River Lights Bookstore

It’s unanimous. Five stars all around. This is hands down the nicest independent bookstore I’ve been to in awhile. First, they have narrowed down choices, so while the choices are fewer, they are all good ones in just enough categories. The space is large and open and easy for shopping or browsing, unlike many urban bookstores which are claustrophobic and overstuffed. You can breathe in here. On one wall section, they feature the book of choice for all the local reading clubs or groups. So there is a clear community commitment here, too. The two women working were very helpful and friendly, too. The shop is located on a nice little block of Dubuque’s Main St. with a café, restaurant and other small businesses to check out. Check it out if you love books.

River Lights Bookstore reminds me «The Shop Around the Corner.» They have a nice collection of the best reads and places to sit and read for a bit. Their children’s section is small, but it does represent the best reads in children’s/young adult literature.
Everyone is friendly and helpful. Although I never met his or her myself, I hear a small doggie works there some days too.
I think books on the Best Seller’s list might be 20−30% off to boot!

Amazing, classic, little bookstore downtown. I’m a huge book reader, and this is for sure my favorite book store in town. Amazing prices and the employees are incredibly helpful and nice. 5 star shop!

This bookstore is a great example of what we loose by relying on national, big box chains or the Internet to buy books. (Plug for You’ve Got Mail.) The bookstore opened just about the time that I moved to Dubuque in 2007. Having since moved, I was glad to see it was still going strong with its quality undiminished when I came back in 2012.
The staff is attentive and friendly and the selection is very good (especially their selection of magazines, which rivals any I’ve seen in a store that didn’t make selling magazines their specialty). They also sell the monthly selection for a large number of book clubs in town, so clearly this is a place that is connected to the community in a lasting way. Although it’s clearly part of the sporadic gentrification that has attempted to spread down Main Street Dubuque, it doesn’t detract from the neighborhood, but rather clearly adds to it.

So wonderful to have an independent book store in downtown Dubuque! Great selection, great staff, great service. Do support River Lights!

LoveLoveLove RL2E

This review is for the location at 1098 Main Street – I tried to update that info in the listing but it didn’t «take.»
I went to this bookstore a few weeks ago while visiting a friend. I think one of the things I like about small bookstores vs. a large bookstore is the reduced selection. When I’m browsing in a bookstore I can be almost overwhelmed by the selection and I don’t find anything I want. In a good small bookstore, the proprietor will carefully select books to have in the store and offer the rest for order. This is one of those stores. I’ve come across more gems in these small shops than I do in big bookstores. I found a lot of books that piqued my interest and picked up 4 or 5 of them. They seemed to have a really good kids section, too, I saw a lot of my favorites from childhood and lots of new titles.
I even got a really cute reusable bag to keep in my purse so I don’t keep getting plastic bags at stores that I take home and then throw away.
The salesperson was very nice and engaged all the customers in light conversation as they checked out. I also loved the bookstore cat sleeping in one of the chairs!