I've never been inside of a more packed bookstore than the Bookery. I don't know how the staff do it - but this used bookstore is one of the most beautifully jam packed bookstores I've seen in a long time. Everything is labeled with the genre and organized beautifully. Most books are 50% off the original price unless noted otherwise. There is a huge variety of collectible books too. Im sure if you are looking for it - it's here. Make sure to ask. The staff is friendly and very helpful. When looking for a book - start here. Support a small local business first before looking elsewhere. read more

The Bookery - Used Bookstore Near Me - Placerville, California

They give good deals when you trade in your used books. They have a lot of Tolkien if you're into that. They have so many books.

SO MANY BOOKS! There's gotta be SOMETHING you'll like! It's kinda like a maze in there they way the shelves are: you can fantasize your own story while you shop! Shelves are nicely labeled and they even had a new book section and some stickers/book marks/cards. Made it out with 3 books and want to come back! The person working was kind!! Thank you! read more

Wow...it's bookworm heaven! Used books for a good price, a humongous selection, AND picturesquely tall bookshelves??? Sign me up. My friend and I were warmly greeted by their kind sales staff, and began our journey into the labyrinth of genres. It got to a dangerous point because I couldn't stop shoveling books into my arms, as there were so many gems. Each shelf is neatly labeled, and with every twist and turn you find yourself admiring another section of the store. It goes back pretty deep, so keep going. Thanks to the sweet employee at the register who gave me a free bookmark with the books I purchased, it really made my day!!! read more

The Bookery - Used Bookstore Near Me - Placerville, California

The bookery is such a gem of Placerville! My sisters and I love coming here to browse the titles and pet the very sweet shop kitty cats! Definitely a business worth supporting. read more

Huge independent used bookstore! Great place for any book lover and they have a cat as a pet. Massive selection and nice staff. They don't have a computer inventory so you have to look through everything to find anything specific. read more

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It's a great book store with sooooo many books, friendly staff and wall to wall books and a cute cat snuggled in the corner. Found some real cool books!! read more

Wow...... simply wow.... More books for a used book store than I've ever seen. Any genre imaginable is covered. Just when you think you've seen it all, you turn a corner and there's more books!! For a book lover like me, it's a dream. Friendly staff and this sweet animal too! read more

The Bookery - Used Bookstore Near Me - Placerville, California

I got a hardcover book that is hard to find at 15$. The smell of this place is nostalgic and I love that a dog and cat just chill in there while you walk around. This place is packed with Variety, new and old, fiction non-fiction. I will make the 40 min drive just for this every week if I have to. Absolutely love this place read more

I loved this bookstore so much I went twice in a day. I noticed it while walking by to get breakfast, went in and wandered around but soon realized I needed more time to fully appreciate it and that I needed to eat first. After breakfast I made my way back here and lost track of time. The shelves were well organized and when I asked the man at the register for a book on bees he willingly walked me all the way to the back. He explained the new and used books that were available and was very helpful during check out. This will be a must stop anytime I'm in the area. read more

The Bookery - Loosing track of time. - Used Bookstore Near Me - Placerville, California

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went here again today everyone is so nice and we left with a load of great books today

I came here three times! And each time I LOVE IT! This small store is the perfect stop to surprise your bookworm friend. They have a great selection of books and I always find pleasure searching for the books I want to read because of the quiet and mystical ambiance that this place serves. I always appreciate seeing their two dogs and two cats. (I have a photo of one of their cats in their wonderfully decorated restroom). I was surprised with their eclectic mix of books that are very neatly organized. Of course, you can always ask the book keepers what are you looking for, and they are SO HELPFUL! The Bookery is a hidden gem and you should come on down right here. Sometimes I come to Main Street just for this! It's worth a visit! read more

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They have a great selection, a bookstore dog and items you won't find anywhere else. Local historians are featured, lots of local history books plus more modern stuff. Good selection on murder mysteries with the usually top authors. You can turn you books in for credit. They do a cash discount. read more

If you're trading books make sure to call ahead of time and try to get an unbiased estimate on what you can possibly get on your books!! I was told I would maybe get about $5-6/YA novel (store credit) and a trade for the adult novels I have. When I went in I was given $1.50/book. I was so shocked that my anxiety took over and went with the price. I also overpaid for one of the books I bought. I was still so shocked I didn't realize till after I left. My friend who is not a POC had a much better experience and loved the store. But I had a terrible time at HANGTOWN (?!?!) because I was stared at the whole time, shopkeepers would keep a hard eye on me until I left, and I was overpaying for things. I've never felt such blunt ostracization or racism in a bit and it really ruined my trip there. read more

