Book Soup

We purposely visited this independent bookstore while recently in LA. They are small but actually have an incredible selection of books, gift items, vinyl records, etc. They are also friendly and helpful and if they don’t have a particular book in house, they will offer to bring one over from their sister store in Pasadena, Vroman’s. So glad we had the chance to visit & shop here.

Came here for a book signing! Super cute store! Appreciated the wall showcasing books by independent authors. They embrace the “Got to start somewhere” mentality. Very quiet with plenty of book selections and the ability to order to store for pickup. Cool little trinkets and gifts. Employees were helpful and didn’t appear rushed. Nice sidewalk board allowing others to celebrate 50 years of greatness! Cherry on TOP!!

I really love this bookstore, love their handwritten cards and how they display books in different areas.

Nice place, eclectic. Staff are welcoming and the wide variety of books is wonderful. One can easily spend a few hours here. No public restrooms, staff will direct you to buy a coffee from the nearby shops. Which we did. Free parking around back.

Really awesome bookstore with loads of other goodies! I bought two books on jazz and a bookmark. Their selection of music books and vinyls is very nice. I’m short, so I had to ask a staff member to help me retrieve a book, and he was very kind and helpful!

From the moment you walk in you feel the magic of this bookshop. Every nook and cranny has something to explore. If you are looking for a new book to read or add to your shelf stop in here. You will for sure find a unique book to walk out with. Now if you are looking for a gift for someone they truly have some wonderful items! Lovely smelling candles, adorable cards and cute little items to make that person feel special.

Bookstores have become so rare in LA outside of Barnes & Noble. I love this place, it has such personality and great service. I hope it never leaves Sunset Bouelvard. I wish they had a cafe too, I would go weekly if so!

Fantastic selection and nice atmosphere. They have really tall bookshelves which gives the feeling of going deep into almost a forest of books, I quite enjoyed it. Also the handwritten book reviews by the staff were really nice and helpful (I found a new manga series due to the reviews😁).

A lovely bookstore with a lot of character. Fun old time postcards, good selection of books and some fun extras as well.

I've never been here before & only came for a book signing event. It's a Weds. night & I think parking would be tricky. They do have a small parking area behind the store though. The bookstore is on the west end of the famous Sunset Strip. I love these independent bookstores like Vroman's - so many interesting books & gifts, displayed on black bookshelves in a maze like store. Book Soup has book signing events quite often so make sure to check out their website to see if your favorite author will be there. I came to see my old friend, Jake Adelstein. He is the author of Tokyo Vice which was made into a popular TV series for MAX. Both Season 1 & 2 were amazing so watch the series if you haven't already! If you're in the neighborhood & you love books, definitely stop by! So much more character & an experience than going to Barnes & Nobles!

This place is a true disappointment. It used to be a fun place for events and since it was bought out, the staff is rude, it's run horribly and everything is overpriced. Honestly, you get better customer service on Amazon... Plus the selection is so poor. Sad to see one of my former staples go down the tubes like this.

Wow! What a great selection and collection of books curated in this lovely spot on the famous Sunset Blvd! Just minutes away from the OG Roxy, Comedy Clubs and Whisky a Go Go, Book Soup is a haven for someone who wants to escape to a quiet yet tantalizing environment! They also have great book signings and they get quite a few of them! Look up their calendar and see who's coming next! They are amazing!!! See you here!

This is such a cool book store to visit. If you are local be sure to connect with them through social media or their email list. They have a lot of book signing events and conversations that are really cool to get to attend. I recently went to the book signing for the Oral History of the OC. It was my first time attending an event here so I had reached out to the store via email to get some details and they were very quick to respond. For events it is suggested to arrive 60-90 minutes early. I arrived around 90 minutes early for the event and was 10th in line. Only 30 guests were let in for the conversation so arriving early is important. You are not given a number when you join the line so unfortunately when people join their friends you get pushed further back in line. There is one hour parking behind the store but you'll need more time for special events. I paid for metered parking right by the Viper Room. It's two hour parking so I had to add time to the meter but that was not an issue. The store is filled with a fabulous collection of books and they also have fun LA items as well. I loved some of the LA pins they had. They do have a restroom but you'll need to ask for the key from the back counter.

Came here for a book reading on a Monday. They manage to fit quite a few chairs in the narrow aisles, but if you arrive right at the start you may end up standing in the back. I've always loved their selection of literary themed gifts and manage to find something I just have to have every time. This time was a Discworld themed puzzle, last time was a dinosaur pencil case. There is always something to discover!

