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

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.

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.

This is a BOOKSTORE that far surpasses ALL other bookstores in its cleanliness of the store itself…read moreas well as the books within it. They have well-loved preowned books as well as brand new books from publishers! There is an inventory of well over 20,000 used and new books to choose from in EVERY genre within the Christian realm. Some are even classics and some are new on the market. She hand cleans every book that comes into the store. She takes donations, but also buys books around the Northwest and those who bring some into the store (with advance notice). She KNOWS her books well, as well as the authors and publishers. People go there from all around the world, even though she doesn't sell on the internet at this time. Also LouAnn's prices can't be beat! Most of her paperbacks are $2.00 each while the hardbacks are usually $4.00 each!!!

I have heard this is the place to go if you are interested in making beaded necklaces and like…read moreitems. This place is overwhelming with the amount of different types of beads, cord, and other tools necessary to accomplish this task. The staff was very helpful with our questions and helped us decide on the proper needles to use, etc. We went in to buy a few things and $200 later and in about 30-45 minutes we were out. They have public restrooms right as you come in so that's nice if you've traveled a bit to get there. I would definitely return.

I've heard wonderful things about this place. Was excited for my visit but disappointed in the…read moreinventory. I found a few charms but they were sold out of four other items I was shopping for. The didn't even apologize for it. I asked and they were like let me check. Nope all sold out! The had a 40% off sign as walking in but it was very confusing what was on 40% off. No signs posted throughout the store and while the girl checking us out was friendly and talkative she wasn't able to explain the pricing. Prices are higher than a typical craft store so prepare to pay 3-4x as much anywhere else.

Absolutely love this bookstore! I always walk out with so many hidden treasures. The sections are…read morereally well organized/labeled and it's easy to find anything you're looking for; plus lots of stuff you didn't even know you were looking for lol. Especially in the metaphysical realms and the prices are fabulous. One of the owners Bob was working and he made me feel so welcomed. He said that him and his wife Janis own the place and it just made me feel grateful that my money is going to a small business as special as this one. Do yourself a favor and come spend some time here, you will not be disappointed :)

Love the owners, the folks who stop in, the wide variety and selection of books in each topic, and…read morethe overall atmosphere in the store that you can feel very comfortable looking for what books you would enjoy reading or learning more about and do so at a wonderful lower price . The owners /managers are always super helpful, very informed , very interesting, and treat you with great respect , appreciation for your interest in being there and their interest in helping you feel comfortable to look w/o pressure to buy and at same time offer you what you what will help you find what interests and inspires you . I I used to frequent a gigantic bookstore almost daily when i lived in Tucson where there was an ice cream stand next door that it was the perfect place to go while enjoying the ice cream cone. ...but then i ending up reading far more than i would have in those days and i learned so much about topics I topics I never knew existed. That was actually LIFE changing and led me to many more interesting and valuable things after that. When i arrived here i thought this town HAS to have a used book store ...it's vitally important. So I hope it grows to take up almost a block one day....like the one I used to frequent. And a plus would be if we could have an ice parlor next door with the most delicious and natural and from local farms ice creams...(my dream). smile. . There is nothing like a good book ...that your mind wraps itself around and gets so much more involved with, creatively and uniquely with your own individual history and experiences ....that that does something you don't get from watching movies and videos. Although the visuals have their own benefits , reading has ITS own and is an undervalued and wonderfully enriching to the mind and soul experience and something that might be worth exploring more. It uses the brain different to read than to watch a story and it makes more of that become more alive and more imaginative in ways that benefit us with more abilities to do things differently and expand our awareness and consciousness that we would not have thought of or or known about otherwise. So i am inspired to read more and hope more people start having that interest too that we might be more resourceful and creative and relaxed than what too much technology and not enough quiet contemplative reading DOES for the mind and the body too All ages.

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!

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