House of Our Own Books

My son goes through books like a horse eats hay so we have to make regular pilgrimages to used bookstores to keep his appetite for the written word sated. House of Our Own is located amid a row of large Victorian mansions on Spruce Street, most of which have been converted to University of Pennsylvania fraternity houses. The large, labyrinthine house is a wonderful setting for a bookstore with bookshelves covering the walls and paperbacks stacked high on tables and every available surface. The house was a temporary residence of Lin Huiyin, who studied architecture at Penn and went on to become one of China's most celebrated architects. There is a collection of photographs of her on the ground floor. We found a lot of great books for my kids at very reasonable prices.

We visited for the historical relevance. The lady who greeted us was very kind. The couple who lived in house and attended Univ of Penn in 1924. Great history!!! There are also soooo many books that you can feel overwhelmed but that are organized according to subject! If we had more time I would have more time going through books. I highly recommend this store!!

There are lots of good books! Don't miss it! If you are a book lover, you know the thrill of diving into a captivating story, getting lost in the intricacies of well-developed characters, and exploring new worlds without ever leaving your cozy reading nook. Books have the power to transport us to different times, cultures, and perspectives, broadening our horizons and expanding our knowledge. Whether you enjoy the heart-pounding excitement of a gripping thriller, the poetic beauty of classic literature, or the mind-bending concepts of science fiction, there is a book out there waiting to captivate your imagination. From the timeless tales of Shakespeare to the futuristic visions of authors like Isaac Asimov, books offer endless possibilities and endless entertainment. But the world of books can be overwhelming, with countless titles lining the shelves of bookstores and libraries. How do you choose which ones to read? Well, the truth is, there is no right answer. Every reader has different tastes and preferences, and what one person may love, another may find dull. The key is to explore different genres, authors, and styles, allowing yourself to discover new literary gems along the way. If you're not sure where to start, you can always turn to book recommendations from friends, family

Hidden between the University of Pennsylvania pledge houses is this little gem of a used bookstore called House of Our Own. This is a must visit if you're a fan of not digital books. You are met with a faint smell of thousands of pages waiting for you to discover their hidden treasures inside. One of the owners Mrs. Debbie is there to assist you with any book you may need. Just give her a title and she knows exactly where to locate it. And if they don't have it (which may be a possibility) not to fret. She will take your information and find where you can get it. There are 2 floors (backpacks and bags are not allowed upstairs) and tons to look through. If you're in the area please stop in and see what gems you may find. I know I did. 👍🏾

Literally a big house piled floor to ceiling with new and used books. So I was quite happy to spend an hour perusing and ended up with a bunch of books to weigh my carry on down. They have the same genres in multiple locations so you need to go through everything. Even though I did manage to get some things on my book list, I mostly found random goodies. Had to limit myself as usual. Somehow left and didn't spend over $100, but only just barely.

Very antique used book store. Came here cuz one of my fav Chinese architects used to live here in beg of 90s. The owner is very friendly and nice to talk to!!!! Books were very well organized, with all categories marked on the shelf.

I had a nice visit of this lovely old bookstore when I was in the area. I became aware of the bookstore because it was mentioned in a video about Lin Huiyin, the pioneer architect in modern China who lived in this house 100 years ago while studying in U Penn. I enjoyed browsing the books piled up wall to wall, and the nice conversation with the bookkeeper, and left with 3 books I’m looking forward to reading!

My son wanted to visit this bookstore and loved the variety of books as well as locating used books no longer in publishing. He will be back.

went to House of Our Own Books and was blown away with the enormous book collection! The ambiance was welcoming and comfortable, and the personnel was informed and helpful. I spent hours browsing and ended up with a few goodies.

adore House of Our Own Books. The selection of books is impressive, and the staff is knowledgeable and eager to help. It's a haven for book lovers like me.

If you love the old school used bookstores with more books than you can imagine this is for you. I will say it is quite narrow and pour a and the stacks are a bit scary along it so you can't access many of the books out of fear of knocking it all over. The organization is a little lackluster and due to the volume of books you will definitely not find anything super specific even if you ask, but great for browsing. Would highly recommend and give yourself plenty of time to browse.

This bookstore has all the charm that chain bookstores lack. It's literally in an old house right. The books are stacked in almost every space imaginable. This is the perfect place to find books in almost every category. You might even stumble onto something that's long forgotten. I went here with friends and honestly we were so amazed we ended up having a mini shoot with the books! 10/10 recommended.

