Wicked Good Books

We walked into this bookshop on a whim because it looked cozy and inviting, and it definitely was. I didn't buy any books during my visit, but I did buy about $20 in fun fridge magnets and stickers🤣 I regret nothing! That said, the gentleman who was at the register was really nice. I really liked this store a whole lot and would frequently stop in if we lived in the area. Please note that my photo has other fun stickers and magnets i purchased during my trip, so I circled the ones purchased here in red.

Cute little place that's half books, half toys. I got a beautiful set of note cards here for a reasonable price.

For a bookstore where half of the product are geared toward children and families, the staff on the floor and door are very rude and dismissive towards children. I noticed this too last year when I came without my kids and was hoping it was just a one time thing. Nope. I think if staff members don’t like children then maybe don’t work at a bookstore that sells so many toys and children’s books. The sign says inside “see it here. Buy it here. Keep us here” but with bad hospitality then why would want to buy here. I would have spent more money in the store had my children been shown more kindness. Adding after the reply from the bookstore: My children did not block the door. They weren’t standing in the door. we had hands on their shoulders or hands the whole time. My son bent down to look at something on the bottom shelf on one knee and she was rude to him about sitting on the floor. There’s no signs anywhere that children can’t kneel down on floor to look at books. To lie about the behavior of children just further proves my point!

This past Friday my mom went out for a walk and got lost. She has early onset dementia and her caretaker called me and said she had been gone for 2 hours (which is another issue in itself). After calling the police and frantically searching, I was able to get her on the phone. She was in hysterics, very scared and having a hard time understanding why the area she grew up in wasn't the same. I asked her to go into the nearest store and give her phone to someone who worked there. She handed the phone to the lovely Willow who was very compassionate and understanding despite the strange and confusing circumstances. I told Willow I was driving down ASAP but that it would take me about 45 minutes. Willow told me the store closed at 7:00 but that they were willing to stay late and walk her out to my car when I arrived. I ended up arriving before the store closed and found my mom much more calm in a chair with a glass of water, eating a piece of carrot cake. I spoke to Adrian and Willow who both showed concern, kindness, compassion, empathy and patience. They made an incredibly scary situation so much better. I have not shopped at this store and this review is not related to the sales or selection - it is a 5 star review of the integrity and kindness of these 2 employees. I hope management and/or the owners are able to recognize these 2 as outstanding individuals and employees. They went up and beyond in ways that matter deeply. They made the world less cruel that day. Thank you Willow and Adrian!

Wicked Good Books on Essex Street has become a favorite stop for both locals and visitors who stumble across its welcoming storefront. Reviewers often describe it as a charming little shop where it’s easy to browse for far longer than expected, thanks to shelves filled with surprises and thoughtful displays. Shoppers mention how the staff makes the experience even better, describing them as friendly and helpful without being overbearing. One reviewer summed it up perfectly: “I just love this little book shop! It has a little bit of everything.” Others note the balance between new and used titles, along with extras like bookmarks and local interest books that tie in with Salem’s history. In a city best known for its witch lore and historic tours, Wicked Good Books offers a quieter retreat. Independent bookstores like this thrive on personal connection, offering more than just books—they provide community and conversation. With reasonable prices and a cozy feel, it’s a spot where the love of reading is alive and well. #salemma #independentbookstore #essexstreet #northshorema #newengland

The owner's replies to customer reviews reveal a consistent pattern of dismissing those who have had profoundly negative experiences at this establishment. Rather than expressing regret or acknowledging potential misunderstandings, their responses tend to belittle the concerns raised. This behavior reinforces my decision to avoid shopping here in the future, as it is clear that only their perspectives are valued, and the staff exhibit a cold and judgmental demeanor.

Nice book & toy shop. Small but good selection at great prices. Purchased both books and toys for my grandkids. Great stuff for adults too! Nice staff. Very helpful

Pretty cool. Would go again. It’s very whimsical. Great location too.

So happy I stopped in here! I'm a big reader so I basically had too;) It's the cutest little book store but it holds plenty of reading material for all. I especially enjoyed the section dedicated to the Salem Witch trials! There are quite a few famous books and authors with ties to Salem and Essex County! Just a little fun fact:) The books were the perfect purchase for my long flight home.