Good selection, value, and service. A good spot to add to your list of independent book sellers

Small footprint - LOTS of books with good organization for easy browsing. There are friendly, elderly bookshop dogs that occasionally need to be stepped over. Why not 5 stars? The books I kept choosing didn't have any way of knowing the price. Yes, some books had stickers, but the ones I looked at were unpriced. read more

Cool shop that's been around for years. Big selection, very reasonable prices. Friendly staff. I could have spent hours (and a lot more money here), but left with the 4 books I selected as a satisfied customer. read more

Nice bookstore. They seem to have a lot of "old school" science fiction and fantasy books in their collection... a big "plus" for me! This was my first time in there. It was filled with many interesting and eclectic subject matter material. The staff there was helpful and friendly when you needed their help, and respectful when you just want to be free to explore and peruse the shelves. My friend with me found a small stack of reading material that he was pleased to add to his personal collection. This was only a first visit, but I am sure that I will return again and again. (I wish this bookstore was closer to where I live!) read more

This bookstore is amazing! All of the staff are super nice and very helpful. There is an awesome selection of books to pick from. They shipped some old books for me and I was worried about them getting to me in one piece but they packed them very carefully and they arrived in perfect condition. I can't wait to go visit again! read more

Every Main Street in America should have a bookstore. Is that too much to ask??? Lucky Placerville has one, and a wonderful and well-stocked one at that! My husband and I popped in to browse after having coffee a few doors down at Totem. I was in heaven. Books were everywhere (shelves, floor, counters, carts, etc), just like our house. lol They have a pretty good selection on just about any topic that might interest people. Make sure to go all the way to the back of the store and turn left and you will find more sections in another room. We ended up buying 4 books and got a great deal on them as they were all used books. Plus, it happened to be Independent Booksellers Day, so Bookery paid for the sales tax on our purchase! Next time we're in Placerville, we'll have to return to The Bookery and see what treasure awaits us in its shelves! read more

The Bookery - Today is Independent Bookstore Day! - Used Bookstore Near Me - Placerville, California

It is easy to get lost in this character-ful bookstore, and forget that you were simply 'stopping-in' Positives: -Character (There is a grey color cat which seemed pretty friendly, the restroom is covered wall-to-wall with bookmarks from all over, the restroom door is chock-a-block with cartoon strips) -Well curated books -Lends itself to serendipity (don't expect bookshelves to be in grid pattern, or, sections to be alphabetical) Will be back! read more

The Bookery is wonderful once you step inside, there were books everywhere and I found books that I really liked. We didn't stay for very long but it was great read more

This is my favorite kind of bookstore: Quiet, easy to get lost in, and such a huge selection. My kids and I always stop in when we're on Main Street. They love browsing the kid's section (which has newer books and old classics alike), while I explore the other sections. There is a whole other side of the store that I didn't even notice until recently. Prices are fair and although it is crammed with bookshelves and books are not always sorted alphabetically, I think they do a pretty great job at organizing their inventory. If you're a book lover in the Placerville area, or even if you're just passing through, you won't regret giving The Bookery a visit! read more

The Bookery is one of those Downtown Main Street stores that make Placerville so charming! My goodness - the lovely smell of knowledge in those old books is intoxicating, and I get lost every time I go in to find something new to read or gift someone. Like many other stores on Main, they are open and loving to ALL walks of life, and support our community generously. They stuck to the CA mask mandate during the shutdown and beyond, and we've always felt safe and welcome at the Bookery. PS - one of the co-owners is also a documentary film maker, so make sure to ask Darin about his films next time you're in town! read more

Wow. What a shop! Just when you think you've seen all the books, there is a hidden room off to the side with even MORE books. Love the mascot dog that watches the front too. Honestly, after seeing this place, why pay full retail for new? There is every category of book you can think of and then some. I did find the book I was looking for and then realized that it was quite a tome and I have a stack of books that I still haven't read. I didn't have too much time to browse, but I could easily spend many an afternoon here. I just love the way books absorb sound. It was so quiet and peaceful hanging out the back. In the kids section, some of the books did not have the price written in the cover. I wasn't sure if this meant that it was a new book or what. In any case, the staff was very attentive and helpful. read more

