Persona 5 Books Guide: Where to Find Every Book

Persona 5 is full of so many secrets and optional activities for players to engage in. One of my favorites due to the rewards and the fact that I like reading is to read books in Persona 5. This is one of the slower-paced and more relaxing features in the massive JRPG, but also one you shouldn’t entirely ignore. Here’s everything you need to know in this Persona 5 books guide.

The books in Persona 5 are pretty intriguing. This element of the series has existed since Persona 4 and Golden, but it was expanded upon greatly in the beloved sixth mainline entry.

Both Persona 5 and Royal have an unbelievable number of books for you to read, either for fun to see what stories the pages have to reveal to you or for the fantastic rewards that some of them grant you. For everything you need to know about this, let’s take a look at this Persona 5 books guide.

Bottom Line Up Front

The books in Persona 5 are there for players to read them, for both some extra bit of lore in the gigantic JRPG and to gain some benefits. There are multiple chapters in a book and completing all of them will grant some boosts, usually to your social stats.

But sometimes, they will unlock new locations you haven’t been to before in the game, expand some of the other minigame activities like fishing, and even change up the gameplay for combat and dungeons. With about 49 of them, it is well worth reading some of these tomes of knowledge.

Persona 5 Books Overview

The joy I find in Persona 5 is the plethora of content to enjoy. Few games have grabbed me in the way that Persona 5 has so I wanted to check out everything that it had to offer when I played it the three times I have so far. I imagine I’m not the only one in this regard.

Thankfully, Persona 5 offers so much for you to enjoy that you won’t be able to see everything on your first playthrough literally. While it is possible to read some books in your first Persona 5 playthrough, it is highly unlikely that you’ll read all of them, given that you only have so much time. Unless, of course, you devote all your time to reading.

There are many books, novels, and documents that you can read in the game. Unlike other titles, it doesn’t work in the way where you pull up a menu, read some of the documents you’ve obtained, and find out the lore you want right then.

Instead, Persona 5 gamifies the book system, turning it into one of the many time-sensitive activities that will use up your precious days in the calendar year. Reading books will literally spend time on that day or at night, making you miss out on the other activities you could have done then.

While books are some of the better optional content to spend your days and nights with, you could argue that there are still other things to check out beforehand, like the Confidants. That said, books are still some of the best content you’ll find throughout Persona 5. Here’s what you need to know about them.

What They Do

books persona 5

Reading books will spend a segment of time, such as the afternoon or nighttime, reading a single chapter. You won’t finish most books in a single segment of time in the game, making it a somewhat frustrating experience if you want to complete a particular book.

For instance, if a book has two chapters, it will take two periods of time, such as one after-school time period and one nighttime, to complete it. Only then will you gain the full benefits from the book that you are reading, which can make the entire situation annoying in a way.

That said, there are so many different benefits you can gain from certain books that it makes it worth checking out at least some of them.

Why You Want Persona Books

The reason you want to read the Persona books is the plethora of rewards they give you. By far, the most common reward is social stat bonuses. It may give you a few points towards your Knowledge stat or your Courage or Charm.

These stats are helpful for ranking up your relationship with Confidants and unlocking other content. In addition, there are some other more niche benefits, like unlocking expanded features for content, such as fishing or batting at the batting cages.

Lastly, plenty of new locations can only be accessed in Persona 5 through reading about them. I know it’s such a strange way of handling the system, but that is precisely what the game does.

Where to Purchase Books in Persona 5

There are a couple of different places to purchase books in Persona 5, and the game does a generally horrible job of explaining all this to you. You can buy them at bookstores, as you might expect, or get them for free from the library.

Library vs Bookstores

The library is one of the initial spots where you can get books in Persona 5. The difference between the school library in Shujin Academy and the bookstore is that you don’t have to spend any yen on these books. You just rent one out, and you’re good to go.