Horrible experience. Shortly after entering the store, the owner started loudly blasting two of her employees in front of a store full of customers. A flyer advertising an upcoming Pride event had been hung on the doorframe of the store and the owner was accusing the two staff present of having posted the flyer without her approval. Despite denying having been the ones to place the flyer up, the owner continued to blame and berate them publicly. During the conversation, the owner repeatedly made homophobic and transphobic comments in reference to the LGBTQIA+ folks hosting the event. I ended up leaving as I was so disgusted by her behavior. If I could review separately for my experience with the staff, I'd give 5 stars as both maintained professionalism, continued to welcome customers into the store in a friendly tone, and help customers while being yelled at by their boss. Following that visit, I left a review pertaining to this experience on another well-known review site. The owner proceeded to leave inflammatory comments on that review (which, no surprise, included homophobic assumptions about myself), which is a violation of that site's policy. As such, the site removed my 1-star review because of her comment. Seems the owner has figured out how to get low-star reviews removed on that site. So, hence why I'm leaving a review here. Owner also has a history of threatening lawsuits (as she's also a lawyer) against those who leave low-star reviews. I wish she would either sell the business or close it down. Indie bookstores struggle as it is - she's not helping the business out. Update, 8/1/2024: Owner has now taken to harassing me via Yelp's messaging and comments system, leading me to have to report them to Support. Owner seems to think that I am a former employee and continues to violate Yelp's TOS by including that employee's name in comments left on my review. I report each one and owner edits it to still include personally identifiable information for that employee. Meanwhile, I have no idea who that employee is, nor have I myself ever worked at this bookstore or for this owner. Frankly, the owner's response on any reviews that are less than 4 stars, both here and on their G listing is telling--very disturbing pattern of behavior, harassing customers, threatening to take them to court, insulting them for simply leaving the less-than-stellar review the owner earned. If they go out of business, it won't be due to fiscal issues. It will be because the owner has a well established reputation and there's nothing really special here that you can't find at other nearby indie bookstores whose owners don't act this way.

Extremely friendly and welcoming employees - Great selection including Salem and non-Salem related books. Great selection of toys and games as well

Small bookstore with some used options in a nice location. Friendly staff and clean layout. Worth a stop!

I just love this little book shop! It has a little bit of everything. I purchased several books and book marks. Very nice woman at the counter and the prices are reasonable.

I always stop a a local bookstore and this one was cute upon walking in. Pretty small place and lots of non book items if you are looking for a toy or a book. The staff working seem really nice and were chatty to themselves but did check in to see if I needed anything. I wish the selection of books was bigger but I did end up buying a journal. Based on the other reviews glad I missed the owner...

11/2021 This book store is located in the heart of Salem. Friendly staff. Tons of selections. Picked up a few good books. I will be back

The cutest little book store! They have an array of children's books, young adult, adult, toys, etc! I come into this store and make a purchase every time I come into Salem. Highly recommend!

"Wicked good" sums it up! As retail stores disappear to online stores, it's refreshing to have a local book store. Put down the phone, pick up a book.

Terrible customer service, very rude and I'll never spend money here. Old lady mocked us for no apparent reason when we were about to spend a bunch, put everything back and left.

I came back to this bookstore in early September of 2022. It was still nothing to write home about. There were no crowds this time and the selection of books was just as underwhelming as in my earlier review (which, apparently, the owner didn't bother to properly read considering I never complained about having to wait in line...because I literally didn't purchase anything?). My fiancé and I browsed for a few minutes and ended up going elsewhere. Additionally, the owner of this shop seems to have a chip on his shoulder and some reading comprehension issues. Best of luck to those who choose to purvey this location.

Always love the smell of a bookstore and Wicked Good Books does not disappoint! Love the specially curated selections presented and themed and the sprinkling of gift items throughout the shop! There is a nice balance of books for the tourists that inevitability pop in and those who are local seeking a new literary journey!

Rude owner but decent books. We were ringing out and my mother politely asked a question about parking. The owner became irritated and sternly cut my mother off "Look lady I don't know ok! I just park in the garage!" We were so shocked because i just spend $38 on 2 small books. Its not like we weren't paying customers annoying her. I had to bite my tongue to keep myself from yelling at the woman for being so rude to my mother. Do yourself a favor for a few doors down to Trolly Depot the woman there is kind and sweet

Here is another cute shop that I would have overspent in if any staff had acknowledged me. They were many cute bookish items which are just as important to me as the many books.

What can you say about the only independent bookstore in Salem? I say thank you. Well done. Fantastic. Thank goodness. Merci. Danke. Gracias. Wicked Good Store. Wicked Good Books. Wicked Good People. Wicked Good Intentions.

The only bookstore in Nathaniel Hawthorne's hometown. Working hard to keep books in the hands of people who love them, beautifully located on the main tourist drag in Salem. Do you want witch books? They have witch books. Do you want children's books? They have children's books. Do you not know what you want? They'll help! And if they don't have it, they will order it. It's local, it's independent, and it's important. I'm all in on Wicked Good Books. Stop in this summer and tell them I said hello.

If you are looking for a small independent book shop with some of the best local authors and local history this is the spot to go. I stop in Everytime I am in Salem. The staff is always cheerful and ready to help find that book you didn't even know you were looking for

They stock the books I want. They order the ones I want but aren't in stock. They know books. Their recommendations are on point. They do what's needed to make sure their customers are safe and they don't suffer covidiots lightly. If you're not one of them, they're super nice to you. If you're a covidiot, you deserve to be tossed out. What more can a reasonable person want from their local bookshop?

