The Book Thing

What a charming new and used bookstore in fed hill. I've seen this store for years and years and…read morenever stopped in. But I was in the area checking out a new vintage store and thought I'd pop in. Retail is kind of dying in this area, but book escape was thriving. There were lots of people in there browsing and reading. There's a really cute back area with a mermaid mural and a reading nook. There's a lot of brand new books sold at 15% off, which are among the best sellers list. I thought in this economy - what a steal of a deal that is! The front desk is right around the front corner and the owner seemed nice. There's a huge selection of music in the corner and I thought that for a used bookstore, it was really well organized. It is a little clustered, but overall really bright and airy and lots of books!

I was out and about on a beautiful saturday afternoon and decided I wanted to read in the park,…read moreonly I forgot my kindle at home so I didnt have anything to read. Since I was nearby I thought id pop in and see if they had anything good to read. I ended up not only finding a book for the day but also a book ive been wanting to add to my collection! They have such a large variety of books and everything is laid out so well. Next time i go i plan on picking up a blind bag of books just to see what kind of wanders I find!

The front of the store with the free books and records for sale.

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Mermaid reading area

Book Nook

4.7(19 reviews)

11.2 mi

This place is soooooo coooool. Being in a Christian family…read more I'm so excited to find this bible shop. They got toys for kids too. And so many vintage books. Nowadays, people rely on internet, but books are my favorite. Old school I guess.

I love this hidden gem. Floor to ceiling rows of used books. What more could you need!?read more

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MahoganyBooks

4.9(53 reviews)

43.2 mi

Popped in after getting brunch near by just of the strength of the name…read more Great book store and coffee shop selling culturally relevant books/apparel (among other things). The staff were friendly and helped out a lot with directing me to interesting books. Ended up buying some cute earrings and a couple other items. Loved this place.

This was my second visit to MahoganyBooks at National Harbor, and it reminded me why I enjoy…read moresupporting this bookstore so much. I initially stopped by to pick up the latest release from one of my favorite authors, but somehow left with two books instead. (Book lovers will understand!) I was warmly greeted when I arrived, and the welcoming atmosphere immediately made me want to linger and browse. What I appreciate most about MahoganyBooks is that it does much more than sell books. The bookstore is intentional about creating space for authors of color to be seen, celebrated, and supported. From book signings and author events to community activities and wellness-focused gatherings, it's clear that they're building community through literature and culture. After browsing the shelves, I visited the small café inside the bookstore for a smoothie before taking my new books down to the waterfront. Finding a bench by the water and reading a few pages while enjoying the beautiful views of National Harbor was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. Between the thoughtfully curated book selection, welcoming atmosphere, café, and beautiful waterfront location, the experience feels like much more than a trip to a bookstore.

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Charm City Books

4.8(26 reviews)

2.2 mi•Seton Hill

For safety, you have to ring a doorbell to be let inside. And when you ring that doorbell, odds are…read morean opinionated chihuahua will be the first at the door to greet you. Once inside, I was greeted by a second dog whose nose was auspiciously shaped like a heart who enthusiastically loved on me before moving on to my husband. I mean, I've never been greeted like this before in a bookstore and now I don't ever NOT wanted to be greeted like that! This store is small but mighty with a book that I've been lowkey searching for for months (Marsha: The Joy and Defiance) and another that I had on my audiobook list but was happy to purchase as it was signed by the author (Keeper of Lost Children). I love independent bookstores. There's just something about searching and finding just what you're looking for. I can't wait to return again soon.

Cute Black-owned bookstore. They seem to be a great local indie for the area with many author…read moreevents. Parking was a little hard to find on the street so we had to walk several blocks. Still worth the effort!

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Greedy Reads

4.7(54 reviews)

3.0 mi•Fells Point

Cute bookstore with lots of new reads and a wide variety of genres! Staff was quiet but very kind…read more I had a hard time not leaving with 10 books. I'm always happy to support a local bookstore!

