House of Our Own Books

My son goes through books like a horse eats hay so we have to make regular pilgrimages to used bookstores to keep his appetite for the written word sated. House of Our Own is located amid a row of large Victorian mansions on Spruce Street, most of which have been converted to University of Pennsylvania fraternity houses. The large, labyrinthine house is a wonderful setting for a bookstore with bookshelves covering the walls and paperbacks stacked high on tables and every available surface. The house was a temporary residence of Lin Huiyin, who studied architecture at Penn and went on to become one of China's most celebrated architects. There is a collection of photographs of her on the ground floor. We found a lot of great books for my kids at very reasonable prices.

We visited for the historical relevance. The lady who greeted us was very kind. The couple who lived in house and attended Univ of Penn in 1924. Great history!!! There are also soooo many books that you can feel overwhelmed but that are organized according to subject! If we had more time I would have more time going through books. I highly recommend this store!!

There are lots of good books! Don't miss it! If you are a book lover, you know the thrill of diving into a captivating story, getting lost in the intricacies of well-developed characters, and exploring new worlds without ever leaving your cozy reading nook. Books have the power to transport us to different times, cultures, and perspectives, broadening our horizons and expanding our knowledge. Whether you enjoy the heart-pounding excitement of a gripping thriller, the poetic beauty of classic literature, or the mind-bending concepts of science fiction, there is a book out there waiting to captivate your imagination. From the timeless tales of Shakespeare to the futuristic visions of authors like Isaac Asimov, books offer endless possibilities and endless entertainment. But the world of books can be overwhelming, with countless titles lining the shelves of bookstores and libraries. How do you choose which ones to read? Well, the truth is, there is no right answer. Every reader has different tastes and preferences, and what one person may love, another may find dull. The key is to explore different genres, authors, and styles, allowing yourself to discover new literary gems along the way. If you're not sure where to start, you can always turn to book recommendations from friends, family

Hidden between the University of Pennsylvania pledge houses is this little gem of a used bookstore called House of Our Own. This is a must visit if you're a fan of not digital books. You are met with a faint smell of thousands of pages waiting for you to discover their hidden treasures inside. One of the owners Mrs. Debbie is there to assist you with any book you may need. Just give her a title and she knows exactly where to locate it. And if they don't have it (which may be a possibility) not to fret. She will take your information and find where you can get it. There are 2 floors (backpacks and bags are not allowed upstairs) and tons to look through. If you're in the area please stop in and see what gems you may find. I know I did. 👍🏾

Literally a big house piled floor to ceiling with new and used books. So I was quite happy to spend an hour perusing and ended up with a bunch of books to weigh my carry on down. They have the same genres in multiple locations so you need to go through everything. Even though I did manage to get some things on my book list, I mostly found random goodies. Had to limit myself as usual. Somehow left and didn't spend over $100, but only just barely.

Very antique used book store. Came here cuz one of my fav Chinese architects used to live here in beg of 90s. The owner is very friendly and nice to talk to!!!! Books were very well organized, with all categories marked on the shelf.

I've been to bookstores on 2 continents and 4 countries and this is one of the best, if not THE best. Debbie is a true neighborhood gem and is such a pleasure to talk to. She is so knowledgeable, friendly, and culturally conscious. She is the epitome of what every bookstore owner should be. It's also a historic house and the former home of the first female architect in China, Lin Huiyin. I lived near here for several months and never stopped in but I'm so glad I finally made time to. The selection is incredible and expansive (organized by genre) and the prices are so reasonable that you won't leave empty-handed. Cannot recommend enough for anyone making a bookstore crawl through Philly!