Verbatim Books

Verbatim Books is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re surrounded by an incredible selection of new, used, and rare books, all thoughtfully curated in a way that makes exploring feel like a treasure hunt. The funky, eclectic atmosphere makes it such a fun place to browse—you never know what you’ll find! Located in North Park, Verbatim opened in 2015 and has since become a beloved community spot for book lovers, artists, and creatives. Beyond the impressive selection, they also offer local zines, vintage books, and unique finds that give the store so much character. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and always up for a great book recommendation. This place has quickly become a new favorite of mine, and I can’t wait to come back. If you love books, quirky vibes, and discovering something unexpected, Verbatim Books is a must-visit!

If you go for second hand books.. they're cheaper in Barnes and noble. I'm not kidding.. I wanted a poem book and it was $32.. in Barnes and noble the same book was $25.. soooo yeah as a second bookstore is even more expensive. BUT the store is cute, which is basically all the catch, so go, take pictures for your media if that's your goal, and go to B&N.

Such a beautifully put together book store! The layout of the shop is very engaging I love the different tables and sections highlighting things. The associates working in the store are very knowledgeable and helped me find books with ease. There are a LOT of books to browse so I definitely recommend coming when you have extra time or if you’re waiting for a table at a nearby restaurant. I love that there’s a bookstore in the heart of north park to help shop local instead of a larger book chain. I would caution it can get busy and isles are tight in some areas so if you don’t like smaller spaces I’d time your visit so you catch a lower crowd

Verbatim Books is the most "Portland-y" thing I've found in San Diego. It's not as big as Powell's (what bookstore is?) but has all the charm and weirdness you could ever want in a used bookstore. I especially love the art peppering the walls and offered for sale. Found one of my favorite childhood books to read to my girls, a few novels, and several business books; my husband also found some gems. We spent about 30 minutes just reading in some of their eclectic chairs, soaking in the vibe. This place is worth indulging in! We'll be back.

Verbatim Books is such a cool spot in San Diego! The vibe is super cozy, and the selection is amazing—everything from rare finds to newer titles. It’s the kind of place where you can just wander around and lose track of time. Definitely worth checking out if you’re into books!

I came in to look for two books and unfortunately they didn’t have them. I appreciated the time the cashier took to research for me and he gave me tips on when to call or swing by. Cashier 172898001 he was working Sunday and tendered me for two books I found at 3:08pm. I found a great selection of books and purchased two under $20!! Got some cute metal corner protectors 4 for $1! They also have free bookmarks. I had a wonderful time and the set up is so so cool. Book lovers will appreciate how everything is arranged. Thank you thank you thank you for a wonderful experience. Support local! If you don’t find what you are looking for take a look around I can promise you you’ll find something amazing to read. 📚

This is a book store with real personality. You'll find all kinds of books. especially Goosebumps and Nancy Drew books! There is a mix of old and modern books, and they have a good selection of fiction and nonfiction. Plus, they sell all kinds of little trinkets. If you are a bookstore lover, you don't want to miss this place.

It's packed but it's good! Interesting interiors and exteriors. Fun to shoot and tons of books to select. Will come bacm Definitely.

I have been wanting to check this book worm spot for some time. What typically stops me is the lack of parking. On a off day I needed to stop at the bank so after getting parking I thought I would make the best of time by also finally getting to enjoy this whimsical bookstore filled with art and color popping out grabbing you and pulling you in to get back to reading in a book and flipping pages between your fingers. Not only is the building so colorful and stands out all the energy continues inside. From Floor to ceiling the space is decorated with books, books and more books. Between some open wall space you will see art that reflects the space and love for books. As you walk in your embraced with books galore. Each book is delicately categorized and easy to find. Not only is the store surrounded by books of all ages and catch the attention of anyone the space is filled with unique design pieces and furniture allowing you to feel hugged by books no matter which direction you look. As I continued into the store you can feel your eyes scanning the beautiful place. While some found a book to hunker down in the corner, others were slowly looking for their next book to read. This is a place to buy, sell, trade and give old books a second chance for others to enjoy.

First time at Verbatim and I was blown away with this store in a good way! I never really had the chance to go myself until today and so can confidently say I plan to go back. Located in North Park, right by Pigment and Lovesong coffee, Verbatim attracts a large crowd, but doesn't have the best parking. It is all street parking and depending on what time you go, parking will be a challenge. It is closer to the more busy part of North Park so traffic becomes a challenge later into the day. I had no issues with service. I thought the staff was friendly and kind. I saw a good amount of staff on the floor too and they were all working hard. So no complaints against them. I thought the selection was pretty good and decently priced. They had a good amount of everything from romance, thriller and even manga. The store itself was well organized by sections and genres. I wouldn't mind coming back! I mentally have to prep myself for the parking situation but other than that, this is a pretty solid book store!