My first visit to this location of Greedy Reads. I love:…read more *Recommendations galore. Lots of books with thoughtfully written employee recommendations attached to them. *Variety. From the classics to the current trendsetters. Greedy Reads had a great selection of fiction and non fiction, kids and local interest. Despite being a small place, they pack a mighty amount of variety in here. *Special signed copies for no additional fee. Maybe I'm used to the world where signed things cost more. Here, the signed book I picked up cost exactly what the sleeve said. Only downside during my visit was how cramped it felt when there were quite a few people inside.

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Viva Books

4.5(8 reviews)

2.2 mi•Downtown

Great selection and value; really knowledgeable proprietor helped a lot with smart and witty…read morecomments; also great 'if you liked that you'll like this' suggestions!

Very cute and cozy bookstore. The owner is versed in literature and her number one employee,…read moreGermaine, is the cutest black cat in the city. Definitely a great place to stop by.

It is signed!

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

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Fashion/art books.

Second Edition Books & Music

4.0(85 reviews)

14.5 mi

Cannot recommend this place enough! The staff is amazing and kind, the selection is great and $2…read morefiction novels?! Cannot beat it. I've been to a few used book stores and this is genuinely my favorite. The membership pays for itself even if you just go once (but trust you'll be back!)

What you see is what you get with this place. There is nothing extraordinary and wow about it which…read moreI think is okay. They have an extensive collection of used books and CDs. But sadly I was on the hunt for vinyl records and there weren't many on display at the time. And the albums they had were from 2010s to current so wasn't quite what I was looking for. No qualms beyond that. I was in and out and the cashier didn't really pay me any attention which was fine.

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Outside

Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse

4.1(255 reviews)

0.1 mi•Abell

I had been wanting to visit Red Emma's for quite a while and finally made it there for dinner with…read morea friend about a week ago. We were warmly greeted by a cashier and order taker as we reviewed the menu. I ordered the falafel sandwich with a side of curly fries, and also chose to pay an extra $5 to provide a meal for someone who comes in and can't afford to pay. My friend ordered a 'Nosh Pit' sandwich--a barbecue sandwich made with seitan, with a side order of regular fries. All the food is plant based. After we took a seat in their cafe' area our meals were delivered to the table by a friendly server. Both meals were delicious, including both types of fries. The cafe' was preparing for a panel discussion as we were finishing, with chairs arranged around the speakers' area, but unfortunately we couldn't stay. We would both strongly recommend this cosy, friendly place for meals or browsing the bookstore.

I didn't have a prolonged visit here, as I just stopped by and picked up some pastries to bring…read morehome. Whilst there it looked like a very big and nice place to maybe meet up with friends or even try to get some work done. It wasn't overly noisy or anything. Also everything is vegan. We actually ordered a vegan pie from them for Thanksgiving and can attest it was delicious. Next to the coffeehouse is the two story bookstore. The ground level is full of books highlighting political and/or social subject matters, whereas the second floor seemed to have more regular fare. It's a nice inviting space for everyone - would recommend checking out.

It's all about the presentation--and taste! TLT (Tempeh Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato) and Cup of Chili

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Impossible burger with chili side

The Ivy Bookshop

4.1(50 reviews)

3.7 mi•Sabina - Mattfeld

I had the opportunity to be part of an author reading and music event at this location, and it was…read moresuch an amazing experience to be a part of! We used the back patio area, which gave us beautiful views of the expansive grounds and created such a lovely ambiance for the event. It was a really special setting. Inside, the store itself was beautifully laid out, and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Everything about the experience felt thoughtfully put together, and I was genuinely happy to be an author participating in an event there.

It's a cute bookshop but the employees are something else. I was smiling and greeting them. The…read morelonger I was there the more uncomfortable I felt. I thought one of the employees was a customer until she started pointing out books when asked by someone else. A white girl came in looking for a book and all three employees rushed to greet and help her. Running downstairs and everything. If you're BIPOC don't come here. You're better off at Barnes & Nobles. Definitely won't be back. Sad because it was warm looking inside. Don't judge a book by its cover! Also there is a tiny Palestinian section. Just trauma porn for their patrons.

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Parking behind the store.

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34 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Ginni S.