I don't know who these folks are that are giving this amazing store 1 star reviews, but obviously, they cannot grasp the concept of what it must be like to be in the HEART of the chaos in Salem, in October. Wicked Good Books is run extremely professionally, their staff is well versed with their books, and they are kind, helpful, and courteous to their customers!! DO NOT miss the opportunity to stop into this gem if you are in Salem!! If you are a book lover, you will not be disappointed.

This bookstore is the best independent book store on the north shore. Staff and owner are professional and knowledgeable. Prices are reasonable and the store carries a lot of other fun items for sale.

Unbearably rude owner. Just read the other one star reviews here to see what I mean. We were in this shop when she accosted a poor kid and accused him of theft. Zero proof of theft, and lots of proof he brought the book into the store himself, but no, the rude owner would not back down. Finally when I and another customer stepped forward to confirm the kid was totally innocent, she screamed at us all and "kicked us out of the store" as we were leaving on our own. Serious mental health issues.

Extremely rude owner. They obviously have no idea what customer service is. Hopefully some day they go out of business like they deserve.

I bought a book to read to my 8 year old niece. Before bed time, I opened it up to read it to her and it was FILLED with porn. What kind of store is this?

As a resident of Salem, I also really wanted to like this bookstore, but they have a small selection of books; about 40% of the store is tchotchkes. The book selection seems politically motivated for some reason. It's already enough to have political agendas unwillingly pushed on us in radio/TV/social media. I came here to look for a book to escape that static. Me: "Do you have any Bukowski?" Store clerk: "I think we might have a book he did on cats?" I guess Charles Bukowski wasn't left-leaning enough for this store. Too bad, I was hoping to support a local small business in my community. I'm going to Maine for the holidays; they have better bookstores there, that don't make you feel like you're walking into an episode of Rachel Maddow.

Our family loves this independent book store! This is our go to spot for local gifts. The book selection is robust for such a small store and their local section is well curated. The staff is extremely kind, you can tell they love books and want to share their passion with you.

I was so happy to see that this would remain a bookstore after Derby Street Books closed. I grew up in Salem but have lived in Dallas for 2 decades. On my last trip home I made a point to visit Wicked Good. I was curious if nostalgia was getting the best of me. Definitely not the case. What a great indie bookstore! They've kept what was great about the original store, with the local histories and local authors work being prominently displayed. They've done a great job opening the sales floor and creating a sense of space that Derby Street never had. They've taken care to respect what the store was while putting their own unique stamp on it. Not an easy task in Salem. Respect their rules during the current pandemic. Don't be a cry baby snowflake. Put on a mask. Show respect for the people that are putting themselves at risk so you can get a new book to help pass the time of lockdown. If you're a tourist then respect the community and the businesses that make it thrive and keep it unique. And if you're a Covid denier, research tuberculosis and see how we stopped that from wiping us out. Pretty close to what we are trying to do to get in front of Covid.

Great customer service. The staff is very friendly and does a great job of keeping the store safe. The selection is great and the staff is knowledgeable about inventory.

Outstanding local business! Really great selection, beautiful spot and a staff with heart, charm, and a sense of humor. This is what keeps us coming back!

"you cant film in here". So my husband and I had been planning our yearly pilgrimage to Salem and was super excited to once again visit Wicked Good Books. Well, my part of the trip was cut short because my mother died while I was away so I had to get on the next flight to California. My husband told me he would facetime me so I could see what was in stock, seeing as Wicked Good Books was (emphasis on WAS) our go-to book store. Upon walking in, he was met with "you cant film in here", even though I was clearly on a facetime call with him (I even waved to the greeter). Not to mention, looking at this yelp page, people have clearly taken and posted pictures. I guess I owe Wicked Good Books an apology that my mother died, that I could not be there in person, and yet I still asked my husband to stay in Salem to get me some books. "you cant film in here". Thanks.

I'm an author and there is nothing I love more than books and independent bookstores. But let me tell you that this one is special. It has all the spooky charm of Salem, an affinity for black cats, the best handmade and local merchandise, and an awesome staff. This is the bookstore of autumnal dreams and it makes you believe in magic. Definitely visit if you get the chance!

I absolutely love this bookshop. I've made the three hour check more than once just to stop by. Such a great selection and remarkably helpful staff. Make sure to stop by!!!

I got my favorite mug here :) Friendly staff, great little shop. A must visit shop when visiting downtown Salem.