Unfortunately, though, the library restricts you to renting a book at a time. You won’t be able to get a new one until you return the current book you have. However, in you need to spend money to get bookstores (of which there are four in Persona 5 Royal). Thankfully, you can buy out the whole stock if you want, though.

There are some other exceptions to these, such as books that you receive as rewards from certain Mementos requests and the books that are available at home.

All Persona 5 Books List

all persona 5 books list

Without further ado, let’s dive into all of the books you’ll find in Persona 5. I am using the books that are available in Persona 5 Royal, which added a few more books over the base game. In total, there are 49 books, and you can find them all in alphabetical order below. I gave you all the details you need to know about where to find them, what they do, and how much they cost.

ABCs of Crafting

  • Location: Shinjuku Store
  • Price: 2,800 yen
  • Chapters: 1

This first book comes from the bookstore in Shinjuku. The price is fairly reasonable, and you can get it relatively early into the game. All you need to do is craft your first infiltration item at home, and you’ll unlock this book at the store. What it does is double the tools that you get from crafting.

Aquarium-a-Day

  • Location: Shibuya Store
  • Price: 700 yen
  • Chapters: 1

This is a super cheap book that you can get somewhat early in the game on the central street in Shibuya. Players will have to wait until the restock of books on July 13 to purchase it. Once you do and read it once, you’ll find out how to go to the Shinagawa Aquarium for dates and all that.

Batting Science

  • Location: Shinjuku Bookstore
  • Price: 2800 yen
  • Chapters: 1

Once you visit the batting cages near the cafe in Persona 5, you’ll be able to purchase this book. It only has one chapter, so it is an easy read. Completing this book will unlock the ability to use Third Eye while in the batting cages minigame.

Buchiko’s Story

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 700
  • Chapters: 2

This story is about Buchiko, the fake name for Hachiko, the famous dog statue outside of Shibuya Station in Japan. It is one of the few initial books you can immediately get from this store on Central Street. Completing both chapters will earn you five Charm points.

Call Me Chief

  • Location: Jinbocho Bookstore
  • Price: 8000 yen
  • Chapters: 3

This is a costly book that is worth nearly $80, and is found at the hidden bookstore in Jinbocho. To unlock it, you first need to purchase and wholly read Master Swordsman. Finishing all three chapters will give you 10 Kindness points.

Chinese Sweets

chinese sweets persona 5 book

  • Location: Mementos
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 1

This is one of the few books you get from Mementos requests. Complete the request known as “Part-Time Job, Full-Time Hell,” and you’ll get this book as a reward. Reading the single chapter will grant you access to Chinatown in the game.

Cry of Cthulu

  • Location: School Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 2

Once Futaba Sakura joins the team as one of the Phantom Thieves members, you’ll find this book in the library at Shujin Academy. Renting it out and reading its two chapters will grant you five Guts points.

Dressed in Ashes

  • Location: Shujin Academy Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 2

This is a book that is exclusive to Persona 5 Royal. After Kasumi Yoshizawa joins the Phantom Thieves, you’ll find this book in the third semester of content. Read its two chapters, and you’ll get five Charm points.

Essence of Fishing

  • Location: Shinjuku
  • Price: 2800
  • Chapters: 1

Once you unlock the fishing minigame in Persona 5 and do it once, you’ll be able to buy this book. Reading its single chapter will grant you the Third Eye ability for fishing, which is quite helpful for fans of this minigame.

Expert Billiards

  • Location: Shibuya Sports Store
  • Price: 3500 yen
  • Chapters: 1

When you head to this store in Royal, you can buy this book after trying out the Billiards minigame once. Though it is somewhat costly, reading this book will grant you the ability to use trick shots for the Billiards minigame.

Expert Billiards 2

  • Location: Shibuya Sports Store
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 1

This sequel book to the previous one is unlocked after you get your technical rank in Billiards to three. It costs nothing, unlike its predecessor, but it only has a single chapter. Reading it will grant you even more trick-shot options than ever before.