9 years ago

On a rainy Sunday, 5 of my book-loving friends and I made the round trip of 100+ miles and 2.5 hours to The Book Thing -- which is located in a somewhat rough part of Baltimore City. Although 4 of us had an OK experience, 2 did not...This is their story: "I carried a box of bottled water into the place and looked around. No one directed me to the "book drop" so I went through some likely-looking swinging doors to my right. I did notice a sign that said "Do not even stick your head in here" and something else, but silly me, here I had the impression that this "thing" would be staffed by friendly volunteer bookworms who might just be happy that someone bothered to visit their website and brought them some supplies. Instead I was accosted by an oversize, angry person who scowled "CAN I HELP YOU?" at me. Well, taken aback as I was, I just replied, "I brought you some water." He got even angrier, and asked me if I could read, and informed me that the sign said not to come in here. I reiterated that it was water, and he said, "I don't care what it is, bring it outside and put it through the window." So I did just that. I walked back outside, into the rain, and went to the window with the box of water and put it through. But by this time I was pretty annoyed that this vicious martinet felt he could abuse my good graces by insisting that I go outside to give him my donation - while I had been no more than ten feet away from the INSIDE of the window in question, so I, probably improvidently, added "here's your ****ing water." When I re-entered the store I was accosted by the spitting fury, eyes blazing and foaming at the mouth, and told to "get the **** out of here and don't come back." I calmly invited him to step outside to discuss this in a calm manner. He did so, while heaping copious amounts of profane abuse at me. At this point [my wife] appeared, and he said, "you with him? Get out of here too." Now, I did not immediately turn and run away, but stayed put as he pushed himself within inches of me and kept complaining about the "people who are working their asses off in here and ****ing ***holes like you come around and can't even read signs," etc. So finally I invited him to hit me or call the police, but he did neither, to our mutual good fortune, or my afternoon would really have been spoiled in a notorious Baltimore lockup. I then asked him to give us our donation back, and a nice fellow brought out the towels and toilet roll, and the big mental case came out and flung the case of water into the street, breaking it and several of the bottles inside, while he continued to heap abuse on both me and [my wife], warning her that I was "going to get her thrown out of lots of places if she continued to hang out with me because I am a lowlife ***hole," among other choice words." read more

Peg N.

15 years ago

Free books. Yes, FREE books. As many as you want, as many as you can carry! They advertise that they're open EVERY Saturday and Sunday and they mean EVERY Saturday and Sunday. That means Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year and the following week, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Nothing - not even major holidays - stops this place from giving away free books. And nothing is required! Walk in and start looking! If your arms get too full, they even have free boxes to help take your free books home. You don't have to donate books to take them, but if you have some, drop them off with the volunteers when they're open or in the bins in front of the building any other time. Yes, it's HOT in there in the summer and COLD in there in the winter but a little bit of sweat or a little bit of chill has never stopped the masses that come every weekend for the books. I don't know how it's possible that the shelves continue to be full week after week, but between the donors donating and the volunteers volunteering, they are. And it's a wonderful thing, a Book Thing - www.bookthing.org read more

Dan A.

Elite 16

198

368

119

14 years ago

This was a fun place to visit! I've had a bunch of books that I needed to donate. Plus I wanted to buy some vintage-y looking books as props for an upcoming photo shoot session I was doing. All that led me to search for used book stores in the area... and then I found this place! EVERYTHING. IS. FREE. No strings attached. Seriously. It's like a library without due dates! Okay, so you're not gonna find Harry Potter or anything current here (unless you are super lucky I suppose) but you'll find some interesting books here. You can find everything from classics to sci fi to medical textbooks to computer programming texts. Yes, most of the stuff will be dated, but you can still find some diamonds in the rough here. And did I mention it was free? So come on over, drop off some books you no longer need and find a few you'd like to read (and sign the sheet at the front door telling how many books you took). Oh..and bring a bag too. Books are heavy. read more

R. D.

17 years ago

One upon a time, before the burbs piled their brats into the suv and descended on this place like angry locusts at a feeding frenzy that offers free daycare, this was an ok place. No amenities, no frills, no a/c, heat or barista, but honest-to-god FREE literature and so much less! I haven't been in for awhile as the last half-doz times were a mob scene of rude singles on cellphones, toddlers moshing off my legs, and hungover hipsters with earpods. Even at it's best, the best books never hit the shelves but were auctioned off online. Sigh. read more

Brock L.

