A Good Used Book

A Good Used Book is pure magic in Echo Park. When I think of iconic LA movie scenes, I could easily picture this bookstore as one of them. As an adult, I’ve always dreamed of having a neighborhood bookstore I could walk to, and this one sits perfectly between two of my favorite coffee shops and bakeries. I have to resist stopping in every time I’m nearby because I already own a massive stack of unread books, but I still go, because stepping inside feels like being immersed in a lovely community space. The layout is simple and inviting, what we in retail call “four walls.” Nothing feels intimidating. You can take in the entire store at first glance, then wander slowly through each table and shelf discovering treasures to add to your collection. The shop is quaint, welcoming, and run by the sweetest couple. Every visit reminds me why I love it here. Once, I saw an influencer quietly taking photos, and instead of shooing her away, the owner encouraged her to feel at home and keep shooting. Another time, they hosted an event with other local bookstores, where I even discovered there’s one in Chinatown. That spirit of openness and connection reflects the real LA: it has always been about community. I’ve been coming since their soft opening, and I can’t believe I waited this long to write a review. Maybe part of me wanted to gatekeep this little gem. But truly, A Good Used Book deserves all the love. If you’re in the area, stop by, you’ll leave with more than just books, you’ll leave with a sense of belonging.

This little used bookshop smelled like old paper and had a carefully curated selection of out-of-print and local interest titles. I found a small art monograph that became a favorite evening read. Owner was happy to chat about nearby authors and recommendations. It’s a calm, quiet place — perfect for browsing when you want to slow down. Prices were reasonable for collectible editions

i love this bookshop! it has something for everyone & is so well curated. a wonderful addition to the neighborhood & a great step towards a much needed small business renaissance. i love the shrink wrapped books, everything feels so tidy! great art too :) go have fun & support a great idea

Edit: Be sure to check out the owners reply for some additional context on my observations! This bookstore’s most notable quirk is its wide collection of vintage mass market paperbacks, stored in boxes instead of shelves and vacuum sealed in plastic. It results in an easy and enjoyable browsing experience which feels more like buying records than books, although it precludes any possibility of checking the book’s spine or pages. The store has mostly fiction, as well as a dedicated classics shelf, but the selection of nonfiction was much narrower. The philosophy was limited to one small shelf, and had little of interest. The mass market nonfiction also contained few philosophy books, but mostly outdated. Finally the prices, both of fiction and nonfiction seemed on the high end, all hovering around $10 for mass market, although priced higher on some books for no discernible reason. Those in search of fiction may find something here, but those seeking philosophy, social sciences, or political books shouldn’t go out of their way for this one.

Love this spot. I can always find something interesting whenever I pop in. The owners are so kind and welcoming too. They do fun social events with local vendors as well, check out their social media!

An absolute gem. Their collection of books is as much a stunning work of art as it is a plethora of literary adventures. The owners are kind, friendly and intriguing. A must visit.

This is a really lovely addition to the neighborhood. It's an incredibly sweet used bookstore with owners that throws interesting events with local artists and vendors on weekends throughout the month.

Great selection of books, but I noticed that the books focused on African-American culture/history/etc. have a significantly higher price tag than similar books (i.e. other books that are similarly rare, older, niche topics). Not sure why, but it seems unfair that those topics I'm interested in cost me more.

Love this place so much! They have a selection out front of $1 books which I got two of, and the books inside ranged (from what I saw) from $5-$25+. Nice and quiet too with no pushy staff asking a ton of questions which I really appreciate! Felt like I could take my time and browse without feeling awkward. Will definitely be back!!

I was impressed by the exceptional service provided by the staff. They were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. The store had a wide range of books. I found six classic books at an unbelievably good price. Although the books were used, they were in excellent condition, which made the purchase even more satisfying. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I will definitely be returning to this gem of a bookstore.

Had a great time at this wonderful used bookstore. Beautiful space, terrific selection, nice people. Highly recommend!

This wonderful curated used bookstore is run by a lovely couple, both of whom are really nice and welcoming. They have done pop ups throughout LA county including one I previously attended in PF candle company. They have a vast selection of gently used books (though many of them in my opinion, looked brand new) as the store name implies. They separate the books according to categories/ genres - nonfiction, fiction, classics, comedy, shakesphere, cooking, self help, etc. Many come with a unique food plastic wrapping which allows you to look at the copies without damaging the edges of the books. It makes you feel like you are flipping through records at a record shop. It's a wonderful feeling going through all the books and as one of the owners mentioned, you can easily get happily lost in here looking through all of the books and titles. Some books are also in boxes on the floor which people have happily spent hours looking at the titles. Every time I thought I was done searching, another book would catch my eye and I'm like wow! let me look over there. The books were all reasonably priced and they even have a dollar section, where the books are $1 I bought the book "Little Fires Everywhere." and the 3rd book of Lord of the Rings. They are currently in my house. The store is currently in the soft opening stage where they are open on Thursdays to Sundays from 10am - 6pm. It's really awesome seeing them open a bookstore and they picked a wonderful place to do so, honestly echo park needs more 3rd spaces and I'm looking forward to doing Christmas shopping here soon.

The perfect little bookstore in Echo Park with an absolutely incredible selection of used books. I have to limit myself when I stop by because I could truly leave each trip with 5+ books. They have an insane selection of books for $1--and not your standard selection of cheap books of little interest. I've gotten two different James Baldwin books for $1! As lovely as the books are, the true standouts are the owners, Jenny and Chris. This store is so clearly a labor of love and they've put so much thought and care into it. I'm so excited for more people to learn about this store and to see it flourish!

Really strong selection of paperback books from the 20th century as a really good selection of other types of books. Well-organized, it's hard not to walk out of this shop with a book or two. The prices are fair and their service is excellent. I'm thrilled that they are here in my neighborhood.