Factorization Guide

  • Location: Mysterious Trader Sakai
  • Price: Millimeter MRE
  • Chapters: 1

This is a strange book situation. There is a trader known as the Mysterious Trader Sakai. Occasionally, he will offer the player unique items during times of the year if you trade him what he wants. In this case, you need to give him Millimeter MRE from the Untouchable vending machine during July 26-30. Doing so will get you this book, which boosts the Knowledge points you get from reading.

Fishpond Spotter

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 1800
  • Chapters: 1

This book will be available at the Shibuya Bookstore beginning on August 3. Reading it will unlock the Ichigaya location for you to visit in-game.

Flowerpedia

shinjuku location persona 5 book

  • Location: Shinjuku
  • Price: 2800
  • Chapters: 1

This book has to do, oddly enough, with one of the part-time jobs in Persona 5. All you need to do to unlock it at the Shinjuku Bookstore is to work the Rafflesia Flower Shop job at least once. Reading this book will allow you to get tips on how to complete the flower bouquets at that job.

Game Secrets

  • Location: Shinjuku
  • Price: 2800
  • Chapters: 1

This book unlocks after the player spends at least one time segment playing video games at home. Reading this book will grant you the option to have a lower difficulty level in future video games, making them easier to complete and get boosts from.

Ghost Encounters

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 700
  • Chapters: 2

This book will be available in Shibuya beginning on August 3. While cheap and only containing two chapters, it will give you five Guts points for reading it.

Heroic Revelations

  • Location: Jinbocho Bookstore
  • Price: 8000
  • Chapters: 3

Once you finish reading the Master Swordsman book, you’ll be able to purchase and read Heroic Revelations. It takes a whopping three chapters to complete, but this will grant you 10 Knowledge points in the end.

Knowing the Heart

  • Location: Jinbocho
  • Price: 12,000 yen
  • Chapters: 1

You won’t get this book from this bookstore until you buy and read all the other books located there. Once you do that, you’ll be able to buy this extremely pricey book and unlock new technical combinations in battle. These include the Brainwash, Confusion, Fear, Forget, and Rage combos.

Learn Pro Darts

  • Location: Shinjuku
  • Price: 2800
  • Chapters: 1

This unlocks after you complete the darts minigame once in Persona 5. Reading this single-chapter book will grant you the Third Eye skill in the darts minigame. This lets the cursor slow a bit so that you can throw the darts more accurately.

Master Swordsman

  • Location: Jinbocho
  • Price: 8000
  • Chapters: 3

This is the first and only book available at this specialty bookstore when you first unlock it by reading Musty Pages. That said, it is crucial to read this one to unlock all of the other amazing titles at this location. In addition to unlocking the other Jinbocho novels, you’ll get 10 Guts points for reading this.

Medjed Menace

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 1200
  • Chapters: 2

This book becomes available at the Shibuya store on June 1. Though it has two chapters, it will give you five points towards the Knowledge social stat. That is extremely useful early in the game, so keep that in mind.

Museum of Stars

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 1800
  • Chapters: 1

Beginning on September 1, players are able to find this book in Shibuya. Buy it and read it once, and you’ll gain the ability to visit Ikebukuro from then on. As a side note, do this for me as it was my home city in Tokyo when I lived there in 2022.

Musty Pages

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 1800
  • Chapters: 1

This book becomes available on September 1 in Shibuya. It is one of the books you should read the soonest as it becomes available because it unlocks Jinbocho and the bookstore there with all of its overpowered titles.

Nakano Walker

bookstore persona 5 book

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 1800
  • Chapters: 1

Starting on October 1, players can head to the bookstore in Shibuya and pick up this title. It will unlock the Nakano Broadway area in the game, which is one of the final new locations you can reach in Persona 5.

Nightlife Hotspots

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 1800
  • Chapters: 1

This book becomes available in Shibuya on June 1, making it one of the first additional locations you can unlock. Reading it will let you visit Odaiba Seaside Park. As a side note, Odaiba is one of my favorite spots in Tokyo, so do this!

