I visited Big Hill Books during Romance Bookstore Day as part of a local bookstore crawl, and I'm…read moreSO glad I stopped here! This shop is absolutely adorable and located in such a cute, charming neighborhood. They have a great selection of books--not just romance, but something for pretty much every kind of reader. I loved browsing around and could have easily spent way more time (and money!) here. And the best part? Two tuxedo bookstore cats! They were the perfect finishing touch to an already delightful bookstore experience. Big Hill Books is exactly the kind of cozy, independent bookstore I love discovering. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in the area!

This was the 18th stop on the Indie Bookstore Passport tour, and it earns accolades as among my top…read morepicks. There are TWO house kitties lounging/guarding/supervising the store, which I loved. The kitties were well mannered, and tolerated being pet. The store itself is adorable on both the outside and the inside. My list of store highlights includes: - The quilt hanging on the back wall was gorgeous! - There is more than one seating area for relaxing with a book to check it out before purchase. - The vignettes and displays were interesting to peruse. - The staff were welcoming, helpful, and quick to chat book-ish things if you wanted. - The curated selection of books was interesting and contemporary. - The event list and book clubs are compelling. I purchased several books here, and look forward to a return visit! Final note: there is street parking.

This was my 19th stop on the Indie Bookstore Passport tour. Parking was tight, with limited street…read moreparking available. The store is located on the second floor. It's a used bookstore with more than 40,000 books; so prepare to spend at least an hour (if not an afternoon) perusing the bookshelves. It's easy to get lost in the stacks here, as there are LOTS of hallways and a labyrinth of rooms. There is a room for small gatherings, a rare book room, and an alcove to tuck away with a book. One window in the store has a bit of nostalgia as it overlooks Bob Dylan's old apartment (and is now the Loring Bar). If you love a used bookstore and a historic site, this place is worth a visit.

Any used bookstore near a university is bound to be worth a couple hours of browsing and the Book…read moreHouse is no exception. It's got good prices and an impressive variety, lots of scholarly books. I love the atmosphere here, and the restaurant downstairs is pretty good too.

Love, love, love this Black owned book shop. It's located on University, near Master Noodle…read more Parking is in the back, down the alley. I pre-ordered a book by one of my favorite authors. It came with a nice book mark and was a signed copy. I browsed the store while vibing to the awesome playlist. This location offers a walking club on the weekends, a book club and exclusive events with authors. If you're in the area, I'd recommend stopping by.

From out of town, but visited this beautiful Black woman owned gem while in Minneapolis. I always…read morelove to visit Black bookstores because they are such important pillars in the community. This one did not disappoint, and has such a soothing layout and vibe that you feel welcomed to linger a while. I purchased a couple books for my reading pleasure and then also found a beautiful Black art puzzle as a gift for my Dad. It's a far trek from Chicago, but when I visit again I will definitely return!

He Said: For anyone who has ever watched the movie "You've…read moreGot Mail", you will know what I mean when I say this book store reminds me of that movie. I am very happy this Linden Hills store has been handed down to the next generation. Very few book stores have the intimacy and charm of Wild Rumpus. Have a young child or relatives? Check this place out! Make sure to say hi to the book store animals! Pros: - Neighborhood feel - Animals - Wide selection of kid books

One of my favorite spots!! I love taking anyone who is visiting here, especially kiddos. This…read morebookstore is pure magic, for kids - and adults too. Most known for their animals in-store, this is a visit to a bookstore that includes meeting the cat, birds, chinchillas, and other animals that call Wild Rumpus home. It's so much fun to see and read about them. There's even fish in the mirror of the bathroom! If that didn't sell you, the ambiance beyond animals here is amazing. There's murals all over - including on the ceiling. There's a house-type structure in the back. There's chairs to cozy up and read in. It's like walking into a children's book. And what about the books?! So many books! Mostly children and YA books, but they have a substantial wall section for adults too. Everything from manga to local authors here. Prices are reasonable and service is always so welcoming and friendly. Can't recommend this place enough - whether you're shopping for a kid, bringing one along, or want to feel like a kid again yourself.