It's a great neighborhood indie bookstore on Sunset Blvd with free parking in the back alley on Nellas (accessible by Palm Ave). My dog loves to walk there bc the staff is so friendly. Anything you need, if they don't have it on the shelves, they can order it for you. Support your local indie bookstores - give them a call or visit! Great ideas for gifts, from a wonderful children's section to art books to feminist tarot decks. And they have books from local authors too! (Hint: That's my poetry collection...thank you Book Soup!) #weho #independentbookstore

This was a very nice bookshop. The display out front was super cute. They provide a book star map when you walk in that's posted on the wall which I loved. They have recommendations throughout the store from the employees. There is also a selection of vinyls that was cool to look at.

Absolutely love BookSoup as an author myself. The fact that they have a consignment program is fantastic--I dropped off five of my books for consignment, and the process was smooth and welcoming. The interior of this indie bookstore is incredibly charming and inviting. I fell in love with every aspect, from the ambiance to their diverse selection of books. It's wonderful to see a place that stocks not only big-name titles but also indie books, showing immense support for local indie authors. Highly recommend this gem for all book lovers!

Wow books for the soul, please support local bookstores. Lovely recommendations on the shelf with some signed copies. Also lots of gifts for book lovers that included socks, stationary, bags etc. Highly recommended!

This is a super cute bookstore! They have a wide variety of books and other gift like items. They have a pretty extensive film section and queer section. I always find something and never leave empty-handed. They give you a bookmark with your purchases. The service is always friendly. I would say that it has general pricing that you see other bookstores. They also sell albums. The parking is a little bit of a nightmare as there is only street parking along the residential neighborhoods and a couple spaces with meters.

On my rare visits to L.A. I do make a point of stopping by Book Soup. Flowers are wonderful, but have you tried gifting that special someone books instead?? This bookstore has an edge to it, it's irreverent yet feels quite familiar. Rows and rows of books, every genre or title you might think of, they're sure to have it! Into music? Lovely, on occasion you're sure to find that one vinyl you never realized you needed but somehow it just jumped out at you and now you can't leave without it! Great service, good value, amazing selection... Book soup you won me over!

Ugh, I wish I READ MORE... but I don't. Alas, Book Soup is a great spot for little birthday gift accoutrements, cards, and stocking stuffers. AND a great place, perhaps on a weekday, to casually spot a celebrity. But BE COOL, man, be cool... I've had friends host readings from their own book launches here. And it's a great source for liberal, progressive reading material. Sorry, Republicans in the South.

Extensive selection of books and magazines. Also, interesting and unique small gifts and gadgets. Reasonable prices and helpful staff.

I've been coming to Book Soup for 20 years now. Ironically, the first time I came was to attend a book signing for John Waters and my most recent one was also for a John Waters book signing. I'm very happy that live events are happening at the store once again and I've truly missed in person events. Whether you're ordering the latest book release or attending a signing event, Book Soup is always super friendly. Hands down one of the coolest and most relaxing bookstores in all of LA. Honestly, this is a place you could call home. Located on the Sunset Strip, it's a great place to stop by before/after eating, drinking or attending a concert at one of the nearby venues. I've spent plenty of times doing that as it's located on the heart of The Strip. Depending on your mode of transportation, it's great for rideshare or biking. There is plenty of parking, but it depends on how long you need as there is neighborhood, street, private lot and garage parking nearby. It just depends on how far you're willing to walk. If you're in LA, this is an absolute MUST VISIT business!

Books, vinyls, trinkets. I enjoyed perusing the shelves and reading people's reviews of books. There are some signed books too. Prices are more expensive than Amazon but support small businesses!

Sweet gem of a bookstore. Plenty of room to explore and options to choose from depending on what you're looking for or even just browsing. They have a large selection of magazines out in front. I ended up picking up a copy of Dune and the Flash soundtrack on vinyl. Clean restrooms, just ask a clerk working the back area counter for the key. 4 stars because a few books, Knick knacks were overpriced and the vinyl section was very small and limited. Again being on a busy street in LA parking is limited. Staff was awesome and knowledgeable. Pop in and check them out. P. S. The Rocky and Bullwinkle statue is nearby!

