A book is like a whole new world waiting to be opened and explored. And visiting Too Many Books for the first time was like a journey to many worlds in one space and time. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Too Many Books, a beloved independent used bookstore located in the heart of Roanoke's Historic Grandin Village, is a perfect example. Owned and managed by Linda Stedman for many years, this cozy, two-story bookshop features a massive inventory of approximately 50,000 used books, which include fiction and non-fiction. There one can easily find vintage paperbacks as well as hardcover books in categories such as children's literature, history, science fiction, art, and philosophy; with extensive sections dedicated to Virginia, Civil War history, and genealogy. I was very impressed with the selection of books which included: antiquarian books, leatherbound books, out-of-print titles, limited editions, first editions, signed books by the author, and other collectible ephemera. It was a pleasure meeting the owner who came across as a very warm and deeply knowledgeable bookseller, as well as her other friendly staff in this bookstore with a very inviting atmosphere and fair prices. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its amazing merchandise. The store lists portion of its specialized inventory online via its AbeBooks Merchant Page. It also hosts author signings, literary discussions, and ocational major storefront sales. As a matter of fact it was holding one of those sales today where hardcover books were 20% off until the end of the month. I particularly liked a book by former Predident Barack Obama's Chief Official White House Photographer, Pete Souza, titled: "Obama: An Intimate Portrait." The author also served as an official photographer for President Ronald Reagan. The used book in almost new condition was selling for $50, so with the discount one could buy it for $40. One can check their official Too Many Books Instagram for events and most current inventory of books. I highly recommend this used bookstore, for its inviting ambiance, fair prices, and deeply knowledgeable and hospitable owner and staff. read more

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The only thing missing from this classic style used bookstore is giant piles of books in corners and backrooms that threaten to fall over at any moment. Instead, they are all categorized, priced, and shelved under the watchful eyes of the proprietors. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and any time we had a question, they were there to answer it. What a pleasant way to spend and hour or two, perusing the shelves looking for treasures. read more

Talk about charming! The store is two floors and has a lovely collection of history/non-fiction upstairs and fiction downstairs. I was impressed with their poetry section and the variety of authors they seem to carry - not overdoing it on any one name. I found several names/titles that were new to me and felt like I was prowling around my Pop-pop's basement the whole time. Magical! The folks at the counter were lovely, and I'm already looking forward to going back. read more

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I could have spent hours in this store, but because I only had an hour before closing, and I was looking for specific type historical non-fiction books I didn't get a chance to really browse, something I'm definitely going to do next time I'm in the area! The lady working there was really helpful in finding a few books on the subject I was looking for. read more

This is one of my FAVORITE bookstores I've ever been in! We stopped at the coffee shop next door and stumbled upon this diamond. Wow. I can't believe the serendipity of finding this place. They have such an incredible selection of books, all for a fair price. It's clearly run by "book people," so if you're a "book person" I'd argue you could plan a whole trip to Roanoke with the intention of just visiting this place. It's THAT good. I was so pleased with my 1967 Xerox reprint of the A Christmas Carol original that I found here! I teach this novel in my class, and the students love visiting my desk to see what the original book would have looked like. They especially love seeing the original pictures! It really makes an impact and it's so fun to see them start wondering about the history of books and how their publication format changes. read more

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This place is everything I hope for in a bookstore. The store is filled to capacity with books and there are many nooks and crannies to explore! It is really like a maze once you step inside and it's easy to lose yourself and the reason why you came because there is so much to look at. The staff was super friendly and helpful- directing me to the different sections I needed to find what I was looking for. The prices they have for their books is something that cannot be beaten or overlooked! They have new books, old books, popular books, and even books authored by Virginians. I need a full day to do nothing and just explore this place because I feel like I've barely scratched the surface. read more

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It's a gem, you must go! Rare books, well organized, a real treasure of authors and artists. Found a first edition book to add to my collection- I have been looking for this book for some time, and I found it in just 2 minutes, it was the only one. I couldn't believe the price, it's in mint condition. read more

What a cute store!! You just don't find used bookstores of this quality any more. Given it's set up, there are some major pros and cons to this establishment. On the plus side, in comparison to other used bookstores I've visited, this one gets massive props for its broad appeal and selection. There were several books on history, religion, science and the arts. Perhaps my favorite was an entire bookshelf of "holiday" books - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas - I LOVED that they were sorted into their own place. It was easy to pick up a few new ones for the kids without hunting around for them. There was also an entire shelf devoted to local (as in VA) authors - LOVE! In terms of my reading preferences, it was odd that there wasn't a romance section - just a general fiction section that had some popular romance titles. Lots of mystery books though if you're into those. On the con side, the prices are pretty high -- I picked up a kid's book that I swore said it was 50 cents but then was charged $5 for it. Most of the prices are half the face value price of the book (so if it was originally $15, you pay $7.50). That's pretty steep for used books compared to other stores I've shopped at, especially given that you can get brand new books at a fraction of the cover price on Amazon or Barnes & Noble if you shop their deals/coupons. They also don't have a trade-in/credit system like I'm used to at other used bookstores. The shop layout is incredibly cramped, to the point that I kept worrying about knocking over books. The fiction section in the basement is literally made for hobbits - my over six foot husband bonked his head on the ceiling more than once. And there doesn't seem to be any real rhyme or reason to how the books are organized other than the general category. So there is a large "kids" section that is sort of organized by reading level, but it's not alphabetized by author or anything where you can find something easily. If you have an hour or so to kill and just want to wander around and find a book, this is a good spot to do it. If you're looking for value or something specific, I probably wouldn't recommend it. read more

