Orca Books is such a welcoming downtown Olympia gem! The atmosphere invites you to slow down,…read morebrowse, and enjoy being surrounded by books... and the resident bookstore cats make the visit even more delightful. Books and cats are a pretty wonderful combination! We especially appreciated the spotlight on local authors. It's lovely to see a bookstore celebrate the creativity in its own community and give readers a chance to discover voices close to home. We even picked up locally and ethically sourced coffee beans, which was such a fun find! What stood out most was the mix of people enjoying the space: babies, toddlers, lots of teens, adults, and everyone in between. There was such a comfortable, welcoming feeling throughout the store. Everyone belongs, and that comes through in the atmosphere. Orca Books is the kind of place that makes you happy to shop local. We're so glad it's part of our community!

Love this place. Love the resident cats and the staff. They have a lot of very cool books, plus…read morethey can order any book for you as well. Great location, right next to the record store and down the street from the bank; very clever. I would honestly just go back for the cats, the books are a bonus. I love supporting small and independent businesses, check them out in downtown Oly.

Browsers Bookshop is one of those rare places that feels timeless the moment you step inside. A…read morewomen-owned bookstore with a rich history dating back to 1935, it has passed through caring hands over the years while somehow retaining its soul--and you can feel that the instant you cross the threshold. The space is charming, small, and intimate, like slipping into another world where time slows down and curiosity takes over. Shelves are thoughtfully arranged and beautifully organized, making it easy to wander, browse, and actually find what you're looking for--whether you arrive with a title in mind or simply want to be guided by instinct. The selection is outstanding: carefully curated, diverse, and clearly chosen with intention rather than volume. And if you can't find what you're looking for, the knowledgeable staff are right there--warm, approachable, and genuinely passionate about books. Browsers isn't just a bookstore; it's an experience. A place that invites you to linger, explore, and leave with something unexpected in your hands--and a little extra inspiration in your heart. A true Olympia gem. My current read is The Dazzling Paget Sisters by Ariane Bankes.

This is an awesome bookstore! So many books, so hard to choose! I wasn't looking for anything in…read moreparticular so I walked around and read staff reviews of all kinds of different books. I chose 2 books based solely on staff reviews. They also have a variety of gifts, snacks, greeting cards, bookmarks and reusable bags. I'm sure I missed other items they offer, it's a well stocked shop! The staff are very helpful and friendly!

Used books with decent prices, but a very random selection of books. A treasure hunt.read more

the good folks here ALWAYS consistently communicate with us as warm intelligent family friends…read more They are professional research assistants with a myriad of knowledge. I am looking forward to assisting with a future 2024 in-store book club group.

I really wish this place had a better selection of books. The one in Lakewood is 10 times better…read more Service was a ok.

I didn't know these store still existed until I moved to Washington and found this one. There will…read morealways be a need for places like this because even though everything is going digital, your pricey sub will sometimes drop media that you think you purchased and "own" and will license it to another service. Plus with MTV news archives shutting down and the Cartoon Network website disappearing overnight, it's a nice reminder that when you have a real copy of an item, the only thing that can take it away from you is a house fire. This place is fun to visit because books that may be out of print or things you might have had on your Amazon list that you forgot about might end up here. That's been the case for three of the books I purchased here. They have a large used DVD selection, so you'll find something you want. As are most independent bookstores, this one is quiet, so they will greet you, but they leave you alone to browse and it's heaven to not have to strike up a conversation with a stranger.

Visited the Barnes & Noble in Olympia today with my daughter and honestly, this place is…read moreincredible. It's one of those stores where you walk in and immediately lose track of time, in the best way. I could easily spend an entire day here just wandering, browsing, and finding books I didn't even know I needed. The store is clean, well-organized, and has such a welcoming feel. The staff was genuinely friendly and helpful without being overbearing, which made the experience even better. They were happy to answer questions and made us feel comfortable taking our time. There is even coffee! It was a really nice outing with my daughter, and we'll definitely be back. This location reminded me why I love bookstores so much. As for the value, it was dependent on the book. My daughter chose a"It" by Stephen King, so the amount she paid for the length of the book made sense to me.

I went in looking for a present for a friend last night, knowing of a certain journal I thought…read morethat would be good for a friend. I asked a clerk, whose name was Sky, but they unfortunately didn't have the one I was thinking of. Sky had a band T-shirt on that I knew my friend liked, so I asked them for advice. They pointed me towards a graphic novel series, SAGA, that they would recommend, based on the interests I shared of my friend. They also recommended other journals when I couldn't find the original I wanted, showing me the gothic section. When a journal I picked out ended up being torn, them and a cashier searched up whether there was more in the back, going the extra mile to help me succeed in my task. They listened to my incisiveness, and didn't pressure to add more onto what I thought of. I've been coming here for my Warrior Cat books for over a decade, which they make readily available every date they come out. Even with the layout changes over the years, I always appreciate being able to come in while my family is grocery shopping next door.

I love this store ! I hate how late I found it but I'm glad…read moreI did. It's a Jem It's the cutest store ever I wish I had one back home. I love coming here for cool finds but especially jelly cats

This place is AMAZING, I went in looking for plushies because I was told about this place, and OMG…read more SO MANY PLUSHIES. I will say it's definitely on the expensive side, but it's so worth it. They were also super amazing at the register

De Colores Books continues to be one of my favorite book stores in Olympia. Staff is friendly and…read moreknowledgeable. There is a wonderful selection of diverse children's books. If you have a blended family, a family of color, a mixed race family, children who have experienced loss, or children with disabilities--it is easy to find books that represent your child/your family. This is one of the best resources for finding children's books written in languages other than English. They carry bilingual as well. This is nice for children to hear their favorite stories read in more than one language, especially if more than one language is spoken at home. My brother bought The Rainbow Fish written in both Vietnamese and English from this store! De Colores Books carries a wonderful selection of board books so kids who are not-so-gentle with books can enjoy reading time. The space is very friendly for small children. There are toys and plush seating areas. For those of us with mobility issues, the firm chairs placed throughout the store are a very nice addition. The adult reading section is also wonderful. The sheer number of wonderful books available in this small space is astonishing! I was very happy to find The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Jame's Baldwin's A Fire Next Time, and Eye on the Prize: The PBS Companion here. My husband loves to look through the novels available in Spanish. Books I noticed that were available in languages other than English included: Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Russian. I'm sure there are more languages! Come on by and ask/look around. This store does not disappoint.

A fantastic little muti-cultural specialty bookshop with a huge variety, multi-lingual,…read more interesting titles and clientele, and a mix of volunteers and knowledgeable staff. Very unique!

Amazing collection of concert posters. Great inventory, friendly and super knowledgeable staff…read more Prices are reasonable, they have ample street and lot parking. They also have gift certificates available. I have been in here a few times either for myself or to get gifts, and it's giving every time. I have been to other record stores in the area; but they have the best hours and inventory. I like to support local, and this place gives me a reason to come back and do so...

I like the collection, I like Aphex twin, I like the sounds of things. I got a Weezer poster it was…read moreawesome, you should get a awesome poster there, I like the store, it is awesome, it is awesome because of its awesome collection, as a person with ears I like to use my ear powers to listen to music from that store.

Frank is the best. Not only does he get excited about the weird stuff (Humanoids, Fantagraphics),…read morebut I can always count on the best recommendations for kids. This is the best comics store in the seven kingdoms.

I'm not a comic person so to speak but I found this place by accident a few months ago. My daughter…read moreloves Manga so now I go every time I come to town and I tell you it's epic! The nicest people ever and they have a little bit of e everything. The only comic shop for me.