I finally made it here and it was everything I hoped for. I found tons of things I'd never heard of that I wanted to buy. I could spend countless hours in here just perusing. There are so many books! I showed up with a list but threw it to the wind when I got in there. There is no way I myself would ever be able to find anything. There are hundreds of subsections. I saw some titles on the floor that had an identical twin on the top shelf. So if your someone who only likes to sort through organized shelves this place isn't for you. Also if you're looking for new releases. The graphic novel section was pretty much empty. It was one of the only shelves with space on it. Legend has it if you ask the shop keeper he can take you there. I did not. I was overwhelmed and wanted to explore. The only part that sucks is its proximity to Penn. You get to pick through old books in a Victorian home while Cardi B. Drops the bass so hard you think the books will fall off the shelf. Luckily as you delve in it's easy to lose yourself and forget the noise. To be fair it was move in day when we visited. I ended up leaving empty handed. I wish they had a tip jar. I want this place to always exist. I plan to go back by myself when I have more time. Also I did not see a fire exit.

Beautiful bookstore! Kind, knowledgeable owners. I once asked them for some books on colonial Philadelphia and they pointed me in the best, most unexpected direction ever. Also cool that this used to be amazing Chinese architect Lin HuiYin's residence when she studied at Penn.

If you're looking for a local bookstore, I would highly recommend House of Our Own in University City. They have an immense collection of books, spanning all genres and subjects. It's so easy to accidentally spend an hour in this store, just browsing for a book. If you do go, make sure to introduce yourself to Debbie, who works the front desk. She is one the sweetest people I've met in Philly, and genuinely will get to know you! In general, the prices are more than reasonable. The space is a bit cramped, so if you're claustrophobic, beware. But I love everything about this shop, and will returning whenever possible!

Although the competition has been narrowed somewhat over the years (Hibberd and Robins now gone, for example), House of Our Own is clearly one of the premiere used bookstores in Philly. Extensive, well-organized selections in both fiction and non-fiction. The husband and wife owners are very helpful and pleasant to deal with. Pricing is very reasonable. Just off the Penn campus, the location is very convenient, so whenever I'm at Penn on business, I try to find a few minutes to stop in and browse or inquire about latest additions to my "want" list.

Just went to an amazing indie bookshop today called "House of our Own" in a 2 story comfy Victorian House. Totally feels like a small village bookshop-a welcome departure from the cookie cutter mass-produced chains. A bazillion books, but very well organized. Completely worth the stop and has a fabulously authentic feel complete with creaky floors and so silent you can hear a pin drop. The lady that owns it for 46 years was super nice. A must stop if you love books and or like meditative needy spaces:) Some pics

Unbelievable selection Beautiful building Debbie is very friendly and knowledgeable It is a pure joy to find an independently run bookstore like this in a beautiful historic building I was transported back into time to when I was a kid and haunted the local bookstore in Camden or later book trader on south street If you love books you'll love this place And the building has unbelievable architecture

This bookstore really is amazing. I was in Olde City the other day and went to another used book store and nothing compares to this place. A House of Our Own is well organized, has a collection of both new books and used books. The interior of the store is beautiful and the collection has some amazing books. New books are on the first floor and used books are on the second floor. To follow up on what Viv C. said, this book store is not for the "regular consumer." For those people God created chain bookstores. For everyone else that is looking for inspiration or a copy of a classic that is actually a first edition or out of print, check this place out. What I found really great was the quality of the used books. Unlike many used bookstores, this place tries to avoid stocking "junk books" (e.g. Danielle Steele and her ilk) as well as all those self-help books. In addition, I didn't see many "how-to" books with really antiquated information (e.g. Windows 3.1 for Dummies). Their standards for what they shelve seems to be very high. Yes, books are grouped by academic subject matter then alphabetically by author. This is something to be excited about seeing as how most used bookstores are barely alphabetized! And the book store is on the UPENN campus, so wouldn't you expect this place would cater to its main consumer, the student? This place has been in business since 1971. When you walk through this old brownstone building, you'll truly be inspired and it will make you realize why the printed book probably will never be replaced by digital texts.

Best collection of books from the early 1900s (philosophy, histories, theories of the world) I've found in the US - including in New York & SF.

