Unlike most used book stores I've been to, Pennywise is very brightly lit. It was cool to be greeted as I entered the shop and left alone to browse to my heart's content. The books were organized by genres and a huge selection was for mystery/thriller. There was a small section for biography/memoirs, which is my go-to genre. They have racks of dollar books for sale out front, while the books inside are mostly 50% off regular price. read more

Pennywise Books - Bookstores Near Me - Pacific Beach, California

Great bookseller who traded in my vacation read for the next book in the series for just $3.50, and I knew he had it calling ahead and he set it aside for me. Top-notch, keep this place in business please! read more

I have been going to this bookstore for years. It provides excellent service, is clean and it is easy to find different authors because it is so organized. The owner is always happy to see us, is welcoming, helpful and hospitable. The selection of mostly fiction writers is the best I have ever seen and shopping here has saved me money on the increasingly high cost of books. I have read some of the negative reviews and cannot in my wildest imagination understand where some of these comments have come from unless, just speculating, that they were exhibiting poor behavior in the store and got caught at it. Would absolutely recommend to other readers. read more

Great long standing local independent bookstore. Please check it out and buy books especially in Pacific Beach.

Love that I can go in this bookstore and just be left to browse. Fantastic prices on newer hardback books. I can always find something on my TBR list. read more

service, selection and value are great--not in my neighborhood but will shop there when convenient.

Lovely bookstore of the old school variety. A fun mishmash of books. Owner was quite nice and gentle. Don't believe the haters, they just like to hate read more

Pennywise Books was my saving grace during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 lockdown! With the majority of businesses, parks, and restaurants closed, I found myself going stir-crazy on the couch all day. Fortunately, Pennywise has a wide variety of books for all ages and interests to keep you entertained all day long. While walking around PB, I decided to stop by Pennywise Books to find some nonfiction novels to enjoy around the house. Everything is extremely well organized, allowing customers to easily find the right book. The store is spacious enough to peruse titles without feeling like you are blocking shelves or crowding others. The owner was very helpful and polite. Best of all, there are four large carts out front FULL of books in excellent condition for only a dollar! read more

I rarely write bad reviews, but I felt so targeted and harassed, that I need to write this. As an author, I was excited to see an actual bookstore still in business. I walked in with my 2 tiny fur babies that love to shop. I said hello, as I walked in, but got no response. As I turned down an aisle, I noticed a face peeking around the corner at me. I asked, "What are you doing?" He answered, "That's what I was going to ask you". I told him that I was looking for books, and he started walking backwards, as if I'm defense mode. Btw, I am a 117lb girl, with 10lb sweet dogs. I felt a little scared, so I started to walk out, and saw him rush behind the counter. This experience was at the top of my list for the weirdest shopping experience. *If this guy had recently been involved with a really bad experience, I apologize for any PTSD, as I get it. But as I went to write this review, I saw so many similar reviews. Hmmmmm read more

Joyless fussy vibe In a musty store setup with a comical level of austerity. These are books. Books are fun. Used books are particularly fun. This was like a sad library. Not fun. read more

I've been going to Pennywise Books for over ten years and love it. Pennywise has a great selection of books from popular authors especially in the suspense, legal thriller, mystery type categories I like. The trade-in policy is not as generous as some other used bookstores but I'm ok with the slightly more expensive prices because 1) it's still a lot cheaper than a new book is and often the same quality, and 2) the location is convenient. I think the current trade in policy is: trade in 2 books for 1 with the same retail price and pay 20-30% of the cover price (works out to be about $1 each). Otherwise, you can buy any book for half price. The nice thing is that if you bring in a bunch of books you can have a "credit" on the books for the next time you come in. If you read as much as I do this is a great way of reading new books as well as finding older books written by an author you've recently discovered. The staff of 2 is now 1 (the older lady passed away) but the owner is very knowledgeable and always remembers my name even though it could be months between visits. I always like coming here because I feel like I'm supporting a guy who owns a book store because of his passion for reading and for people like me, even if he probably doesn't make much money doing it. The only reason I'm not giving this store 5 stars is that I selfishly wish it was open more (closed on Sundays). read more

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My wife and I made the trip down to San Diego (from La County) and let me tell ya.... We won't be going back to this bookstore! The shop keep that was working on Saturday was RUDE beyond anything I would expect from an indy bookstore. Their selection is small, there are more thriller authors than James Patterson/Steven Balducci. Normally I wound even notice the rudester working but he showcased his rudeness when I asked to use the restroom- no need to remind someone to close the door. Oh and how could I forget the shoppe keeps disdain for my presence in his smaller than average store front... read more

