Amber Unicorn Books

I love this bookstore. Christmas time I wanted to Harry Potter books. She took down my name and number and said she get back to me when she had p I love this bookstore. Christmas time I wanted to Harry Potter books. She took down my name and number and said she would get back to me when they had them in. Maybe a couple months later I get a call from her and she has the books just in time for Christmas! To me that screams great customer service. Plus I just melt to the smell of books

I love this place. Mr. Lou is amazing and he is the friendliest owner and incredibly knowledgable. He has a lot of passion and patience with everyone he helps. He has a variety of books from all genres, so it would be a surprise if he didn’t have the book you wanted. Don’t know what book to get? Ask for a recommendation! They will recommend a book to you. No joke, he probably read all the books in there. Insane!

Visited this bookshop on my long weekend in Las Vagas, proved to be the highlight of my trip, good people running the shop and a great selection of books. If I had more room in my bag I would have purchased more.

This is a long overdue review of a place that I have been a customer of for well over a decade. Originally opening back in 1981 (at a different location), Amber Unicorn Used Books is a throwback to a different time. It is a tried and true Mom ‘n Pop used bookstore that is still surviving in the modern age of Internet shopping. The owners have a true passion for used books and they go out of there way to engage every customer, learn what their reading habits are, and assist them any way they can. It is simply a relief that stores like this still manage to exist, especially in Las Vegas.
Aside from offering a solid selection of used books, they also buy books, trade books, and accept donations of books. I managed to fill two boxes of used books that I was going to donate to Good Will. They sat in my trunk for a while and then the wife wanted to go to Trader Joe’s so we went there. I saw that Amber Unicorn was open and I decided to see if my books were worth anything for trade. The shop owner, Myrna, went through each book and took notes. Some books were passed on altogether (which I expected) and others were graded and valued. When it came to the rejects, she said that any books I choose to donate will be forwarded as a donation to a children’s Autism charity. She has a family member that is on the Autism spectrum and the charity is personal to her. I, too, have a similar situation and happily left all my rejected books with her for donation. Of the ones she retained, she values them for trade by book type. I was shocked to learn that my two boxes of books I was happy to get rid of equated to over $ 30 in paperbacks, $ 15 in children’s, and $ 4 in hardcover. The store credit does not expire and can be used any time.
My wife picked out a book and we used the hardcover portion right away. The remaining I will keep for a future purchase.
Now, in all honesty, yes, the prices on some of the books are quite high and are easily beaten online. But much like a restaurant, this is not a venue that you just run in to get a specific item and run out (though you could do that). This store is retail the way it was meant to be. Intelligent, social proprietors that know books, long term Las Vegas small business owners that are contributing to the community and proving that the old fashioned American Dream still exits. I don’t shop here because I am looking for a killer deal on a new bestseller. I shop here because the experience of browsing bookshelves, chatting with a book lover shop over, and supporting a locally owned business is quickly becoming a tried and true rarity. Furthermore, the dedication that the shop owner has to be open 362 days a year shows a passion and a sense of pride that I can’t help but applaud and respect.
Amber Unicorn books is simply a must visit retail store in Las Vegas for locals and tourists alike.

Great store that has a very good selection. The owners made my family and I feel very much at home and welcome.

This is one of the greatest places to get used books! The staff is very friendly and helpful and they have a large selection of reasonably priced used books.

Really nice people! Great selection of books for me and the kids. The prices ended up being a little higher than I expected Ted but the books were good quality so it was justified. Good people and a good business all around

I love this place!
By far the friendliest used bookstore in town. I always have a few things in mind to look for when shopping, but I always walk out with things I didn’t know I need. Everything from metaphysical books to 80s horror fiction, classic literature to sci-​fi and vintage cookbooks lives here… if you love books and reading, you will love Amber Unicorn. I’ve found great vintage smut, Hunter S. Thompson and Mary Shelley’s time spanning novel that ends in the year 2100 here. It’s really a treasure hunt! Great for serious collectors as well, they have beautiful rare editions behind glass and quite a few signed books.
The prices are always fair, especially if you have trading credit. While I was waiting, I heard them on the phone trying hard to help a customer find a book. They didn’t have it, but they gave them information on the other used bookstores in town (Hi, Books or Books!) and even told them about The Writer’s Block if the person decided they wanted it new. Worth braving the terrible Decatur traffic every time, our community absolutely needs magical places like this one.

Great book shop. Was visiting Vegas and was wanting to find a book store so I hired an Über and made my way. The store was clean (not dusty) and the books were well categorized. I found some things I could not have found any other place and the folks who worked there were very nice and helpful.