I went in this store tonight. I absolutely love supporting small businesses. I was shopping and all of the sudden an elderly ladies phone rang. It was only us and her in the store. The lady working behind the counter literally yells rudely across the store for her to take her phone call outside. The little lady didnt even hear her. The worker tells her again yelling. This was totally uncalled for. I understand their policy, but to speak to someone to rudely much less yell at an elderly woman is ridiculous. I changed my mind on purchasing anything and supporting this store after this happened. Workers need a lesson on simple kindness. Would have also been nice to have been greeted when we walked in. She was too busy on her laptop though to even acknowledge us. Rethink supporting these people.

Love this store. Extremely friendly staff. Wonderful selection of books. Please don't believe bad reviews by people that refused to comply with mask mandate to shop. This store is an amazing gem in the heart of Salem.

I really want to like this store, but every time I visit I think about how much better it could be. For a bookstore, they don't have a lot of books - so much of the (limited to begin with) space is taken up with toys and puzzles and tchotchkes and things that aren't books. The displays are random, they have basically no new paperbacks - it's just meh. I constantly *want* to buy books here, but usually end up failing.

I have been shopping here since I was a yearly tourist and even more now since I moved here six years ago. The store is charming and well set up for maximum ease of browsing. If they don't have a book you want they're happy to order it for you and are a good resource if you're not sure what to buy for a gift. In addition to books check out their clever literary or cat themed merchandise. And they have the best logo of any business anywhere--pick up a tote or tee shirt of the kitty reading a book like I have! I also appreciate their strict adherence to COVID precautions; without them I wouldn't be shopping in person.

The reality is no brick and mortar bookstore is going to be Amazon. There's no way to have *everything* anyone could want. So bookstore owners try to pick and chose a combination of things that their customers are going to come in looking for and things that the customers don't know they want (yet). I do feel like a little more space could be used for actual books and less for spooky, quirky knick-knacks, but what they do have is clearly curated for the Salem crowd. They lose one star because the staff seems distracted or cranky half the time I'm in there. I understand that people who love books tend to be introverts, but I shouldn't feel like I'm intruding on the staff's personal time to buy something.

Small book store packed with quality literature. One of the best bookstore I have been. The staff is extremely helpful and well versed in history books. This place is truly a Salem Charm. Purchased a few Salem History books.

Run by people who love books. Host readings, boost new authors, track down the hard-to-find. When I think about the ideal independent bookstore I think about Wicked Good Books.

staff is so nice. this store is very refreshing after a day of walking into seemingly wholesome businesses only to be met with a clear tourist trap capitalizing off of the witch trials or spiritualism. a very eccentric collection, but still something for everyone. also store merchandise is very cute. stayed in salem for two days, and i went visited twice. :)

A lovely little store with a variety of books. I like how it focuses on "spooky" books that involve Salem or Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe. They also have history books, a kid's section, and a few fun things too. I couldn't help but pick up a really cool Edgar Allan Poe scarf, an illuminating candle, and of course a few books. I will definitely come back.

This store is now open where derby square bookstore was. It is less cluttered which was part of the charm of the derby square bookStore. However, the selection does not seem as vast. Also, neither of the owners acknowledged me when i walked in, which was disappointing because there was only one other person in the store when i got there. Although the gentleman behind the computer was friendly enough, when i left the female owner was reentering the store and did not think to ask me how i liked the store or otherwise engage me. Although the store will probably be successful because of the lack of competition in Salem, in my opinion, it has a long way to go before it makes anyone forget that the previous store was there.

Love this book store! It's very centrally located so easy to get to. There was such a wide range of fun books to choose from as well as cute mugs and trinkets. I ended up getting a few different books and had to stop myself from over-shopping. I think they have a nice mix of Salem specific literature as well as books on other topics if you are looking for more variety. Definitely add this as a place to stop at if you are in town!

Fantastic book store! They had many items which I have not seen at other book stores since we all know it is not just books we hunt for at book stores but also those strange little things on random shelves here and there.

I was trying to order books online, for holiday gifts, and there was some confusion via message/email. A lovely lady from the store called to straighten it out, took my order and I'll be picking the books up tomorrow! I love that they've adapted to this pandemic life, and I'm able to support local.

This shop is great fun. They have a great kids corner in the back which is always a treat for us to go visit with books, of course, but also toys and games! Also a cool local history section and a great selection of second-hand books.

Great local place to pick up books. Friendly staff. Would recommend if your visiting Salem

I was here in September and the staff was super nice. They had a bunch of covid precautions set up which made me feel better about shopping. They have some of the coolest stuff too. A great little bookstore!

I love this store so much and have to go here when I visit my sister in Maine. I live in Oklahoma so I order my books from them and they are always so helpful in sending them right away. Once when they got lost in the mail because my apartments aren't receiving packages during the pandemic they were so good about making sure I got to reorder. This store really cares about their customer and their safety so much and I wish we had a place like this in Oklahoma.