Village of West Greenville, SC

Your to-be-read pile is about to get a lot taller.

New books, used books, and absolutely zero judgment about how many you already have at home. Trade in what you've finished, special-order what you can't find, and stay a while.

New & Used ✦ Est. 2023
Jen Ostafinski, owner of To Be Read, smiling as she pours a glass of champagne at the shop counter, in front of the hand-painted To Be Read logo on the purple brick wall
Hi, we're glad you're here ✦

Our Story

From a book truck to a real live front door.

To Be Read started as a mobile bookstore — a truck full of good books turning up at Gather GVL, Swamp Rabbit Cafe, and pretty much anywhere people wanted to browse.

Owner Jen Ostafinski moved to Greenville from Chicago a few years back and noticed something missing: enough places to just be. So she built one. In August 2026, To Be Read opened its first brick-and-mortar shop inside Saltbox in the Village of West Greenville.

“Everybody's looking for community. Bookstores, coffee shops — those third spaces we lost during COVID. People are wanting that again.”

The shelves hold new and used books across fiction, nonfiction, and children's — curated, not algorithmic. Tell us what you're looking for and there's a good chance it ends up in the shop.

The Goods

What you'll find inside

A little bit of everything, chosen by an actual human who reads.

New & Used

Fiction, nonfiction, and children's books side by side. Fresh releases next to well-loved paperbacks at well-loved prices.

Trade-In Credit

Bring in gently used books and walk out with store credit. Roughly 50% of what we can sell them for, tracked in your profile.

Special Orders

Can't find it on the shelf? We'll order it. Want the used version instead? We'll add it to the list and call you when it lands.

Totes & Mugs

Reading-adjacent goods for people who take their book-carrying and coffee-drinking seriously.

Trade-In Program

Turn your finished stack into credit.

We offer store credit for gently used books. Here's exactly how it works — no fine print, no surprises at the counter.

Questions? Ask us

What can I bring in to trade?

We offer store credit for gently used books.

How much trade credit will I get?

We evaluate each trade individually based on condition, the publishing date, and current demand. We then offer you store credit based on the total value of your items — roughly 50% of what we can sell them for.

How do I get my trade credit?

You'll be set up in our system, and we'll track your credit in your profile.

How do I use my trade credit?

At checkout, ask us to look if you have credit available.

  • Credit can be used toward used book purchases at 50% of the purchase.
  • Credit can be used toward new books and gift items at 10% of the purchase.
  • Credit cannot be used on clearance items.
Why did you not take some of my items?

Usually one of these:

  • We already have an overstock of that item.
  • The item was in poor or damaged condition — no dust jacket; musty, tobacco, or other strong smell; stained or damaged (bent or torn cover, excessive wear and tear).
  • It isn't sellable based on current customer demand.
  • It's a library book.
  • It's an advance reader copy.
What happens to the items you don't take?

We donate them to the Greenville Literary Association for their annual book sale.

How long does a trade take?

This really depends — is it Saturday and you came in with six boxes of books? (Please don't!)

The time it takes us to review depends on how many books you brought in and how busy we are. Generally we recommend you leave the trade with us and reach out a couple of days later if you're curious how much credit you received.

What if I have a large volume of items?

Please contact us so we can discuss the best way to evaluate your items.

Can't find what you're looking for? We can order it.

Even if you don't order it from us, telling us what you came in looking for helps us curate the shelves. And if you'd rather have a used copy, we'll add it to our list and let you know when one comes in.

Put in a Request

Come See Us

Find the shop.

We're tucked inside Saltbox in the Village of West Greenville — come browse, trade, or just say hi.

The To Be Read storefront — a round logo decal on the glass door beside a tall black BOOKSTORE sign
Look for this door ✦