This one hit it all, in the small but mighty way. Great selection with so many choices packed to maximize space and provide lots of places to tuck in and browse, reasonably priced items that would delight book lovers and those who love them alike, and the folks who work there-wow! Great service! read more

Porter Square Books - As the sign says, coffee, plants and books! - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Porter Square Books has a lot going on! It's more than a bookstore, they sell calenders, toys, stuffed animals, stickers, plants, and much more. I wondered here after checking out Paige and Leaf Cafe which they are attached to. The store was crammed with interesting stuff to look at. They also have a small table in the middle of the store plus some chairs scattered around the store for seating to do some reading. I saw a sign on the door that they do events for the community and have book authors can by. They have a bargain and 20% section to save some money. It's big inside and I got lost looking at toys and reading excerpts of some books (including the Grimm Fairytales) and spent about an hour here. Overall, I appreciate the amount of variety of items they carry and I think that sets them apart from other bookstores. read more

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Great bookstore and nice coffee shop with excellent sandwiches! They also will mail you your book or magazine selections if needed.

This is my favorite independent book store of all time. They have a variety of books that include niche and top picks. In addition, they host really cool events. One time, they brought the author of "Girl, Interrupted," which was so neat! They also have a cute little cafe, selling all sorts of pastries as well as Vietnamese fresh spring rolls, which I highly recommend. Surprisingly, they include peanut sauce with the rolls, which not many restaurants offer. Please stop by and get yourself a nice cup of coffee, read a good book, and support your local small business! read more

Porter Square Books - Girl, Interrupted - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Since they moved I figured I would give them another review. While they are only 2 block away from their previous location, they are still doing it right. A different space, different vibe I guess yet still a great amount of books to peruse & shop for. Whether cards, calendars, candles, or other type of trinkets you may need, they got it. Not to mention the cafe w/ a super tasty pumpkin bread which you must get! read more

The new space is even better than the old one. They are currently running a great event, "Your Own Private Bookstore," which lets you rent the bookstore for an hour after closing on Friday evenings for a party of 5-10 people while the staff close up. The entire booking fee applies to any purchase you make as well, which I did not expect and found incredibly generous. The staff basically just let you do your thing, though are around in case anyone needs anything. Definitely a good time. read more

The new Porter Square Books is a delight! Newly renovated and relocated into the Lesley University building, they have a much larger floor space and with more space means greater selection and more books. The aisles are placed in a way to invite browsing and discovery; not too regular aisle patterns as you'd find in a Barnes and Noble or a library. Staff was helpful as always, and it's nice that they open a bit later for the Christmas season. read more

This is my favorite general bookstore. With the new location, there's even free parking behind the building, making going there even easier and more pleasant than before. Twice lately I've learned about brand new books and they had them in stock--they have their fingers on the pulse of their readers. The booksellers are always helpful, especially Hannah recently! It's an oasis for book lovers. read more

Absolutely great, but their previously fabulous magazine section is no longer. Yes there are esoteric mags, but well-known literary reviews and fine design or woodworking magazines were dropped! read more

I have recently ordered a special book that was to be a present for someone close to me. But due to me being so far away, and having a time constraint, I had to message and call the book store a few times. I never felt pushed aside and always felt that my concerns were being met with respect. I love the new book and my experience with the online bookstore. I would like to thank the workers of the bookstore for their help in my order and If I ever visit Cambridge, I will definitely visit. read more

This is a cool little bookstore located right in Porter Square. I was initially surprised I never noticed it before. I always wanted to hang out in a bookstore in Cambridge so this place made my day. The staff greeted me as I entered and helped when needed. There is a good choice of books present. I spent a good hour or so walking around and picking out which books to purchase. There is a small cafe located inside the store as well. It was early in the morning so I picked up a quick scone and coffee while reading. What surprised me was the Vietnamese spring rolls they offered. You don't see that every day in a cafe. Porter Square Books is located right next to a Dunkin, Panera Bread, and Starbucks which is a lot of competition. However, it seemed that most people go out of the way to come here to support local vendors. This was my first time vising Porter Square Books and I was pleasantly surprised. I love this addition to the Porter Square area. You can pick up groceries, read a book, have a nice meal all at once. I do visit Cambridge often so I plan to come by here again. read more

