Perpetual Books, Wicker Park
25 people recommendvia r/AskChicago26 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Visitors overwhelmingly recommend this shop on Division, and many name it among their favorite bookstores. Visitors praise the selection, point to its used books, and find it affordable. One visitor finds it modest in size and more like a standard shop for mass-market titles.
Address
Perpetual Books, 2136 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
At a glance
- Price
- Budget
- Best for
- Second hand
- Known for
- Used books, Strong selection
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Perpetual Books, Wicker Park, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/Johnny_Burrito in r/AskChicago · Nov 2026
Says Perpetual Books is especially good and that the leadership story accounts for it.
- Recommendsu/DramaticFlatworm4651 in r/AskChicago · Sep 2026
Visitor rates the Division shop as excellent, alongside Myopic.
- Recommendsu/Atlas3141 in r/AskChicago · Nov 2025
Suggests visitors stop at Perpetual while exploring Wicker Park.
- Recommendsu/jooloostoonoo in r/AskChicago · Jun 2025variety
Says they visited this shop and praises its mix of new and used books as a cool stop.
- Recommendsu/Street_Invite4149 in r/AskChicago · Nov 2026
Calls Perpetual Books their favorite bookstore now.
- Recommendsu/Posh_panda98 in r/AskChicago · Jul 2026
Names Perpetual Books on North when asked for favorite indie bookstores.
- Recommendsu/Altruistic_Alarm_707 in r/AskChicago · Aug 2026
Visitor lists this Wicker shop among recommended bookstores.
- Recommendsu/mags_7 in r/AskChicago · Sep 2026variety
Visitor says Perpetual is modest in size but feels like a standard shop for mass-market books.
Show all 26 cited comments
- Recommendsu/Amelia---Bedelia in r/AskChicago · Nov 2026
Expresses strong fondness for Perpetual Books.
- Recommendsu/hotsauceandburrito in r/AskChicago · Nov 2026
Visitor recommends this shop on Division as a Wicker stop.
- Recommendsu/bestrash in r/AskChicago · Sep 2026
Names Perpetual Books as their top favorite.
- Recommendsu/plantdad773 in r/AskChicago · Feb 2026variety
Praises the strong selection and affordable books, plus some records; located near Division and Leavitt.
- Recommendsu/fruitleisure in r/AskChicago · Aug 2026
Endorses Perpetual Books with a brief agreement, no further detail.
- Recommendsu/PantsyFants in r/AskChicago · Nov 2025variety
Says Perpetual Books consistently offers an impressive selection.
- Mixedu/just_anotha_fam in r/AskChicago · Nov 2026
Praises the shop as great but adds one small complaint.
- Recommendsu/Joselynd93 in r/AskChicago · Nov 2026
Says Perpetual Books feels like the Open Books they liked in its best years.
- Recommendsu/holupyallseeinthis in r/AskChicago · Sep 2026
Visitor replies with Perpetual as the suggested used bookstore.
- Recommendsu/bigoldgeek in r/AskChicago · Aug 2026
Recently discovered this shop and now ranks it as their top North Side pick.
- Recommendsu/Current-Cell-1320 in r/AskChicago · Aug 2026variety
Suggests this shop for second-hand classics and political titles, noting it also stocks new books.
- Recommendsu/Substantial-Bet-4775 in r/AskChicago · Jun 2025
Was just about to recommend this shop too.
- Recommendsu/two-oranges in r/AskChicago · Sep 2026variety
Suggests this shop for spiritual and witchy titles, saying it sells lots of books like that.
- Recommendsu/drumstickkkkvanil in r/AskChicago · Sep 2026value
Visitor agrees with a rival's pick and rates Perpetual as clearly better and more budget-friendly.
- Recommendsu/jkraige in r/AskChicago · Aug 2026
Visitor points people in Wicker toward this shop.
- Recommendsu/teamakesmepee in r/AskChicago · Aug 2026
Visitor lists this Wicker Park shop among their favorite bookstores.
- Recommendsu/trewepenny in r/AskChicago · Jul 2026
Visitor lists this among favorites.
- Recommendsu/r0ckitman in r/AskChicago · Jun 2025
Lists it among suggested shops.
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Freshness
Details last checked 11 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.