Just blocks from the troll under the Fremont Bridge sits one of the area's most precious secrets:Ophelia's Books. Upon entering, one is instantly welcomed by the comforting smell of the old books that line the walls, stacked from floor to ceiling. In classic Seattle fashion, the store's three floors make use of every inch of space.

I sat down on the main floor, on a cozy reading bench, to talk a little with owner Jill Levine. For the last twelve years, she has owned and managed Ophelia's.

"Ophelia was our first cat," Levine told me, recounting the story behind the store's name. Twenty-six years ago Ophelia the cat supervised the grand opening, and her legacy continued on with the second bookstore cat, Claudia, who has just retired at the age of 18. "Eighteen years is a long time to work at one job," Levine chuckled. Claudia now lives at home with Levine while she searches for the next feline supervisor.

Ophelia's is the perfect place to grab a used book and forget about the world for a little while. "It's comfortable," Levine said, describing the store, overflowing with previously loved novels. "It's not, obviously, the neatest, and it's definitely got a lot of visual clutter, but what I hear from people is that it feels welcoming and comfortable."

The place does indeed feel welcoming, as readers young and old are beckoned to head upstairs to a cute reading nook. "People love to go up there and sit and read," Levine noted as customers climbed the old wooden stairs up to the loft.

However, what sets Ophelia's Books apart is the neighborhood it has become such an important part of. "All bookstores take on the character of their neighborhood," Levine noted, "and I feel like it is very much a Fremont kind of place. Like not everything being quite square or polished seems to fit in with the neighborhood. Not everything is perfect, and that's what kind of stands out."

Perhaps it is the quirks and refusal to fit into a bookend that attract Queer readers to Ophelia's. For a community constantly fighting against society's perfectionist tendencies, an imperfect shop such as this can feel just like home. "We'd like to have all the perfect books in perfect condition, but that's kind of impossible in a world that isn't perfect, so there's a little serendipity in there: you can find something, but you just might not know what it will be."

The store remains dedicated to shelving Queer stories whenever possible. On the basement level, Levine keeps a shelf dedicated to all of the LGBTQ-related books they recieve. "We usually do a window [for Pride month]," Levine added, "I have noticed more activity in the neighborhood around Pride," she said, which might explain why classic Queer authors, like Hemingway, seem to be flying off the shelves.

When asked for a Queer book recomendation, Levine could hardly name just one. "The one that popped into my head right away was The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. It's an amazing book on a lot of levels. A personal favorite is Jeanette Winterson's The Lighthouse Keeper. There's also Nightwatch by Sarah Waters." Levine ultimately decided to recommend The Lighthouse Keeper, describing it as a dreamy and beautiful novel that showcases some of the triumphs of the LGBTQ community.

Ophelia's Books is also dedicated to environmental progress. By shelving only used books, it promotes reuse and prioritizes a love for the planet. Furthermore, a unique charm can be found in an all— used book store such as Ophelia's. "The joy I have from this place is kind of... an adventure, and you just never know what you're gonna find, and it can be so interesting," said Levine.

If you're interested in mystery, nostalgia, or perhaps soon meeting Seattle's newest bookstore cat, make your way down past the troll, and check out Ophelia's Books, Fremont's coziest shop.