Porter Square Books - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

For a small, indie bookstore, they carry a large and varied assortment of books without making the aisles impossible to traverse. Upon entering, you can tell this is a store that doesn't cater ONLY to the bestsellers. The display books were all new and diverse selections along with a middle grade/YA graphic novel section that my son loved. I noticed quite a few signed editions of books as well, so if you are looking for signed copies, this is a place to check. Inside, they also have a small cafe with a few tables outside where you could enjoy a pastry and a cup of tea. They have a few gift items and stickers as well, but this is a store that is mostly about the books. read more

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Why did it take me so long to find you, Porter Square Books?! In all my years of school in Boston plus countless productions and auditions in the Cambridge area, I never stumbled upon this cute little bookstore / cafe hybrid until embarrassingly recently! However, I'm sure glad that I did! Porter Square Books is tucked inside of a strip mall easily accessible by Red Line MBTA, so it's a snap to get here and get your inner nerd on! The book selection is impressive for a diminutive shop, and it always feels better to shop small (no shade to Barnes & Noble, but I'd rather patronize a cool little bookstore when I can). In addition to the great selection of books, novels, and gift items, they are also invested in the community, and host author meet n' greets and lectures every week. Check their website for details! What makes Porter Square Books truly awesome is the fact that it has its own cafe inside the shop that's also independently run - no Starbucks or Dunkin' franchise setting up in here. In addition to the usual coffee and tea menu suspects, they also carry Vietnamese Summer Rolls, which are the perfect light and refreshing companion as you venture into a world of bibliophilic bliss! It's a unique detail like this that makes this shop really memorable. The baristas are also very nice and make drinks promptly and accurately. If you're there around closing, they may even give you a summer roll for free! I can't believe I went this long without knowing about Porter Square Books, but it's now a Boston/Cambridge favorite, and I look forward to shopping here again and again. read more

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I just went 1x. Disappointed. I love local bookstores and I wouldn't discourage anyone from going here, but it's a schlep for me and I likely won't go back. I didn't love the store layout. They were out of nearly all food offerings. They have a small seating area in the cafe, but otherwise, not anywhere to sit if you want to browse a book and don't want to take up space in the cafe. On the plus side, the location is great - right next to the T - and they have parking in the back (free some times). That's a huge improvement over being in the strip mall where parking is a nightmare. They have a large kids section. Although I thought their old location had a more fun kids area. They offer some gift items. They're independent - and I understand partly owned by former(?) employees. I hope they do well in their new space. Apparently they have more space - it just didn't feel like that to me. read more

First, I have to say that I am a big fan of Porter Square Books. It's my choice of independent bookstores for direct purchasing and online ordering. But...I am so disappointed in the new space. It's really tight and very hard to navigate. The shelves are placed in a way that makes me feel like I'm in a maze, and there's not a lot of space for movement in between them. The cafe is lovely, but, again, the circulation is poor. The children's section is not welcoming to children. There's no space for a kid to just sit down on the floor (or even a table) to read a book, or for a caregiver to read to them. The two chairs placed in this section seem to always be occupied by adults who do not have a child with them, but seem to just need a break. And the chairs are placed right up against the bookshelves where someone might want to look for a book! I'm saddened by the loss of the outdoor space - which felt like a really welcoming part of the community, and the parking. Paying for parking to go to a bookstore just doesn't make any sense to me. And 45 minutes free isn't enough time for anyone who really wants to spend some time perusing (and purchasing). whereas I might just drop into Porter Square Books after a trip to the gym or on my way home to look around and usually purchase something, I am sorry to say that I am reluctant to go there these days. read more

PSB since the big move: well, it's great to have a large independent bookstore in the area, but the move does not serve its former community well. It is not well laid out and difficult to navigate the aisles if you have mobility concerns. In other cities bookstores of this size have comfortable sitting or reading areas for browsing. There is a small cafe here but not a place to meet and greet. The old PSB was part of a circle that included the gym, CVS, the supermarket, and arts and crafts store so you could get quite a bit done. It's become clearer to my that the thing that gave PSB its coolness was not the bookstore- it's cafe Zing. Suddenly there is a place to sit and read or talk or have a group meeting. It all feels very corporate now. I hope they will still host events and readings, but I don't see where? I go to ZING. Books come from many so read more

Everyone at Porter Square Books was super helpful and very clear about their directions for shopping in-person during the pandemic. The greeter let my partner and I know when there was room for both of us to go in together, at the same time, and had my curbside pickup waiting for when I left. Shopping was easy and exciting, and even though we were asked to keep our trip short due to health concerns of the pandemic, as everyone was, we had no trouble doing so. Staff members were quick to direct us to the location of books, and 'checking out' was easy and very smooth. Everyone was kind and understanding. This is a seriously tough time, but PSB made it easy to stay safe and healthy while still offering a one of a kind shopping location and fun experience. I look forward to coming back. read more

Porter Square Books - My new copy of "A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers is on a bag. A Lem book peeks through the straps of another bag. - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Not that friendly to me. Got a little creeped out after using restroom and man standing at the door staring at me.

