I love this bookstore. We visited from the DC area to spend a day in downtown Fredericksburg and we started with this bookstore. The ambience is amazing and among the best of any bookstore I've been to. They have several comfortable chairs and couch spaces to sit and read. I brought my coffee and read the synopses of a few books while I was deciding which ones to buy. The books are very well sorted categorically and also alphabetically. They have a great selection of books in several genres - all for unbelievably great prices! I ended up buying two thriller books and will return to buy board games and more books sometime. The employees are super friendly and are very well versed with the inventory if you need help finding books. read more

Riverby Books - Entrance to the bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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Local bookstore with loads of charm and inviting features. I have been wanting to see this bookstore for months and finally saw it for the first time this month in August. I love their frisbees and postcards displayed in the bookstore and the clever ways they displayed their books throughout the store. My favorite area was the stairway and second floor of the bookstore. I liked their couch and chair area upstairs and sitting arrangements for readers to read a book during their stay there. The place was very crowded on Saturday. I bought a used book, a frisbee with their logo, and some of their postcards there. When I got home, we had a little fun throwing the frisbee indoors. This is a definite go see place for bookstore lovers and one of downtown Fredricksburg's one of a kind attractions. Local bookstore with loads of charm and inviting features. I have been wanting to see this bookstore for months and finally saw it for the first time this month in August. I love their frisbees and postcards displayed in the bookstore and the clever ways they displayed their books throughout the store. My favorite area was the stairway and second floor of the bookstore. I liked their couch and chair area upstairs and sitting arrangements for readers to read a book during their stay there. The place was very crowded on Saturday. I bought a used book, a frisbee with their logo, and some of their postcards there. When I got home, we had a little fun throwing the frisbee indoors. This is a definite go see place for bookstore lovers and one of downtown Fredricksburg's one of a kind attractions. read more

Riverby Books - Bookstores Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

The cutest little shop !! I love the design of the ups and downs you had to go around. Super cute and old. The choices were slim- but they had a good non-fiction section ! Fiction is upstairs but quite slim pickings up there. The staff were friendly and helpful if needed - the prices were really good for a used book store in a popular area ! Will have to go back when I have less restriction on my book-buying-ban. read more

Riverby Books - Bookstores Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

This is a genuinely magical place, and I must say that you do not find bookstores like this these days. The staff is so friendly and helpful and there are a variety of books for everyone from all times! Literally, there were books in here from the 1700's. It feels so cozy and nostalgic! The vibe is one of a kind! I spent a great 2hrs here, and one could spend an afternoon here easily! Check it out & enjoy! read more

Riverby Books - Bookstores Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Great bookstore with a great selection! Staff was VERY friendly and helpful. The prices weren't very elastic; very little flexibility, at least with the titles I was interested in. Most hardbacks and paperbacks were the same price. I mentioned that to one of the staff that I was out of town and wanted to bring some books to trade and or sell, but the website said that there may or may not be someone there to price them. She said, "We gotta change that website!" I took that to mean that there was now always the ability to trade and sell - anytime. PLEASE CORRECT YOUR WEBSITE! Once back home, I have already recommended this store to someone, and they said that they intend to visit. And I plan to return! read more

Every time I go back home to visit, I make a trip to this bookstore. It's so cozy and amazing inside. They have a HUGE selection of books, I spend hours in here. The staff is always so helpful and super nice. The books are fairly priced and it's a great place to just sit and look for something that might catch your eye that you didn't think you'd pick up to read. read more

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Great used book store. Good prices. Lots of comfy chairs to linger. Stock is ok. Some antique books too. Lots of children's books.

Riverby Books is in downtown Fredericksburg and features multiple floors of used books. I loved the atmosphere and nothing beats the smell of old books. I'd recommend coming here if you're looking to browse around for your next great read. Since it's a used bookstore, you might have difficulty finding a specific book, but they have a huge selection available and you're surely going to find something to indulge in. The prices are reasonable and all the books are in fair condition. They also buy books and pay cash or store credit for them! TLDR: A homey bookstore featuring plenty of books for you to peruse through. read more

Always a great selection of books and such a cool place to shop. Love the Blackwing pencil selection and all things devoted to writing. This is a great store and I love the building. read more

Beautiful!! Diverse new and used book selection and excellent service! Super cozy and great atmosphere!

