Yesterday’s Books

Great! Recommended by a local friend. Great variety of books. Love the smaller items at the registers that are handmade! Also, love, love, love the dvd variety. Bought 2 dvd sets. Cashiers were very warm and friendly. Restroom was also available and clean. Totally cool place to go in Modesto!

Even though I really enjoy my Kindle sometimes I really like the feel of reading a real book. When I get that need to hold a real book, this is a great place to find one. I enjoy looking through the titles, many of which are out of print. In addition to books they have DVD’s and CD’S.
The staff is very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. My favorite used book store.

This little bookstore is the cutest little shop I’ve seen! It’s filled with a variety of books and has very good pricing. I love the vibes here, it sort of feels like you’re in a library. Definitely going to come in search of books here again. Honestly, it’s such a cute little gem.

There is something so comforting about perusing the shelves of this bookstore. It’s quiet. It has that old book smell. There are endless possibilities of stories to get lost in. Classics, new best sellers, large print, out of print, every genre you can think of. You can load up at these prices. There is something romantic about a used bookstore. Yesterdays Books is a little haven in Mo-​Town.

Love this place! Great choices, great prices and very nice and helpful staff! You can count on my loyal patronage! Love the feel and layout. Very nice change of pace from chain bookstores.

My daughters and I always enjoy visiting this store whenever we are in town. Yesterday we paid a visit, the Lady at the front desk was extremely helpful in finding the right books for each of us. Thank you again we will be returning very soon.

I walked in ready to buy one book and walked out with five instead. Crazy cheap prices! Can’t believe I hadn’t shopped here before. Will for sure return for more books.

I lovveeeddd this place!!!
Who knew Modesto had such a cool used bookstore!!! Not I said the cow!!!
I’ve been Modesto countless times visiting le fiancé’s family, and I kick myself to know this has been here the whole time. I loved their selection, staff recommendations, and great sale items. I will definitely be back.

I want to give you 5 stars, I really do.
I grew up going to this bookstore, and for nerdy little me, it was a magical place. They have an incredible selection of books, and their prices are reasonable. On top of all that, this place is tidy, well organized, and feels timeless (not to mention that amazing musty old bookstore smell).
If it’s such a place as I describe, filled with awe and wonder and childhood memories, why then, you ask, despite my lifelong love and attachment, can I not give a full five stars?
One word: service.
Readers usually enjoy being with other readers. We are energized by discussing books we’ve read, as well as hearing about ones we haven’t. We share a common passion. So, how the hiring manager here found the trolls that work this place, I cannot begin to imagine. I sincerely believe that these creatures sleep in the cracks between the shelves, thriving on discouraging readers and hurrying them along.
Every time I come here, I get the feeling that I’m not welcome. People don’t really greet you. They tend to converse quietly amongst themselves behind the front counter. Any time I’ve tried sparking a light conversation with one of the employees here, I have gotten a dry look and a terse response. What gives?
The employees here can come across as better-​than-​thou types, and walking up to the register can feel like you’re approaching the throne of the literary almighty. I want to feel comfortable in a bookstore. I want it to be a place I can get lost in, and not feel watched. The last number of times I’ve been here, I’ve felt the need to get in, find a book, and get out as quickly as possible, before the dragon at the front comes sweeping through the center aisle, breathing out forced ‘Can I help you’s (which feel less friendly, and more like ‘move along, peon’) and shooting unwelcoming glares from its eyes.
So, Yesterday’s Books, I give you four stars for an amazing book shop, and zero stars for the dementors… I mean associates, who ought to be breathing life into your business, instead of sucking joy out of the entire experience.
After reading this over, I’ll admit that I’m probably being a bit too harsh, taking a bit too much creative liberty, and that there likely are some friendly employees. I just haven’t run into one lately, and expect more from this place.

I usually find the book or types of books I’m looking for here, even books I didn’t think anyone had heard of. They have a great selection of products in good condition at cheap prices. Not only are the employees nice but the customers are very respectful and quiet as well. The only thing is that I wish this place were bigger to accommodate more books and that they had a database of the books they have in stock for people to search.

I really love spending time in here browsing the shelves. I’ve picked up many great books in the last year since visiting for the first time. The staff knows their stuff! My questions are never unanswered. Thanks guys! I’ll see you again soon :)

Good selection, well sorted, fair prices (about 50% off the cover price), friendly service.

I’ve visited a lot of used bookstores in my time and this one is the best of them. The aisles are wide enough for people to stop and browse without blocking other people’s path. They have interesting bookish nick-​nacks you can look at or buy. The books are arranged by subject and then author’s name so it does help to know the author of a book you’re looking for (not just the title) and they’re pretty vigilant to keep them in good order. There’s also music, audio books and fancy rare antique books.
Be sure to check the exterior marques for interesting quotes! My parents started this business in 1980 and the new owners are doing a lovely job too!

