The premise revolves around Circus of Books, a bookstore and gay pornography shop in West Hollywood, California, and in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

[2] As of October 2021,[update] Circus of Books holds a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 59 reviews with an average rating of 7.8/10.

The website's critics consensus reads: "Like the cheekily named store at this documentary's center, Circus of Books proves there are countless stories below the surface if we're only willing to look.

"[11] The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw rated the film 4 out of 5 stars.

[3] Circus of Books was nominated for the 2021 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary.