What a great bookstore discovery You should definitely stop by this small bookstore when you're in town. The selections are very organized and the staff is extremely friendly. They keep the AC on so you will be comfortable while browsing. They will soon have a coffee shop next door - with a connecting door! I'm a local and I can't believe I hadn't stopped before! Look for them on social media under Narrative Books Cafe Insta- @narrativebookcafe read more

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This is not my tale to tell.... -But I'm going to give you MY version of the story- And just like a Fantasy Romance Novel.... There will be a little spice, a touch of word play, some intense trope enemy-to-lover conflict, a dash of magic and of course.... A Happy Ending! So, Where do I begin? It all began about a year and a half ago when my wife started back up reading, but this time around..... She picked up her 1st Fantasy-Romance Novel, never put it down and now, the rest is all history. The Backstory: Let me break it down for you.... But first, let's meet the Main Characters: The Ladies... Feyre, Nesta & Elain Archeron & The Gentlemen... Rhysand, Tamlin, Lucien, & Cassian ---(Just to name a few)--- And suddenly, ACOTAR has entered the chat! Yeah, I'm talking about A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas; maybe you've heard of it? ;) So during g a road trip in late 2024, my wife was super excited about her new book series she had started reading and was like, "Can I tell you about it?" In my head I was like, sure, we've got 5 hours to kill... give it your best shot. And just like an Audiobook, she basically gave me the run down, the play by play, the almost word for word enactment of how ACOTAR was going down as was playing out thus far... I could immediately tell: She Absolutely Loved it! Fast forward to present day.... Her love for reading these Adult Romantasy books is more than just a hobby... It's a way of life! Book clubs, late night reading sessions, and a 6ft tall book shelf in our bedroom that's already filled from top to bottom with F.R. Novels. Let's just say, in our bedroom.... Tamlin is Out, you can Call me Rhys and my wife is the High Lady of the Night Court! But those books on her bookshelf are not just any 'ol books with those plain, old boring edges... Oh No, No, No... They are Fantasy Romance Novels, highly sought after literature with Beautiful, Stunning and even Mystical Painted Edges that are now her prized possessions. Yeah, it's come to the point that whatever town, city, or place we visit... She's already mapped out the local bookstore to visit. And in November 2025, Spare Time Books in Paso Robles met their match! The match: My Wife! Yeah, like a kid in a candy store, she was in her happy place. And while I perused the Classics.... You know: Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Dickens, Tolstoy & Twain... My wife was on the hunt for First Editions, Special Versions and of course those cool looking painted edges by... Maas, Yarros, Armentrout, Palphreyman, and Sarah A. Parker. Yes, this quaint, cute little bookstore has a charm that only Bibliophiles, Book Dragons, & Ink Drinkers will appreciate. So, if you too are a book lover.... I dare you to you to step into this enchanted library of stories, tales, fables and literary magic at Spare Time books where the message on their front window says it best.... "So Many Books So Little Time" read more

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Super cute local bookstore with lots of comfy seating for browsing. Used and new books here, as well as cute accessories made by local artists like metal bookmarks and a cool little tool you can use to hold a book open more easily with one hand. Reasonable prices and the secondhand books are in good shape. If only we lived closer, I'd be coming here all the time. read more

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Locally and independently owned bookstore with a wide but curated assortment of new releases to vintage books. Friendly and knowledgeable staff is happy to answer any questions. Highly recommended if you're in downtown Paso Robles and looking for a good read. read more

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Absolutely always here to support an indie bookstore. This bookstore has transformed over the past couple years and it is so cute and feels so cozy. I do not live locally (but hope to someday), but try to come up here to celebrate my anniversary with my husband. Every time we come, we try to stop in and support as best we can. I hope to see this shop grow and prosper in the upcoming years! read more

Such a cute bookstore! Love the decor and how it's organized. They had blind dates with a book too! Enjoyed their selection of new and used books! read more

Amazing bookstore!! I drove up this way for a conference and stopped for a second time on my way back home. Lovely shop with great books and local goodies. Highly recommend!! read more

