This is such a cute and cozy bookstore! The River Bend Bookshop is set inside a refurbished old house in downtown Gastonbury. It's an adorable New England town that looks like it was plucked straight from a movie. When you go inside, the store is so cozy. It's packed full of books and bookish merch, but so well set, there is plenty of room to explore. There are books in every nook and cranny, sorted by genre, with bookseller recommendations and plenty of signed copies. The booksellers are very knowledgeable and helpful too. If you are looking for a gift for an avid reader, they will definitely be able to help you find the perfect present. This is going to be a permanent stop for me every time I head through Connecticut. read more

See all

We happened upon this delightful independent bookstore after enjoying a late lunch at the Mediterranean restaurant next door. It's brightly lit and beautifully arranged by theme, with lots of staff pick summaries/comments posted all around. Friendly staff and welcoming vibe. Great book selection of books! read more

River Bend Bookshop - Lego art - Bookstores Near Me - Glastonbury, Connecticut

See all

I visited River Bend Bookshop on Independent Bookstore weekend. I was expecting a shopping plaza, having only previously been to Glastonbury closer to the mall. So color me surprised when we came across an adorable town green and a cozy bookstore in a converted house to boot. There is limited parking in the back. The actual store is warm and welcoming from the first step you take in. There's a lot to catch the eye, but the books are focal point behind all the decor. They have fiction, local, signed, cookbooks.... Theres something for everyone, or an adorable non-book gift. The employees were happy and friendly, and seemed to really care about their products. read more

See all

I can't believe I haven't reviewed River Bend yet! Such an amazing addition to Glastonbury, I absolutely love this shop. There are so many adorable nooks and crannies, you never know what you'll find around the next bend. There's something for everyone here, and my most favorite section is the cooking one. I actually bought an indigenous cookbook from here and am absolutely obsessed with it and can't wait to come back again for another rare find. The Harry Potter closet is absolutely adorable and I've bought a few Harry Potter items I'd never seen until I visited as well. What really struck me is how much love has gone into this shop, you can definitely tell the owners take pride in their business, and we chatted for a while, which is often rare anymore. I really like too how there are book recommendations posted around the shop from people who have previously read some of the books, it's always so cool to see little touches like that. The children's section is also really impressive, and I need to stop in again soon for some baby shower gifts. read more

See all

I visited today, for the first time, during Independent Bookstore Day. The place was abuzz and it was clear this is a well-loved bookshop - and for good reason. An employee (I wish I caught their name) noticed the types of books I was perusing and came over to offer their thoughts and make suggestions for books in other sections, on a similar theme. I'm introverted and don't always love being chatted up by employees but the interaction felt genuine and the suggestions were solid ones and it never felt pushy. A great, well-curated selection for a variety of ages and genres. Also, very queer friendly, with lots of notecards indicating staff recommendations, esp. books about queer characters or topics. Free parking in the back, which is always a bonus. The store has a pretty small footprint so it definitely felt crowded but everyone seemed so happy to be there, that it was worth it. Only downside for me as someone with a small bladder is that they don't have a customer restroom but I'm still giving it five stars! read more

Really cute book store and the staff is super helpful and friendly. They have a great collection of books and even some unique finds. Lots of character. I love it here! read more

I haven't visited Glastonbury before, let alone this wonderful indie bookstore on Main St. It is inside what seems like a former house, and it feels as homey. Also, I feel like they won't put away the pride and rainbows when June ends, which makes me really happy. [We] can be queer in public year-round. There IS parking out back, but I ended up parking down the street and taking a little walk since the weather was so nice. My planned agenda for the day had been "bookstore, Fedex, pharmacy, home," and I'm so glad I chose to come to Riverbend instead of Barnes&Noble. Shop local, folks! I browsed for almost two hours I think. Despite the shop's modest footprint, the space is all utilized--and still had a lot of natural light coming in even with cloudy skies. There were at least two or three circuits I did around the main areas because I started at eye-level and then was surprised and delighted to spot something new. A highlight was the two employees behind the counter. Even while they kept things professional, I found them warm, friendly, and willing to help. It seems they have a very loyal customer base since they survived the pandemic. Either way, they also have a website you can browse, too. 11/10 would recommend read more

Had the pleasure of stopping into this quaint shop today and was greeted by a very nice worker. This place is right on the Main Street as you head toward South Glastonbury. You may miss it if you aren't looking as this shop is housed in one of the historic homes, but there is a beautiful sign and flag out front to greet you! While there are some spots in the street, there is ample parking in the lot out back! If you are looking for a commercialized shop, Barnes & Nobel is around the corner. At River Bend Books you'll find customized service without the fan fare. Here you'll find less shelves, but still plenty of top reads, classics, and other back list titles. What I loved was finding titles I hadn't heard of and placards with staff recommendations and why they picked the particular book. The store is nicely organized and even has a great children's selection. Plenty of options for unique gifts for the book lover in your life. I also was able to snag a print from a local artist. I can't wait to return and hopefully attended one of the many functions offered. I highly recommend making a stop here and support this excellent local business. read more