Pirate Legend

  • Location: Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 2

This is one of the few books you can read at the school library right from the start of the game. It takes two chapters to complete and grants you five points towards your Guts social stat.

Playing the Game

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 700
  • Chapters: 2

This is the first book you’ll find at the Shibuya store near the start of the game. It’s as straightforward as it gets, too. It is relatively inexpensive. It only takes two chapters to read, and doing so will unlock five extra points for your Charm stat.

Reckless Casanova

  • Location: Jinbocho
  • Price: 8000
  • Chapters: 3

First, you need to purchase Call Me Chief from Jinbocho and then finish it. Once you do so, you’ll be able to buy this book at the specialty store. If you complete all three chapters of this novel, you’ll unlock 10 points for the Charm social stat.

Shitamachi Reborn

  • Location: Mementos
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 1

This is another Mementos request book. You’ll want to find the side quest in Mementos known as Who’s Muscling in Yongen-Jaya. Once you go to the Mementos dungeon and complete this request, you’ll get this book as a reward. After that, if you read it only once, you’ll unlock the beautiful Asakusa as a destination to visit in Tokyo.

Social Thought

  • Location: Cafe Leblanc Bedroom
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 2

This is one of only two books that are found automatically in the bedroom you move into on the second floor of Cafe Leblanc. But because it is here, you may miss this book if you don’t clean your room. Once you clean up the room entirely, you’ll find this book and be able to read it. Check out both chapters will grant you five points towards Knowledge.

Speed Reader

  • Location: Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 1

The day that July 1 arrives in Persona 5, I highly recommend you rent out this book from the school library. Doing so will let you read this quick and easy book that is essential for all book lovers out there.

Once you complete it, you’ll be able to read a whopping two chapters at once during a time segment instead of only one. This halves the amount of time for most books. And many of the books in the library that are only two chapters, to begin with will be completed in a single read, so well worth the time to seek this out as soon as possible.

Speed Reading

  • Location: Jinbocho
  • Price: 12,000 yen
  • Chapters: 1

This is one of the final books from Jinbocho. You have to read all the other books offered here, and then this will become available. Speed Reading is the sequel to the previous book on this list and it also allows you to read two more chapters at once.

Put the two together, and you are now reading a whopping four chapters of books at the same time. Now, it’s obviously going to take until well into October, more than likely at the earliest, before you get this book, even if you rush through all of the Jinbocho novels. Still, it may be worth it for knocking out basically any book in one sitting from here on out.

The Alluring Dancer

the alluring dancer book persona 5 book

  • Location: Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters:

This is one of the starter books in the school library. It costs nothing to check it out there, and it only has two chapters to read through. Completing this book will grant you five Charm points for this vital social stat.

The Art of Automata

  • Location: Jinbocho
  • Price: 12,000
  • Chapters: 3

This book unlocks after the player finishes reading Master Swordsman. Like the other expensive books here, this is mainly meant to give you a significant boost to your overall stats. The Art of Automata gives you 10 points towards Proficiency.

The Art of Charm

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 700
  • Chapters: 2

The Art of Charm is one of the initial books you can read after purchasing it at the Shibuya Bookstore. Though cheap, it is a brilliant way to get an instant five Charm points after completing its two chapters early on.

The Craft of Cinema

  • Location: Shinjuku
  • Price: 2800
  • Chapters: 1

This book is only available in the Persona 5 Royal version. What you want to do is go and watch one of the movies (preferably with someone if you can for the friendship points). After you’ve done that, you’ll be able to buy this book. It grants a boost to the social stat bonuses that you get from watching movies.

The Gallant Rogue

  • Location: Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 2

This book becomes available at school once you have Yusuke Kitagawa join the team, which is pretty early on. Reading about The Gallant Rogue will not only teach you about his Persona but grant you five Guts points once you complete the two chapters.

The Great Thief

  • Location: Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 2

This is another situation where you have a starting book available at the school library. You only need to rent it out and read the two chapters. You’ll learn about your initial Persona, Arsene, and get five Knowledge points.