Oh, how I dreaded going into this bookstore. It's a small, tight and close with many rooms packed with different books... a lot of the professors who place orders here are the fine arts professors who have English texts, etc. here... fortunately none of my engineering professors ever ordered anything from here. It's quite the line to get books or coursepacks here. You should have something to eat before you go in and stand in line. The line winds its way around the house and comes out the side. Still, when not packed at the beginning of semesters, it's a nice place to browse and find some of the more independent authors and publishers that you won't find at Barnes & Noble @ The Penn Bookstore.

I'm a procrastinator. Actually, I need a better word than that to describe what I am. If I have a deadline to do it, chances are I wait until the very last moment to get it done. When I do it things usually end up well. Get good grades on paper, get in work just in time, and also find the perfect gift. Some would say I have a problem, but I'd say I'm clutch! (it works in sports). For the past few years I've bought my family books for Christmas. The goal is to get them to read at least one for the year. If they do that then I feel like I've been successful (success rate.. about .500). So on the Friday before Christmas what was I doing? Being clutch! I was walking from my house in West Philly towards Center City in hopes of checking both Barnes and Nobles and getting everything done. I took a turn down an street basically to avoid a red light and looked to my left and saw this wonderful place to my left, and I went in. Note, I knew nothing about this place but as I walked in I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. The concept is simple: it's a house that has been turned into a book store. There are books EVERYWHERE, and it's amazing. The books are both used, and new and being sold for a great price. Unlike other places I've been in the city these books tend to be in VG to Great condition, and they have variety that challenges the few remaining big box book stores left. I say all that to say this: If you don't have a deadline, if you do, if you like books, if you don't, if you just need to go somewhere to momentarily get out of the cold... GO HERE. After I made my purchase I made them know that I'll be there a lot of times because the film criticism section had much more depth than I've seen in any other book store I've walked in. So yeah, check it out but there's no rush. If you don't go there today it won't be considered procrastinating, you'll be right on time.

I could spend soooo much time just looking in here. Unlike Viv C., I love the organization by class/study. That's how I wish I could browse in any book store. Just the look of the place is great; the old building, books upon books upon books, with the friendly owners around. Likewise impressive is that their used books are so organized too! It makes it so easy to check if they have the book you were eyeing in a cheaper used version.

I love this bookstore. They may not always have what you need, but, if you don't know what you need this is the type of place where a book will jump off a shelf for you. (Not literally, of course; I don't think they have poltergeists) Once I was checking out a book on French verbs which I had been hunting for, when suddenly a book on drawing caught my eye. I flipped through it and immediately decided to purchase it instead of the verb book. Owning that book on drawing changed the course of things, and this is the kind of store where moments like that can happen. Plus, who wants to have moments of divine intervention in a big-box chain store, I ask you?

One of my Temple professors had us venture all the way over here to get a book for his class once. and I've forgotten about this cool bookstore ever since, until Yelp bought my memory back that is. It's a useful alternative place for buying and selling your school books naturally, but it's also a pretty useful spot for picking up some interesting reads. pretty reasonable prices and a very helpful staff too. I need to make my way back in the not too distant future.

Situated in a brownstone house like any other it's quite easy to miss this neighborhood gem. At first glance the location doesn't look like much, especially from the outside. However once you enter you realize that their are far more books to be found that you originally assumed. They sell used books but also take donated books. You can usually find cheaper priced books in boxes on the front lawn. It's a very nice place to stop in and glance around in you're taking a stroll through the neighborhood.

This is a really neat bookstore in a really neat space, period. Located in a University City house, books are everywhere -- everywhere! Sometimes you have to really look for what you're trying to find. But it's worth a look through, if only to see the architectural gem-ness of the place and check out what incredibly cool, academically-minded books they have. Last time I was there, I picked up a copy of "Costume & Fashion", which was a high-minded (in a positive way) survey of that from Sumerian snake goddesses to the early 2000s. Woot! And if you're going in for school texts -- likely because your prof deems himself independent-minded -- the price will be fair, but way above amazon or half.com. Plus, the people are knowledgeable and helpful, something you don't always find sans multi-megabook database anymore. So if you, like the above prof, are staunchly independent-minded, hit it up. I'd also suggest Mostly Books and Chris' Book Corner.

I was in town this summer and happened upon House of Our Own. I was blown away by not only the amazing selection but also the house itself. It felt authentic and mesmerizing to spend an hour here. I cannot wait to return!

Literally a house full of books. I walked in and was overwhelmed with joy. Great selection and categories. A book lovers dream. Whatever your liking you will find in this brownstone house.

