What I liked:Went for breakfast to Homegrown next door, excellent sandwiches. After that we decided to walk into this local bookstore, after all, local bookstores are one of my favorite places to visit and to purchase books and magazines.This place is bigger than it looks from outside, it goes deep and at the end of it they have a nice kids area with a good selection of childrens books and games. The bookstore has many old typewriters in display which are very fitting for the store and I left wondering if they would sell me one or a few of those.The atmosphere is friendly and very welcoming, the book and magazine selection is great, as it is all the little gifts and stationary. We purchased a calendar, a magazine, a few stickers, and a book. Loved it.Observations:There was a person next to us or very close almost the entire time my wife and I browsed through the store, I am not sure if it was an employee but it felt uncomfortable, this person seemed to be monitoring us while pretending to be looking at something else - and maybe she was, I am not sure but I am just sharing our experience.Wed be back, I am an avid reader and always try to get my books and magazines from local businesses. Also, dont forget the sandwiches next door, they are pretty good!

I was not expecting to find this awesome place in Mercer.On first sight what really got my attention was their exhibit window with lots of international female authors.I love that the staff is diverse and the recommendations they make seem on point.5/5 I would definitely be back to get more books 🤩

Sooooo cozy in this local book store, spent an hour inside

A great bookstore. I’ve lived here for decades and somehow never found my way in here, but I’m glad I finally did. The most pleasant surprise was the excellent science fiction and fantasy section. At so many indie book stores this section is an afterthought; some Douglas Adams, some George R. R. Martin, and whatever doorstop volume in the latest Tolkien retread series is on the NYT bestsellers list. I guess most indie bookstore owners are just unfamiliar with the genre (or worse, don’t think they need to be). Whoever curates this section at Island, though, put some real thought into it, deftly mixing bestsellers, classics, and some new discoveries. I went home with books by two authors that were new to me, and loved them both. I’ll be back to Island Books.

All the best experiences of a great bookstore.Great selections, great toys in the back, quality stationery products.Peaceful and inviting ambiance.

A lovely bookstore, with knowledgeable, friendly staff. Ive spent so many hours browsing here over the past 15 years! Also has a great selection of gifts.

Cute locally owned book store with nice staff, they have a good selection and allow you to buy online.

A good selection of both fiction and non-fiction books. I’m sad that they don’t have manga or comics though.

Amazing local bookstore and gift shop. The staff is helpful, provides recommendations and you can order online and then pick up. I’m a super fan of making things easy, and Island Books is a great example of how local businesses can survive and thrive.

In my 10+ years as a customer, I have always been able to find an interesting book to read while browsing the store. Island Books offers a huge variety of compelling genres, and I have never been disappointed with a purchase. Highly recommend.

Real cozy and enticing selection!! My wallet is in danger! 📚

I’ve shopped at store since moving from overseas 3 years ago. The selection of books are nice, especially the children/teen sections. I usually pop in to shop for my kids. I always hear about the ‘friendly neighbourhood’ store. Something that I thought would be really nice to have, being that I’m not from around here. Having said that, every time I go the store and end up at the front cashier, I am always greeted with a cold gesture. No warmth, no smile, no friendliness. Funny enough, when I make my payment at the cashier in the kids section, the person there seem to be friendlier. I thought it was a one off. But no, it’s every time. Maybe the friendly neighbourhood feel is only reserved for the “old timers”, not for anyone new.

This is a local business I have loved since I was a kid! They have a great selection of books and gifts. If youre looking for something specific you can call ahead or look online and they can order it for you.

Great little bookstore with more to offer than just books. Always a little surprise around every corner.

Selection is carefully curated. The staff seems dedicated.

Cute little bookstore! The staff is friendly and has good recommendation.

Wonderful source of books! I ordered via phone and they kept my books ready for when I could pick them up in person. Very responsive and were able to get my order together within 2 days of calling, even if I couldnt pick it up then

It has a wide selection of books and an especially nice children/teen section. It was fun to browse.