This is a dog friendly secondhand bookstore with beautifully displayed used books. I was surprised by the selection because I even found Japanese mangas and a good amount of Stephen King novels. The service seems friendly but the parking is difficult unless you want to pay for parking at a garage across the street, or drive around for almost 30 minutes looking for free parking. Nearly getting mugged by a panhandler right out of my car didn't help my impression. The books itself as other users mentioned are hardly secondhand prices. You are better off buying online new. In sum, unless I'm having trouble finding an out of print and hard to find books, I personally wouldn't be returning.

Rad bookstore in North Park San Diego. They have a great selection from newer to vintage classics. Funky eclectic decor and signage. All the workers are helpful and chill.

Such a beautifully put together book store! The layout of the shop is very engaging I love the different tables and sections highlighting things. The associates working in the store are very knowledgeable and helped me find books with ease. There are a LOT of books to browse so I definitely recommend coming when you have extra time or if you're waiting for a table at a nearby restaurant. I love that there's a bookstore in the heart of north park to help shop local instead of a larger book chain. I would caution it can get busy and isles are tight in some areas so if you don't like smaller spaces I'd time your visit so you catch a lower crowd

I love the book decor here. One of the coolest bookstores I've visited. There are unique decorations and chairs for reading throughout the store. They have a wide selection of book options that are decently priced. I was greeted when I walked in and the people working were nice and helpful.

This bookstore stands out compared to others I've been to because of its charm and indoor and outdoor decor. The building is painted on the outside. Super unique and inviting. On the day I visited, there were people outside selling paintings as well. Not only is this a great place to read and enjoy books, but you'll also find trinkets for purchase. Definitely worth visiting! Employees are friendly and cool.

This indie bookstore is located in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. It is the largest and most eclectic option in the city. You will feel you have stepped back in time with their vintage wall decor and old books. However, you will also find zines and new finds as well. # VerbatimBooks #NorthPark # IndependentBookstoreDay #Expanded

Visiting the North Park of San Diego. This book store is a great find. Fun to look at every nook in this place. Lots of books to choose from. Clean restroom.

Excited to explore this used bookstore with my neighbor. Love how it was decorated and organized. I was a bit surprised by the prices, which weren't much less that original retail value. We still had fun exploring but didn't end up buying anything.

This bookstore stands out as one of the cutest and most charming in the SD area, the decor is super welcoming inside and staff is very friendly. They have an ample selection of used titles - def the most I have seen in San Diego area. We were able to spend a full hour browsing around, they have cute merch :) FYI you cannot bring food or drink in here if you are planning on getting coffee/tea first.

If you like books, if you like vintage, if you like being in cool vibes spaces---Go Here! An amazing experience for all things bookish and with a strong vintage focus. We browsed around for a short time on a Saturday right when they opened, there was a small group waiting to be let in-very cool! there is so much to see-this is definitely a return visit every time we are in San Diego. Love the selection of Stephen King-newer and vintage editions. Love all the decor. Could have spent a lot longer in there but left with a stack of books I love. The outside murals are amazing too!

Loved this gem in the middle of North Park. What can I say? You can spend an entire day in here browsing all the books and other goodies. Can't wait to go back!

This bookstore is massive and very uniquely decorated. If you happen to be in the area and have never been here I highly recommend stopping by. They've got a variety of books from comics, romance, manga, and more! Service was great. Huge selection. Value for the cost is fantastic since you're able to sell & trade books to them. Note Verbatim allows selling & trading books in the store during Mondays from 12-4 pm or you can contact them to make an appointment.

This is a cute book shop that had a ton of vintage and older books as well! I was excited to browse through and got a little nostalgic seeing all the old kids mystery books like Nancy drew! This was a fun place to stop by in North Park.

Been here a couple times up in North Park. Not the biggest selection but really unique options and good prices.

Kind of disappointed with pricing of some of the books. My understanding is that the books are second hand, so I'd expect a bit of a discount from MSRP. The book I was looking at today was being sold for only $1 less than the MSRP on the back cover. I understand you may need to pay a premium to support a local bookstore, but at that point I may as well buy new or hit up the library.

I love this place! They have so many books to choose from but not a lot of newly released books. The books are fairly priced and there's everything from kids, comics, romance, sci-fi, teen, etc to choose from. It's dog friendly and there are a few chairs to can sit and chill.

Hidden Gem in North Park! Friendly staff & cool stuff on the walls, ceiling. One of most quirky/colorful places in San Diego!

This is, hands down, my favorite used book store in San Diego. The selection is well chosen, of more interesting and better quality books, and at pretty good prices. Sections are clearly labeled, but the staff is helpful, if you can't find what you want. The art on the walls and the collection of book ends and reading-related things is a nice addition, so spend some time just noticing these, besides browsing the stacks for a new read. Restroom open to the public...well, shoppers, anyway. They might buy a few of your books (they're highly selective!), but won't pay much. Opt for credit if you're eventually going to do some shopping here. Close parking is rare. Expect to walk a block or two.