Wonderful store in Lowertown! A good selection of books, puzzles, and other items. The owner always…read morehas good recommendations and they offer discounts if you visit other Depot patrons.

This was my 9th stop on the Indie Bookstore Passport tour. It is located in lowertown St Paul in…read morethe historic Union Depot. The building is gorgeous with abundant architectural details. The bookshop is quaint, and even has a resident cat (although he rebuffed my advances of adoration). I liked the bookish gift choices here and picked up an item. The staff were helpful. There was street parking, although it might be tricky at times to score a spot.

Excelsior Bay Books is a nice stop for a day by the lake!…read more There was a good selection of new books, many of which were geared towards younger readers. The space was small but light and open. It was wonderful looking out onto the lake at the end of the street. The best part was the adorable bookshop poodle! Stop by for a lakeside view, some books, and a cute pup!

Really pleased with this independent bookstore right off the lake. I was visiting family from LA,…read morewhere hip bookstores abound. I was surprised by the wonderful selection, although there is more of an emphasis on YA and children's novels than what I'm used to. Ended up grabbing "So Much For That Winter," a book of novellas by Dorthe Nors. What struck me more than the book was the friendliness of the shop owners, a husband and wife duo. As more people stopped by, it was clear that there were many regulars. Both owners gave recommendations and welcomed people by name. Even as I was checking out, I was charmed that they wrote purchased books down on pen and paper. A true mom and pop bookstore. I hope to return the next time I'm in town - please support small businesses so gems like this can continue to make communities better!

This was my 6th stop on the Indie Bookstore Passport tour. This is absolutely the cutest bookstore…read moreI've ever visited. It had a surreal feel as if I was visiting a hobbit house with lovingly curated book selections. It was more than visiting a bookseller coming here; it felt like having an experience. The attention to detail to the little reading nooks and vignettes was evident in every corner of the store, with an emphasis on women's voices, diversity, and children. This is a woman owned store, and her favorite genre is historical fiction, which was evident as this area was very well stocked. There were several spots to sit and gander at a book (including a couple of adorable children's reading nooks) before deciding to purchase, which is a must have in any book store I visit. There is a very small shared parking lot and street parking.

Adorable! Milton Square has always reminded me of the Renaissance Festival which is exactly where…read morethe Acorn Bookshop is placed. With cute neighboring establishments, I recommend making a nice afternoon of it. There are coffee and antique shops in the same area. Acorn Bookshop's aesthetics are inviting, calm and carefully curated. The rich dark green walls allow a calming environment, the kids treehouse is absolutely magical to me as an adult so I can only imagine what it's like for a child and there is a coffee station towards the back for guests. I can't recall if it's free or donation based. Various genre reading sections spill across the space along with a few nooks and crannies to sit down and read a few pages. In addition to books, there are also a few notebooks, jewelry items, trinkets and puzzles. Prices appeared to be on par to other establishment. The cherry on top is that Acorn Bookshop is woman owned. There are many books supporting woman's voices and stories. Hooray!!

I absolutely loved this bookstore! It's such a cute, thoughtfully themed space, and every corner is…read morepacked with books to explore. I especially liked all the callouts and recommendations throughout the store.. made it a little easier to browse! One thing that really stood out was how much they seem to invest in their community. They host a variety of events and do a great job spotlighting diverse authors and stories, which made the store feel especially welcoming and intentional. Whether you're looking for your next read or just want to spend some time browsing, this is definitely worth a visit. I left already looking forward to my next trip back!

Visited Tropes & Trifles after brunch with LOVED the welcoming atmosphere as soon as we walked in…read more Their selection is broken out by type (contemporary/romantasy/dark/etc). The front has new books, upcoming author events, and upcoming community events. There were also romance bookish things to buy like a "Brunch Book Club" candle (fitting, I know!). I saw plenty of books I've read and added plenty more to my TBR. You can find notes and recommendations throughout the shelves. I thought a couple of series were in curious places, but they fit within multiple categories, so I understood in the end.