Too Many Books - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Fantastic collection of books and knowledgeable owner. Not a run of the mill used store with stacks of picked over trash. This a curated place. Well done ! read more

If I had more space in my luggage I would have bought more in this great store. As it was I left with a handful of good titles. Reasonably priced and nicely organized, a gem of a used bookstore. read more

I went here for the first time with my mom to get to know the Grandin area, as I just moved here and am trying to become more comfortable. It will be my last. As soon as we walked in, we weren't greeted with a simple "Hello, how are you?" or something, but instead a very aggressive "Are you vaccinated? If not you'll have to wear masks." The woman's whole demeanor was rude and we felt like we'd broken some kind of rule. We were wearing masks, which were plainly visible and covering our mouths and noses. We were perfectly capable of reading the sign on the front door which stated to wear masks unless vaccinated. We were following all the guidelines, so I'm not sure why the woman felt the need to bark at us like that, unless my mom "looked" like one of those anti-maskers, which is not only extremely callous but classist as well. Quite frankly it's none of anyone's business if we're vaccinated unless we're in a place that requires it. We support the vaccine and will be getting them as soon as they've been tested long enough to feel safe doing so, but it felt as though those who are unvaccinated are unwelcome at this establishment and seen as unclean. Please just state if you require your visitors to be vaccinated and spare us the passive aggression. What a horrible first impression. read more

Two floors of browsing pleasure. First floor was non fiction subjects and the second floor was fiction. I found what I didn't know I wanted, a copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Jonathan Bach. My brother and his wife each selected a book on their topic of interest : art and history. I'd say overall a great selection of books. My niece seemed thoroughly entertained while we all browsed. They had a large selection of kids books and some toys to keep her entertained. My only gripe was the lack of biography section. I love browsing through biography titles learning about people. This place mixes biographies in with the main topicscience example: science has Einstein). read more

Too Many Books is a bibliophile's dream. Shelves loaded with every kind of book imaginable. You want a current read? They have it. A book from your childhood, it's there. Rare books, those, too. If there is a book that you are looking for, and Linda doesn't have it, she can find it. I never get out of there in less than two hours. I get lost in the stacks. You won't want to miss it! read more

They have a wide selection of books on most topics. I was particularly impressed by the wide ranges from classics from Plato and Plutarch to Shakespeare and the giants of American, English, and Russian literature. The fantasy/science fiction selection was also wide ranging from popular to obscure authors. The staff was very helpful when I asked where I could find books by a specific author or genre. These are usually the criteria I usually judge used bookstores on, selection variety and staff helpfulness. If that's what you're looking for, this is the place for you. read more

I love this place. It's within walking distance to my house, and the location/place is somewhere I could spend a rainy day reading. Of course they won't have everything like Barnes and Noble, but it has rare books that you would have to normally purchase in Ebay. Great section about VA and great kids section. I love this place. read more

Stopped In from NJ on our way to Tennessee. Lovely bookstore with a wonderful self help and fitness section around back. Owner is super friendly and welcoming. Happy to have made the stop! read more

Stopped in earlier to see if I could donate or sell some of my grandmother's books; I could honestly care less about getting money for them, just wanted to find them a new home. Instead of being greeted with a smile, the woman working was very short and crude towards me. I'm all about supporting local businesses, especially in the Grandin area, but I'll never go in there again! read more

Wonderful selection, wonderful prices, and proprietor Linda shares all my enthusiasms. Love it, and visit whenever I visit my daughter, her husband and my new grand-girl in Roanoke. read more

It's a great book store for old books but can get a bit pricey, but overall it was cute and and I pretty much always find what I need!

This is one of my favorite book stores in the world. Linda and I talked about Literature and family and the necessity of connecting through language. I hope the establishment stays forever. read more

People who are saying the owner is friendly must have been to a different store than the one I've been to. Both times I've been in here she's been randomly rude to me for no reason. I was there this afternoon and walked by her as I was leaving and she said something so strange that it didn't even register until I walked out the door. "Did she really say what I thought she said?" But yeah, she did. It was just weird. I wasn't doing anything, just minding my own business and quietly walking to the door. Very odd woman. Plus the selection is so-so and the prices are high. Go elsewhere. read more

TMB is a GREAT bookstore. I've patronized the shop for many years now. Always find something new in the history sections. Books are always in very good condition- no duds, broken spines, etc. Prices are very competitive. Great value for the money. Linda Steadman will give you cash or credit for many of the books you bring in. Have dealt w/ her for some years & am always treated fairly. I like to support local businesses & shopping at TMB is a fantastic way to do so. read more