I love a great used bookstore. I love the look, I love the smell, I love the people, and I love used book prices. Riverby Books is great! Not a bunch of musty, dusty books piled in corners here, but a well organized store with a great, but not huge, selection. My son picked up some comic books at $.50 each and I grabbed a couple books myself. Clean, organized, good prices, and friendly service. read more

This is the kind of place I wish I could live in. Reminiscent of Shakespeare book company in Paris, this store makes you happy just walking in the door. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable without giving you a hard sell. With three floors, The variety and selection is great. They have a little something for everyone. Bring the whole family and kill an afternoon. read more

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I love used bookstores and I'm the first to take a paperback over a PDF, especially when dealing with classics. The least we could do to honor artists of the yonder years is read their words transcribed on pages, considering they once used typewriters for our own entertainment! But that's just me.... Riverby honors the time honored tradition of the book in it's most beautiful form. They have an extensive selection of classics, fiction, non-fiction, cooking, political, etc. and the inviting layout of the store really is a joy to wander through. The second floor of this two-story haven is hollowed out, leaving room for natural light to seep through. There are little reading nooks everywhere and record players spin timeless tunes. It's pleasing on so many levels (ha!) Price-wise this place is a STEAL. Considering it's the most popular bookstore in Fredericksburg, they could inflate their prices tremendously. But in order to continue breathing life into the book, their paperbacks, all of which are in great condition, average $5. That's INCREDIBLE. And considering the extensive selection, you'll want to bring a tote along as this is the place to begin building your library. All this aside, my favorite thing about Riverby is their "buy back" policy. When you're done with a book you can exchange it for store credit at a rate of about 75% of the purchase price. Meaning, I'd be paying ONE DOLLAR to read a paperback and could then exchange it for another book. AWESOME. If you don't want store credit, you can sell your book back for about half the original price. AMAZING! By far one of the most inexpensive and expansive bookstores I've been to. Thanks, Riverby! read more

Riverby Books - Bookstores Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Apples by Roger Yepsen resides in this very store...that is all you need to know.

Book store of my dreams. The good "You've got mail" vibes, chill and cosy. I found some good books for very reasonable prices as well, even as a good gift. read more

Riverby, Riverby, Riverby. I'd been to a few used book stores here and there on trips and vacations, but I grew up in barren suburbia-land. No independent bookstores of any kind. Riverby changed everything. A moment from my first time at Riverby: After hours of browsing, I made my way back to the register, barely visible behind the tower of books I had accumulated. "Uh, do you take credit cards?" "Yes." "In that case I'll be back!" And I disappeared back into the stacks for more. I live in Boston now-- relatively speaking, a haven of used and independent bookstores-- but none of them quite hold a candle to Riverby. I picked up a set of picture books retelling the epic of Gilgamesh, a novelization of A Hard Day's Night, gorgeous matching hardcovers of the Wrinkle in Time trilogy, books on magic and fairy tales, and... And so much else I can't begin to list it all. Prices are fantastic, and the student discount is much-appreciated. And the layout is ideal: quirky stacks of books that enable hours of idle browsing and discovery. No matter how long I spend in there, I see something new every time I turn around. I hear tell that they will also barter books for pie as winter draws near. How can you not love that? read more

Beautiful used bookstore, friendly staff. I bought a 1st edition Washington DC by Gore Vidal which I'm very happy about. I go to bookstores everywhere I go and this was probably the cutest I've been too. If you like really old books this is a must-visit. read more

Riverby Books - The upstairs area with sunlight. - Bookstores Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Nice book store. Well organized. Great selection of history, current events and military books. A little shy in self improvement and business books. Prices are fair. read more

Riverby Books - Bookstores Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Found this little gem while walking the streets of Fredericksburg. I like that layout of the store, and the various displays are always changing for seasons and trends. The layout is cozy in a way that it provides little nooks or areas to curl up with a good book. The colors of the store and the architecture remind me a bit of the toy store in the move "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium". A place with awesome things just waiting to be found and explored. The staff is always helpful with locating things, and I feel like I could talk to them for hours about books. A great place to go and find something new, however if you are looking for something specific you may have a bit of a challenge. read more

Seriously, I'm the first to review! This is THE BEST EDITED USED BOOK STORE I'VE EVER BEEN IN (sorry for the over use of capitalization but this fact can't be overlooked). I've picked up The Great Gatby, A Moveable Feast, A Peoples History of the United States and many more for $5 each. There are very few items in the store over $5 and they are picky about what they buy, which means you don't have to browse through piles of junk you'd never read. Honestly, it's a better deal than the library down the street b/c you get to keep the books. read more

It was nice inside but I couldn't believe how high their prices are! The children's books are priced way higher than the retail price.

Nice collection of Civil War books which was a great plus considering I'm a Civil War buff.