The Hero with a Bow

  • Location: Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 2

This book becomes available after Goro Akechi joins the Phantom Thieves. Reading the two chapters it has from the library will give you five points towards the Guts social stat.

The Illusory Popess

  • Location: Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 2

Head to the school library and get this book after Makoto Niijima becomes part of the Phantom Thieves. Reading it will grant you five Kindness points.

Theme Park Escort

  • Location: Mementos
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 1

This is the third and final Mementos reward book in Persona 5. For this one, you’ll need to head to Mementos and complete the request We Aren’t Just Your Slaves once you have it. After finishing this book, you’ll unlock access to Destinyland. I’ll let your imagination run wild on what it is supposed to be a copycat of in the real world.

Tidying the Heart

tidying the heart book persona 5 book

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 700
  • Chapters: 2

This is one of the first books you can get in Shibuya. Take a gander at its two chapters and finish them off to get five Proficiency points. Nothing too special to see here.

Tokyo Shrines

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 1800
  • Chapters: 1

On September 1, the Shibuya Bookstore gets a massive restock for books regarding new locations. Get Tokyo Shrines and read it to unlock the famous Meiji Jingu Shrine as one of the locations you can visit in the city.

Vague

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 1800
  • Chapters: 1

Vague is one of the books you can get at the Shibuya Bookstore on May 18. It is still pretty early in the game, and reading it will unlock the ability to visit Harajuku, despite you already being only a station away from there.

Weekend Parks

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 1800
  • Chapters: 1

This is another location book that becomes available on July 17. Reading its sole chapter will let you visit the beautiful Inokashira Park.

Wise Men’s Words

  • Location: Shibuya
  • Price: 700
  • Chapters: 2

This social stat bonus book becomes available on June 1. Read its two chapters, and you will get five Knowledge points.

Woman in the Dark

  • Location: Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 2

This book becomes available after Haru Okumura becomes a part of the Phantom Thieves. Read its two chapters to learn about her Persona and get five Proficiency points in the process.

Yoncha Wanderer 04

  • Location: Cafe Leblanc Bedroom
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 1

This is one of the only two books you unlock in the Cafe Leblanc Bedroom after cleaning up your room. This one, unlike the other book in your bedroom, only has one chapter to read. You’ll get the map shortcut for the batting cage if you read it early on in the game.

That on its own is a disappointing unlock since you can walk there manually anytime you want. However, the other unlock is the Bathhouse, which is a place you certainly want to get for its stat boosts on certain days.

Zorro the Outlaw

books persona 5

  • Location: Library
  • Price: Free
  • Chapters: 2

This is one of the initial books that are available at the school library at Shujin Academy. Read its two chapters, and you will find out more about Zorro, the Persona that Morgana has. It will also grant you five Kindness points.

FAQs

Question: How many Persona 5 Books are there?

Answer: There are 34 books in Persona 5 and then 15 new books in Royal to bring the total up to 49 books.

Question: Where do You Get Books in Persona 5?

Answer: You can get books in Persona 5 in your room, the school library, one of the many bookstores, and through Mementos requests as a reward from them.

Question: How do I Read Books in Persona 5?

Answer: First, you need to purchase or unlock a book in Persona 5 to read it. Then head to Cafe Leblanc when no customers are there to read, occasionally read on the train, or use the Kawakami Confidant to unlock the ability to read in class.

What to Explore Next in Persona 5

The books in Persona 5 are so numerous with nearly 50 in total. That is quite a lot, and it is unlikely that you’ll be able to enjoy reading all of these in a single playthrough. That is why it is recommended that you get the Speed Reading books when you can to help with this process. And if all else fails, replay the game and complete the books you missed.

And if you are one of those people who somehow are able to read all of these books, it may be time for you to check out some other content in Persona 5. At that point, I suggest taking a look at Cafe Leblanc. It is one of the best locations in the game as your home base and somewhere you’ll spend time reading books.

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