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.

Wonderful service and very friendly staff! I went in today to pick up a gift card I ordered online…read moreand they were so prompt and helpful! They had so many fun books to choose from... perfect place for new and seasoned readers! I also LOVE their Harry Potter display in the window... such a fun spot!

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 bookstore is cool as can be! I didn't think much of the old location (too dark in there), but…read morethe new one is pretty fabulous and the staff are friendly as can be. I'm a night owl so I wish they opened a little sooner, but still, a good store is a good store. On my visit I found a rare issue of "Amazing Stories"! There are some other used book entities in downtown Olympia, but none of those is terribly inviting. If you dig old paperbacks and the Olympia atmosphere, drop into Last Word Books.

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

I kind of wish I could work here. Or live here. Regardless, I grew up with Half Price in the…read moremidwest, and whenever I find out there is one nearby, it's always worth the stop. The outlet store is even better! Pretty much the entire place is $5 or less. But we've always been lucky to show up on days where they are having specials or events. For example, fill up a grocery sized bag for $20? Yes, indeed. That's well over $100 of merch for a fraction of the price. We also came in on a half off day. I mean, it couldn't get much better than that. I know it's a book store but I usually end up going for the music and media selection. If you haven't been to a Half Price Books, well, then you should fix that. And if you have, you should go to the Outlet whenever you can.

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.

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

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.

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...

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.