8 years ago

The Book thing seemed too good to be true, but it's exactly as described. I brought in a couple bags of gently used books I wanted to get rid of and walked out with a full bag of recent literary fiction, short story collections, and nonfiction. The selection here is fantastic - there's even a solid poetry section (it goes fast, though). One of the lesser-known gems of Baltimore. read more

Eric W.

13 years ago

Amazing place for book lovers. The book place accepts donations of books, and encourages people to visit and take as many books as they can read. And you will always find something. I returned some books I no longer wanted and got something interesting. Overall this is a wonderful place to donate, volunteer, and spend time on weekends browsing and finding unexpected things. read more

J. J.

15 years ago

I used to go here all the time but the word has gotten out. Everything is always picked over and management sells the best books off on ebay! Plus now, there are always a ton of screaming brats running around and inconsiderate people yakking away on their callphones. Horrible. A fine idea whose time has come and gone, unfortunately! read more

Catherine C.

266

1 year ago

This place is a Baltimore treasure. You walk in, and everything is FREE. No catch. Just take what you'll read and bring books back when you're done. Selection is hit or miss, but that's half the fun. Parking can be tricky, but totally worth it. read more

Robert H.

13 years ago

This is my favorite bookstore in Baltimore.... why?? Because the books are FREE! You know how they say, "Nothing in life comes for free"? That isn't the case here. This place is awesome and totally deserves 5 stars! read more

Jessica H.

17 years ago

Free books -- what's not to love about that? When I tell my friends in New York that such a place exists in Baltimore, they're left flabbergasted. Definitely recommend this place to anyone. read more

Misti K.

15 years ago

I left with thirteen free books and dropped off a bunch of books that had been hanging out in the trunk of my car since August. Fantastic! Will definitely return. read more

Sammy D.

8 years ago

This store is packed with inventory! There is so much to browse through.The prices were fair and the choices excellent.I'm looking forward to going again. read more

David L.

13 years ago

Great guys. I'll stop by to donate books which are worth reading. it's something other people should do. Not just donate things that need to be recycled. read more

Drea N.

16 years ago

Selection & organization were lacking...Sometimes I just want the book I am looking for. Love the concept in theory perhaps not in practice

Gabby P.

11 years ago

I don't really know what to say except that this may be the best thing in Baltimore, or anywhere ever. That is all

Ben C.

16 years ago

People are right! What's there to complain about the Bookthing? Nothing, because the books are Free!

Ken K.

390

8 years ago

I loved The Book Thing before the fire and am so happy that it is back. It is a real treasure.

Jen H.

Elite 14

148

14 years ago

Could be better organized, but who cares? The books are FREE! I have found several gems there.

Alexis P.

11 years ago

How could you not love a place that has an amazing selection of items for FREE!

Sally S.

16 years ago

One of the great reason to live in Baltimore! Getting Free Books from here!

The Book Thing - bookstores - Updated November 2026

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Great selection and value; really knowledgeable proprietor helped a lot with smart and witty…read morecomments; also great 'if you liked that you'll like this' suggestions!

Very cute and cozy bookstore. The owner is versed in literature and her number one employee,…read moreGermaine, is the cutest black cat in the city. Definitely a great place to stop by.

Greedy Reads - Remington

4.7

(11 reviews)

I LOVE a good indy bookstore and they are getting harder and harder to find. We stopped in here…read morejust for kicks and left with a stack of new reads! They have a neat elevated platform where I believe they have guest speakers/authors. They aren't a huge shop but they had everything! We walked out with a Richard Scarry book for a new baby in my life (I can still recite Cars and Trucks and Things that Go from memory) as well as a Sandra Boynton board book. Also in our stack was a book talking about different kinds of housing- apropos because we had just been having a conversation about the row home (like where I grew up in Philly) vs the townhouse vs the condo. The staff was kind, engaged and knowledgeable. I could have sat there all day!

