Galiano Island Books

Great little bookstore! Went in looking for a particular author. Of course, by the time I got inside, I couldn’t remember his last name! Young lady did a search for me and came up with the name and had one of his books on the shelves. Picked up another book from the half-​price box. Next time on the island, will definitely make more time to browse and buy.

I wish I had had more time to explore this place ! Great selection of books !

This store is simply a labour of love for the owners I’m sure. But for the rest of us, who are lucky enough to have found it, it is simply lovely. I keep using the word «best» in my reviews about Galiano Island but it’s true: best pizza, best bookstore, best park walk, best dining, best accommodation.
This bookstore has something like 20 000 titles in 1000 square feet, a very eclectic collection, probably one of every title you’ve ever wanted to read. The «Staff’s Picks» wall has winners for every taste. When do they get time to work? They are all so well read. Nick was amazing: funny, clever and full of good advice.
Don’t take books on your vacation: for sure buy them here. The previous bookstore cat retired apparently (Shadow) and a new one has moved in: Pichou (sp?) who is (warning here) not so friendly to small dogs. Or maybe just small dogs that don’t read?

Seriously one of the best bookstores around and definitely one of the gems of Galiano Island. And in keeping with my theory about bookstores and bookstore cats, this one has a lovely beast. Called different things by different people, this creature answers to «Miao Miao», «Oscar», «Kitty», and other various names. That is if he answers at all. Most of his time is occupied trying to find the perfect sunbeam to sleep in, even if there is a pesky display set up there. Napping and receiving belly rubs is this guy’s specialty, followed by a night of outdoor mousing.
The staff is pretty cool too. From the weekend gal who tells me it’s the «Best Job on the Island!» which to me sounded more like «Best Job in the World», to the weekday regulars/​owners who are friendly, helpful, and accommodating and only too glad to discuss other bookstore cats and of course, books.
Great selection. Brilliant. Matched only by very few places around so it is surprising to see it located on this small island. If they don’t have a book, they will gladly order it for you. All the other stuff you’d want to see in a bookstore including art supplies, cards, journals, tshirts, and a lovely selection of used books.
I’m a huge fan. As good as it gets! So gets yourselves to Galiano Island Books. Open 7 days a week!

Fabulous local bookstore; they’ll order anything you want, they have a lovely «island» feel, and will take the time to get to know you or just chat (or leave you alone as you browse for hours trying to decide what to buy). There’re are really good naturalist and cooking sections; there’s also a huge kid’s section, with a little play area and a good selection of Canadian kids’ books and favourites.
The owners are local, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The store is open good hours as well. Note also that there is a decent selection of used books in the back room for cheap!

Oh «me-​cations!» Good for lazing around, dipping in the ocean between reading page turning novels. Doing a little too much of that led me to one startling fact (insert scary violin music here): I am out of books and I have one whole day left!
Off to the bookstore I went, thinking I’d find a small, island size selection of offerings and that they could potentially be open island hours. But not the case here!
With a coffee in hand (Level Ground Coffee served up at the «Garage») I waited for the store to open at 10ish. Once inside I was greeted by a fluffy kitty named Shadow who insisted on telling me and the store clerk all of the information of what had happened overnight (meow, meow, meow).
The clerk was incredibly helpful, leading me to a couple of boxes that had just come in and letting me know that the person that brought them in read books similar to my liking – I walked away with 3 books for $ 30! That was the best island pricing I had all weekend!
Plus, I think I solved the mystery of why things are closed early, why they don’t open at all and why this seems to be the biggest store on the island – everyone is busy reading… an island full of me-​cationers!