Finally- a place in Historic Valley Junction where I can relax with my journal and a warm drink! Staff are friendly, book picks are spot on, and it has my new favorite chai latte in the metro. If you haven’t yet been to RIP, what are you waiting for?
Honestly, I can't believe it's taken me this long to leave a review. Reading in Public is my favorite local business. Friendly and helpful staff, relaxed environment, delicious coffee, and a wonderful mission. Did I mention the beautiful space? You can tell the owner went to incredible lengths to ensure a gorgeous and welcoming environment. Even if I'm not looking for a new book (which I almost always am), I love coming in during off hours to work, drink coffee, have a chat with the barista, and enjoy the space. They also have really great merch from talented illustrators, candles, magnets, office supplies, etc. I'm so proud to have this unique and inclusive space in our community. I always bring my out-of-town friends to Reading in Public. I can't wait to see what else this wonderful shop does for West Des Moines.
Look: this is a fantastic independent bookstore owned by a smart Drake graduate. The selection of books is fantastic and I felt comfortable asking for help. I haven’t tried the coffee yet, but it smelled great! It’s nice to be in a space where book lovers are appreciated. This place is a gem.
Great little indie bookstore cafe with a modern feel. Their selection is necessarily limited by the space, but the staff are very cool and are more than happy to place orders for anything you might want that you can't find in the store. For those wanting to support local, you can't go wrong with Reading In Public.
I never thought I'd dislike a bookstore, but the two employees working were very unwelcoming and unfriendly. Bold move for a physical bookstore in 2023.
Frankly disappointing. No greeting or acknowledgement at all until we went to pay. The young ladies just chatted with each other and played on their phones. (Just one of them on cell phone, to be fair). The vibe was really off for an indie bookshop that has plenty of local competition for selection and service. It’s a shame because it’s in a great location and it’s a really smart looking store. It gets three stars only because my partner bought a book and he rarely does buy in a bricks and mortar store.
