They had a nice selection of papers but outlandish prices. I picked up similar quality at Dymocks…read morefor about 1/2 the price. The staff didn't even acknowledge our presence. There was a sign in the window announcing store closure in Feb. 2018, so check before you go.

I love stationery. Leather bound notebooks, journals of all shapes and sizes, felt tip pens,…read morepaperclips, cards, - you name it I love it and want it. It's been a fetish of mine since I was a kid and it's never gone away. If it's my addiction, then Paper2 is my dealer - this place is amazing. I can spend hours in this store and it's really not big enough for that but the range of cards and gifts on offer here is superb. There's an excellent collection of vintage style posters and cards which I can't get enough of at the moment. Stop in here for journals, notebooks, craft supplies, wrapping paper, globes... I could go on and on. The staff are lovely and helpful, which is no surprise I'd be super happy if I worked here too.

The smaller of the two I've been to it's still not that small given the multiple levels. Where you…read morehave me lost is that most of the ground floor is gifts souvenirs and trendy stuff/stationary. Normally I don't mind but I was surprised given the fact that everything upstairs seemed so condensed because of this like an aisle and that's it. Because of this I didn't get the type of time I wanted to have in what I was told was the biggest in Australia. Your mileage may vary on this obviously but for me that's a dealbreaker. On lighter notes staff were scarce and while nice didnt have what I was looking for. Books were in the best condition of the two and I was impressed by that as again I don't have that where I'm from. Despite that Sydney will eventually be my home I'll definitely be looking to shop in Melbourne more for the genres of my tastes.

Absolute garbage service. I PRE ORDER a textbook MONTHS in advance. I then have to reach out to…read moreTHEM to confirm my order as they didn't do so. They extend the delivery date out another 23 days, whatever, fine. I reach out again 20 odd days after that date, only to be told they don't have the book anymore. I demand a refund. They REFUSE. THEY HAVE THE *GALL* TO REFUSE A REFUND UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES!?!? The demand my bank account number! They demand 4-6 weeks turn around time for their "Accounts" team to process the refund. WHAT. A. JOKE. Don't bother with this clown company. Absolute clown circus square go.

I don't remember stationary being so fun and colourful when I was younger.... don't the youth know…read morehow luck they are? I mean the place is called " Smiggle" a cross between a smile and a giggle - how you can you not love it? Smiggle in the Junction does change their store layout over and over again but the last time I went there they had everything set out by their colour - so it was like a stationary rainbow where you could walk to your favourite bit and find an array of funky goods to purchase... It's not too expensive, the quality is good and it's a lot of fun....and I think adults are allowed the occasional indulgence of something cute and colourful... go ahead, but something - I promise not to tell....

'Pages and Pages' is a bookshop for people who like to talk books. Every time I've been there,…read morethere is a heavy discussion taking place between staff and customer about the customers chosen tome. Now, I love books. In fact, I'm a committed reader of many genres, but especially literary fiction, this unfortunately falsely identifies me as someone capable of intelligent discussion. The truth is, I find critiquing a novel with an eloquent book vending professional intimidating. I feel like I have to prepare a Marieke Hardy type opinion of whatever I am browsing when I feel more Laurel and Hardy. If you want a recommendation though this is your place.The staff handwrite recommendations for many of the offerings on the shelves and of course, they're on hand to give their opinions! They have frequent Author talks and books signings and there appears to be a real writers and readers hub accessible through the store. Those who prefer to do their browsing in secret might find this store a little intense!

If you need any evidence that we should NOT resort purely to shopping for books online, this is it…read more A split store, with a front section dedicated to adults and a separate rear area for children, Pages & Pages is dedicated to the written word to the extent that the owner is even CALLED Jon Page. You'll hear him from time to time on ABC Radio talking about new titles, or illustrating how and why we avoid the demise of the independent bookstore. Pages & Pages is incredibly up-to-date, with new titles available quickly and read and reviewed by staff. It hosts regular authors evenings and lunches, usually in conjunction with local businesses, and co-ordinates a Book Club that meets in the delightful Bathers Pavilion in Balmoral. Local schools and charities are endlessly supported by Pages & Pages generosity, and if there is anything you can't find they'll get it in for you if it is in print. Now dare I even start on the children's section - we should hold Amelia up in lights for singlehandedly motivating our children to read. On her lengthy daily bus commute she reads title after title, covering books for littlies all the way through to teens. She buys well, and can talk knowledgably on pretty much all the titles in stock - if she knows a child, she will confidently point them in the direction of something new they are likely to enjoy, and if she doesn't, a few quick questions will give her the clues she needs to pick out what's right. An invaluable member of the local community - long may it outlast the online menace.

