One of my favorite bookstores! I think I found out about them because of the L.A. Times' Festival of Books that occurs annually. They were one of the vendors, and they always had such a great selection of books. And their staff was amazing, especially working under the pressure of a book festival! I've had the privilege of being able to visit their physical location, and it was such a lovely (and expensive) visit. Their store proved on what a great selection of books they have, and a good number of them were special edition, signed bookplates, or inked signatures! Staff was great at the physical location, as well. Also, we were able to visit on a Friday for a free book! They do have special events quite often, where an author may come by and speak about their book and do signings! Their Instagram page is quite active, thankfully, so I've been able to order a few special events' books to be delivered to me ( I don't live in the SD area). For the physical location, the parking can be a bit limiting, depending on what time you go. We visited them two (three?) times in a given week and had most success for a parking space earlier in the day, and didn't try to venture for an evening visit. Highly, highly, highly recommend you visit this bookstore and support their business! read more

Very clean spacious retail store and another Sam Diego business with excellent customer service. Asked about hard sci-fi and the staff there all pointed to the in house sci-fi guy. Very helpful, interesting to chat with and I got a few new authors to check out! They even have a free book Friday shelf! This place is great! I shoulda got a tshirt read more

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore - Buy a book and take one for free on Free Book Friday! - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is a most interesting bookstore tucked in a stip mall off of Rosecrans. It's gorgeous and very pleasant inside. Frankly, they probably could pack in a lot more books but I am not complaining. It is easy to walk around and the sections are well-organized. One should know that they emphasize mystery and sci-fi/fantasy here (thus, the "Mysterious Galaxy" name, get it?). There is a bit of fiction and non-fiction, etc., but not a lot. They do have a good selection of children's and young adult books, too. If you are into mystery or sci-fi/fantasy, you should absolutely check them out. There is plentiful free parking, although some of the spaces are a little tight. read more

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore - Inside is very well-organized and clean. It is a pleasant environment to check out some cool books. - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

My favorite independent bookstore in San Diego hands down. The owners are amazing people, and so are all the staff members. They specialize in Horror, Mystery, Fantasy, and Sci-fi. Offer great author events, community events, and the staff recommendations are very well informed and thoughtful. On Friday's you can pick a free book from their designated shelf with your purchase. The only downside is the parking situation. It can get a little crowded especially during the lunch rush or author events. There is an overflow area right across the street where the Homegoods is at. If you're like me and get anxious in small lots, just go across the street. Much more roomy and it's a very short walk over. read more

Tucked away in Point Loma in the shopping center next to the GoodWill, limited parking. This is the cutest, nerdiest bookstore and I love it! It has a great selection of books and merch, and there was an event happening when I was there. I didn't end up buying any books, but I did snag a couple of cute stickers for a good price! The staff were so nice and friendly. So excited to come back! read more

On our recent trip to SD, I made it a mission to check out a bunch of bookstores, and mysterious galaxy was by far my favorite! It was such a great find, and I wish I had known it was there when I lived in SD a few years ago! The book store is tucked into a little strip mall in the Point Loma area. It looks small and unassuming from the outside but is actually pretty big and spacious on the inside! I love the way that the store is organized, with booksellers' recommendations and I think new arrivals at the front, different themed tables throughout, and shelves organized by genre. And I loved all the book merch throughout the store in the different themed sections! I think the store focuses on mainly fantasy books, but they also had good romance and mystery sections! I was riding off a high from finishing the jade city series, so I was super excited to check out the store and find some new fantasy books as a new fantasy girlie. I ended up picking up a signed edition of red city by marie lu, which was super cool! It looks like the store also hosts a bunch of author events, which would fun to check out if I lived in the area. read more

Located in a strip mall nestled into a corner. I liked this spot as soon as we arrived since they had 'blind-date-with-a-book' featured! I saw plenty of Fantasy and YA books on the shelves not to mention the most recent releases. You can order books here and they also ship to your location. Great bibliophile merchandise for that favorite book reader in your life ((smile)) Lots of signed copies of books as well! I can't wait to return in a couple of weeks for the Annual San Diego Book Crawl. Respectfully Reviewed read more

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Best bookstore EVER! You'll find a gift for every book lover in your life and the selection is rad. One of the best horror sections in any book store. read more

From the name of the bookstore, one would think that they only sell fantasy and "mystic" books. This book store is far from that. They actually have a vast selection of books. Even though this bookstore may look small, it's more welcoming than any Barnes & Noble. In fact, I think this store has more interesting books. What surprised me the most is the size of their Kids/Grade school section. My daughter really enjoyed this section. The workers are always very welcoming when you enter. They don't pressure you into buying anything but if you need help, they are very helpful. I usually read digital books because an eReader is so much easier to carry around, especially when you're travelling. However, for those times when I feel like reading a physical book, I like to go to brick-and-mortar stores, especially independently owned ones. read more

