Unabridged Bookstore

Small but sprawling, and next to a plant shop! I asked if they had a copy of one of my fav lesbian novels Tipping the Velvet and the person at the counter knew exactly where it was. I also found a copy of Meditations, and had my pick of several editions. Well-kept shop, friendly and knowledgeable staff, hand-written blurbs singling out must-reads with synopses stuck to each shelf. Excellent selection. Excellent experience.

To kick off Pride Month on June 1st, I wanted to support a local business that actively celebrates and uplifts the LGBTQ+ community so I decided to visit an independent bookstore, and I’m so glad I did. From the moment I walked in, I was immediately drawn to their thoughtfully curated and robust LGBTQ+ section. It was clear that this wasn’t just a token display it was a genuine, intentional celebration of queer voices across genres and experiences. From fiction and memoirs to activism and history, the selection was both impressive and inspiring. Beyond that, the store had a wide range of other genres, and I honestly wanted to buy everything. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the staff were knowledgeable and kind, and the whole space radiated the kind of inclusive energy that makes you want to linger for hours. Supporting businesses that support us is powerful and this bookstore made me feel proud, seen, and excited to read. I’ll definitely be back!

This is a new favorite bookstore of mine and I would recommend going out of your way to pay a visit! The available space is utilized so wonderfully. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and intellectual; there's just a certain sort of charm and intimacy that comes with shopping local, where the product(s) being marketed are so clearly curated with intention and care. The staff wasn't particularly friendly to customers when I visited, but I had many great exchanges with the other patrons shopping, so that definitely made up for it. It feels so good to find a bookstore that allows you to embrace, celebrate, and flaunt queerness, whether it be queer joy or queer tragedy or everything else in between. Highly recommend!!!!!

I love bookstores. I had seen this one on a few lists of the best independent bookstores in the country. It was really nice. Located in Boystown in Chicago, Unabridged Bookstore it's pretty incredible. While being a bit cramped, I feel like it had as much inventory as any Barnes and Noble. Just not as many non-book gift items, which is fine by me. While having all the typical bestsellers, there is a wide selection of local authors, signed books, and an extensive LGBT section. The travel selection was also surprisingly large. I was disappointed to find that there was no public bathroom. I probably would have stayed longer.

Great local bookstore with lots of selections within each genre. Friendly service. The aisles are kinda narrow to walk between so keep that in mind if ya want more space. But, I found the Chicago Transit Hike book by Lindsay Welbers which I really want for a book club so I’m glad I bought it! I would come to this bookstore again and recommend it.