Bookshops are my weakness in general. I should just put that out there…read more So when the newest owners took over the Wahroonga bookstore (there's been one in this location since 1917) and added all sorts of gorgeous gift items to grace the shelves alongside my beloved books, I redoubled my love. Novella (I adore the name!) is the perfect one-stop-shop for pretty much every occasion. If you can't find the right book to gift (yes, I still give books as gifts - is that old-fashioned yet?), then you'll be sure to find a cute piece of jewellery, some lovely crockery or even some particularly gorgeous leather-goods. And of course you can buy a cards to cap things off. So much for attempting to spend less time in bookstores!

Novella stocks a variety of quality books. The store has charm and ambiance unlike chain stores…read moresuch as Borders (now closed) and Dymocks. The customer service is more personable and the shopping experience more enjoyable. The staff are very knowledgeable about their products (books and gifts) and are very efficient. Evidently the stock has been carefully selected with a great amount of consideration. The store is conveniently located in among Wahroonga shops and is easily accessible in comparison to supercentres.

There was a rumbling back in 2007, when local institution - the appallingly named 'Kevin's Book…read moreNook' - was up for sale. We all breathed a sigh of relief when Christine took over, revamped the store and named it Brown Books. Jam packed with delights including a large selection of children's books, lots of Australian fiction, a big sci-fi/fantasy section, as well as a well-stocked classics section, history, science; well, you get the idea. While there's an emphasis on recent releases there are also plenty of quirky gems to fossick through and I'm loathe to think how much I've spent here over the years. The store is decorated by making use of the art of vintage bookcovers, especially of the endearingly schlocky kind, giving it that warm feel so beloved of the book obsessed. Easily one of my favorite book local book haunts and a vast improvement upon its earlier incarnation. Shopping online doesn't hold a candle to a really good bookshop. I'm off to the collectibles section to look for something unexpected...

Brown Books is everything I long for in a second hand book shop. It's packed floor to ceiling with…read moretitles, you can get lost amongst the shelves and the prices are great! I can't go to Springwood without visiting, and I can't visit without buying something!

Typo reminds me of a raw mix of modern design fashion - retro kitch meets street art. London meets…read moreGrandma's house. Frankie Magazine meets Creative Review. Doris Day plays in the background, the tattoo covered sales girl keeps on her toes serving people and suits walk in and out on their lunch break. It's a mixed bag of influences this wee shop. There are pink staplers, helvetica letters, guitar on canvas, floral birds with twigs on another canvas, sweet owls and skeletons. Like I said, quite a mix. I like that it encourages the creative in all of us - stencils and stickers and craft paper. I don't like so much the hipster approach. Enter, black and white mug with "I listen to bands that don't even exist yet". It's a p1ss take I'm sure. Another paradox - it has an element of too-cool-for-school but also the cute-and-creative theme going on. Good gifts for the under 30's.

Funktion's window display of handmade pop-up cards was the first thing to catch my eye. What a…read morefabulous, creative, lovely idea! Intricately... scissored? Carved is the wrong adjective... designs like an incredible grand piano, an owl, an Eiffel Tower, mean you'd be hard-pressed not to find something special and suited to whoever you're buying for. Funktion sells more than these cards, although I can see a niche for an entire shop dedicated to them in Paddington or an area that "gets" that type of thing. There is a $10 clothes rack just inside the door and lots of cute, Japanese-quirky types of tops and frocks to peruse at a reasonable price. I walked out empty-handed as everything that caught my eye was "almost but not quite" upon further inspection. Big fan of the cards though!