Stumbled upon this cool bookstore when visiting North Park with friend. They have a unique selection of books here at found a few to take home. The staff is friendly and the prices were reasonable! Loved spending time here checking out the book selection Definitely worth visiting when in North Park!

The most unique book store ive ever been too. Mostly second hand. Cute knick knacks to buy as well. Highly recommend to all my fellow book lovers !

Stopped by on a weekday, midday. The place was pretty busy.. if you love books like i do, you will definitely love this place!! SoOo many books, as you can see in the photos. The staff were all sweet and helpful. They have books in all genres, old and more recent. I noticed that the cost for a typical book was around $5-7, with rare books in the hundreds. The books are mostly used and not all are in the best conditions... but you do NOT get that musty smell you typically experience in second hand stores. The place is clean and so awesome with all the plants and decor. The sheer volume of books can be a bit overwhelming.. but so fun to just take in.

It's always a pleasure to come across an eclectic bookstore! The theme here is books and imagination. Plenty of strange objects and peculiar furniture amidst a decent selection of used books. The booksellers were helpful. The used books are reasonably priced. I wish the book selection matched the bookstore's atmosphere. Alas, the books sold here are just the normal kind of reading material. Don't forget to take a selfie!

Oh my - What an amazing space for finding that perfect book. I did! I had been searching for an off-beat book for months and finally found it here. I loved the quirk, the vibe, the selection, and location.

Wow - what a perfect rainy day activity in North Park! From the second you step in, you're greeted with stunning displays of books and a cozy vibe that brought me back to my Scholastic Bookfair days. I felt like I could've stayed in there forever, cozied up on a lounge chair. Their selection of used books is massive and I even saw some signed copies. It's well organized and there's a great selection of more familiar books and some I had never heard of. I wish there was a little more curation at times with recommendations but it satisfied the avid reader in me to be able to peruse everything at leisure. I walked away with three books for $24 which is an absolute steal in my opinion. I don't think I saw anything over $30 for a hard copy signed book so the value is definitely there. This is such a lovely neighborhood bookstore that had me wishing I lived closer.

Great for rare and obscure books!! Fantastic ambiance and well thought out design. Older books are well priced. I just wouldn't recommend this bookstore for new books, they seemed to be library versions?? Was strange that they had laminate around them not all but and handful. I will definitely go back to see what other gems I can find. Just don't go with the intention of finding a certain book and you will be pleasantly surprised! Another plus, they are dog friendly!

don't know what other people see in this place, don't sell your books, you won't get 10% of their value back, contrary to their webpage. Also, unless you are 25 or under, prepare to feel completely unwelcome, i came with my kids, who are avid readers and were very excited to check this place out, we left all agreeing that making the trek was a complete waste of time. never again.

Went in today to sell some books. The woman said they weren't interested in any of the books I had. Not a problem. I completely understand. When I asked her what books would she be interested in buying she said "books that we can sell." Me - Awesome. What kind of books are those? Her - books that we can sell. What an interesting form of stupidity.

If you're in the North Park area, you HAVE to visit Verbatim. They have a good selection of both used and new books, and definitely have hidden gems around the shop. Some of my favorite books they carry are the children's picture books that teach common Tagalog words including colors, feelings, and household items. Absolutely adorable! Didn't make any purchases this visit, but this is one of those bookshops you can lose track of time in while perusing the aisles.

Independent local book store that sells a wide selection of pre-owned and rare books. Inside is very IG worthy. The selection of books reminds me of my childhood and has recent new additions like Bridgerton. They sell and trade books on certain days and have guidelines on what they accept. Check out their page for local book fair days.

Looks can be deceiving! Unique meets vintage beauty! Never went in because the outside is a little wild but once inside you're immediately in love! Kid friendly. Across the street from Pigment and an amazing coffee spot. They Buy and Sell! An absolute MUST visit. Hidden treasures around every corner and priced appropriately.

Amazing bookshop with a huge selection of books!! The outside had beautifully painted murals and the inside just had all the books!! They also had a nice seating area so one could enjoy a book as your peruse the shelves. The used books seem to be fairly priced too. And the clerks are very friendly.

This is an amazing bookstore with so many books to choose from. I found a few books by my favorite Scottish author, JD Kirk,so I will definitely be back.

The most beautiful bookstore I have seen in San Diego. I can't believe I didn't visit it until recently. From the outside it seemed cool but I was under the impression that everything inside would smell rancid and would be just a collection of second hand books. Well, while waiting to meet a friend I got to experience the Verbatim wonders. So visually appealing with so much art in the walls and so many fun items, like cool chairs to read and rest (too much to browse!). I really like they have not converted this into a Barnes& Noble 'camping&coffee' situation but a pleasant experience, like art gallery meets library. Book selection is...you will find about anything!

