Secret Garden Bookshop Review

Great local bookstore with lots of different genres, set up in a way that is fun to browse.

A sweet little bookstore right in the heart of Ballard. The stock is mostly dedicated to children's books, but there is a small well curated selection of nonfiction and fiction book as well. A great place to buy a special book for a baby shower or a novel for an older child or teen.

Especially great place for toddlers.

They have a small table for reading books in the store, and the staff is very tolerant. Recomended!

Cute place. Lots of kids books. Not the biggest selection of adult books, still enough to browse.

Very cute store with a great selection of kids books, plus bestsellers, cards, puzzles and journals.

Great local book store with super helpful and friendly staff

Kevin was beyond helpful in finding me the book I wanted

This bookstore has a unique selection of kids books I haven't seen in others places. They had PNW/local section. I was impressed and my daughter too!

Great selection, I especially love the kids section. They are a great local business and support both of my kids' schools--Thank you!

Loveliest bookstore, great kids selection, knowledgeable staff!

Whenever we are in Ballard, my 2.5 yr old always ask to go to this local bookstore. Great kiddie corner with a wide selection of books.

You may think you're well-read because every time you walk into a bookstore, you've read most of the books on their "recommended" table.

One of my favorite places in Seattle. An important community resource.

I am new to the world of buying children's books and needed one for a baby shower, so I recently checked out The Secret Garden because the reviews indicated it had a good selection. I spent nearly an hour there and barely scratched the surface of what picture books they had. There seemed to be a great range of styles, difficulties, and subjects. Everything appeared to be full suggested retail price, unlike certain other larger/online retailers, but I think it was worth it for the convenience of being able to page through the books and feel how well they're bound (and to support local business, of course). I was tempted by so many offerings but walked away happy with my selection. (My mother ended up buying a good seven or eight books, though, and walked away equally happy.)

Beyond books, they also had a lot of book-related items, like shirts, posters, enamel pins, and pencil pouches. I got a great little pouch printed to look like the famous peacock edition of Pride and Prejudice, and there were tons of other books represented across all the different book products. I also saw some beautiful journals, cards, and postcards.

I'm sure I'll be back in future to buy more books for my niece as she grows, because it turns out that buying children's books is kind of fun.

Be sure to walk on their brick floor. It is sensational!

They're always so knowledgeable! I asked for a series by an author who hasn't been active for years...and they knew exactly what I was looking for. They even wrapped it for Christmas! :)

Great selection of adult, child and YA titles and a VERY helpful staff. Highly recommended!

Secret Garden books has been a favorite for years and even more so since COVID-19 changed our lives and routines, with helpful shipping policies, in-store pickup and now browsing again! Booksellers are excellent with recommendations for any reader/taste, from 10yo picky smart child (great selection of graphic novels for all ages) to nonfiction, popular literary novels, magazines, calendars and planners, cards and more.

Little bookstore in Ballard which had quite a few books on race & social justice. Some contemporary magazines, small sections on categories like food, travel, and business. I noticed they didn't carry all the "best sellers" so it's a good store to discover alternatives. I liked how they had pieces of paper with short blurbs about why to select various books. The staff was conversing amongst themselves the entire time, so service could be improved.

Supper friendly. If they don't have the book you were looking for they will order it for you. Probably only take a few days.

Love the books there. You can find everything you're looking for. Also the shop is really special, has an old style that I love. You should walk on the special floor they have.... really fun

Great selection of kids books and an awesome reading area for them to enjoy too!

There are whole worlds in this little store; a well organized bookstore

The books amazon won t necessarily suggest and books so long buried in memory can be found here. It s a quite bookstore where you can commune with the books and let your intuition guide you to just the right book for right now or a gift.

Definitely worth spending some time to browse and enjoy. The people here are respectful and knowledge. This store has been in Seattle long enough almost to be an institution. Take long enough in the front section to notice the music your feet make and explore the shelves along the way to the back for a perfect gift for yourself or someone.

Because books! Great neighborhood bookstore with friendly, helpful staff.

Lively atmosphere, terrific food and drink, and happy friendly staff.

Cute place. Small version of NW Art & Frame in West Seattle.

Extremely cute book shop in downtown Fremont where you can find a good selection of children s books, best sellers and notebooks/journals. Creatively decorated and even has a fairly good selection of bilingual books which what brought me to the area. Was able to find Spanish/English books but other languages available too. Very helpful staff.

Having a great bookstore in the neighborhood is awesome.

Little cobbled floor space that sounds cool when you walk on it. The book choices here are pretty good.

Very popular and vibrant, which is really interesting. The cute and amazing cuisine shop is well arranged. Many books and publications found in traditional media.

Charming little bookstore. They specialize in children's books, but they have a solid selection of all genres. The staff is friendly and helpful.

