SDtoday City Guide Play Banner

36 books by San Diego Authors

All of these writers have ties to America’s Finest City.

Local Author Books section at the San Diego Central Library

San Diego Central Library has a whole section dedicated to local authors.

Photo by Michael Beausoleil + SDtoday

Table of Contents

What’s better than a good book? A good book written by your neighbor (or former neighbor). Brew up a batch of your favorite tea or coffee and get ready to meet your next read, because we’re talking about locally written books in San Diego.

Fiction

  • “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett | Release date: June 2, 2020 | The Oceanside-born author tells the story of identical twins who separate as teens + deal with their racial identity very differently.
  • “Endless Blue Sky” by Josh Turner | Release date: Oct. 1, 2018 | A look at self-medication + the limits of sunshine, told through the narrative of Jeff Ashby.
  • “One Tiger One Teen” by Pete Peterson | Release date: April 1, 2020 | A 17-year-old wants to catch a tiger and release it as his senior prank, but things don’t go as planned.
  • “How to Set Yourself on Fire” by Julia Dixon Evans | Release date: May 8, 2018 | When Sheila’s grandmother dies, she inherits a box of love letters from a man who’s not her grandfather.
  • “The Dawn Patrol” by Don Winslow | Release date: June 16, 2009 | The Julian-based author tells the story of an avid surfer + private investigator who gets the ride of his life while exploring a case.
  • “Inside Threat” by Matthew Quirk | Release date: June 13, 2023 | In this thriller, the White House is breached and the president is sent to a doomsday bunker, only to discover the threat is locked inside, too.
  • “Kiss Me, Mi Amor” by Alana Quintana Albertson | Release date: July 4, 2023 | The second book in the “Love & Tacos” series, this story follows Enrique, the heir to a fast food empire who tries to win over agricultural hotshot Carolina.
  • “Chameleon: A Black Box Thriller” by Remi Adeleke| Release date: July 25, 2023 | The Chula Vista author — and former US Navy SEAL — tells the story of an elite CIA special operation branch addressing an international hostage situation.
  • “Mister Magic: A Novel” by Kiersten White | Release date: Aug. 8, 2023 | Two former child stars reunite to discover secrets about their show’s host in this thriller with a dose of 1990s nostalgia.

For the family

  • “Flash Facts” by Mayim Bialik | Release date: Feb. 2, 2021 | The San Diego-born actress + neuroscientist curates stories to answer some of your burning questions — with some help from the Scarlet Speedster.
  • “When Mom Feels Great Then We Do Too” written by Phyllis Schwartz + illustrated by Siski Kalla| Release date: Sept. 2, 2022 | The Encinitas-based author teaches families how small gestures can help a parent battling cancer.
  • “Once Upon a Forest” written + illustrated by Pam Fong | Release date: Feb. 8, 2022 | A marmot helps show kindness to animals + the environment by helping a forest recover from a wildfire.
  • “The Spirit of Chicano Park/El Espíritu del Parque Chicano” written by Beatrice Zamora + illustrated by Meza Maira | Release date: April 20, 2020 | A bilingual story of two children learning about the creation of the historic park in Logan Heights, founded in 1970.
  • “Freddie vs. the Family Curse” by Tracy Badua | Release date: May 3, 2022 | A historically + culturally-based story of a Filipino-American boy that teams up with his ancestors to break a generational curse.
  • “Icky Micky” written by Victoria Bennett + illustrated by Mike Motz | Release date: July 8, 2022 | This rhyming book by the Carmel Valley author follows a boy trying to discover why gets called a gross nickname.
  • “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss | Release date: Aug. 12, 1971 | The environmentally-friendly book is believed to have drawn inspiration from La Jolla, where the author once lived.
  • “Big Tree” written and illustrated by Brian Selznick | Release date: April 4, 2023 | This acclaimed children’s book tells the story of two sycamore seeds who get separated from their mother and must navigate a dangerous world to grow big.
The outside of Warwicks in La Jolla with chess board.

This local bookstore has a section for local books.

Photo via Michael Beausoleil + SDtoday

Learn something new

Part of a series

  • “Then She Vanished” by T. Jefferson Parker | Release date: Aug. 11, 2020 | The most recent installment of the Roland Ford series follows the private investigator as he searches for a rising politician’s missing wife.
  • “The Drama Club: Senior Year” by Denise J Smith | Release date: Jan. 15, 2021 | Six teens spend their final year of high school performing in the drama club and confronting issues like racism + homophobia.
  • “Balboa Firefly” by Jack Trolley | Release date: 1994 | The first book in a 4-part series following fast-paced police sergeant Tommy Donahoo.
  • “The Sea Fairies” by L. Frank Baum | Release date: 1911 | This installment in “The Oz Series” draws inspiration from Coronado, where Baum spent many winters.
  • “A Shadow Cast in Dust” by Ben Johnson | Release date: May 11, 2014 | The first of the “Webworld Trilogy,” Stewart Zanderson escapes his captors with a mysterious knife — set in Golden Hill.
  • “The Invisible City” by John W. Wells III | Release date: Aug. 28, 2023 | This book is the San Diego native’s latest installment in “The Kalib Andrews Chronicles,” a fantasy series about a teen who is forced into a war to fulfill an ancient prophecy.
  • “Odyssey’s End” by Matt Coyle | Release date: Nov. 14, 2023 | The tenth — and most recent — entry in the Rick Cahill series features the protagonist handling a missing person case gone awry in hopes of reuniting with his own family.
Verbatim Books art display in North Park, San Diego

Used books still tell a story.

Photo by Michael Beausoleil + SDtoday

Personal stories

Need more recommendations? Stop by Warwick’s, Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, La Playa Books, or shop used at Verbatim Books, to get expert advice from San Diego’s local booksellers. 📚

Check out our other Guides
We hope our SAN guide makes your traveling process plane and simple.
From the San Diego Padres to the San Diego Gulls, we’re sharing details of San Diego’s sports teams.
Explore these dog-friendly places in San Diego that span from places to eat, drink, shop, exercise, swim, and stay the night.
Whether you’re a history buff, art aficionado, or science fan, these 28 museums in San Diego have it all.
Dining in San Diego is always a fresh experience with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
Dig into San Diego’s must-try pizza shops including unexpected combos, fancy offerings, and gluten-free options
Prepare for winter in San Diego, California, with these seasonal temperature and precipitation outlooks.
This list includes everything from helping the hungry and mentoring local youth to helping animals and cleaning up local beaches.
From historic hideaways to beachfront gems, San Diego is full of special places to stay that offer guests a break from traditional motels and hotels.
There’s a whole lot of jolly to be had — check out our guide to fun, festive events in San Diego this holiday and winter season.