Kinda stumbled across this place while wondering around Caroline Street, and I wasn't disappointed. Multiple stories high, it's surprisingly large on the inside. They seem to focus mainly on history/local books, which is a plus for folks who find that most used book stores only devote a small section to them. read more

While visiting family in Fredericksburg my brother who is huge reader like myself recommended that we stop into some local book shops in the area. Riverby Books was the first on our stop list. The book store is located in the historic area of the town. The area is very walkable with lots of history and antique shops. The book store has a good variety of books with featured i teams in the front and history local and world on the first floor. There are several arm chairs around the area that are a bit worn but okay to sit and review some options on what to buy. The basement holds the children section with the Art book collection and a few other miscellaneous topics. The top floor holds Fiction, Biographies, Poetry, Graphic Novels and comic books which are not bag and boarded. I like to buy cook books for my collection and they have a very limited selection. The location is not handicap accessible unfortunately. The staff are very helpful and when I asked for a copy of "West of Here" by Jonathan Evison they found a copy for me. Even though there are sections by topics you may have to look around the store in some other unlikely places. The aforementioned book I was looking for was in a pile on the stairs, even though the Fiction section is on the second floor. read more

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I'm a big fan of bookstores, especially the indie variety that tend toward the eclectic and collectible. I just happened to be walking by while killing time waiting for a train, and wow! What a gem! The shop is much bigger than it appears on the outside, with 3 stories chock-full of amazing titles and neat collectibles. Even though there's a lot of product here, the layout is great -- spacious and open, and doesn't feel cramped or crowded. I love the decor and the touches of the owners personality throughout. I'm SO glad I wandered in! read more

This is such a fun book store in downtown Fredericksburg. The decor is so colorful and you're surrounded by so many books floor to ceiling on multiple levels that it just makes you feel so happy to be inside. Every downtown needs a little bookshop like Riverby. And the staff are all really nice and helpful. Some of the books are a bit pricey, but that's because they do their homework and know their stuff, so don't expect to come across a treasure for a cheap price here - they probably beat you to it and priced it accordingly. But a lot of the other books are really inexpensive! read more

This quaint shoppe has everything I look for in a rainy day hang out spot. The selection is amazing, the couches are cozy, and the staff are like friends you haven't met yet. Do yourself a favor and stop by. read more

The best bookstore in downtown Fredericksburg. 3 levels, quirky, humorous, well organized. They play a lot of folk and indie music. The books have the price marked on the inside cover. I'd say the average is about $5. A great selection. The staff is delightful. And the overall atmosphere is so inviting. read more

If you like used book stores get in here ! The prices are very affordable and they have a great selection spread over three floors. It is in an open space so feels quite airy. They are very involved in the community. The best part is that during the holiday season they give you store credit for bringing in pie and unwanted gift cards. How cool is that? read more

By far my favorite bookstore I've ever been in, with how it's set up- organized shelves, piles and piles of books stacked up on the stairs, with the quirky decorations and descriptions of books, and great customer service, you really can't go wrong here. They may not have everything you're looking for but overall, I just love how unique it is. My boyfriend and I went recently and he purchased a really nice cookbook for $15. Reasonably priced, always clean, and playing great music, I will always stop by Riverby Books whenever I'm in Old Town Fredericksburg. read more

Ordered from them through AbeBooks site. I had some special requests and the folks at Riverby were very responsive and helpful and the item arrived well packed, on time and as listed. Very happy with their customer service. Thanks!!! read more

I'm in love with this store. Such a fantastic atmosphere and a great selection of books. The associates are kind and welcoming.

Really impressive book store. Very organized and larger than it appears.

A must stop if in the area. Cool and organized place with awesome customer service. Great for browsing!

Great bookstore. I was stuck in my hotel on a snow day and ventured out to find this store open. I could've browsed for hours. Cool bookstore with great prices. read more

Heaven, pure heaven. I had the landlords as my landlords and they are so nice. The staff are pretty friendly and will help if you need it. Love the sound of creaking floorboards and intimate atmosphere the used books bring. Never left their empty handed and even brought in some stuff to sell. I was told I had good taste in books! I've easily spent a couple hundred on books at this place. My collection has been so refined since finding this place. I miss it so much! The top floor is the best place! Love the poetry section!! No coffee shop here but you'll be running around looking at all the cool shit and having too much fun to notice! With the area being so old you get some great finds!! Go now!! read more

Okay, I'll be the second to review Riverby in Fredericksburg. I'm not sure I would say that there are few items over $5.00, as the first reviewer noted. I've found a variety of prices during the fifteen years that I've dropped in. That said, the pricing is more than fair. But it isn't just pricing that makes a second-hand bookstore worthwhile, as this one surely is. It's really for me about the selection. My interest is primarily non-fiction, though Riverby has an extensive fiction collection, and they do indeed have good selections in History (Ancient, US, British, World, Civil War, WW I and II), Philosophy, Religion (somewhat). Because Fredericksburg is a college town--Mary Washington University--your chances of finding a good second-hand copy of books is higher, I think, than usual. The staff is helpful but not aggressive. Okay, they say hello when you enter (usually), will answer any questions, but above all they understand that you're there to browse and so they leave you alone. In a small city Riverby is a gem and absolutely worth visiting. read more