If you’re a creature of habit like me and have an extensive to-be-read list, you’re familiar with how quickly costs can add up. If there’s a book you’ve been wanting to read for a long time — or if you’re just wanting to branch out of La Jolla — here are a few budget-friendly used bookstores in San Diego I’ve had the pleasure of visiting.
Verbatim Books
Best for: Varied genre selection
Neighborhood: North Park
Verbatim Books is lined with shelves of gently loved books and adorned with paintings and maps, making it impossible to know where your eyes will land when you first walk in. Look for the genre labels on each shelf and go to the one that grabs your attention. It won’t take long to find a title that piques your interest; Verbatim has expansive selections, from classics to sappy rom-coms. Plop yourself down on one of its many antique couches and begin your literary adventure if you want to read a few pages before heading to the register. Before leaving, check out its sticker machine and $10 prints — perfect for transforming any space into a dream reading spot.
Footnote Books
Best for: Science fiction and action
Neighborhood: Hillcrest
Footnote Books’ wall of crime fiction is the star of this bookstore. The shop makes use of its small size by stacking its selection of used books from carpet to ceiling. If you don’t find what you’re looking for on the shelves, glance down at your feet for a stack of books awaiting your annotations, perhaps alongside those of a previous reader. Their musings are encouragement to slow down — an unfamiliar concept for the average UC San Diego student — and venture into the worlds of science fiction or nonfiction. Take a seat on a stool and become one with the books; it won’t be hard in this knowledge-filled haven.
Libélula Books & Co
Best for: Queer and BIPOC literature
Neighborhood: Barrio Logan
Walk just 10 minutes from the famous Chicano Park to Libélula Books & Co for its cozy but lively atmosphere. Libélula’s art and colorful decor are representative of its community-oriented mission; the shelves are filled with the stories by queer, Black, Indigenous, and Chicanx writers. Here, used and new books intertwine on the shelves. If you like listening to music while you read, I suggest bringing along a musically talented friend; the store has a piano for anyone to play. When taking a break from the pages, look for Barrio Logan’s cutest little residents, Ocho and Zero. Hint: Check the cat condo.
Maxwell’s House of Books
Best for: Nonfiction and scholarly publications
Neighborhood: La Mesa
You know you have reached Maxwell’s House of Books when you’re face-to-face with a wooden bookshelf filled to the brim with $2 books right outside the entrance. Better yet, wait until you spot the neighboring box of free books. As you navigate Maxwell’s maze of literature, watch your step for the store’s most adorable employees: Little Bit and Biddy. Don’t be afraid to settle into one of the shop’s chairs, and perhaps one of these cats will emerge from the shelves and curl up in your lap.
While you may not find the latest romantasy release in a used bookstore, you may pick up something you never anticipated and expose yourself to a whole new realm of prose. San Diego’s used bookstores offer books to inspire and comfort readers at an affordable price.