Book Soup is such a wonderful place, and I've been a long-time customer, so you can imagine my surprise and horror at hearing they will be hosting Liz Flynt of Hustler Magazine on May 21st. To say that "rag", and I'm being generous, is offensive to women would be a vast understatement. But, what's equally offensive is imagining any type of book that denigrates and demoralizes women would warrant an event. Given there are so many talented and deserving writers and publications to choose from and host, it's hard to understand the thinking behind this decision. But, it certainly changes my opinion of a shop I very much used to admire.

Book Soup on Sunset Bl in West Hollywood has been around since 1975 before my inception. This book store is frequented by artists, writers, intellects, collectors and my late Dad. Throughout the years, my Dad always gifted me something unique and priceless...a rare collector's book whether or not author autographed, and only Booksoup bookshop had it in stock! I was always surprised, amazed and most of all grateful for any gift from my Dad. But I cherished the books he gifted me, because of the degree of thoughtfulness and effort he made to acquire the book/books. He told me that all his visits to this book store, the staff were very knowledgeable, respectful, nice and helped him with his selections. Thank you Booksoup for being patient and helping my Dad. Booksoup has over 60,000 titles and specializes in art, film, photography and literary fiction. With a deep commitment to university, international, small presses and a love autographed books. With floor to ceiling book shelves, an impressive catalogue of subjects, including vinyl albums, and a children's section. My visit here today included bringing my little nieces to browse through, and hope they gain the appreciation I have for ALL books so as to increase their interests in being more literate. For the Literati in You, Booksoup bookstore is worth your visit. Recommend!

Good selection of books but not a ton of south Asian authors! Priced well for the most part. Certain sections of the bookstore are dimly lit so hard to focus and find books. Staff is amazing tho!! Very helpful

I was really excited to go here for the first time, but was extremely disappointed at my experience. I walked around the store for at least 10 minutes and not a single employee offered to help me but continued to stock the shelves up with books around me and chat with eachother. I couldn't find the book I was looking for so I went to the front desk and then waited for a long time while the cashier helped a family in front of me. I heard him giving the family in front of me a bunch of recommendations for restaurants and locations around the bookstore and I was excited he was so friendly and I would be able to ask him where my book was. I was beyond patient since they were talking for a while and then it was my turn to go up and I asked him if they had the book and he proceeded to look it up. A man walks into the entrance and he immediately is like I need to help this man and you can go to the back of the store to find the book. While quite literally in the middle of looking up my book that he already typed in. I told him I've never even been here so I don't know what you're talking about. He said go to the back of the store and ask for your book and literally no other information. I couldn't believe how rude he was and to dismiss me for a customer that just walked in when I had been standing there for a long time. So you're going to help the man that just walked in, but you're not gonna help me who's been in your store for at least 20 minutes at this point? I will take my business to Chevalier bookstore where they actually greet me when I walk in. So disappointed because I was really excited to go here. Never again.

Browsing in bookstores is a hobby, an art, and one of my favorite forms of recreation. And there is no better place to browse ON THE PLANET than Book Soup. Why, you ask? Firstly, they don't stalk you, insinuating with every fake "Can I help you find something?" that you are about to slip a book under your skirt. Secondly, their buyers select a most diverse and entertaining selection of books, pens, notepapers and gifts from which to choose. Never a dull moment and something for everyone! Last but not least, their displays are so creative and fun. I mean, a blue velvet reproduction of Michelangelo's David? Hello!!! I'll be book.

One of the best book stores in the country, this is where the celebs go to get their literature. I even once got caught in a paparazzi photo here with a celeb I don't care to be associated with. What I like is their magazine rack out front as well as the staff commentary on books. They do a great job organizing books into categories that really capture groupings of people that I am not sure the web could do. I found myself standing at a table looking for a philosophical book that I could read on my next trip and when I looked up, I saw myself standing next to one of my favorite comedians. I didn't say anything. But he asked me what I thought. I told him why I was gonna buy it and then he tucked it under his arm and walked away. So cool! I love supporting independent book retailers!

As a customer who loves books, I have always loved book soup. I loved it's atmosphere, it's culture of literature and its staff. But as a first time writer who is looking for local support to promote my book, which is very relevant right now, I am amazed at the lack of interest in a customer who is willing to pay to her her product promoted. I am not a NY bestseller. I am local. If places like Book Soup, don't support local writers, who will? I sent them 10 copies of my book and a check back in March. I have offered to pay for an email promotion. No response. As an African American first time writer who is getting good reviews, what do I have to do? A book store cannot have customers without books.

Not impressed with you cancelling Brett Gelman's event! Be courageous and realize that cease fire was in place 10/6 and Israel continues to try to negotiate.

Love this store. The staff are super friendly and very knowledgeable about anything you are looking for and always have great recommendations. They have anything you might want, autographed books, and so many independent only books it's amazing. I always find something new here and it's a must stop when I am here. Parking is sparse so be aware but there's usually metered parking in front or near by. Love this book store.

Polite and friendly staff, the inside is fun to explore and very inviting and attractive, they were able to order my book from their Pasadena store in time for my weekend trip. If you want to look for music records, they got a great inventory there, parking is complicated, a guy friend had a hard time parking, it's hilly and in the alley. It's near a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Home away from home, I should think I like to go back if I am in Hollywood again.

Book Soup, on Sunset Blvd near the Viper Room and formerly across the street the iconic Tower Records, is one of the best book stores left in LaLaLand. The store is a great place to browse and you will invariably find something of interest. It is nicely laid out with tables highlighting various genres of books. They carry a wide range of titles and they can order what you need. I have been going to Book Soup since 1978 and just discovered they have a parking lot behind the store and down an alley. Wish I had known that 43 years ago. Thank you Book Soup for your continuous service to the community at large.

Book soup is a cute and organized bookstore with all sorts of selections! I enjoyed their wide variety of magazines, neatly organized sections for each topic and little trinkets to buy. It's a nice place to discover something new to read and look around on the weekend or weekday.

They carry my books. They are open minded enough to shelf my works. That makes them the best book store in town. Check out my short story collection that took my thirty years to write. Daydreams and Flights of Fancy, Short Stories to Delight the Mind.

So glad this bookstore has been around after all these years! This is one of the original independently owned bookstores in the LA/Hollywood area. I got reacquainted with them when I saw them at the annual Los Angeles Times Book Festival. Neatly organized and shelves running high, this store utilizes every space with books, magazines, journals and novelty gifts. Grab a schedule because they have a full itinerary of events. Parking is hard to come by but they do have a small lot in the back.

A quick update for my review since I've been to a couple of book signings here this year and I enjoyed them each time I went. It's great for a bookstore to organize so many nice events and support local authors. On top, the customer service is so much better. I always liked Book Soup, their book selection is great for bookworms like me, but they had some issues that they fixed. So, I'm happy to support a nice, cool, local indie bookstore with a better review. Better experiences, better review!

Fantastic book store on the Sunset Strip! Located in a fun area. Would recommend if you are visiting and are a book store addict! Prices are reasonable, lots of well stocked interesting sections. I love browsing around in here for hours whenever it is not crowded. Very helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable staff. They are a rarity as an independent book store and hope they stay around forever! Support them!

So much fun to be there! I LOVE the variety of books. parking is horrible in that area. Went to pick up a calendar. Was not much variety when It came to calendars. The staff was engaging and concerned with customer needs. I'd go back if I lived in the area. As it was, I enjoyed the bookstore as a tourist The whole street was fun to walk.

Support your local bookstore!! Especially if they are cool like Book Soup! You can easily spend your whole day here browsing everything from luxurious coffee table books to classics to current best-sellers. Or you can buy online and quickly curbside pick up as I frequently do. Lots of staff recommendations, great gifts (socks, cards, pins, pens, puzzles etc) - there will be something for everyone. There is also a small kid's corner.

Thanks for introducing me to Book Soup, Golden Elite Yelper Isobel L.! Post DineLA lunch at Fresh on Sunset (one block down), we ventured down to Book Soup. Earlier, Isobel was checking out Book Soup and was excitedly telling me about it. Of course, ever the eternal bookworm, it piqued my interest. Yes, I am definitely coming back here the next time I'm in WeHo! Parking: Street metered parking (watch for signs) and/or in the nearby Sunset Plaza lots. Wall to wall of the latest books, magazines and fun novelty items/tchotchkes, you could browse in here for hours! At every little twist and turn, I was super delighted and giddy (talk about being a kid in a candy shop!). Had I not had other errands to attend to, I could easily spend a good two to three hours in there. There's also book readings/signings too! The staff here are pretty chilled. You're able to browse and peruse at your own pace without being bothered or followed around. I left Book Soup in awe and look forward to returning again. I highly recommend checking this place out, it's so cool!