Spare Time - Mystery date with a book - Bookstores Near Me - Paso Robles, California

I was in Paso for a girls weekend and I always look for bookstores to visit in the city I'm visiting. I'm glad we were able to stop by here. It's such a cute store and I was pleased with their selection. I was looking for a specific book and when it wasn't in the store they offered to look for it for me. Unfortunately since I'm not local I wouldn't be able to come back but appreciated the offer. I still left with a book and was very happy with the service. read more

Such a cute little bookstore. Both of my kids found a used book they wanted. They also have a great selection of bookmarks and stickers. Everyone left happy and prices were reasonable. We will be back next time we visit the area. read more

This place is under new ownership and I love what they've done. The stuffy packed shelves are gone, and it's now a lovely local community space. I saw a comedy show here last night and it was so fun. A great way to spend a date night with the wife. They have used books, coffee and a place to study. They even sell used board games. This place is quickly becoming a gem of the Paso community. Definitely check it out. read more

Spare Time - An audience sits awaiting the start of don't tell comedy at the shop. The comedians were really good! It's such a neat atmosphere. - Bookstores Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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Fantastic find! Great selection and fantastic people! The dog was also very friendly and helpful in pointing out this game! read more

Spare Time - Great find! This place is adorable and wonderful! - Bookstores Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Cute newly owned bookstore offers second hand and new books. Lots of options as well as gifted mystery books, stickers and coloring books!

It was a very good place and was so quiet which makes it good to read and it also has a amazing amount of books for people so amazing

Spare Time is my favorite type of bookstore: it is independently owned, carries both new and used books, and you can find the most recently published favorites along with books that are no longer in print. Carla and Clio, the owners, know their stock. So when I have been seeking something specific they have been able to direct me right to it. I have come across gems there that I wasn't expecting! In addition, the "Blind Date With a Book" is a innovative way to find a new read. It is fun to browse here, so stop by and let Carla & Clio know what your interests are so they can locate something for you or as a gift for someone else. This is such a valuable contribution to our community :-) Bonus: It is dog friendly. read more

This sweet little independent bookstore is a real gem! The staff is friendly, the prices are reasonable and they have an eclectic mix of old and new books of all genres, including children's. Book art and other small touches throughout the store give Spare Time a cozy, one-of-a-kind feel. You'll be glad you stopped in! read more

Great little store. The atmosphere is amazing and the selection is definitely good for a small bookstore. Lots of cool stuff to look at on the shelves too read more

The cutest bookstore!!! Think: a great book selection (vintage, used, brand new, and every genre), friendly staff (good recommendations and super helpful), and so many other fun things in addition to books (unique bookmarks, sparkly stickers, games, and blind dates with a book). I have been to my fair share of bookstores as a book lover, but this one might take the cake! Things are admittedly a little pricey, but books are also very expensive in general now. Plenty of great spots for reading, people watching, and working, plus Meadow is a sweetheart! 11/10, would go just to lift my spirit by being surrounded by cute decor, good vibes, my dog, and all the books! read more

All the book are very good would come back again. I love books and they have so many options. They are also very nice

Great selection of books and friendly service!! Definitely recommend visiting when in town!!

The folks who run this place are the sweetest. We've come by twice and interacted with a lady and a gentleman. The lady was super sweet and chatted a bit with us and the man refused to take our money and wished us a merry Christmas!! The store is organized despite having a ton of books and they got every unique genre - from Christian romance to military fiction. They always have a sales rack with books that are $1-4 which is a steal. If you are pro-sustainability and love reading this is the place to both sell and buy your books! read more

Spare Time - Bookstores Near Me - Paso Robles, California

I was very excited when entering the bookstore, it has great vibes. My friend decided to pick a "blind date with a book" that was classified as a "cozy bookshop mystery." I love this concept and in the past have been very happy with the book as it is usually a book that is worth the price and is a great experience. The book is not at all what I expected and had nothing to do with a bookshop. I looked up the book on amazon and it was $5 for this 3 star book. It feels ridiculous to have payed $30 for a book that is originally $5. I understand you also pay for the experience, two stickers, a pen, a bookmark, and a tea bag included. In my perspective this was not worth the $30 and i'm honestly very disappointed with the book that was selected for this "blind date" book. There were also a couple hairs on the book when we opened the packaging. When I opened my book I found that the front page was covered with ink and dirty. read more