Wonderful! Happy Book Birthdays inspire every reader!

I love the space, posters, etc. It's a small bookstore with places to sit and read. Everyone was quite helpful. Really enjoyed browsing the shelves.

This small bookshop is packed full of books and knowledgeable people. Always able to find something good here!

Beautiful bookshop with awesome children s book section - tons of board books!

Good selection of kids books! Great Banned book week display and lots new fiction! Cards, journals and stickers round out a lovely gift section.

variety of books; employees friendly, knowledge-able, resourceful

Great independent local bookstore. Celebrate the Secret Garden!

Cool joint. Classic Seattle bookstore. Home of the Beats. Bought a Marley bio, and finally reading a novel (been all nonfiction for years) - David Foster Wallace - Oblivion.

Usually has the newer releases, a good selection of classics, and children s books and a few nicely curated section of more unexpected finds.

Was looking for unique children's books for a gift, and was able to find all of them at Secret Garden Bookshop in Ballard. Great shop!

Wonderful neighborhood bookshop. Staff are friendly and knowledgable, and always have a recommendation ready.

Fantastic local bookstore. I found a great book for my 6 year old nephew.

I just tried to buy a book for my son. Waited 10 minutes at the counter where the two employees could clearly see me from in the office. They were too busy gossiping about their fellow employees to help ring me up for the book. I was trying to support small business but Amazon has the same book so I guess I'll buy it from there.

Love the selection! Hint, hint: at this bookstore you can get hardcover books for 30% off once the book comes out on paperback. They reduce waste this way and give their customers a great deal at the same time.

They also had a great window display of children and adults books related to social justice for MLK weekend/day. I wish that they had had a similar display inside so that you could check out the various books without disturbing the display in the window.

This is a great book store to add for anyone doing a Seattle bookstore tour!

I love the smell of a bookstore. Good selection for a small bookstore, big kids section!

Anytime you need a book, walk in and they can order it. They have a wide selection in store, but I have ordered Deep Dark Fears: The Creeps and got it delivered within a reasonably fast time.

Great selection and easy to order any books that they don't have. Shop here!

This small book store is a fun place to immerse yourself in children's and adult's books. There is help finding the book desired in store or after a helpful computer search and ordered. The back of the store has a cozy place for kids to sit and read or play while you shop. Friendly service, walls of books, warm atmosphere.

Charming bookstore with amazing collections of books displayed in a way to draw your eye. Kids loved the selection. One of our favorites

First things first - they are closed to the public during Phase 1, but OPEN for ONLINE and PHONE orders, with shipping or curbside pickup. Do consider shopping here still! It's one of the oldest continually operational stores in Seattle (43 years now!) and THE best place for kids books (and really great for everyone else, too!).

This is one of my favorite bookshops in Seattle. Full disclosure - I spent almost two years working here. However, I was a regular customer before I started and have remained a regular since. The selection for all ages is great, and ESPECIALLY wonderful for kids and teens. And they do SO much for schools and early literacy, running book fairs all around the Puget Sound and working closely with school teachers and librarians to get high-quality books into the hands of kids. Christy, the owner, is above all else passionate about inspiring a love of reading in youth.

The owner really cares about books, and the children that love them, and this shows in her selection and her relationship with customers. Check out the author events!

Went for a book reveal and signing. Wonderful community based store with a history. I remember them giving donations to Ballard High and they still do a decade later

Small shop but with an amazing selection. Great for kids in particular, but seem to have a fair amount of fiction in the fantasy and sci-fi genres.

Great local bookshop with a wide selection for the tiny shop. Staff is always friendly and I love their recommendation cards.

I like going into a store buying books and talking to people. This store is cute and has lots of neat things.

They are really friendly here and have a good selection of books for all age ranges.

A wonderful bookshop in the heart of Ballard. A cozy space with a myriad of adult, young adult and children's books. They can order anything that may not be in stock at that moment. Do yourself a favor and visit this shop if you even have an inkling you might need a book.

Great bookstore lots of choices. They get new releases very fast

The staff are so helpful! I came here in a pinch to find thoughtful gifts for secret Santa. I could tell each book was chosen purposefully by a person, not some algorithm. It's also hard not to love a spot with so many kids books.

Friendly neighborhood bookstore! You can also order online, with a store pick up, should they not have the book you want in the store.

Hanging in there in Ballard and us long-timers really appreciate that.. They can order anything you like and you can go in and pick it up right there... like Amazon but with some personality!

I have love this store. They can help you find just the right book for anyone, people love the gifts I get from there and they even request that I buy the books from them instead of an online big business. You can't get this kind of service online.

Everyone is always so friendly here! I love the feel of the store and they always have the books I want! Whenever I m in Ballard I try to stop in.