Such a cute store! Lots of bookish merch (stickers, hats, tees, etc). Love the staff recommendations and the selection of signed books. Went with a friend to a silent reading night. I hope they do more of these! read more

Honestly just such a welcoming bookstore with kind staff and great book recommendations. They focus on sci-fi, romance, and fantasy heavily but have many other options as well. The store is well organized and they have very well thought out displays. If you need help or more suggestions, the staff is right there to help you. They are very knowledgeable about their stock and suggestions. Great vibes overall! read more

They have a wonderful selection of books, great vibes all the staff is fantastic. Love thier events with authors

I love Mysterious Galaxy and always stop when I visit San Diego. They have an amazingly curated selection of mystery, fantasy, horror and science fiction books, and I always leave with a book that I enjoy. The staff picks wall is fantastic, with something for every reader, and the store has a huge selection of autographed books. They also host a ton of author events, which must be such a treat for locals. This is one of my favorite bookstores and I'm happy to see it continue to thrive. read more

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love the variety this store offers and the staff are just rock stars. I could find my books cheaper off Amazon, but I prefer helping out our independent book havens! read more

Stop number two on the San Diego Book Crawl for me and I was so happy I got to drop by. The team here was so friendly and kind and this place is huge and really well organized. You're instantly greeted with a wall full of staff recommendations and I gravitated to that first, I like that certain books have little descriptions so it's easier for indecisive readers. I have been wanting to read One Dark Window, so my husband ended up purchasing the duet and I cannot wait to read it. There are a lot of really great options and even have books that have been signed along with some cute merch and stickers. Definitely going to be coming back since they're so close to my office and gym! read more

Spacious bookstore separated by science fiction genres. There is even a children's section. Has parking but can be tight on weekends. The staff is very accomodating. They host a writers group fist Sunday of the month. read more

I had no idea this bookstore existed until a few weeks ago when my friend told me about a "fall into reading" event they were having. I only read fantasy/romantasy so this store is right up my ally! The event was well run, they had delicious fall themed snacks and chairs if needed (my friend and I brought our own), and I loved the silent reading time broken up by shopping/conversing time. Also great that 10% of the proceeds from anything purchased went to the nonprofit Trans Lifeline. I was really impressed by all the signed books they had! I bought one and then another in the same series. I do wish they had more comfortable and cozy seating areas decor/ambiance in general. Also the parking lot on a Friday at 6pm was atrocious and I had to park in a lot next door. Overall I'll definitely be back and happy to support such a great bookstore. read more

This is such a cute local bookstore. They have a large inventory so you should be able to find what you're looking for. I loved that they a signed copies section as well as staff suggestions. They also have some clothing and totes and other cute book accessories. The price of books is pretty on par with other bookstores. I loved visiting this shop and will be back the next time I'm in San Diego! read more

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

From the outside, this shop looks small. The storefront is deceiving as the footprint is large. They have a wide variety of options, but focus on romance, fantasy, sci-fi, horror, mystery and thrillers. I liked that they have organized displays throughout the store and a whole wall of staff picks. They only have new books, so you will pay new prices. They had a fun section in the back with a couple free stickers, pins, and flyers for local events. Overall, I am glad we stopped by this cute shop! read more

* friendly, amazing staff * fantastic author events * you don't have to hide your inner (or outer) nerd * great book selection * I love the smell of books * did I mention the awesome staff who also love books? * 100 percent fantastic place for sci-fi amd fantasy books. read more

First time here since they moved YEARS ago...I'm kicking myself for waiting so long. This place is ADORABLE. Plenty of books to choose from. Love the HUGE staff picks section. Prices are similar to other independently owned book store...but the friendly/helpful staff puts them over the top. read more

We were in SD for a wedding and dropped by the store. It is amazing, clean and well-organized. So many books and genres to browse. The staff have a wall of recommendations and suggestions, too. They are very knowledgeable and I was able to find a great book that was pot of my normal reads. Highly recommend this great small business!! read more

Went for the book crawl today and while it was packed I was able to get the signed copy of Rebel Witch that I saw was in stock!! While I'm sad I missed the author event that happened 2 months ago I was thrilled there were still some here!! The shop was cute but the staff was amazing. Carly - thank you so much for helping me! I'll definitely be back for books and events! read more

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore - Signed copy!! - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

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Attended a book launch here for my amazingly talented friend's debut novel: A Crooked Mark by Linda Kao I was floored (pun intended ;) by the spaciousness of the store, which is well-organized and stocked with an impressive inventory of fantasy, science fiction, young adult, mystery, and horror offerings. As you might expect, staff is passionate and knowledgeable about their genres, super nice, and helpful without being pushy - the perfect customer service combination. Love that Mysterious Galaxy supports local authors, and as a consumer, I'm happy to support independent bookstores! read more

