Inside, there were old books also but a few newer books. There were so many sections to browse. I also was able to find and purchase a book that was on my TBR. The people at the register were nice and made sure they were ringing everyone up and moving the line along. The prices for the books were ok. I bought a book because I didn't have it and I was here but I'm sure I could have gotten it cheaper at the Goodwill but it's about the experience. I definitely enjoyed the bookshop and the experience.

This place is pretty large and for some students and visitors, this is THE place to go if you want…read moreany kind of Harvard souvenir. The store was founded in 1882 by a group of Harvard students to make textbooks more affordable and learning more accessible. Later, MIT joined forces and the COOP is the place for students of either college to get supplies, gifts and souvenirs. I loved all the great sweaters they had.

I just realize it. There are two COOPs. One features college apparel and the other focuses on…read morebooks. The bookstore in the center of Harvard Square. Most of the books are on the second floor broken out in sections. They have everything you can imagine. I focused on Steven King. The books are arranged in alphabetical order by author. They have people ready to assist customers with any question. The prices are reasonable.

Helpful staff will point you to the section you want, but don't necessarily expect the particular…read morebook you seek. It's not a new book store; it's a used book store, so they're limited to what comes in. That said, they have a terrific, wide selection.

This place is great. It puts most other used bookstores to shame!! October has 1/2 off fiction and…read moreyou can often find hardcover bestsellers for dollars compared to $30 at Barnes and noble's.

" Love their selection of books plus vibe " Love this big…read moreselection of books , I am in too . They have a whole vibe ; I love . I wish I could buy every book in here ; lol. The value for your money is incredible. The service is a whole vibe ; you'll love it .

this is a decent place, but be warned that despite all of the other accessibility features they…read morehave (a ramp, snacks, a bathroom), it's extremely hot in there with no air conditioning. i was sweating so hard that my arms were drenched, and i left without buying anything because it was too hot to think in there. i thought it would be a nice place to go after buying a book from them at an event, but this is a small upgrade from a shack.

This is a jewel of a bookstore. The books are all curated by Mila the owner and the selection shows…read moreher care. I found two terrific new books and a used book that was signed by the author. She just celebrated her first year in business and I wish her many more!

Narrative is a wonderfully decorated oasis to sort through a beautifully and thoughtfully curated…read moreselection of books (with an emphasis on women and LGBTQ authors, heck yeah) and sit in a comfy chair to watch Davis Square pass by. I am only deducting one star because the owner's near constant talking takes away from the zen of the space. It's an incredible feat what she's done in nearly two years but the constancy and volume of her voice makes it hard to focus on perusing titles and cozying up to start reading a book in the lovely nook at the front of the store. The space is small and noises echo. I think a statement at the front to keep voices down would be wise. It's not a library, no, but the sound makes it difficult to really lock in. I wish Narrative well!

Was a literal dream come true for me. The excitement of seeing such a well stocked, gorgeous, and…read moredreamy setting for happy endings was nonstop. You can find any romance trope here whether by indie authors or by NY Times bestsellers. The staff was friendly and helpful with ALL the romance genre knowledge and the themed drinks to sip on made spending time here a blast. I never wanted to leave. Definitely worth a hop on the T to visit if you are in Boston or a drive if in the area

I emailed saying the next time I'm in Harvard Sq walking my dog, I will stop in. Jeanne sent a…read moregeneric response. Fine. I went in with my dog one night, about an hr to closing. My well-behaved, constantly trained, clean and well groomed 17lb cockapoo. More is expected from Black people with Black dogs! We can't just say they're reactive but cute and go on with life. That would be lazy and silly! :-P My pup was tired from doggy daycare and walking/smelling the square. Most of the time I was holding her when she wasn't at my feet. I noticed there was a cafe there. There wasn't when I was there before. We turned around like Abe Simpson in that brothel Bart was working at. To be respectful, even though the cafe and surrounding area might have had 3 people there, including a barista. I had 2 books, and some stationary on my buy list. Luckily those were near the back door, away from the cafe. But again- Not a single employee greeted, smiled, acknowledged, or offered assistance. But imagine how I felt when someone approached me :D... to ask if my dog was a service dog :((( Me: "You're not allowed to ask that." ADA law. She scurried away. No apology. Clearly I was noticed by staff. Just not as a viable customer. Just say you don't want my Black self, dog, DISABILITIES, and dollars in your store! I love to know where not to waste my time. I jumped through hoops to get Pup her certifications and registered as my support dog. #1 reason: I am often treated inhumanly in establishments such as this and need her comfort. Working customer service and not knowing the laws or to greet clients? Odd...We've never been in a store full of femmes who paid her dust. Says a lot... We had just left a line of fans at MUJI. Merch geared towards the femmes and queers does not a great business make. Not when you ignore other intersectionalities. Not in this economy. Do better. Or not. I'm never coming back and telling my friends, neighbors, colleagues not to bother either. Spoiler - a few of my queer Black friends have had similar experiences. Do not bother responding.