I stumbled across The Bookery while on our annual Apple Hill trip with the family and one can't hope to find a perfect little (big?) bookstore than this. I was in heaven! It reminds me of a bookstore you'd find in The Wizarding World for some reason--the narrow isles, winding pathways, books stacked vertically and sporadically amongst the tidy shelves, and handwritten notes along the shelves themselves (to help you locate other similar titles or hard-to-find items elsewhere in the shop). The selection is massive--I overheard the owner say around 200,000 titles--and the selection of genres leaves something (or tons) for everyone. Not only will you find sections devoted to a genre, you'll then notice as you peer around that there are sub genres with their own areas as well. You'd be hard pressed to not find something up your alley in here, and also to not spend an extra 15 mins browsing even though you're all set with your purchase. read more

This bookstore is composed of a whimsical maze of books that you can get lost in for hours...each book's previous history is palpable. The staff is welcoming, knowledgeable and so helpful! Worth the visit. read more

The Bookery - More books - Used Bookstore Near Me - Placerville, California

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I took the children here after calling and asking if they had a good kids book selection. I gotta I was a little disappointed but the kids had a blast seeing all of the books read more

My husband and I take the occasional day-date through the shops on Main Street in Placerville when we want to get away from it all, and one rainy day a couple of weeks ago, we rolled on through the Bookery. I was like a kid in a candy store - the winding maze of bookshelves is surprisingly easy to navigate and full of a ton of amazing finds. In particular, I was looking for a copy of "The Secret Garden", and the owner was so knowledgeable about where it would be. Before asking for her help, I got incredibly distracted by the huge selection and managed to snag two good finds: used copies of "The Tale of Genji" and "Lolita", which I've been meaning to get my own copies of, for only about $7 each. I was ECSTATIC. The Tale of Genji in particular, I've seen the particular copy I bought run up about $30 brand new. They prefer you pay in cash - fees and whatnot, completely understandable. There are several ATM's close by, and I was happy to ask the owner to hold onto my books at the counter for five minutes while I walked up the street for some cash. She was incredibly gracious and thankful that I did so, and I'll definitely be back when I have time. If I could one day have a personal library that looked like the inside of this store, I'd be one happy camper. read more

The brick and mortar bookstore model as we knew it is on the endangered species (business) list. In no order (nor is it comprehensive/complete) other than mine/personal usage, the competition for my dollar is fierce: Amazon, Audible, Kindle (gross that all three are the same company), Powell's (online; yes, I know it's a physical bookstore as well), AbeBooks, Project Gutenberg, etfriggencetera. The Bookery is local, convenient, welcoming, and a staple/holdout in downtown Placerville. Stopping in to browse, kill time, or look for a specific subject/title is usually a pleasure. The staff will do their best to answer questions and/or escort you to your section of choice, and I've always found them to be friendly. As prior reviews have summarily covered the aforementioned positive generalities, I'll be specific/nit-picky with my own likes/dislikes: I appreciate that they have a customer restroom available (not the easiest thing to find downtown), a good gambling section, self help books are plentiful (should gambling get out of control), and your purchase typically affords you a bookmark (small things I appreciate). The few personal irritations I cannot seem to shake: The exchange of used books for store credit system they use - some titles/subjects can only be exchanged (credit) for the same subject/type. This is off putting, in that my tastes change as I get older, or I may just want a whole different subject to read at the time. They are already giving very little credit in exchange for your used books (understandable, as what else will you do with your books), but to force you to select from a specific genre is... well, lame. The Sociology section is completely out of reach without a ladder; there is very little in the way of LGB-etc. titles; the topic of s-e-x is not only positioned at the same height as Sociology (ok, kid's and their fragile-eggshell minds... though these days, with the internet...), but it is conveniently located near the front of the store (main aisle). So, who is comfortable, on a ladder, reaching for books of this topic, blocking the main aisle near the cash register, while moms are walking their kids to the children's section? Lastly, to compete for my continued/much more frequent business, drop the prices, as the PC pressure to "support local businesses" only goes so far with the growing convenience of online purchasing (do a 25% off all inventory sale bi-annually and the stock may rotate occasionally - you know people sell/trade off their books frequently). I really do have a fondness for The Bookery, but I also am taking advantage of technological advances and fInding myself wanting to shop there far less than I did a decade ago. Consider my review the highest 3 stars available/but not quite 4, due to selection (the, "if they don't have it, they'll order it for you", is a bit antiquated should you have internet access), realistic, fierce, and convenient competition online for my business, and pricing (generally a bit high for used books not of the rare/first edition type). read more

Don't have it? They'll order it. I bought my mom three used books here. She had read them before. Went back today to exchange them with no receipt. No problem! Any three books from the same section. Price didn't matter. This impressed me. Really friendly workers. read more