Customer service at its finest.
I’ve been here so many times it feels like family. The staff is great and the book selection is the best in Las Vegas. I don’t purchase culinary books but I had to check that section and it is massive.
Get here while you can. We’re fortunate to have a great used bookstore here in Las Vegas.

Fantastic mom and pop shop. The service is always top notch and they have and the owner is very delightful.
The book selection is great especially they Fantasy selection and cook books. Their Graphic novel collection is almost non-​existant but thats ok with me since its not a comic book store. Give em a chance before your next Amazon purchase.

This bookstore has a great selection but plays a dirty smoke-​n-​mirrors game when it comes to their pricing, which is outrageously high for a used bookstore.
I am an avid reader with a large personal library of about 1500 books. I probably spend more money on books than food, and wherever I travel I like to check out the local bookstores and libraries. I never thought I would write a negative review for an independent bookstore, but this place really needs to be exposed. It was my experience that they are trying to rip people off in an ugly way.
I came to Las Vegas for an extended visit with a friend who recently moved here. I had never been to this city before, and I was thrilled when I discovered this bookstore next to the Trader Joe’s on Decatur.
The first time I visited, I found a beat-​up copy of Ballard’s MYTHS OF THE NEAR FUTURE– which I was told by the clerk would cost a certain percentage off of the cover price. It ended up costing $ 8.00 for a well-​worn book, but I didn’t care as I really wanted it. The clerk went on to explain that if I brought in a paperback trade-​in, I would get credit for one paperback, but that I could only use half of my credit at a time and get an increased discount off of the cover price. It was absolutely convoluted, but there was another paperback (non-​fiction) that I had my eyes on, so I decided that the next time I was in the neighborhood, I would trade in a paperback Harry Potter that I had toward buying that other one.
Well, when I went in the next time, there was an elderly customer at the counter who had brought in a stack of books to trade. A clerk, also an older lady, was explaining that the customer needed to pay a certain amount, which the customer did not find to be fair. I went to another clerk who explained that for my book– in very good/​like new condition– valued $ 10.99, she could offer me a $ 3.00 credit toward any fiction book in the store. This was not what I had been told on my first encounter (a paperback was good for another paperback, a hardcover for a hardcover). She also said that I would get half off the cover price of the fiction book that I bought, and that the $ 3.00 would be put toward that. I didn’t need the Harry Potter book & figured that some kid would love to have it, so I agree and proceeded to browse for a fiction book.
While looking, I heard the elderly customer start yelling at the clerk, «Are you accusing me of trying to steal from you?!?» The clerk replied that the customer did not understand their trade-​in system, and that she would have to pay more money if she wanted the books she had picked out. This continued to go on for 10 – 15 minutes. After the customer left, the clerk ran over to an old man, who I guess is the owner, and started loudly complaining about the customer. I guess she was a regular, and often ends up arguing prices with the gal. The clerk said that she wished the customer would stop coming in. It was awful to hear this, as the elderly customer clearly is keeping her mind active through reading; and after my experience with the trade-​in, I can understand the other customer’s gripes.
When I finally selected WSB’s CITIES OF THE RED NIGHT, I went up to the counter where I waited through an entire conversation that a young man was having with the older lady clerk about how he wanted to open a used bookstore in Madison, WI– all the pros & cons. When finally it ended and she turned to me, I placed my selection on the counter. It had a cover price of $ 13.00, which had been «discounted» to $ 12.00 per the inside cover. However, before we even could discuss the price, the clerk explained that I could not use my trade-​in for that, as it was BEAT LITERATURE, & not FICTION. I told her that it was indeed a work of fiction. She stated that it was not. I told her that it absolutely was, and she said, «Well, that may be, but it is considered Beat here so you cannot trade a fiction book for it. She was condescending and smug, and I simply motioned that I wanted my Harry Potter book back, which she seemed happy to give me. I turned to the old man, whom I guess owns the store, and said that I would not be coming back and that I have never heard of such a thing– that someone would argue with me about whether or not a book is fiction. I mean, what would I have been able to trade for it? Some Ginsberg POETRY?!?
I don’t understand why they don’t just keep the high prices they have written inside the covers and be done with it, if they need money that much. I guess that it is more lucrative to play this weird pricing game to swindle their customers. It is unfortunate, as used bookstores are a dying breed, and physical-​book supporters like me have to be put off by the shady practices that struggling businesses like this choose to employ to stay afloat.
If you don’t mind dropping chain bookstore prices on a used book, then check this place out. I will not support their scam tactics with my money.