Great gibes in this local bookstore. They always have anything I'm looking for and have helpful staff.

I love this bookstore! I prefer to walk here instead of order online from a larger retailer. The cafe inside makes good coffee and tea as well. They typically have the books I'm looking for, and on the occasion they don't have on hand what I'm seeking they've offered to order it for me. read more

Poorly run business. My wife and I love visiting independent booksellers. We recently planned a trip from Vermont to Maine that included several independent booksellers on our route. We love the Toadstool bookstores in New Hampshire. Porter Square recently ran a promotion for Joe Hill and Stephen King, but didn't plan for high traffic on the website. And, if you try to contact them, they hang up the phone. Similarly, they will block you on social media sites for sharing your dismay at their lack of preparedness. Hey, a book is a book. I could buy books here or go to another independent booksellers or even go to Barnes and Noble. Their poor customer service and their lack of empathy towards their confused and upset customers has helped me make the decision to avoid Porter Square Bookstore. The only reason I am posting this on Yelp is because they refuse to speak about this on the phone and they have been blocking customers who have been sharing their negative experiences from their poor planning on social media. read more

Nice book store. This place isn't extremely huge, but more along a cozy feel, which I prefer. The front has a little café style area, with some seats and a place to grab something to drink. Their set up is easy to find things and if you can't find a certain book, the people at the counter are very nice and helpful. Worth a visit, if you're in the area! read more

What an amazing place! Handled some really awful comments and negative, petulant, entitled individuals mad because of something the store tried hard to fix. This is a wonderful place to shop, a nice little indie place to explore and meet up with people. The staff are great and the location is amazing and prime space! Amazing people. Amazing place. Please read the one-star reviews with a grain of salt and remember a place is not to be judged by a mistake they have worked to fix. I love this place! read more

Absolutely wonderful cultural oasis in the heart of busy Porter Square. They have a sweet coffee bar up front with all types of coffee and tea selections plus bakery goods, sandwiches and a Banh Mi-like Vietnamese roll. Huge selection of books and a cart of "Hurt" or damaged books. Grab a coffee, grab a seat, and enjoy the people watching parade. read more

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Delightful bookstore with friendly staff, a nice selection of books and convenient cafe.

Funny enough, even though this bookstore exists in an urban strip mall, it is probably the coziest feeling bookstore in Boston and Cambridge. It has that bright community feel. It seems well stocked, the cafe adds some life and they have a good selection of gift items too. Customer service is kind of don't-bother-me ish. I always found it really funny, like the first 10 times I bought things there, they would always ask "are you part of our frequent buyers program" and I would be like, "no I don't believe so" and then they would just ring me up. Ummm, isn't the next natural question, "would you like join the program?" Although I suppose some customer get annoyed by that. But that never made sense to me. Anyhoo. read more

Such a precious book store! Unfortunately, like most books stores these days, it is half "gift shop" since Amazon and libraries and Kindles exist, and the store needs to make money somehow. It's small so there isn't much space to sit down and read (shares the space with a cafe), but has a warm atmosphere. It's definitely packed on the weekends, so if you really want to take your time and browse, go another time. The employees are fantastic! During the winter holidays, I asked for book recommendations to give as a gift to young adult readers. I specifically asked for books that were not all heteronormative with a white cast of characters. The person who helped me was amazing - she pulled out and gave me a synopsis of at least a dozen books that perfectly fit what I was looking for. I ended up buying 6 of them. They will special order for you if the book you want isn't in stock, and these come relatively quickly. They also have a good rewards program that is better than other chain booksellers. They host a lot of author events too. read more

If you're trying to be supportive of local vendors they do make it really frustrating during the holiday season, particularly when this is an opportunity to make some $$$. First, the hours are only 2-6..... seriously? Curbside pickup takes 3 days- I can order food in Jess than an hour, this is simply a matter of pulling something off the shelves and processing an order. No one answers the phone. I'd be very happy to part with my money here, but sadly it makes a strong argument for big box stores, and even Amazon can get it faster. read more