Wonderful selection, with the exception of the children's section. I love how it is literally overflowing with books-they even have one section in a closet. The only downside is that in my opinion their prices are high for used books, which made me not buy as many as I would have liked. Still, lovely place and will definitely return. For students: they sell some course-required reading new on the bottom floor, but if you do extra searching you can find some of the same titles used for cheaper-they just don't have them together, probably to get more money from you!

I was visiting my brother in Philly and we walked by House of Our Own. He knows I'm an addicted reader, and suggested we stop in. What an eclectic and charming store! It has a terrific selection, with books stacked up all over the place, using every nook available. I really enjoyed my time wandering around and found a few gems hidden away. The owners are super nice as well, it was before the holidays and we spent a little time chatting. They obviously are book lovers, as well as just being very nice people. Definitely worth a stop!

This is an amazing bookstore using the every corner of a whole old building in UPenn to contain books. The house is very quiet and peaceful. I love the sound of the wood floor when I step on it and I love the sound of rain when it hits on the window. This place is full of the indulging smell of books, of memories, and of stories. It's especially great that few people come at the same time and they don't play music here, so I can truly immerse myself into the reading and let my imagination flow in my own world. My heart feels peaceful and healed here. This place will definitely be the reason for me to visit Philly for a second time.

Very cool little used book store conveniently located by Penn/Drexel campuses. We stopped in on a whim and spent an hour just browsing the huge selection of books they had. The selection is huge taking up literally every inch of two floors but unlike a lot of used bookstores this place was incredibly organized not just by category but by author, series etc. Being next to the Universities there's definitely a good selection of academic/non-fiction books if that's what you're into but they've got a lot of fiction as well. If you're coming in looking for one specific book you might be disappointed but if you're just coming to browse or with a few books on your list you can walk away with some pretty good deals (lots of books in like-new condition were 1/2 off list-price.)

The sign and the yelpers' description as a bookstore of "new and old books" is misleading. It is rather the house of a book hoarder. Every available surface is piled high with books you cannot possibly reach. There is a tiny little corridor to walk from one room to another, if you are not overweight, and if nobody is coming the other way. Cramped, dusty, old. I guess it may be interesting if you like used books, and don't mind roaming randomly like a rat in a maze. Not my thing.

Best bookstore in West Philly forever there, forever helpful, since I moved here in 1988. Debbie is the best. Don't miss it if you love book stores.

This bookstore is one of Philadelphia's secret treasures. Well, maybe not so secret to those of you in-the-know! The store lives up to it's name - it's a house filled with books and it not only feels like home, but you wish it WAS your own. The architechture has the familiar charm of so many big West Philadelphia homes, complete with fireplaces and distinctive woodwork. The sheer volume of literature here was a bit overwhelming at first, but it is organized well and the vast selection ensures that you can find what you're looking for, if not much more. House Of Our Own is appropriately situated on/around the Penn Campus as the collection is a student's or professor's dream come true. I'm not a student or professor but even lowly bookworms like ME can appreciate the dedication of the store owners to accumulating and refining their collection. The staff was helpful but not overbearing, and the store is quiet enough to be conducive to enjoying a lengthy browse around without feeling like a library. Nothing against libraries!!! I recommend visiting on a weekend afternoon and taking your sweet bookworm time enjoying everything that House Of Our Own has to offer!

One of those magical places for booklovers where you enter a narrow hallway, turn....and see rows and rows of stacked books. The books are stacked to the ceiling, in piles on the floor, overrunning chairs, even on the staircase leading up to the second floor! I didn't stay for terribly long, but it looked like there was a pretty big selection of non-fiction titles (and quiet an unlimited selection of fiction titles, too!) I love how they usually have one edition of a book, and restock when it sells, rather than having a bunch of copies of the same book; everything is very well organized as well. I'm docking 1 star for the price, but for a family-owned business it's totally worth supporting!

A House of Our Own bookstore caters to a couple of different groups. It has an extensive collection of used books for people interested in various social sciences, history, and so on. It also is used by many Penn professors to stock books for their courses. It also has a good collection of used fiction for people like me who are a bit book-addicted but don't have the cash to buy new books. The owners are around all the time and are great people to talk to; I always love it when Debbie comments that I'm buying a book she's been meaning to read. They're good people and they're always helpful in making suggestions and dealing with disorganized Penn faculty and demanding Penn students. The bookstore has extended hours at the beginning of the semester for students looking for their books. It is a great place to spend a couple of hours wandering through.