For almost half a century now, this bookstore has contributed significantly to the quality of life on the Island. The staffs are the bests--wise and friendly. The space is more rewarding--both relaxing and stimulating--than any coffee shop. Selections can be small, but really good. For example, the $1 cards near the door show some of the best photos and artworks of this area. I am grateful to this place.

Thank you for the home delivery of a couple of books, to my front door! Which other store would go this far? And thank you for your initial, wonderful help and knowledge over the phone after I had ordered on Island Books website. You are the best!

The cutest little bookstore with a wide variety of books and little gifts

Great little bookshop

Beautiful, cozy book store!

Theres nothing better than a little book store crammed with great books, cards & some gifts thrown in as well. Theyll wrap, too, perfect for that last min gift. Its been here since I was a kid & I try to support them when Im in the area.

Great service and selection!

Really nice local bookstore on Mercer Island that offers a little of everything from cards to books of all genres

Local bookstore with a good selection and a great childrens area.

Great small locally-owned book store... customer service exceptional! Wonderful lil kids area in back. And plenty of free parking.

What a lovely and unique bookstore. It looks tiny from the outside but is very long on the inside, with lots of nooks and crannies separated by shelves, displays, armchairs etc. Collections of every genre, including a cute childrens section with a wooden tunnel/toy house area. Lots of options for gifts including soaps, lotions and sewn items from local artists. I bought some very sweet cards. Will definitely be back to wander around again!

Lovely bookstore, presents for the whole family!

Super cute and cozy local bookstore with very friendly staff, beautiful wrapping paper, and an excellent selection. I can also easily order books online from them and pick them up in store.

Love this bookstore! Surprisingly good selection.

This place is an experience more than a store. Its an old-fashioned book shop where you can browse and feel like you belong to the neighborhood. The staff is professional and knowledgeable and they are truly invested in the Mercer Island community.

My favorite place to hide away to. An incredible, helpful and witty staff that make this cozy book store welcoming and warm. Not just books! They sell cards, gifts and games here too.

This place is amazing. Love the local shops and super friendly staff. Cant wait to go back.

Great recommendations, engaged staff, excellent selection. Encourages all ages to read and appreciate stories of any kind.

Great little book store. If they dont have what you want, they can order it. Great childrens section as well.

Love this local bookstore. Small enough to explore, large enough to have a great selection. Such a better experience than Amazon!

Childrens section is varied and large. Even have a first chapter books section! The store has a cozy quaint feel. Lovely.

Great collection. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Unique gifts wont find on Prime Now. Good competition to Prime Now and it is small business and local.

Great place to hang out withy kids. I have taken two of them there now. I take each of them there by themselves and let them lead the way exploring all of the different topics. They have an area/room in the back with a little house to read to small children. My daughter loved it. They had a section specifically setup for my teenage son. There was even a nice wooden chess set that we spent what must have been two hours playing together. In an age of electronic everything at the speed of light, it has been wonderful to slow down twice now with kids of very different ages.

Books, cards, gifts, games and more in a great space. Curated book selections and gift wrapping!

The store is very homey and the staff are always ready to help. I love the selection especially the ones about the area and local history. The staff is knowledgeable about new releases. They also carry a number of goods (soaps and jewelry) that make great gifts.

A great local book store, and a real island jewell. Thanks for helping my daughter find a replacement for a lost school book!

Amazing book store with a decent selection of books.

What a great local bookstore. The perfect place to stop for just the right gift for anyone and they wrap your gift to make a last minute gift a breeze. Love having Island Books on Mercer Island. My kids love it too!

A great local bookstore with a large childrens selection.

An old fashioned book store with heart, community commitment, and the best staff with absolutely the best expertise in choosing exactly the right book for anyone. They provide personalized service that is so rare these days--proud to have them in my community.

Long time Island contributing business with great books and gift ideas. Fun stickers and patches on sale.

A most amazing bookstore. The staff is extremely well read and helpful. The people who come are also book lovers, parents read out to kids. In general the place is a treat for bookworms.

This is the most wonderful village bookstore I have ever visited. May seem to know what you want to read, or what your family member wants to read, before you know it! And they can find anything. Long Live Island Books!

In this store I feel super comfy and personal is awesome ! I found what I need. And a lot more! Thank you!