I had found this business online and was really looking forward to visiting. I collect vintage books about a specific part of California history and bookstores like the Bookery are the perfect place for rare finds. We were in Placerville over Labor Day and I couldn't wait to go inside. I was not disappointed. We were greated warmly at the door by the owner. I explained what I was looking for and she took me to the section where those books were. Such an incredible selection! 9 books later, I began wandering the aisles and thumbing through the books. Having found lots of good stuff for my collection, the owner and I talked books and local history. This bookstore has such a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. I found her prices VERY good, much better than another large used bookstore we had visited the day prior further down Hwy 49. We were staying in a Mark Twain-inspired hotel in town and I thought it would be nice to purchase a copy of Twain's "Roughing It" in the place it was written about. We stopped in again, before getting on the road and the owner took me right to the Twain shelf for her last copy. I would drop in again any time I was in Placerville. read more

Went in to browse, one of the younger workers helped me locate the price and when I went to the counter the lady erased the price of the book and charged me more. The lady IDs you if you use a debit or credit card read more

The Bookery is easily one of my favorite bookstores. I have never seen four small rooms so filled with books! The winding bookcases reach from the ceiling to the floor all of which are so full that a neat stack of books sits at the foot of each bookcase. All used books are half price, and if that's not cheap enough there are two carts full of books on sale at the entrance. Don't be afraid of their mascot a rather large dog who sleeps near the entrance, he is older and very mellow, although no help when it comes to finding a good book. If your looking for a specific title just ask the friendly staff, they all seem to know off hand not only what they have, but precisely where it is. If you wish to sell some of your old books, they do purchase weekdays by appointment. read more

They need to rename this bookstore to "The Robbery" from "the Bookery". We went there today to look for some good deals and were met with a complete opposite experience than we had hoped for. I found one book I wanted to buy.....A Dan Brown novel called the Lost Symbol. It was a 2009 published book that was moderately used. As it was unmarked, I went up to the front desk and was met by a lady manning the cash register who was in a battle with her sandwich as I asked her for the price....she managed to put down what she was eating and looked through the book and said...."well, it is in good shape except for the crease in the book cover, I would normally charge you $15, but I can give it to you for $10." Are you kidding??, I just bought another Dan Brown book in the same condition from 2011 for $2.00. We left the store shaking our heads and the clerk went back to her attack on her lunch. I guess business must be so good they feel they can steal from you. Stay away!!!! read more

Per the co-owner's response...It does not matter what store, Macy's, Nieman Marcus...as you so mentioned, one steps foot in, or if the business has been around for one day or thirty years, or that your children's children are employed at the bookstore for personal comfort and job security; what matters is the humility in your actions and foremost, the passion you put forth as you run your business--without pride nor prejudice. Humbleness goes a long way...do take pride in that. Better yet, pay attention to your dog's actions, you can learn a few things from Abbie. One other thing, my name is not Gloria. read more

Lots of interesting reads. And Edward the cat will greet and and talk to you. Every bookstore needs a cat.

Sweet, sweet childhood memories. Whenever I was good kid (A's on the report card, no whipping up pickle-sugar cookies with my cousin and forcing my sister to eat them, restraining myself from throwing rocks at the neighbor boy's head, etc) I would get to go here as a reward. I can't tell you how many hours I spent as a girl in that back room, perusing the Babysitter's Club, Little House on the Prairie, and Sweet Valley selections. I still remember the excitement that would well up in me when my dad or my grandmother would take me downtown and tell me I could pick out whatever book I wanted. And the owner used to have this adorable dog. And sometimes we would get ice cream later. Sigh. I'm smiling just thinking about it. They also have amazing history and adult fiction sections. I still like to randomly stop by and nerd out when I'm up the hill. Go take a gander (you know, if you find yourself on the way to Tahoe or antiquing or something.) That place is WAY bigger than it looks outside and just when you think you've discovered all the books, there are MORE!! If you're a voracious reader you'll probably end up spending an entire afternoon there. read more

Absolutely love this bookshop! I used to go all the time when I lived in the area. Now I am always sure to stop by on my visits. Good prices and a HUGE selection! Such a charming and cute little shop read more

Very cool book store located in the heart of downtown Placerville. I actually found this little shop via Yelp, and it definitely is highly rated for a reason! Employees are friendly & the prices are great. You can also sell your books (or get store credit) on Monday's / Friday's. I brought in 4 books today and ended up getting $8, which isn't bad, considering they were just sitting in my room collecting dust...hopefully now someone else can enjoy them as much as I did. I can't wait to come back again...definitely check this place out if you're near the area. Carson C. El Dorado Hills, CA read more