How to pick a primary typeface for a bookstore site with serif/sans pairing?

[MasonW]

I'm redesigning the website for a small independent bookstore, and I'm stuck on the typography. I want a pairing that feels classic and literary but also clean and modern for readability. I'm considering a serif for headings and a sans-serif for body text, but I'm overwhelmed by the choices and worried about licensing costs. How do you approach selecting a primary typeface that conveys the right brand personality? What are some reliable, web-safe pairings that work well for long-form reading, and are there any common pitfalls in kerning or line spacing I should watch out for when implementing them with CSS?

[Olivia.P]

Nice topic. For a small bookstore website, start with a serif for headings and a clean sans for body. Good starting options that minimize licensing concerns are open-source fonts from Google Fonts (or locally hosted): heading ideas include Playfair Display, Libre Baskerville, or EB Garamond; body ideas include Source Sans Pro, Inter, or Open Sans. If you want a totally web-safe fallback, Georgia for headings and Arial for body still works, though it loses some character.