Re: Reading Used Books

What a great store! Shelves are greatly organized into really good categories and selection. There was so many books and yet I found myself easily finding things that interested me as the shelves were labelled well. The decoration was so lively and full of childlike whimsy. Only issue I had was how small the space is between shelves, had to remove my backpack to make sure not to make any decorations tumble. They had a cute tray of mystery books with interests. Picked one on the way out and was greatly pleased, the book matched highly what it described and you get a bookmark! The book was slightly damaged in its exterior but besides that it is in perfect condition!! Stumbled my way here on accident but I will be coming back.

Re: Reading Books is a hidden gem for book lovers! It offers an impressive selection of used books at great prices, all within a beautifully decorated and charming space. The cozy, vintage atmosphere makes browsing a delight, and you’ll often stumble upon rare or out-of-print titles that are hard to find elsewhere. Whether you’re a casual reader or a serious collector, this place has something special for you. A must-visit spot for anyone who loves the magic of books and the charm of a well-curated bookstore.

The store is very fun inside, a lot of handmade or pop-culture related decor and they have quarterly scavenger hunts with prizes. There’s clearly lots of love poured into the store. Great selection of sci-fi and fantasy books, and also DVDs. Prices are fair, I’ve seen lower priced used books of the same variety but overall can’t complain. They only buy books of their current buy list; but accept donations on any books outside of the list. My only comment is the staff can be stand-off-ish at times. I’ve felt this with several staff members on multiple occasions. Theres either zero emotion shown, or barely a response to questions, or when donating books the staff doesn’t accept them from you but stays way behind the counter while you place the books on the counter. On last occasion, I left the books on the counter as asked and all up until I was walking out the door, the books remained untouched where I placed them - with two staff members simply sat behind the counter. So I do occasionally feel unwelcome; but I will come back for the book selection.

I purchased five books that were clearly priced to total $20.50. At checkout, I was charged $21 before tax. This may sound minor, but I don’t believe it was a mistake. It felt like the total was simply rounded up in the hope that I wouldn’t notice. If this is being done regularly, even small amounts add up quickly. I’m tired of being told that customers should “just accept it” because the owners are nice or because the amount is small. Honesty doesn’t depend on age, personality, or appearances. Either prices are honoured or they aren’t. And for those saying I should have checked more carefully before paying: that argument cuts both ways. You can’t say customers should be suspicious while also insisting the owners are unquestionably honest. Trust works one way or it doesn’t work at all. This experience left me disappointed, and it’s the reason for this review.

Legitimately, unabashedly and fervently my favourite Bookstore. The vibes are immaculate, the people are fantastic and the selection is large (I'm running out of ten cylinder words, and I've been walking to bookstores all day. Large will have to suffice). I cannot recommend this place enough to anyone looking for a top notch place to find some used books. Two thumbs up. Or five stars.

I don't typically post reviews for non food places but this bookstore is a treasure. It's full of wonder and throwbacks for different generations. The setups are well done and I felt I could spend hours here browsing through the great collection of books. There is a dvd collection area here too which would definitely pique the interest of those born in the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Give this place a try and bring your kids along!

Amazing little book shop that's bigger in the inside! It's amazing to just walk around and look at all the decorations they have up.A decent selection of used books and movies (especially if you're looking for some doctor who) Definitely a must visit for sci-fi fans as there are references all around the shop and especially in the back. Friendly staff and fair prices.

Okay selection, certainly geared towards sci-fi and fantasy. Fiction and Canadiana selections are alright. Prices are fair (many classics and newish volumes for $5!) and there is (currently?) a buy-three-get-one-free sale. But some books were overpriced for their quality (e.g., a water-logged and wrinkled copy of Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella for $11?). Bizarre.

This place is so cool! If you're a big nerd, like me, it's heaven. Not only are their books of all genres but the nerdy elements all over the store are a treat for the eyes. The scifi room at the back is not to be missed AND every month they have a new scavenger hunt you can do! How fun! I can't wait to go back. I did this on a date and I can't suggest it enough.

This is the most interesting and engaging book store in the whole city. Firstly it's completely decorated floor to ceiling in incredible film/scifi memorabilia. Secondly, there are tons of books, all beautifully presented and organized. Thirdly, there is a monthly game where you look for stuff around the book store and the game is AMAZING! it was like an escape room but for free! Your answers go into a draw for a monthly prize! Best book store ever!

A fun bookstore on the Danforth. great selection of used books at reasonable prices. The Science Fiction/ Fantasy section at the back is very fun and whimsical and has lots of interesting reads you won't find other places.

If you like your service with a side order or sarcasm and rudeness then this is your bookstore! Im referring to the book shop owner, a little bearded man who decided to slam my books on the counter as he added up the prices. I understood then and there that all his statements about loving books are nonsense. They are a "widget" to him, and he certainly doesn't care that the books now belong to the paying customer and should be handled with care. He also defends his staff of dismissive and snotty store assistants. Heaven help you if you need to get more than one or two words out of them to help you find a book! They're busy don"t you know. Doing what is anybody's guess. The girl behind the counter seemed spaced out and mentally occupied. She was sitting there getting her $X an hour-- can't be bothered with you! Or get this: my girlfriend and her young niece were in there during some sort of promo where you buy 3 books and you get a 4th one free. I warned her about customer service. And she was not impressed. The owner too has this creepy stare at times. If you are interested in science fiction books you find far better deals online. I now buy all my genre paperbacks through amazon and amazon marketplace where amazon FORCES shady booksellers to be honest whether they like it or not. In other words amazon has a customer guarantee. There is similar protection on ABE books online and eBay of course.