River Bend Bookshop - Sign outside the shop. - Bookstores Near Me - Glastonbury, Connecticut

See all

I totally adore River Bend. The first time I came in here was just by chance while walking down Main Street one day. Immediately, I was charmed. Although petite, the offering of books is robust. I was greeted by the friendly folks who worked there and they were excited to talk about the best books they had in and what they were reading. I felt at home and welcome. A short while later, I was fortunate enough to attend a small event there hosted by Yelp. We were welcomed and I absolutely enjoyed the space. Now the thing that really put River Bend over the top for me was the way they helped me out in February. Get ready for mini-story time. Years ago, I was introduced to a Taiwanese travel writer from the 1980's, San Mao. However, I quickly discovered that her work was only available in Chinese and Spanish. Then as I was browsing the newspaper recently, there was an article about her discussing the release of the first English language publication of her most famous collection of essays. Although the article had been written months before, I saw it just a week before the translation was set to be released. Now this is where River Bend comes in. I gave them a call asking if they has the book and they told me they could order it for me. This was just two days before the publication date and they told me it could take a bit to arrive which I of course understood. They told me they would call when the book arrived. Lo and behold, two days later on the release date of the book they gave me a call and to say I could come pickup my book! Of course once I stopped by we got to talking about other books and naturally discussed Ocean Vuong's new book. SO grateful to have River Bend in town and cannot recommend highly enough. read more

Just an update to say how continually fabulous River Bend has been over the past year! I visited in early March and was able to grab a few new books, which helped tide me through the first few months of my self-isolation/quarantine. And, WOW, has their pre-order program been a godsend! I had some pre-orders come in over the summer, and their curbside pickup process was so easy. On both occasions, I called in advance to let them know I'd be stopping by soon to pick up my order. The first time, it was a gorgeous sunny day, and my order was waiting in a bag for me on the back porch. The next time, it was grey and rainy, and my order was just inside the door (with hand sanitizer on a nearby table). I've reupped my membership for another year, and placed a few more preorders for 2021. Thanks for seeing your customers through this strange year, River Bend, and for always being so efficient and friendly when helping fill my orders! read more

I was looking for an independent bookstore to support in an age of big box stores. Parking available on the street and behind the store. Super helpful staff and great selection of books as well as unique gifts. A great gem in an era of big box book stores. read more

This place is an absolute gem. They have everything from books to gifts and their booksellers are very knowledgeable. If they don't have something you want they will order it for you. The children's section is also awesome. They hold tons of fun events as well. Highly recommend a stop by this place. read more

I am so happy that Glastonbury has this place because local bookshops are always such magical places. It was wonderful to see the excitement in the store and the owner's passion for books and giving back to the community. Her goal is to create a space for everyone to come together and bond over a shared love of books. It's hard to meet new people but this is a wonderful place to do so! They also have events with authors and poetry readings. While it is a small space, there are so many books inside! The owner has also placed little handwritten recommendations for books all over the store which is really nice and useful. I found so many cute gift ideas for Christmas presents at the store too. Everyone needs to check this place out!! read more

River Bend Bookshop - Cute hand made cards -incredible - Bookstores Near Me - Glastonbury, Connecticut

See all

Never heard of this little bookshop before I came here for a Yelp Elite event and I absolutely loved it. I'm a huge fan of local bookstores and businesses and I can't wait to keep supporting this place in the future. The owner, Megan, was so sweet and willing to provide recommendations during my time there. Not only are there books, but there are adorable trinkets, gift options, home décor items and even literary scarfs with quotes from books like Alice in Wonderland! One thing I really loved about this place was the fact that Megan and her staff wrote notes and personal reviews about books and taped them all over the store where you can find them on the shelves - an adorable method for recommendation. They also have a long list of events going on all the time - for example, they had an Election Day book reading since the area has off. If you're looking for a new bookshop, gifts, or something new to do, definitely check this place out! read more

Completely agree with Allison R's review from December of 2019. I just found out about this bookstore but am happy to send my business their way. They are responsive and have pivoted beautifully to providing a safe shopping experience during these crazy pandemic times. If you're looking for a book - you couldn't go wrong shopping at River Bend Bookshop. read more

This place is so cute! It has a great variety of fiction & nonfiction, cute gifts, and YA & children's stuff. The design and organization is great. Nice inclusive and diverse collection of stuff. Highly recommend making a stop here. read more

What an adorable bookstore. Has a great selection of books, friendly staff, and a small selection of gifts and cards. They also have a number of events. I look forward going back soon. read more

One of the cutest stores in town. Great selection of books and locally produced merchandise. If there is a book you need that they don't have in stock, they can order it for you and have it arrive very quickly. So many events (author visits, writing workshops, book club meetings) happening at this store! A must visit, you'll want to keep visiting regularly once you've experienced River Bend Bookshop!! read more

Calm, happy and bright. When you leave, you feel a little bit smarter. This place is the exact opposite of Twitter.