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I came across this bookstore by chance. I live in LA county and one day the author Ana Huang released bookstores where she had special edition bookmarks at certain bookstores. I think this is the closest location to me that still had the bookmark available. I was able to purchase 2 copies and another book for my boyfriend. When the book was available, I got an email from the bookstore that it was ready to get picked up. Cause I live pretty far away and did not get my books ASAP, I even got a courtesy phone call. That is wonderful! I was able to pick up my book in early December 2023. It is part of a really busy plaza. I was able to find parking quickly on a Friday afternoon. The local bookstore is very cute, small yet spacious. The workers there were very helpful and liked to check in on their customers. I was surprised by the variety of books they had inside. I also liked that they had a section of must-reads by the workers. They also have so many cute bookmarks and stickers for sale. The book prices were fair, and I enjoyed that once you make a purchase, you can grab a book from the free book cart. That is super generous. I hope to visit here again when I am in the area! read more

Very cool selection of genres!! If you're into romance, horror, thriller/mystery, sci-fi this is the place and there's even a children's section! Also great for buying little gifts for fellow book lovers staff is really sweet too :) read more

Best book store in SD. Besides an awesome and unique book selection, they have amazing trinkets and merch. We always bring our toddlers with us and the kid section keeps them busy! They recently added a coloring station for little kids too which they all loved! We frequent this book store every month or so and love supporting it. All of the employees are so kind and helpful! read more

As an avid reader, this is a happy place. GREAT selection, friendly and helpful staff. Small businesses are what I look for and this is my favorite bookstore in San Diego read more

This is by far the best bookstore I visited on my trip to San Diego! The selection was great with a good mix of authors. The service the top notch and felt at time that I had my own personal advisor on the floor. Additionally for having an event at the time I visited the store was not crowded and the team was always willing to help all folks that walked in! read more

Great selection and merchandise . Small intimate store with a big selection of fantasy and sci-fi . Majority of my family are big lovers of reading and finding another world to journey into is something we truly enjoy so it's a real pleasure to walk into the door of a brick and mortar small business . The feel of the books , the art work inside along with the merch takes it to a whole other level of fulfillment . For me It was such a treasure to find an independent bookstore that was new to me but my daughter said she's been enjoying this book store for many years already . I hope they carry my daughter's books in the near future that was my real reason for this first visit . The staff didn't really interact with me so maybe next time i'll spend more time here and get to know the staff & selection better too . read more

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Love this place. They have a great selection of books in a very organized way. There's lots of space and the staff are very friendly.

I love this bookstore. The staff is very helpful and very knowledgeable. They have a good selection of new releases to classics. I loved their staff pick section. It was a large section and had very detailed information on all the book recommendations. It is clear the staff love books. I was very happy to find a new book that I would not have found without this section. read more

Fast service, amazing and broad book selection and its quite large for a local bookstore. Great environment and friendly staff

Mysterious Galaxy is such a fun independent book store! The staff is always so helpful and they have really fun author events as well as an amazing selection of books! read more

Buyer beware June 11th: I ordered a book with the first 100 purchaser get a personalized copy and authors signature. Unfortunately I suffered a stroke and was unable to attended a in-person event. Knowing I was unable to attend I contacted MG (weeks in advance) and simply asked if i could have the book shipped to my house. I paid the $6 shipping and waited for my book to arrive. My book arrived with a signature from the author but no personalization, i figure maybe it was a mix up in shipping or something and contacted MG. MG stated "as per event rules" if i switched to "mail out" personalization will not be offered. I get it rules are rules but you couldn't tell me that. Email or on the phone? So not only did i not get what was promised, I have to ship the book back. $31/book+$6/shipping+ $10/shipping to return All i get was a apology and "Have a Great Day" so instead of attempting to make it right, they reply with well you should've read the fine print and have a great date. How Basic is that customer service? How hard was it to get a book personalized and shipped out? I did receive a refund for the book and shipping cost, so all i have now is disappointment. Expecting a well reviewed bookstore to only fall victim to their unremarkable effort for simple task. PS: Kels and KellyAnn was my contact people via email (I have proof), try consulting with other employees to avoid being lied too. read more

Friendly staff and they carry plenty of books by small artists and publishers. They even have Soave where authors come to talk about and read from their works. Not the easiest to get to, but plenty of parking. read more

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore - In store book signing, with Jude Atwood!! - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

This bookstore has an amazing selection of Fantasy and Sci Fi books. They also do a lot of author events and often have signed books for purchase as well. It's so much fun to browse and shop here. read more

This place is so cool lots of great local authors and a good mix of books. If you're looking for a fun privately owned bookstore with a great staff than this is the one. read more

Broad selection of genres, including new releases. I was disappointed they didn't have any of Jeff's books there for signing, though. Staff very friendly/attentive. Came across this store/reading while on vacation. Definitely hope to return on future visits from Central Coast. read more

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore - Reading by author Jeffrey Ford. - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

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Only shopped the kids section, but it was well laid out with a good variety of genres. Left with two new reads under $20 total. My 6 year old was delighted, and so was my pocketbook. read more