Staff was super helpful, gave great recommendations!

Helpful staff. Local Bookstore with a neighborhood vibe.

I dont buy books anywhere else and why would anyone in this area? If they dont have it, which is rare, they will get it in a day or two and no shipping. THE BEST bookstore in our entire region. Staff is super helpful too.

An actual small independent bookstore. You can even order online from their website. Sorry Amazon, Ill always favor the little guy when it comes to books.

Local and awesome. Very Nice, knowledgeable, and in it for the right reasons. I also buy my ebooks through their website. They dont get much, but a little.

Great independent bookstore. Knowledgeable and friendly staff. They have a great kids room as well.

We never miss a chance to visit Island Books every time we come to the Seattle area...it feels like coming home. Love the variety and the reviews and the cards...All of it!

We love the selection of childrens books and they have a great selection of games and gifts, too!

Love the selection of books, cards, stationary, games, and gifts. The childrens section is amazing.

Great bookstore. I am totally amazed at how many books they have on hand. My wife says she considers it her 2nd home.

I love this bookstore! I buy all my books and gifts here. And they wrap!

Great place. Great presentations. They go the extra mile.

Independently owned bookstore with cosy seats to read books. A large collection of young adult novels. Friendly staff.

Warmest friendliest place on Earth!

Cozy place to read a book. People there are very nice.

Extraordinary bookstore - amazing staff and fantastic selection!

Great little local, independent book store

Great place to find last minute gifts.

Outstanding selection and friendly service! Everything you want in a bookstore!

An amazing book store

Bought a bunch books for my niece, and the employees there had helped me pick out the books. I appreciate it because she love them all.

One of those places you can hang out for a few hours

Great customer service, lots of options

A number of months ago,(6), I discovered, to my horror, that a book I had borrowed from a cherished friend was actually a personally signed edition, not only autographed by the author...it had also been signed by the heros daughter. A book is a sacred object to me, and when I realized that through my personal peregrinations the book could not be returned to the owner in its original pristine condition I just figured I would purchase another one for her...until I happened to turn to the title page. I thought I was going to be sick. The look in my friends eyes when I showed her the book, broke my heart. I resolved not to give her signed personal copy back to her until I could include a brand new hard bound edition not only personally autographed, once again, by the author, but also, the daughter of the hero of the book. I contacted Island Books, where my friend got the paperback book at a special author signing event and plead my case. I was immediately connected to their intrepid Miracle Worker, Cindy. She listened graciously to my story and accepted my request. The author, quite famous, is a bit of a recluse,...as is the heros daughter, both preferring their private worlds. Both are difficult to reach, much less have respond. None of this deterred Cindy. She diligently, politely proceeded, knocking softly on doors with a velvet gloved hand and making persistent, gentle searching enquiries. Several times she came up against barriers that would have stopped most. Her strategic research is worthy of Scotland Yard. She simply will not stop until she reaches her goal. Cindy is a dedicated, brilliant, patient, gracious lady and an unbelievable, incredible asset to her employer, Island Books owner, Laurie Raisys, who, by the way treasures this person. Need I say that Cindy Corugo, special, rare books person, accomplished all I challenged her with; constantly staying in communication with me as she moved through this odyssy. I dont know how I can possibly express my gratitude to this woman whose stellar Customer Service goes beyond the pale. I will tell you that I am working on it. Due to my career in broadcast television, radio, marketing and sales; in major markets...with my hallmark being customer service, Cindy will be richly, appropriately rewarded as she deserves to be. My reward, will be the smile on my friends face when I give her what she considered impossible. Thank you once again Ms. Cindy Corugo! Thank you Ms. Laurie Raisys, for approving the time it took for Cindy to accomplish this feat. Most Sincerely, Jeannine Gregoire

My favorite bookstore! I recommend it to everyone!

This is a great book store.

Wonderful with a comprehensive collection of books.

Love this great local bookseller.

Great service and suggestions for books!

Helpful and friendly staff.

Great book store

Good selection

Hidden gem on Mercer island

Nice

My favourite bookstore

Best bookstore in WA!

Racist