As the son a small business owner, I'm trying to support local small businesses who are struggling during the pandemic. Porter Square Books is making it as hard as possible to do so. Site says they're open for up to 10 people at a time, at the top of the site and under their COVID policies. Arriving at the store, I'm informed they're closed, which is obviously a bit frustrating. But as a few others have pointed out, they're way overboard on the precautions (I got yelled at for being three inches beyond an unmarked imaginary line outside the store?) and the staff are pretentious and demeaning. Had the staff not behaved this way, I wouldn't be irritated or writing this review. Alas. read more

I haven't reviewed Porter Square Books yet? WHAT?! Um, this place is amazing. The books are great, the people are great. Zing Coffee is wonderful. The limited seating is perfect--if you hover for 5-10 minutes, something always pops up. The service here is excellent. They have constant author events. This is the kind of place that gives local businesses their great reputation. I truly prefer PSqBooks (as I think of it) to any other bookstore. Stop buying your books elsewhere. This is the place to go. read more

During graduate school vacations and weekends, I used to fly into Boston and "live" in the Avon Hill neighborhood which is between Porter and Harvard Square. I went to Porter Square Books yesterday after a deplorable dining experience; one can always fix a bad meal or suboptimal afternoon with a great book store visit. It should be noted that my infrequent Cambridge visits often include the beloved Coop and Harvard Book Store. It's rare for me to schlep all of the way to this book store. It took a significant period of time to secure parking. I was happy to visit, though. It made me nostalgic for this once oft visited neighborhood. (Imperative aside: Visitors, tourists, and new residents would be surprised to learn that I live just across the river in Boston. This language employed in this review makes it sound like I live out of state. Who uses the word nostalgic for the same metro area? The area is strange in the sense that one needs a very compelling reason to cross the river. It has to be the lunar new year, close friends, or love.) Anyway, I am back to the review. One judges a bookstore by face outs and displays. Porter Square Books did not disappoint me. Their fiction collection was solid; their displays added to my ever growing to read list. Who knew that there was a Nelly Dean take on Wuthering Heights. That's not even mentioned in my favorite, local bookstore. Bottom line: The curation of the displays revealed someone well-read and witty. Sometimes, the independent bookstores fail to deliver on the latter. Sometimes, the employees are too intent on proving that they are literate. Crazy, right? We get it; you read books. This great selection coupled with an in-house coffee shop makes it a superb venue. I'd go more often if it wasn't such a trek. O.o read more

Porter Square Books - Charming Illustrated Section - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I really enjoy coming here, and plan to attend some of the events with authors in future. The bookstore is small but what a cosy place! They never wonder if I spend a lot of time just looking. The personnel working at the bookstore is always polite. Mostly I browse since I love reading and always look for novelties. The front display always looks nice. Last month it was all about feminist movement, I think. And that caught my eye too. Got a few of greeting cards, a unique selection. read more

Porter Square Books - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Wow, guys. I don't go to book stores much anymore. I'm an efficient technophile. Dammit be to Amazon, but they satiate my efficiency needs. That can never fulfill the deep recesses of my underbelly that absolutely crave and adore the smell of a book store. And it isn't even just the books. Sure, all that inked up and bound paper is a crafty metaphor for little old me. But there's so much else that fills in the gaps. I love that there's a little cafe inside while there's a Starbucks right across the way. (Take that!) They invite you in where you reminisce with a long-forgotten fetal warmth that only physical books can provide. I lingered for a good bit of time. An hour, maybe? Book stores could easily be my financial ruin. I haven't read every book I've ever purchased. I dream to do so one day as they fill a massive library in my future estate home. (Ha...) But I don't give a shit, I still love them. So I linger and stare and peruse and browse. I pick up this and that. Make exchanges before the final transaction. I love that I found some gift items for my best friend and sister. I love that I found some books for me. Oh, and one of my old favorite reasons to visit a book store: flyers, flyers everywhere! I found several events to which I now look forward to attending. Thank you, friendly neighborhood bookstore! read more

Porter Square Books - All I ever needed to know as an introvert... - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I love this small local bookstore. It reminds me of the one in the town I grew up- but better! The two front tables where they have local authors' books and staff picks are awesome. There are always such interesting finds. Whether it's a children's sticker Haggadah, vegetarian cuisine encyclopedia on sale, a prep book, or an intriguing novel- you're bound to be pleasantly surprised. It doesn't hurt that you can meet a friend, do work, and grab a latte and spring roll inside, at Zing cafe too. read more

