How We Choose What to Stock

One of the most common questions we get is: How do you decide what to sell? With millions of books out there and a small, family-run operation, we have to be intentional about every title we bring in. That job mostly falls to Phil, who approaches our inventory like a careful chess game with a side of gut instinct.

At Grumpy Book Seller, our goal is to get books into readers' hands quickly, which means we stock titles that are likely to sell and turn over fast. You won’t find dusty old backlist titles sitting around here. Instead, we focus on New York Times bestsellers, books with movie or TV tie-ins, and authors who have proven their staying power—names like James Patterson and Stephen King, who consistently draw interest.

We also love a good series. Readers who fall in love with book one are likely to come back for book two (and three, and four). That kind of repeat reading is not only fun for the customer, but great for keeping our inventory moving.

Right now, we’re leaning into the romance genre. It’s a booming market with passionate readers and steady demand, especially with the rise of BookTok favorites and cross-genre hits. Whether it’s romantasy, contemporary, or something in between, we keep our eyes on what’s trending and what’s selling.

We avoid anything too niche, overly political, or deeply religious unless it has mass appeal or makes a major bestseller list. Our aim isn’t to push any agenda—it’s to stock books that a wide audience will enjoy and come looking for.

Choosing inventory isn’t glamorous, but it’s one of the most important parts of running this business. We make sure every title earns its spot. If it’s on our (virtual) shelves, we believe it has the best chance of finding a home with one of you.

Thanks for trusting us to help you find your next read.