"You don't go here to find a book.  Here a book finds you."…read more(I totally cribbed that from another Yelper's review of a different bookstore - in another state - so I'm allowed!) Can I share a story with you?  During the Dark Ages (pre-internet, no Yelp or smartphones) learning about something a bit off-the-beaten-path, let alone being able to source it, was an arduous task. I was an English Lit major and one of my professors loved to talk about even more books than the ones already assigned to his class and he always mentioned 'The Three Christs of Ypsilanti' that he read himself when he was in college.  It sounded more interesting than what we were reading in class (sorry, but there's only so many times you can endure 'Oedipus Rex') and I went hunting for 'Three Christs' but never had any luck.  Most workers at other shops gave the quizzical "What'cha talkin 'bout Willis?!" look and I'd leave empty-handed (or with a completely different book... just because).  Then I found myself here.  And while casually strolling through the store and eyeing up all the titles... I found a used copy!  (Can I tell you one other thing?  The book was a bit dry and dated and part of me wished it stayed like the Holy Grail - that it might keep me searching through different bookstores but never actually finding it.) And it's been more than a few years (okay, decades!) since I scored 'Three Christs' and now I'm here once again - this time doing my part to properly celebrate and support "Independent Bookstore Day" - and man oh man... you could lose an entire day here just drifting from rack to rack, aisle to aisle, floor to floor. Whatever you fancy - they have a section for it. Pricing is a-okay. The quality of the 'newer' used books is most excellent.  (The older, more rare and worn copies are out of reach or behind glass cases.) Behind the counter is the coolest and friendliest gal. From music to books to merch to a "gumball machine" that has poems (of course, right?) - the world is a better place with mom and pop (book)stores like this in it. "Since 1984" - and hoping they'll be going strong for another 40-plus years... (PS: if you stumble upon the movie version of 'Three Christs' - skip that as well.  They tried to make it a comedy and it's awful.)

Some spaces just scream "For Book Lovers" and this charming bookstore is one of them. From the…read moresidewalk shelves of $1 books to the stairs painted as recognizable book spines, this forty-year old store is a haven for story lovers. Some bookstores are big and cluttered, leaving visitors to fend for themselves if they're looking for something specific. Not here. Within the cavernous space, there's a clear sense of organization - by genre and neat alphabetization by author's name. The selection is vast; from literary artwork, coffee table books, local geography, and manga, there's truly something for everyone. I especially loved the well-stocked children's section in the back, where I was endeared by the sight of a young bookworm sitting with her head in a book for a while without any one bothering her. That, more than anything else, is why I love local bookshops - they're homespun spaces where people can curate their love for books. Speaking of homespun, this bookstore isn't fancy. The shelves look like they're made of unvarnished plywood that have been hammered together, and most of the store signs have been made with little more than marker and posterboard. Don't let that fool you - the workers here know their stuff. I overheard enough conversations to know they can talk books with anyone who walks in and can help you locate most anything in the store. If you're in the area and need a space to just breathe in the smell of books old and new, please do yourself a favor and stop in.

I visited The Book Trader a few days ago. What an experience!…read more First of all, they have every type of book imaginable. From cookbooks to sci fi, from fantasy to biographies, from adult romances to children's picture books! You could find books from the 1600s all the way until the 21st century. The Book Trader is exactly what its name says: it trades books. You can bring books, which they will give you store credit for and then you can buy books for cheaper than they would cost in a regular store. This was such a great idea, in my opinion. I traded in 2 books and bought one. Now, aside from being separated vaguely by genre and authors' works being mostly together, there is no other sorting system to this store. Books, as you can see in my pictures, are all over the place and it is very hard to walk around parts of the store. If you want a specific book...good luck! Also, make sure you have cash on you. The store only takes cash and checks.

Tons of used books available, and the owner was extremely helpful. Very reasonable pricing and they…read moreeven offer a trade back program (bring books you bought back for credit towards another purchase). We will definitely return when we finish reading what we picked up in this trip!