Old books, great prices, friendly staff, and every visit has the aire of a treasure hunt.
What is not to love?
Probably my favorite shop in Modesto.

I’m going to echo what the majority have previously said regarding the store itself and its offerings. However, another component to a quality establishment exists and that is service. There is a young man who has been rude on two occasions. First, he enjoys giving his satire on your book choice when you’re at the counter. See: «intellectual snob wannabe». My mom was trying to get a couple of books my brother would enjoy, save your opinion on Dan Brown for those who haven’t heard it before, frankly it’s played out book snob. The best was today, when I came in to see how much they would offer for an old, rare, sought after book. Of course I was greeted by Mr Snob himself and received the flippant attitude I expected. I mentioned my business there, showed him the book and he outright said, «We are not interested in that.» I responded that I had checked Abebooks, as someone over the phone (friendly woman) had suggested when I phoned in earlier in the week. I mentioned Abebooks had it priced in the high 200’s. At that, he grabbed for the book (no joke), and indeed saw that it was going for $ 287 in great condition. Mine is not great, fair at best. But Abe’s also had a fair listed going at that same price. I thanked him for his time as he continued to exude his superiority. This IS a great little bookshop, I love it. Owners may be wise to teach this fellow customer service. Or kick him to the curb, like Yesterday.

First let me say, this is the best bookstore in town, hands down. Let me give you my argument to back this statement up before I give you my review.
Argument: This place is the best bookstore in town because they are a local business that has with stood the storm of HUGE chain bookstores. At one point in Modesto there was Borders and Barnes and Noble. Second, They are the only used bookstore in town with a small selection of new books mixed in. But, if you want something new, they could most likely get it for you. Now, let me finish the argument by giving you my review.
First let me say that this place is very unassuming from the outside. It is just a bland building with a sign. But, the best part is that on there signs they have a marquee, and every few days they put up literary quotes. The parking lot can be a bit tiny right in front of the store but there are more spaces a little further down. Do not be afraid to walk. Walking is your friend.
The inside of this place is awesome. There is so much character here. This store consists of one main corridor that goes all the way to the back, and then rows of bookshelves that come off of this main corridor. This places is literally wall to wall books. There is no space wasted. The book selection itself is pretty decent for a used bookstore in this area. I have seen better selections at bigger used bookstores, but you have to understand the suppliers for this store are the locals that sell their books. So, basically it the flavor of the area, can’t knock ‘em for that. The books here are awesome, and the prices are cheap enough, compared to new books, that you can come in browse the selection, and leave with 2 or 3 extra books that you did not even intend to get. That the beauty of this place. I build my library not only with books that I have read, but with books that I will read in the future. The staff at this place are super friendly. You have a question, then they have the answer. They are all super nice. They also generally stay behind the counter. No one is roaming the floor trying to sell you an E-​reader or is pushing the latest book by whomever. They also have a DVD section that I don’t know much about, but it’s there. Come here and buy your books. I love this place.

Great place to find just about any book. Love the selection and the condition of the used books, however, they are quite a bit overpriced. I found the books I wanted much cheaper on Amazon. If you need the book right away, then this is the place for you.

Oh my, goodness gracious great balls of fire, thank you Jesus. Okay, that was not my reaction walking into Yesterday’s books, but it was close.
Enter this small storefront on the busiest street in Motown, and you know you’re not in a sterilized, bland Barnes & Noble. It’s not a big place, but the middle aisle seems like it goes on forever. And it’s packed with books. I got only a few sections deep (local history, politics, DVDs), and still saw so many books that would keep me occupied for hours. It has a comfortable, make-​yourself-​at-​home feel.
Going into a used bookstore is not like going into the few remaining new bookstores. The latter, you get in, find what you came in for, get it, and get out, The former invites browsing, reading, and the mindset becomes «I wonder what else they have!» The latest on my to-​get list is a bio of Calvin Coolidge, and they did not have it, and they can sell only what gets turned in to them. But part of visiting a used bookstore is the joy of discovery. And there’s a lot to discover in Yesterday’s Books.
Not as big as Powell’s Books in Portland OR, but it’s still a place to go if you love collecting and reading books. Such as my sister; she lives in Southern Cal, but whenever she comes back up here, she stops into Yesterday’s Books to get some more — and she already has several rooms full of books. If you fall into this category, find a place to live around McHenry and Standiford/​Sylvan so that you can walk here often.

I love this bookstore but I honestly think they overprice sometimes. It’s also a major downer that the guys who work there really don’t seem to have any knowledge of first edition or rare books.

Decent book selection, but quite overpriced for used books!