What can I say this was the 2nd stop on our Used Book Store Tour Numero Uno However this isn't a Used bookstore it is an Independent book store the article that Moni and I have been following in our tour was a homage to all of the book stores 'fighting-the-good fight' to compete with the Amazons and Wal-mart that discount books and doesn't allow you the interaction with that bookseller that may have recommendations or provide dialogue for authors. Moni had researched all of our stops ahead of time and this one was further down on Sunset across from the old Tower Records. Metered Parking in front. I believe there was also parking in the rear too, Neatly laid out store. The point of our journey is to take part in keeping their doors open. Staff was helpful and the book stock was current with plenty of copies. Also had little tabs on some with recommendations for other books which I'll be honest I miss I wish more book stores would take the time to do this. It really does help readers. Had an extensive collection of beautiful coffee table books, fun-quirky greeting cards too. Many gift ideas for that bibliophile in your life. YA Section towards the back of the store and this place has all genre (plenty of cookbooks) another plus for an Independent book store. Respectfully Reviewed

I was going to be in LA for a few days, and a friend recommended that I stop by this bookstore. If I lived anywhere near this place, I would be there all the time. From the signage, it appears that they have a lot of great author events and they had a wide selection of books to choose from. You'll find some records here too along with various other gifts. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I took the bus there so I didn't have to worry about parking. They do a small lot, but by appearances, it looks like parking could be a bit of a hassle around here. Book nerd or not, I think you'll find this shop delightful.

Really cool bookstore with huge selection of books of all sorts, well curated. Staff professional, knowledgeable and helpful. Some fun modern gift items. Paradise for bibliophile. Wish there would be some sitting area. There is some small parking in the back (about 5-6 spots)

I so appreciate that Book Soup is still alive and thriving. With most bookstores closing, it is so amazing to still be able to go here. Even though the books are not discounted, I make a point to buy a few books a year here. I try to support this wonderful and important institution whenever I can. I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to buy a last minute gift here when you are in a bind. Of course they have every new book that comes out and a huge selection of other books, all top notch, as well as a wonderfully curated section of cards and gifts. And they gift wrap! So buy from Amazon, but also buy here. Make a special effort to buy a few books here a year. It would be a shame to lose this gem. Love, love, love Book Soup!

When I first found this bookstore it was like my first 3 days after moving to LA and I was like wow Omg this city was made for me. Also, cactus pen

Probably as good as It gets in LA. Absolutely first rate in all respects. Don't miss it.

Sadly, bookstores have become as rare as Betamax . So when you come across a shop as wonderful as Book Soup. Treasure it. "The Soup" offers a broad and varied selection of titles. Whatever the subject..fiction, non, poetry, photo books...They've got it covered. This is the kind of shop you can sit and linger in, and their knowledgeable staff doesn't mind a bit. Great book signings here. Nice events schedule. I appreciate that they carry magazines and a variety of newspapers. Where else can you find the Financial Times, and New York magazine under one roof? Book Soup's in a highly walkable, cool part of town... Have brunch, buy a book, make a day of it.

I had high hopes but it is a very disappointing store -- the customer service was abhorrent.

I mean... it's Book Soup. It's iconic. Incredible selection, warm and helpful employees, great location, interesting events, they even have a really phenomenal variety of puzzles and other tchotchkes. Love it here

I love visiting bookstores in cities I'm visiting, so when we walked past this one, I insisted we drop in. I could have stayed a LOT longer as there was lots to see here, loved the employee recommendations, the carefully curated sections, etc. A really nice stop in a busy week and I would definitely return for a longer visit when I'm in town again. Side note - lots of good non-book gifty items here as well!

Came here for the scavenger hunt that Netflix's show YOU was hosting...stayed for the awesome finds in this bookstore. As I walked in, I saw this doormat that I just had to have for my house. This place doesn't just have interesting books but also gifts for the eclectic people in your life. Good for a date or rainy day inside. There is metered parking and WiFi at this establishment.

What happened here? The staff is rude and short. There are signs posted everywhere saying "only one person to an aisle at a time" I asked to be directed to the cook books and the snooty saleswoman couldn't bother to multi task while having a discussion with another person. I just asked a patron and he showed me. I will never go in there again. The staff is miserable. And it feels totally oppressive inside.

Book Soup is by far my favorite book store in LA. No time spent there is ever enough. I could spend days browsing the aisles, reading every beautifully written staff selection, and looking at all of the fun and unique items. This is the best place to find a book for myself or a gift for any occasion. I never leave here empty handed. Can't wait until we can safely spend time browsing these shelves again. Special thanks to the incredible employees here who always give great recommendations and who have been offering curbside pickup during this time.