Shout out to bookseller Sara for her kindness, professionalism, and great recommendation by Tia…read moreWilliams. Haven't put it down yet! Thanks again!

Don't expect to spend a leisurely afternoon at this bookstore--they won't let you use the restroom…read more I have never heard of such a large retailer refusing to provide a facility to its customers. And it really doesn't make sense because it's the same size store as the one Clark and they have a nice restroom there for customers. Don't go here go to Clark.

Beware. You could spend a lot of time in here getting lost amongst shelf after shelf of used books…read more The staff greets you warmly from "the back" and allows you to browse. They have a great selection of books. Titles are well organized and in good condition. Madison is a cute town. Street parking is plentiful enough and free. There are several public lots behind the store fronts as well. It's worth a stop when in the area.

LOVED this bookstore, so many cool gems and the shop owner is friendly but not too pushy. I…read moreespecially liked the historical documents section, they have items from the 1800s which was so cool to see.

When I think of going to a quaint, local bookstore.... THIS is what I envision. Friendly people…read moreworking to assist you in finding your next favorite read, enough books, quantity and variety, to offer the customer a diverse and amazing amount of ideas to make it difficult to decide on a single book, and Chatsky's to make it difficult to settle on a single item. The next time I am in New Jersey, I will definitely be stopping in here! As for the attached restaurant next door, I have nothing negative to say. The food was fresh and had a great taste, and the people were friendly and helpful with everything. We sat outside because the weather was fantastic, and they delivered the food to us and picked us up afterward.

For those of us who are old enough to remember the movie You Got Mail . This gem of a book store…read moreis " The Shop Around the Corner " . The staff was young so they admittedly didn't get my reference LOL .Has the quaint & cozy vibe . The selection is expansive , albeit they may have one copy of a book on the shelf , understandingly given space . The Kids section is 4 doors down . Also great selection . Awesome space . No Big Box store feel here . Just note , for those parents who do take oversight to what their child is exposed to , know there is lots of material & books SOME parents might not find unsuitable for your OWN child to be exposed to . Literally there is a " Banned book " selection for young as toddlers .

Me and my child were excited to take a trip to the book store on a beautiful sunny afternoon…read more when we walked into the store we headed straight to the back to purchase a book to start her journey as a reader. I was approached by another mother also trying to do the same for her children. naturally the kids were filling each other out and walking around the store as I waited to make my purchase. my daughter had her scooter parked inside the front of the store with her Helmet attached. The person who was ringing me up (which I believe to be the owner) Made the most disgusting comment after asking my child directly if the scooter & helmet belonged to her & she replied yes. He told my child she should probably put on the helmet while in the store. I Immediately left and did not complete the purchase. I felt so embarrassed & walked out. I couldn't even phantom the words to say. Because I could not believe someone would talk to a child in that manner. I eventually called the store and told them what happened and received an apology from another employee.

There's nothing like walking into a bookstore and getting lost in the aisles. The selection of…read morebooks is truly unmatched from children's, romance, cooking and everything in between. A patron for many years this store has serviced union for 30 years. The owners are helpful and should you need to catch the newest author or best seller he is happy to accommodate. Not to mention you pay face value so I'm happy there's no mark up no matter how popular. Skip the brick and mortar and shop small here's a store will not disappoint readers of all ages.

It's the kind of used bookstore you can get lost in. If I were a local, it would be part of my…read moredaily routine. The shelves are thoughtfully labeled, and the place has an energy that feels. You can tell when an owner genuinely loves the books and records they carry. The Bruised Apple is one of those stores. Worth stopping in if you want to get lost for a few hours.

What a lovely bookstore! We came across this hidden gem that has been here for more than 30 years…read more We parked our car right outside and saw the inviting window and warm lights of this cozy bookstore. The instrumental music was playing, the owner was very kind and welcoming. The customers were browsing and it was the most relaxing environment with so many wonderful resources. We will certainly be back! Thank you and Happy New Year!