Seattle is known for having some of the best bookstores, with sprawling shelves full of diverse titles. While many of the largest bookstores carry a variety of Queer and Trans books, Seattle's smallest store has the largest LGBTQ+ selection of books. Charlie's Book Co. is a Queer and Trans centered bookstore boasting titles and genres that focus on the LGBTQ+ experience.

"I felt compelled to create a store that was by and for Queer people to expand on the intersection of Queer identity that created more opportunities for us to see ourselves in the world," owner and bookseller Charlie Hunts said. "I wanted to read about topics from cooking and crafts to fiction and graphic novels, not just memoirs in a tiny area of a bookstore, usually by the self-help section."

More than just a self-help section
Most stores in Seattle have at least one small LGBTQ+ section, but Hunts wanted to see more. "Our Queer identity isn't just in our coming out story or our relationships with our families," he said. "Those are important aspects, but we're also full human beings. We do things like cook and travel and have spiritual sides of ourselves or like to craft, or we have kids and want children's books written by or for [Queer] people."

Charlie's Book Co. has a wide selection of books, all by Queer and Trans authors. The store carries everything from the children's book And Tango Makes Three to the romance novel Red, White, and Royal Blue. "The store's mission is to create a curated experience that centers the spectrum of the Queer life," Hunts said.

What sets Charlie's Book Co. apart from other Seattle bookstores is that it isn't a physical store... at least not yet. Hunts launched his bookstore online six months ago. At the same time, he started traveling around the city with his fabulous book cart, which he takes to markets and events.

Recently, Charlie's Book Co. cart set up shop in Volunteer Park for Pride in the Park. Readers can spot his mobile bookshop by its disco tiles, flamingos, and inflatable palm trees. "We try to create a campy Palm Springs vibe," Hunts said. "It feels light, fun, and inviting. It's a little different from your traditional bookstore, that's for sure."

Readers can order any titles Hunts sells from the cart, as stickers, shirts, home goods, and more, on the store's website. "I like to inject humor and some new perspectives from Queer artisans around the world," Hunts said. "I make a concerted effort to curate items you wouldn't find at your usual market or home goods store. I try to find stuff from around the world that highlights new artists and is fun." The selection includes a "Read banned Queer books" T-shirt that lists titles of LGBTQ+ books banned in school districts across America, a "Gay whales against racism" pin, and many whimsical prints.

Queer books are hot
With book bans spreading across the country, the popularity of some LGBTQ+ titles has, ironically, skyrocketed. Some of the most popular titles at Charlie's Book Co. are the collected weekly comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel and celebrity heartthrob Elliot Page's hotly anticipated new memoir. "Pageboy by Elliott Page just came out, and that one certainly is a big seller for us," Hunts said.

Hunts' book cart is a hit wherever it rolls. One of the reasons readers love his store so much is that he sells Queer and Trans books that go beyond just stories about identity. When it's just a given that the books at the store are about LGBTQ+ people, readers find even more diversity in the stories they encounter. "It's important because it helps us to see more of ourselves in the world and creates opportunities to see intersectionality realized," Hunts said. "I'm not just a Trans man. I'm also Jewish. I have cats. There's more to me than just being Trans. In this current climate, so much focus is put on our bodies. It's refreshing and humanizing to expand beyond one aspect of what makes us who we are. It's an important aspect, but it's not the only aspect."

Charlie's Book Co. hopes to expand to a physical store sometime this year. "We're looking for a brick-and-mortar home," Hunts said. "If readers have tips, we are looking for our home." One catch? He'd prefer not to be located on Capitol Hill, as the neighborhood already has several excellent bookstores and a thriving Queer community. "We've been looking at Fremont as a possibility, somewhere with access to folks visiting Seattle and neighborhood residents. What's important is we pick a location that allows us to become a part of that neighborhood," he said.

Until he finds a location that Charlie's Book Co. can call home, Hunts will continue peddling wares from his cart at Seattle events. The book cart will be at Trans Pride on Friday, June 23, at the Fremont Sunday Market, and at Ballard F.C.'s Pride march on July 8. "If anyone wants to see where we are, we always show where we'll be popping up on our Instagram, which is @Charliesbookco, and on our website," Hunts said.

Hunts recommends Non-Binary author Akwaeke Emezi's novel Pet, a haunting story about the reality of monsters, for all of SGN's book club readers. Everyone is welcome to read along with us and share their thoughts about the book on our Instagram book club page @lindseysbookcorner. Grab your copy of Pet at Charlie's Book Co. and read along with us!