Booklovers' Field Trips

First Annual Ballard Book Crawl in Seattle May 23-24, 2026

Did you miss the Seattle Independent Bookstore Passport Challenge that started on Independent Bookstore Day and wrapped up May 4th? There’s another sequential bookstore event coming right up in the Ballard neighborhood to encourage you to visit five local bookish haunts over a weekend. Here’s some information courtesy of Secret Garden Books: Join us for the first annual Ballard Book Crawl May 23rd-May 24th! Take a tour through the bookshops of Ballard: Secret Garden Books, Swoon City, Ballard Books, Twice …

May 5, 2026

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May

4

2026

Face Out

Where the Wildflowers Grow by by Terah Shelton Harris

You will be wholly moved as you journey along with Leigh, gaining an intimate understanding of her soul and appreciation for those around her who help her see the truth and beauty in herself. The focus isn’t her trauma; yes, her trauma informs her life in indelible ways, and still, she grows greatly just like …

May

1

2026

Face Out

The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookstore by Takuya Asakura, translated by Yuka Maeno

A cafe-bookshop, complete with its young owner and her cat, magically encounters those in need of finding memories that were once lost. Four stories written across the seasons, this beautifully written book is a warm hug for anyone that’s lost someone dear, that will leave you feeling hopeful and a little more healed than before …

Apr

30

2026

Thursday Themes

Bestseller Spotlight: Rising and Falling

Every Wednesday, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association publishes the regional bestseller list. On Thursdays, we celebrate Thursday Themes to shine a spotlight on some of the books from the list and give our brains a different way of thinking about books. This week, did you expect so many titles that have a variation on “rise” or “fall” (or …

Apr

29

2026

Face Out

A Tale Dark and Grimm: Complete Trilogy by Adam Gidwitz

Fairy tales are a favorite, and reading them aloud is such a bonus. A Tale Dark and Grimm: Complete Trilogy by Adam Gidwitz is the incredibly creative series that I am currently re-reading with my 11 y/o. We love that these books cleverly weave together myriad fairy tales with little bits of just-right snarky narration, and even better, they …

Apr

28

2026

Borrowed Copy

Readers, Not Rodents!

From Browsers Bookshop in Olympia, WA:  This week, we crossed an important, if not disgusting, milestone at Browsers. In twelve years of owning a bookstore and a building in downtown Olympia, we have had our first rodent encounter. I’m also pleased to report that it has come to a satisfactory conclusion.  It appears that a …

Apr

27

2026

Face Out

Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson

After years of separation from their parents and relying on one another for support, teens Viola and Wilmur leave home and are swept up in an epic, pirate-y adventure. The world-building is immersive and there are lots of exciting characters to meet in the first book of a planned duology. Just a fun time all-around. …

Apr

24

2026

Face Out

Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald

Now available around the world in 18 languages, this tale of love and literature reminds readers that an unexpected connection might be right around the corner (or bookshelf). Moira’s fictional store is based on our Ravenna branch, and we will never be over it. –Third Place Books, Seattle, WA You could buy a book about …

Apr

23

2026

Thursday Themes

Bestseller Spotlight: Prismatic Covers

On Wednesdays, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Bestseller List is published. Every week, we love to see what books have been most popular in independent bookstores around our region. As we peruse the list, we look for something special to showcase. Then we present this weekly feature: Thursday Themes. Have you seen the gorgeous ombres on this week’s …

Apr

22

2026

Face Out

Strange Pictures by Uketsu (with bonus Secret Garden Books Independent Bookstore Day info!)

Visit and revisit illustrations that shift before your eyes as you gain contextual understanding of the interlocked stories in this book. This mystery-horror novel is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Truly chilling! -Lucy, Secret Garden Books, Seattle, WA On Seattle Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 25th, 2026, Secret Garden Books is hosting a …

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