Fellow Yelp Enthusiasts, Some days you just want to curl up by the fire with a good book and a cup of warm goat milk. Need help finding a book? Porter Square Books is there for you. I've only been here once or twice - I have all of the books I need, thank you very much... but whenever I happen to need one, I come here. The place is just plain awesome. And the vegetarian spring rolls are the only dish in my diet that isn't at least 80% meat. Some suggestions for management: 1) More extensive section on the history of powerful farming families in Dutch Pennsylvania 2) Opportunity to preorder the 75th Anniversary Edition of Charlotte's Web (official date unannounced, presumably 2019) Sincerely, Dwight K. Schrute Assistant Regional Manager Dunder Mifflin Paper Products, Scranton Branch read more

New fan here. I work nearby but have only ever dipped in quickly. This time, I'd used indiebound.com to have a copy of a book (Jeff Vandermeer's Annihilation, for what it is worth) sent here. I did a little wandering around before picking it up, noticed that their science/math section was actually, hey, kinda good, then turned around ... ... and spotted a copy of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet on their periodical shelf. Now, I don't honestly know _how_ obscure that publication is these days, but ... wow! You don't have that experience online. Nor do you have the experience of the nice cashier who discusses your purchase with you (and the movie based on it) and signs you up for their customer program. So, yeah, I'm impressed -- great place! Plus they have a whole coffee shop in there. :) read more

I am a huge proponent of independent bookstores, which makes me so sad to write a poor review. Unfortunately, the way that the store handled the recent opportunity to purchase tickets to an event with Stephen King and Joe Hill was highly unprofessional and reflects poorly on bookstores generally. First off, let me say that I completely understand that the ticketing process online was likely to fail, and that is was even more likely that I wouldn't get tickets to such a popular event. However, what really sets this episode apart is: (i) I was able to purchase a ticket, but later told that tickets were "oversold" and had my ticket revoked; (ii) it has been nearly 24 hours and I have not received a refund; and (iii) when I called the store during the site crashing, I was told that I could proceed with the purchase and "not to bother" buying tickets through another vendor (which eventually sold out). To go almost 24 hours without a refund and to have so many issues with the ticketing process reflects poorly upon this business. Other bookstores - Harvard; Politics and Prose in DC; and many others - successfully handle tickets to high-demand author events. Even when I have not been able to purchase tickets because of tech snafus, the staff of those stores have reached out and refunded immediately. This has not occurred with PSB. I'm sure the staff was overwhelmed and tried their best, but there is no excuse for rude answers and lack of refunds in such instances. I do not mind being unable to get a ticket to a high-demand event (that is bound to happen by statistics), but to be rude and offer such poor customer service in light of a problem like this is inexcusable. I would recommend other nearby bookstores for bibliophiles. Independent bookstores should pride themselves on great customer service not offered through big-box stores and Amazon. PSB unfortunately did not deliver anything close to that, and disappointed this lover of books and book-related events. read more

I hope the owner reads this. I have been a customer since the bookstore opened. And welcomed the new owners. Saturday August 7 at 4 pm my husband went to pick up a hard back book that I had ordered. The female salesperson tried to give him a paperback version already in a paper bag. I called today, Monday 1:21 pm to see if the book was in. I was told the hard back was in. I asked why I did not get a call? I was told it was my fault. I did not get a call!!! I then asked for the male sales person name. He hung up on me. Customer service is the heart of a bookstore!!! Loss that and how many customers will you or have you lost??? I LOVE INDEPENDENT bookstores however RUDE, DISCOuRTOUES SERVICE is unneccessary!!! read more

This place is awesome. Kind people, great selection for the space. Haters gonna hate. If you've never been to this store and gave them a bad review because a web site crashed and now you can't see Stephen King, give the bad review to their server host and IT company, not an awesome community spot in a community you've never been to. read more

1. Falsely states they have a book in stock, which they actually don't. 2. No contact or communication with customers when they realize the book is not in stock and they have to order it. I tried to support a local bookstore, but it doesn't seem like they want my business. I ordered two books for curbside pickup that were "in stock" - the confirmation email said it was "processing" and a later email would notify me to pick up..... No email ever came. I called 4 days later to ask if I could pick up but they told me they had to order the books because they were out of stock. No apology. Nothing. So they just lied to me that the books were in stock to make a sale on something they don't have. Just like Amazon, Walmart, etc. It's Fraud. I was hoping a local bookstore would have better business practices. That was my first and last attempt at buying a book from Porter Square. read more