Bound To Be Read Books

I would be sad that this bookstore is closing, but the owner seems happy to be moving on to a new adventure, so I’ll just say that I’m glad we stopped in. We bought a couple dozen books (I’m not exaggerating) at their going-​out-​of-​business sale. The owner was a really nice guy who chatted with just about everyone in the store. I love used bookstores, and this seems like the sort of place that every town needs. Go check it out before they close.

I’ve got to go ahead and get this review in while I can. Sadly, Bound To Be Read is closing soon, which is a bummer because I just moved to the neighborhood and was excited to have a local, independent bookstore.
The owner is closing to spend more time with family, which is absolutely understandable. In the meantime, there is a store-​wide sale going on, which includes fixtures like bookshelves.
I rarely enter a bookstore looking for a specific book. Rather, I prefer to wander the shelves and look for «Oh, I’d been meaning to pick that up» books. This is how you end up with an obscene number of «to read» books piled up around the house. No shame.
Come on in to find anything from pop fiction to sci-​fi to cookbooks to clarinet method books. And all at a discounted price!
Oh, and in celebration of new beginnings and whatnot, they’re raffling off some cool prizes. You’re entered with every purchase!

I went to this bookstore seeking a used copy of Catching Fire and I was not disappointed. They had an extensive collection of books, including graphic novels and comics, all of which were very interesting.
The guy behind the counter was very helpful and extremely nice, as well as the other guy who works there. They were very knowledgeable about a lot of books as well as their store (I’ve been to book stores where the employees could barely point me in the direction of the front door, much less the YA fiction section). The cat, or «director of public relations», was adorable and very mild-​mannered. Feel free to pet him anytime.
Another thing that I found amusing was their daily word challenge. Every day one of the employees picks a word from the cover of any book in the store (there are plenty) and each customer gets a chance to guess a letter and a chance to guess the word. My friend and I got it on the first try and we both won a special prize. I thought it was incredibly cute and a great way to interact with customers.
The only drawbacks are the fact that you have to park in a lot across the street that is a little sketchy (especially since we went at night) and encourages you to «Bring your valuables! Don’t be a victim!». It’s also incredibly hard to get into a spot if you go down the lane the wrong way because everything is so narrow. Also, because it’s such a busy area you may have to play a bit of car jousting to get a spot.
Another drawback is that, because they are a used book store, if they run out of a certain book there’s no way to tell when they’ll get another copy. They may have a new copy but you can guarantee that it will be more expensive than the used version, even though their used books are like new. When buying the used hardback version of Catching Fire I noticed that it was only about $ 5, but the new hardback version was almost $ 20. Despite this, the owners are willing to work with you and possibly call or email you if they find another used copy to sell.
All in all, this bookstore is a cute, quirky little place if you’re looking for discount books in almost new condition. They are very polite and interactive with customers, have a great selection, an adorable «director of public relations», and a nice $.99 bin just outside the window. If only they stayed open past 9 p. m…

I absolutely adore this place. I like to pop in here after eating phở at We Suki Suki next door, and I always leave with at least one new book. Something about buying a well loved copy of a rare book makes it a special purchase. Also, any sci-​fi nerd has GOT to check out the science fiction/​fantasy section! There are some real gems in there!

I simply can’t get enough of this place. I stop in every time I’m in East Atlanta Village if I’m looking for something or not. Needless to say, I have yet to come out without something!
This is exactly what you find in the dictionary when you look up «fabulous neighborhood bookstore.» They stock the bestsellers, tons of local favorites and a great used section as well. Prices are comparable to the big box book sellers and the customer service and atmosphere take Bound to be Read over the top.
I’ll be a regular.

The man who was working went out of his way to be courteous. The actual bookstore has a great atmosphere and some great deals!

Great little shop. Everything an indie book store should be. New releases & used favorites.

It is always good to find a local bookstore and this one has the requisite cat in residence and a great selection of locally themed books.
What makes Bount to be Read extra good is how well organized and uncluttered it is plus a just-​attentive-​enough staff. A pleasure to browse and buy!

I was looking for a specific new release and decided to see if I could pick it up that day locally instead of ordering from Amazon. I emailed them to ask if they had it, Jeff (the owner) replied, offered to order it and said new hardcover books get 20% off. He did this all without asking for my information, credit card etc. He had my email and first name. I was sold! He emailed me a few days later and I picked it up with ease. Jeff was really nice, we made some small talk about the neighborhood and how it’s been changing. I noticed they had a plethora of Walking Dead comics, as well as other comics. And there is usually plenty of parking. I resisted the urge to order from Amazon, attempting to support local business. I’m glad I did. Although I paid $ 2 more it was worth it.

