Harbor Books

Highly cynical curmudgeonly owner. Not actually interested in good books. Just in selling the most mainstream titles he can find. Ones that «sell themselves» as he put it to me. Couldn’t care less about independent or local authors. Rather ironic for a small town shop.

We stopped into Harbor Books today with our children, who are 2 and 4. They are young children and energetic, but they also know how to behave. My younger daughter handed me a Children’s book off the shelf, I said yes, that’s a book, and I put it back on the shelf. The man behind the counter VERY rudely said «Those books are for adults to buy,» to which I said, «Yes, I realize that.» He replied with (still quite rudely) «This is NOT a library. Those books are for purchase.» I took my children and left. They weren’t causing any sort of trouble, there wasn’t anyone else in the store, and the display of children’s books are right at floor level very accessible for young children to look at. I understand the concern about children potentially destroying books and displays, but mine were not misbehaving, I put the book back as soon as it was handed to me, and I was getting ready to tell my daughter that we look at them, not touch. I don’t know ANYONE who goes to a book store without thumbing through the books, and this employee (I don’t know if he was the owner or a clerk) made it quite apparent that we were not welcome there despite the prominent display of children’s books and the open door to the street. I wouldn’t recommend this store to anyone.

My favorite used book store around… better than the options where I live in Cambridge/​Somerville.
Go at the end of the summer to get all the recent, best summer reads after the renters have gone!
He always has a great selection of all the genres. There’s some ‘new’ books at a small discount in the front and he can special order any new books, too.
I’ve seen cheaper prices in other used book stores, but I find this selection to be the best so it’s worth it!

Small town used bookstore. The man who helped us was wonderful.

Put me in a used bookstore and I instantly become like a kid at Disney World — I could spend hours sifting through the shelves, enjoying the used book smell, and hunting for my favorite authors. Not only is Harbor Books located on one of the cutest Main Streets in all of New England, its staff members truly love to read and offer great suggestions based on your author or genre of choice.
Even better, all used books are at least half the price of the original cover cost. Steeper discounts are given for less popular, or more «loved» books. Also present are a great array of coffee table books detailing the history of Old Saybrook (famous for being Katherine Hepburn’s last hideaway and real home), as well as photos of the beautiful coastal scenery. I’ve been happy to see Harbor Books thrive for several years in a location where other stores come and go. I hope to count it as one of my regular summer stops for many more to come.