Great little neighborhood used book store. They have a huge selection, and many books in excellent condition. Prices are great. Don't miss a stop to Pennywise! read more

I really enjoyed this bookstore. The reviews below about the owner are pretty dramatic to be honest and should not discourage you from coming into this store. After speaking with him it almost makes me mad that people wrote such nasty things. As soon as I entered I was asked if I needed any help and offered recommendations right away. The prices are very reasonable considering there is a massive selection of newer more popular books and also classics. The outside even had books for $1-$3 that were all in good condition. The selection was better than I expected. I honestly feel bad that I almost didn't come here because of the nasty reviews below. This place was exactly what I was looking for to find a good book to enjoy by the beach :) read more

Went in there to get a book which I found interesting. Will never be going back. The guy at checkout gave off an extremely hostile and weird vibe. He was in a hurry to complete the transaction so he could sit back down and stair at his phone. Older guy with glasses. read more

Found this little gem while I was waiting for my nail appointment. I love how cozy and intimate the bookstore is, in comparison if one were to go to Barnes & Noble. Will definitely be returning again! read more

This is the only place in all of San Diego where I have had a truly fair and respectable experience selling books. The owner of the shop is so kind and charming, the shopping experience is very laid back and the in store inventory is always super qualitative. read more

I have never walked into this place without at least a handful of books. Great selection, great prices, and the owner is always super friendly and helpful! Very laidback (owner goes barefoot) and fun lil bookstore to check out on your post-prandial stroll! read more

Nestled in the heart of PB, Pennywise books is a treasure of a store that I can get lost in for hours. It's not a large locale, and it is a used bookstore, but I cannot complain about their selection. Most times I walk into the store empty handed and leave with no fewer than 6 new books to read. The gentleman who owns the shop is always pleasant and knows exactly which place to direct you if you give him an author or a genre. He can almost tell you the exact spot on the shelf for some books. It's a wonderful little treasure. My only advice, he takes cards, but prefers cash, and with the reasonable prices I can respect his desire to get cash payments. read more

Organized and had a lot of selection. Books are somewhat overpriced for used books. They did have a dollar section out front where I got some great finds. read more

This store is so cute! It has so many good books, and for amazing prices! We stopped by to find some books to read at the beach, and were not disappointed. I will be back here on my next San Diego trip! read more

It's 2016 and I walk into a bookshop and see a section labeled "Chick Lit". ....There wasn't a "Dick Lit" section. I guess woman authors aren't real people, so their silly little books get to be in "chick lit", not "fiction" or "memoirs", where the real people (men) have books. This shop has mostly older books and doesn't have sections on psychology or philosophy or stuff like that, which are my personal interest area. I saw mystery, horror, biography, cookbooks, more things I forget, and...Chick Lit. It seems kind of like an old-fashioned bookstore. Change your sexist sign. read more

How can you not like this place? Great mix of new books, classics and... other stuff. Sidewalk has books on sale, inside has a selection for the more discerning reader. Need a book for the beach, road trip or just to read? This is it! read more

Very disappointed and felt ripped off from a very obnoxious clerk/owner. Upon an attempt trade in a brand new book ($30) and one that I had purchased two days prior ($4) for a replacement used book, I was offered an even trade.....seriously!!! The comment "books are like cars, they lose there value over time". Really? A book that is still on the best sellers list ?? Ripping off customers is no way to do business and when I countered with my very responsible suggested offer, the "NO" came before I had finished my sentence. Let the buyer beware of the "discount" fake offers. I'm all for making some profit but after this very negative experience, I wanted to strongly voice my "buyer beware" and avoid this place and my experience in getting ripped off! read more

I had previously really liked this store. It seemed way better shopping here than a big chain, plus I could walk to it from my house. Maybe it still is better, but I no longer trust the man who owns it. I went in with a book to sell and he told me that he couldn't accept it for resale. I was fine with that, and donated it for his dollar book bin. However, a couple of days later as I was walking by looking at his window display there was my book! On sale for $6.50! That sort of dishonesty is a real shame in an otherwise neat little bookstore. My old books go to the library from now on. Honesty is the best policy! read more

I was so excited to see a bookstore I swear I almost wrecked my car. I couldn't park quick enough. I was running in only to be greeted by one of the rudest people ever. Not a hello. Nothing. Then when I asked him some questions about who I was looking for I thought he wanted to vomit. I read indie authors. But I love all books. When I walked out of there I was bummed. And I will never walk in there again. And that makes me sad. I read really great reviews on the store. And I was excited....Very disappointing! read more

Poor service! I asked if he knew if he had "The Sympathizer" which recently won the Pulitzer and he said he had never heard of it. OK, no big deal if he hadn't but he wouldn't even bother to help me look despite asking twice. read more