Yes, yes, yes! This used bookstore is run by the sweetest couple. Being a unicorn AND book lover myself, there was no way that I was gonna pass this place up :) They have a huge selection and everyone is very helpful. You can trade in your books for cash, though i haven’t done this myself. It’s in a Trader Joe’s shopping center, so you can’t miss it!

This book store is amazing if you love books this is the place for you. And the staff is really nice and full of knowledge. They have a lot of rare reads and if they don’t have it they can help. I really like this place.

Funny story — while I was shopping at a thrift store in Utah, I bought a book that sparked my interest. When I came back to Vegas, I finally got to read the book. Lo and behold, a business card for this store fell right out of the pages! I figured that since this book went from Vegas to Utah and came back to Vegas, that it was a sign that I needed to check this bookstore out! And I’m glad I did.
It’s a pretty cool little bookstore with really helpful employees. The prices for the books were a little costly, so I ended up not getting as many as I wanted. But it was fun to walk around and see all the different titles and sections. They also sold little unicorns, which were adorable
Also, if you’re trading books in, make sure you understand how your credit is applied towards your purchases!
I look forward to returning and buying more books!

Ah, the smell of books.
With so many people using ereaders, kindles, nooks, and so on, I worry for the people who sell actual books… books that I love to collect, hold in my hand, smell… there really is nothing like the smell of a book.
I happened upon Amber Unicorn by accident this weekend.
My fella and I were looking for a Trader Joes, and we found on on Decatur, which was close to where we were already.
As we pulled in, my heart jumped. USED BOOKS?!
I’ve had Amber Unicorn on my bookmarks list for ages, and it was awesome to finally get a chance to go in and browse!
We walked in, and inhaled deeply: There it is! The smell of books! I can’t tell you how big the smile on my face was.
They have a huge selection of books, and even have a second space next door with even more (and a HUGE sci-​fi selection, I might add.)
We received stellar service from an older gentleman who I assume runs the shop, and also from the young man he has working there. They were both knowledgeable, kind, and friendly.
Prices are great, and there is even a small table and chairs where people can sit and read.
I will absolutely return!

I like coming here after I do a Trader Joe’s run next door. There are usually two very friendly old guys who work here and sometimes there are helpers.
There is an awesome variety of books here. My bf is an artist and we just happened to walk towards the back of the shop and a whole shelf of tattoo books appeared in front of us like magic. We found a rare tattoo book that we got for a great price.
It took a little getting used to finding out how to figure out the prices for the books but the staff here is very friendly and explain it well.
The store is clean and smells like books. There are signs up that guide you where you want to go.
Credit cards accepted.
I hope this store lasts a long time, we will see you again on our next Vegas trip!

We stop in here on every trip to Vegas, and I suggest everyone do the same. Or if you’re a local make a point to support this awesome book store. The people are always super helpful and friendly, the selection is broad, and the owner is as wise and welcoming as Gandalf the white. There is something magical about the place. And in the city of Sin, this place is a nice getaway from the hustler environment of Las Vegas.

Such a great find! This place does not look like a cool place to shop for books from the outside. With a name like Amber Unicorn books and HUGE pictures of unicorns outside its entrance, I was immediately skeptical. But it was totally worth the trip!
They have such a great selection, with just about everything you could want. I did notice that they were lacking on the YA books, which was a little disappointing (and the few I did happen to come across were randomly mixed in with adult books), but I was able to find a bunch of things that I wanted.
I was also a little bummed about the prices, though. While there were a lot of books I wanted, I ended up only getting two, and even with their 10% discount I got, it was still $ 20! That’s insane for a used book store. Insane. The used book store I normally go to back home in Rhode Island averages about $ 4 a book, so I was more than a little shocked by the prices.
But if you have cash to spend, and are interested in adult literature (minus historical fiction, which they had basically nothing of) and nonfiction only, this is definitely the place to be in Las Vegas!

This review is meant to make amends
for a less than stellar review
I gave this super awesome local business some time ago.
Bad ratings can be especially detrimental for local businesses
and I refuse to be a contributing cause
to crushing anyone’s entrepreneurial spirit
(and shame on those who do).
So kudos to
Amber Unicorn Books
for providing the folks of Las Vegas
an alternative to those highly impersonal,
spiritless, chains places who only carry main stream stuff
and lack the charm and warmth that only
Mr. & Mrs. Donato can provide.