A cute local bookstore!…read more We have been recommend to visit this spot a few times, so we decided to stop by and visit. The bookstore has a broad selection. The staff was friendly. I also liked that they had a signed books section. Wish some of their genres had more of a selection, but overall a nice store!

Second Edition Books & Music

4.0

(85 reviews)

The Kelmscott Bookshop

4.5

(2 reviews)

Quality bookstore!…read more This was the only store in the entire area that had the book I was looking for. I went to 6 other ones including Barnes and noble and this one was the one! Cashier was super helpful and nice even though my book didn't come up in the database. The entire collection in the store seemed super fancy and all hardcover and even the book I need was a lot fancier than the usual copies. It had a slide out hard cover and gold lettering. Didn't seem like the prices were high but they were having a 40% off all literature that day so I got a great deal! Definitely recommend.

No Yelp reviews of the Kelmscott in Book Row on 25th? Seriously !? Don't Yelpers read books anymore…read moreor care about affordable and amazing rare and used books, manuscripts, and collectibles? Has the entire freakin' world gone Kindle on me since I left the charming city that reads? 25th St was one of those places that initially scared me when I moved to the city from what had been up to that point a sheltered life in West Virginia and Williamstown, Mass. This was urban East Coast livin' in the late 1990s, and it took me a few months to screw up the courage to head down Charles St in search of used books and other delights that midtown B'more could offer. I'm so glad that I did. I am a better, more enlightened person for having done so by visiting unique and wonderful places like the Kelmscott and Royal Books. So go ahead! Live a little! Put your iPhone and Crackberry away for a nanosec' and see what several hundred years of paper, ink, leather, linen, and movable type are capable of producing. Once you open an old book with real Italian marbled paper lining its inside cover - let alone one printed on vellum - you will realize the limits of e-reading and e-mailing. These things have their essential places in the 21st century, but so, too, do rare, used, and artisinal books made from tree pulp and cotton.

East-West Bookstore

(1 review)

East-West Bookstore is one of Pikesville's hidden gems, especially now that it's tucked back away…read morefrom Reisterstown Road. Although the focus is on Russian books, there are great cultural materials, including foreign movies, dictionaries, and music that is hard to find elsewhere in the area. The other great part about the place is the coffee shop - there is some great coffee, sweets, and other goodies available. I think they also sell crafts and jewelry, but I've never really looked into that.

Growing Minds Book Store

(2 reviews)

It's so wonderful to have our own bookstore in Catonsville!!! There's an excellent selection of…read moreused books for very, very fair prices. She also has a great selection of new books for children. I also like to order new books from Jen. You might not get them by the next day, but it's worth it to me to support this wonderful spot. Not only is it in Catonsville, but it's an independently owned company. Independent stores are my favorite type of capitalism. Not to mention - Jen is super! I like to give my money to good people rather than to Amazon, who will be laying 500,00 off in the next few years. I hope more of my neighbors will do the same so we don't ever lose this gem!

Was just there and Jen, the owner, helped me select books for everyone on my list. Great customer…read moreservice, well-organized displays, lots of options, easy parking. Great experience!

Vinyl and Pages

(7 reviews)

If you love music and books, Vinyls & Pages is for you…read more Looking though their collection of books, it is clear this is a space any bibliophile will enjoy. From the biography of Wes Moore to a new title by Tia Williams, I was happy to see biographies, cookbooks, historical texts and fiction nestled on the shelves. With a collection of funk, hip-hop, jazz, and R&B, Vinyl & Pages is for music lovers, too. A relaxing atmosphere, music played in the background. Thanks to the cozy seating, I wanted to stay for hours. An added bonus is the assortment of candles and other items that make this a great spot to go to if you want to treat yourself or by a gift for someone else. Great space! I'm looking forward to my next visit

Cool little spot tucked away at the Harbor. The décor is super cozy with vinyl records, books, and…read moreeven a tea/snack area. The record selection isn't huge but has a nice variety, and I still found a couple gems. Staff were really friendly and made it a great experience. Definitely worth supporting this local business!

The Novel Refuge