Cool little shop, great history and classics selection. $1.00 sale on the sidewalk. Gentleman running the counter didn't seem to suffer fools lightly. read more

A small place with a large (enough) selection. A nice old lady that knows her Lit. Half-priced used books! And I love how out of place this store is among the bars, boutiques and tattoo parlors that dominate most San Diego beach communities. Yay Culture! AV read more

Great used book store! I've been stopping in for years and have traded in many books and bought plenty. Nice to browse and look through actual books vs internet shopping. The guy that works here knows everything that he has in stock, awesome! read more

Like David M. hinted, you can park your car somewhere off Garnet, stop into Pennywise to pick up a paperback, and then amble over to the beach to enjoy your new read. I picked up a not-too-tattered copy of James Frey's A Million Little Pieces for $1.00 -- about what some people think it is actually worth -- in the bargain bin just outside the door. read more

Okay selection of books, you get a 25% discount when trading in. I come here for the smell.

The owner is rude and hostile. I wouldn't buy a book here even if it was the last book store on earth!

I came here hoping they had a decent selection of children's books but that wasn't the case at all. The children's books (with illustrations only, not the chapter books) took up only 2 shelves. Then again, I don't blame them since it is Pacific Beach after all so of course children's books aren't exactly ideal beach reading. They have a wide selection of chick lit (Lauren Weisberger, Meg Cabot, Ann Brashares, Jodi Picoult, etc.) in the middle of the store. There's also some selected recent releases in the front by the front counter and some are displayed in the window. The ones displayed in the window are very recent and are sold for a little more than half of the cover price. I do like their price and trading policy, which applies to almost the whole store, except for the recent releases and popular stuff. It's usually 50% off the cover price or if you bring in a book to trade in, then it's a book for a book and you only have to pay 25% of the original cover price. That's not too bad, especially when you've been to BookOff and you only get $1 or $2 for each book you bring in. I'm planning on making a return visit when I have a good amount of books to bring in for trade that no one seems to want on the book swapping sites that I frequent daily. And watch out, they're CLOSED ON SUNDAYS. read more

I like their 1 dollar deals, they have a decent selection of fiction but I wish they had a larger selection of non fiction as that is what I prefer but I understand that everyone likes to read a good novel at the beach. I wish I owned this store, I could sit there and read all day. read more

Pennywise is where I end up when I (okay, my husband) am scratching that book-buying itch. This is mostly because I live in PB, and there are few other bookstores in my area. Not that I mind Pennywise. They're clean, bright, well-labeled, and the stock moves relatively quickly. They have a decent selection of memoirs, military history, and cookbooks (the genres I tend to read), as well as a sizeable collection of chick lit (which I tend to avoid like the plague). Although I rarely walk out with a book, I always walk out with ideas to fill my Kindle or purchase for a friend. And my husband, well, he always walks out with at least five books. Great way to kill a part of the afternoon. My two suggestions that would bump it up a star: a better selection of craft/DIY books and *a* selection (meaning, carry some, please!) of children's books (for the child-in-tow that keeps chirping "where are the kid's books, Mami?"). But then, for those, there's always 5th Avenue... read more

Great little shop bring a book in and you only have to pay 25% for the book you want! Everything inside is 50% off the cover price and outside are a ton of books for 1$. The owner was really nice too! read more

The clerk was incredibly rude to me. He was quite insistent on knowing what I was looking for and I told him I just wanted to look around because I couldn't remember what I wanted. When I finally found a book and went up to the counter he goes finally a decision. Not a friendly place won't though there again. read more

I love this book store. It's nice to have a place you can get cheap books that are still basically new. The owner always helps me find a new read. This place is a gem. read more

Excellent neighborhood bookstore. Cashier was super friendly and helpful to everyone coming or going. Helped us find a few books we would like. As a caution: this is a small used book store. They're not a big box store. So they don't have every book ever (they didn't have the one we were searching for). But they DO have lots of treasures to find. Books are organized by "type" so it's super easy to find something you'll like. We were looking for Stephen King and Dean Koontz books, so even though they didn't have the specific titles I wanted, it was cool that the "horror" books were separated from romance, comedy, etc vs all being lumped at fiction. I know next time I go (with out the husband so I'll have more time to browse! Haha), exactly which section to find my faves in! And new stuff comes in ALL THE TIME! Seriously, someone brought books in while we were shopping. Prices are reasonable (about 50% of cover, and several $1 bins) especially as the books are mostly in excellent condition. I'm happy to spend $4 on a book and support my neighbors than $9 at an impersonal giant. read more