Verbatim Books is a dog friendly bookstore that sells used books, located in North Park of San Diego. I just love the outside wall of this bookstore, as it looks like a very large bookshelf, filled with a great selection of books. There is some free street parking on this side of the store. My husband, our little girl dog and I made a visit here last Friday afternoon, around 2:30 pm because I wanted to take a look at the selection of books (I'm such a bookworm and prefer a hardcopy of books over digital ones). I was surprised to find a random box of adult coloring books (the type of coloring books that have small tiny shapes to color to encourage relaxation, which is very different from coloring books meant for children). I ended up purchasing a coloring book of the Golden Girls for a friend who is obsessed with this old school lady group. The book looked like it was brand new, along with the other coloring books in the box (including Harry Potter, animals, flowes, etc). I also purchased a book by one of my favorite authors (Jodi Picoult), which was in excellent condition (to be honest, either the person who brought it to this bookstore didn't ready it or barely opened the book when they read, lol). Service was very friendly by the employee who helped me with my transaction. Please note that teachers get 10% discount on their overall purchase. Just have to ask and show ID. If you have time and like browsing aisles of books, this is a fun place to check out. If I lived in this area, I would most likely be a regular.

This is the best bookstore in San Diego-- such an overwhelming and incredible experience. I could spend days looking around Verbatim Books and not get bored.

We could've easily spent a few hours galavanting around here. It's just so fun. I agree with another reviewer that it's not the best place if you're seriously looking for a book, though. I am not as rich, or as unoccupied, as I would like to be to purchase beautiful book sets. I found myself looking at some old yearbooks from high schools in the '50s. I also got a cute sticker.

Great atmosphere, mostly used books. Staff is very kind and helpful. If you're in NP, check it out.

Come in to browse a bit and get inspired. For the bookaholic and anyone else wanting to find something fun. Quirky, packed with subtle humor. A little off kilter in a good way. Lots of knick knacks. No photoshoots. Then leave with a book or two. Or three. Support independent bookstores.

One of the coolest book stores I've been to! This place rocks! The book shelves are massive, theres so many books to pick from! Decently priced and in good conditions. This place is also for art lovers! They support and carry so many small local artists' work! It's awesome!!! There are prints, stickers, zines, and so much more! I love it!!

Making my way through San Diego and came across this bookstore I kept seeing on TikTok so we decided to check it out. Very cool design inside and out, they have a variety of books new and old. Prices are decent. Lost of places for cute photo ops.

Great bookstore, prices are very reasonable! The staff is very kind and lots of gems in the bookstore for all ages!

This place has been on my list for years and my cousin came through and took me here last weekend! I AM IN LOVE WITH VERBATIM! The vibe is suuuuuuper chill and welcoming. I love the set up, layout, all the art, the seating areas and of course, all the books! They have an amazing selection from obscure, HTF and Local to current titles. They're definitely in the business of selling to the booklovers community. Everything is decently priced, not some astronomical amount that makes someone run to ebay or amazon. lol I don't know if it was just a weekend thing or a daily thing, but there were a several artists outside with their work on display / for sale. I wish I could have spent more time here. I wasn't rushed in the least bit, but I also wanted to be mindful of those I came with. I will stay until close going over every inch of the place if you let me! lol Next time, I may have to just do a solo trip and stay a few hours sifting through every single title. Now that I've gotten a taste, this will be a definite stop on my future trips to SD.

I really enjoyed book shopping. Street or garage parking is available. Staff is friendly. They have a good collection of books, definitely a book for everyone. They have a small children's section as well which our kids loved. I loved all of the old books and collections of various books. I can't wait to bring my mom here. Drinks are not allowed but they have a little bench to place your drinks while you browse. We left with a few books that I can't wait to read!

This store is definitely just worth a stop in even if you are not a reader. It is decorated so fun and they have a lot of books. The science fiction section is pretty big.

Fantastic book store with a bit of a twist. If you are looking for some hard to find or out of the ordinary books this is the place for you. One side is showroom and the other side is for the adventurous reader.

Used to come here often for their night events, but I came recently to pick out some new books and they have all my favorite YA and bunch of cool stickers/prints for sale. Most of it is used books but all are in good condition and nice selections.

Really great bookstore. Had this one book marked for a while when looking for SD county local places. Verbatim is also a social media hit with influencers so it also peaked my visual interest when looking for bookstores, it did not disappoint. The vibe is great, it has something for every age range. I purchased a book for my young daughters, an almost new cookbook for myself and a Stephen King book at good prices, I.e $5-9 a book. The customer service was great, our check out employee gave us information about a book crawl that was happening which I was unaware of...looked more into that once I left. Very neat place, stop by and support SD, you won't be sad you did!