An amazing hidden gem in the middle of Greektown, Toronto. One of the most whimsically beautiful used book stores I've ever seen!

On my way home from the nearby Centennial campus I happened upon this quaint little used bookstore on the Danforth. The best way to describe this book store is to say that it has a little bit of everything. Books both non-fiction and fiction, comics and DVDs. Not the largest collection but I'm sure you'll be able to find some interesting reading. It's a comfortable store for browsing and I was even offered some homemade cookies from the charming brunette behind the counter (YMMV) to munch on as I perused the bookshelves. Amongst the books you can also find some Star Trek memorabilia as apparently the owner is a Trekker. Of course the store also buys books and so if you are looking to unload your copy of Arsenic and Old Lace or that dusty copy of Joy of Cooking you should be able to establish at the very least a trade for what have you. I look forward to returning and checking out more of their selection, especially since upon leaving the lovely woman behind the counter informed me with a wry smile that the cookies contained a slow acting poison and that I'd have to return in order to get the cure. Now that's how you get repeat business! I'll be back for a cure for what ails me, literary or otherwise, soon.

To take a cool boutique and turn it into a used bookstore in the height of the recession and for it to be quite successful is quite a feat. Kudos! VIBE One of the coziest used book stores I've been in. The gorgeous hard wood floors left over from the boutique do make a difference. Everything is pretty organized in here as well and staff are very friendly and of course, well read willing to talk about their favourites and if your choice is any good or not. Not sure if the couch is still there. I think it is. I also like the map on the wall. THE GOODS Yes, lots of fiction, non-fiction and comics. There are some good classics in here and I got Rohinton Mistry's book for under $10 (I just have to read it still). I like the added touch of the owner's and his wife's top picks. They are always overstock for those selling books. They have a nice exchange program --it's better than Circus's but I do think Circus has a better selection in terms of cookbooks and more popular books (like Harry Potter for instance). OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK I always think of the phrase "Reduce Reuse and Recycle" whenever I think of the name but great location and probably a good way to spend time if you're waiting for that table at next-door-neighbour Pizzeria Libretto.

A great atmosphere in this store. It was my first time in today, as I'm new to Toronto. Sam, the employee who helped me was very knowledgeable and quite pleasant. The used books were in very good condition. I will be back frequently.

I like the cozy front parlour in this place, it seems so nice and inviting and the staff here is usually very nice. I do love the atmosphere here and I wish I could give this place 4 stars but the truth is I personally find their selection of books a little unbalanced. There is a huge section of comics, mystery books and even historical fiction. Sadly there is not much in the humour section and no media, pop culture or philosophy books.

Even though we're in the age of the kindle and other e-readers, there is still something nice about the feel of a "real" book and this shop is a great place to spend time pouring through a vast collection of used books. The store is pretty well organized, with designated sections for first editions, award-winning books, recommendations from the owner (and his wife), Canadiana, literature, art, travel, cooking etc. They do have a LOT of books and as a result are actually no longer accepting more books for the time-being. There is also a small selection of CD's (there were several copies of Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" lol) and DVD's for sale for dirt cheap. There are a few comfy armchairs that add to the atmosphere of the place.

My wife could easily have spent hours in there. I also really liked it, although my reading interests are more limited to technical stuff--which they do have, as I walked out of there with three books! (My wife got five or six.) My wife really liked "Sarah's suggestions," which was funny as we got served by Sarah herself, who really appreciated my wife's comment. I had seen the store two days ago, spotted one of the books I got today, and promised myself to return (didn't get the book then because I had other places to go and didn't want to carry anything--call me lazy!). We'll be going back probably this evening for the kids.

MORAL/ TL;DR: CHECK AUTHOR SIGNATURE AUTHENTICITY BEFORE PURCHASE. I spotted something in Re: Reading that I needed to get. 3 first UK edition Harry Potter books and 1 first Canadian edition Harry Potter book "SIGNED" by JK Rowling. Sarah, the innocent and very pleasant employee who was helping me, gave me a reasonable price and as a Harry Potter enthusiast for my entire life I had to get it. I was blinded by excitement and in my haste to buy it I neglected to check the authenticity of the signature. I remembered to compare the signatures at home and to my dismay I saw that the JK Rowling signature on this first Canadian edition was not even close to matching any of Rowling's authentic signatures. I went back into the store, a store that has NO REFUNDS, with the hope of returning just the book with the glaringly fake signature. Sarah deemed this problem worthy of calling Re: Reading's owner, Christopher. On the phone, Christopher told me that JK Rowling has had many signatures during her time as an author, and that this signature matched one that he had found. I had trouble believing that and he decided to come into the store to prove it. He called us "obnoxious" and threatened to call the cops on us. He must have known it was a fake because he gave in and refunded me our compromise of $75 on a $350 purchase.

What I thought would be a nice, quaint neighbourhood bookstore, turned out to be a shop run by a pretentious cast of characters. I visited the shop in the midst of my PhD studies in literature; naturally I am a bibliophile. I was looking for a popular novel and thought I'd support a local shop. My inquiry was met with a snooty denial that implied "of course we don't have THAT book...go to the mall". From that day, I have boycotted this business. Obviously, they have lost a LOT of business from me. A piece of advice-- lose the Jack Black from High Fidelity impression...you could be turning away lucrative gains!

This place has a HUGE selection of used books & DVDs. The service is always excellent & friendly. The prices are more than reasonable. Everything is organized in a way that makes sense. I love this place!

This is my FAVOURITE used bookstore in Toronto. I used to live on the Danforth and now live in the far west end... I will still make the trek at least monthly to visit Christopher and his staff. Nerdy, friendly, and fun!