A small bookstore amidst frat row that caters most of its books to students. WIth groupings of books labeled by college course, I could see how this would be the perfect place for one stop shopping for college students. But as a regular consumer, this is the kind of bookstore you go to if you have a very specific book in mind. It's not set up very well for browsing. Its selection is heavily focused on "studies" genres. You know, women studies, African American studies, gender studies, Asian American studies, Jewish studies, political studies, etc. You can also sell and trader books here as well. Overall, great for academics but not your average reader.

This bookstore is charming, tucked into one of the old Victorian homes that line Spruce Street. It's the kind of bookstore that is visually inviting, its numerous shelves and dark-wood lined alcoves begging you to browse through them for hours on end. I really like that they've left the architecture of the house intact; you can see, upstairs, some of the fireplaces and closet alcoves that would have been there when the building was still a residence. Beyond that, they have a great selection that is organized in a very easy-to-follow way. There are books you might not find at a regular bookstore, some used books, and fair prices. The last time I was in here I had to leave before I wanted to, because I was broke but very, very tempted.

My favorite bookstore in Philadelphia! It's been owned by a husband-wife team for decades and is piled floor to ceiling with an impressive collection of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. A really lovely place to get lost in.

Having been in Philly a year now and having returned to this place more than once, I feel the need to reiterate my earlier statement about how wonderful it is! The ambience is perfect--it really feels like wandering into the home of a bibliophile--and I'm always blown away by how great their collection is. The people who run it are also really nice. It's by far my favorite used bookstore in Philly [and I frequent used bookstores *a lot*]

Everytime I have walked in I have been made to feel like I was bothering the person working there. Rather go to last word.

They have the books you need and the books you didn't know you needed. They were very gracious when I came with my overtired five-year-old. I felt like they were sweet and gracious hosts. All kinds of wonderful books. I hope they are around for a long time,

Great spot to find modern editions of classics and literature. They don't have rare or antique books. Not too much genre, but that's no big deal. Their collection is nice and their space is delightful and inviting.

This place has an amazing book selection. As soon as you walk in there are just shelves and shelves of books. They have a very impressive used books area on the second floor. All the books are clearly marked by genre, so you will find something great there.

I love House of Our Own. It's definitely a store for book lovers who don't mind getting lost in the stacks or stopping to chat with the owners about what you're reading. The extensive selection organized into haphazard stacks throughout this old Victorian home is charming and perfect for browsing on a lazy afternoon. The owners are extremely nice and very helpful. They will also give you a decent price for your used books unlike neighboring used book store The Last Word. If you want to find your book, pay for it and get out quickly just head to Barnes and Nobles. If you want to spend some time browsing and walk out with a slightly strange or unexpected book then head to House of Our Own.

house of our own (hoo) is a bibliophile's fantasy. while i am a science student, i can still appreciate the collection of great, cheap books that they stock. when the weather is pleasant, hoo will have boxes of used books categorized by price from $1-5. and it's not junk. i purchased an immaculate hardback copy of the bonfire of the vanities for $5. try that at borders/b&n. hoo is definitely one of the positive elements of the 'univ. city' area.

I love getting lost in the shelves upon shelved of books. They have one of the best fiction sections I have seen in Philly. The owner is the sweetest and I love how close it is to where I live. Be prepared to spend an hour milling about looking through stuff.

As a compulsive used book shopper, I have intimate knowledge of the stocks of dozens of bookstores. House of Our Own has hands-down the best selection I have ever seen of--at least--the follow areas: Anthropology, Sociology, Theology, Israel/Palestine, South Africa--history, politics, culture, and those are only the sections I did some extensive searching. It has a strong and diverse philosophy section, an enviable stack of Norton critical editions...The bottom floor is "New" books, meaning, they aren't used, but most of them are out of print. Literally, every time I looked at a random stack there were desirable books I never seen before. The owners will be on the lookout for the "white whales" you've been looking for. I imagine their fantastic stock is because of their proximity to UPenn. Academics and bibliophiles, bring about a hundred dollars, a small notebook (to note books you didn't buy this time), and a few hours and you'll have the time of your life.

I want to like this place - but it is just so disorganized. I was completely overwhelmed. I was unable to find anything I really wanted - but maybe that's because I was looking for newer, bestseller books.