Absolutely beautiful! Everyone is so friendly! So sad I missed the dogs but the atmosphere is amazing

What a delightful bookstore!! It has a nice selection of books, plenty to get you started on a relaxing trip to Paso Robles. You can even get a 'blind date book' ! A very ingenious idea that I couldn't pass up! My blind date book came with stickers, tea and a book mark. Great fun! I highly encourage a stop at Spare Time Books when you are in Paso Robles! I will be back! read more

Quaint, adorable used book store. It's like something out of a movie... physical books are just not accessible like they used to be. That's why I love Spare time books! A place to just peruse the aisles and go home with some impulsive treasures I never knew I needed! When in Paso, everyone should take a few minutes to check it out. read more

This is a classic used bookstore. The locals have great conversations with the owner and she is super helpful. It is brimming over with old paperbacks and hardbacks. I was surprised how far back the Science Fiction collection went. Worth a stop! read more

Great bookstore. The staff was friendly and helpful! Wish they had more recent releases. We had bags of newer books we wanted to turn in, but they have had so many people doing that they weren't taking any when we went. Love this new addition to downtown! read more

Such a great place - lovely staff with some of the best deals I've seen. Locally owned, well-organized, and great collection. I went in expecting to get one or two books and ended up needing a box to carry my haul out. read more

Really cute hole-in-the-wall bookstore. There's a huge selection of books ranging from classics to religious to sci-fi. Most of the books are at least ten years old I have to say, which isn't necessarily bad but if you're looking for a bunch of new books this isn't the place for you. There's lots of opportunities for in-store credit and discounts and the owner is really helpful. They have an inventory list which is impressive. The only downside is with the sheer amount of books it's a bit overwhelming to find anything. You definitely cannot go through all of it in one trip! read more

Lots of paperbacks in this second hand book store. Prices were reasonable, selection was good. Owner is nice. Obviously this is a labor of love. Great place to find a beach read. read more

Very friendly owner! The book collection is totally awesome! Prices are very reasonable.

I picked up some old L Ron Hubbard hand written journals there years ago. very intriguing. VERY! Guess he lived a few miles away from town there. read more

What a gem. I swung by Spare Time with my 10 year old to pick up some books for him. The employee at the desk spent about half an hour perusing books with us and knew the inventory very well. We found half a dozen books and had a great experience. You don't see bookstores like this anymore, it's a very special place. read more

Great little used bookstore that I've been visiting since I was a kid. We came in today looking for some travel books and the owner was super helpful and helped us on our hunt. It's also surprisingly well catalogued with a digital inventory so they actually know what they have in stock, rare for an old school used bookstore! read more

If you like the smell of old books this place is for you. Lovely little bookstore with a huge selection of paperback and hardcover books as well as music sheets and other media. The prices are very fair and the books are in good condition. The place is a bit small but it is filled with books; you can easily spend hours browsing! The shop owner is also the sweetest old man. They use the credit system and let you bring most books back for half credit which is super great if you live in the area. read more

This is one of the best used book stores I've been in. They actually have the books cataloged so if you are looking for a particular one than can tell you if they have it. I've also found that the owner is so well read she has been able to suggest books or give me an idea of the feel of a book. I continually go there. read more

Lots and lots of books here - most are paperbacks, but not all - found a few vintage juvenile series books from the early 1950s at a great price! A friendly place. read more

The best second hand book store I have ever been in a wonderful labyrinth of books and the people that work there are super helpful !

My husband is an avid reader so we were glad to find somewhere we can go to get books for a lot less than new! They have a huge selection with many complete series. A great trade in program where you can bring the book back for half credit towards another book in store! We got quite a few to tide him over but will be back often for more books! read more