One of the best independent books stores in the city. The staff does everything to make you feel at home and will work their hardest to make sure you find what you are looking for. If they can’t find it there, they won’t try to take your money but will actually do research to find another place that has what you need. Bound to be Read Books actually cares about their customers and I plan on being a customer for a very long time!

This is exactly what a local bookstore should be. Knowledgeable staff, great inventory, very involved with the community.
If they don’t have it, you can order it and it only takes a couple days. Almost 90% of the books I bought in the last 3 years have been from here.
Also, check out their bargain book section outside. Always worth a look!
Stop in & say hi to Kona.

I don’t think I’ve ever been in a more helpful bookstore! The guys in there were super helpful, and took the time to help me find the perfect book. They had all kinxds if books, bith new and used.

Bound To Be Read Books is a great local gem in East Atlanta Village. The staff are exceptional and the bookstore it self is very cute. When you walk in the door you just have a good vibe, and want to look around. I had the opportunity to sit in on a poetry night, was pleasantly surprised at the local support.
This is the type of local business, that makes you want to support the small guys even more!

Great local gem. Surprisingly large selection. And they buy back books you purchase from them and some books from other places. I haven’t bought an actual book in years until I came here. This store — very unlike the big box stores — made me realize how much I miss actual paper sometimes.

This is a fantastic bookstore. I love that I regularly find things here that I haven’t been able to find at Barnes and Noble or Borders.

i was in town for work and like any sad little bibliophile i had to compulsively check out every used bookstore i could find.
this place is a nice, clean, lovely little mixed stock bookshop. they’ve got well selected used books mixed in with new titles. the selection is a tad limited but that’s really only because the space isn’t that large. but, like always, i found something to buy. they had some old sci-​fi hardbacks and an interesting mid-​century religious devotional book for kids that’s pretty cool. their history section is pretty beefy too.
the staff (one guy behind the counter) was super friendly and pointed me to some other used bookstores in the city (see my review of Book Nook).
i’ll definitely visit here again next time i’m in ATL.

This is a great bookstore if you’re looking for something new or just browsing for no book in particular. They have a pretty good selection, and it’s a lot bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. The guy working there when I came in on a quiet Sunday evening was really helpful and was able to look up in his computer whether he had what I was looking for.
Because I was just looking for one book in particular and didn’t find it, I can’t comment on how their prices are since I didn’t pay attention to them. It was definitely a plus that they are open later than most places in EAV; I was able to get parking right out front. I definitely plan on coming back here sometime when I need to replenish my books-​to-​be-​read pile.

Bound to Be Read Books is one of my favorite book stores. Period.
It’s a small cozy store with a lot of character. They have a used book buy back program that I’m in love with. The prices are more than reasonable on used books and new books are also available.
They often have monthly events, book signings, bottom line; something new is always going on. It’s worth a stop if you’re heading to the EAV.

After months of failed attempts, I finally made a stop in at Bound to Be Read Books yesterday afternoon. I’m opening my own indie bookstore in Athens, GA next year, and the owners/​managers Jeff & Jef volunteered their time to talk with me and show me around a bit. When I first walked in, Jef was busy with some customers and I was really impressed with how he dealt with them. It’s sad to say that top-​notch, friendly-​but-​non-​intrusive customer service is a rarity these days. He hit the mark perfectly as he greeted people, making his presence and helpfulness known but then letting people browse independently until they were ready to ask a question.
The store is laid out cleanly and organized in a logical way. Though located on a busy strip of businesses in East Atlanta, I’ve never once had trouble parking in this area. Yesterday afternoon, a Saturday, I pulled up right in front of BTBR and parked in a free spot. When I go to the Earl, I always find street parking, even on busy nights. They carry used books here, but none of those dusty, falling-​apart volumes so many stores burden themselves with. These used books are all clean and in pretty good condition. I didn’t check on prices, but I’d guess that they’re reasonable. The new books are all fairly priced according to market standards.
By the end of my visit, I’d bought the Sherman Alexie book I’ve been wanting for months and also picked up a nice gift certificate for the married couple whose wedding I almost ran late to since I hung out too long at this store. ;)

What an amazing little bookstore!
Came here a few weeks ago to see my friend Patricia do a book signing. I was impressed on the amount of unique books they carry as well as the number of events they hold each month to highlight and promote local authors!
The customer service is fantastic and there is plenty of parking in the lot behind the building. Definitely one of those shops where you cannot leave without buying something. I look forward on frequently visiting this establishment whenever I am in the East Atlanta area!