Bookstores like The Ripped Bodice and Lovestruck Books have opened multiple locations across the nation|therippedbodice|Instagram
Romance-only bookstores are popping up across the US, hosting book clubs, comedy nights, and even weddings. Once a guilty pleasure, romance novels are now the main aisle.
Bookstores like The Ripped Bodice and Lovestruck Books have opened multiple locations across the nation.
The American Booksellers Association notes that out of the 157 romance bookstores around America, over 50% have opened in the past two years.
Romance novel fans, often multigenerational, gather at the stores or online forums and share their current reads and author recommendations. They bond over familiar tropes like enemies-to-lovers and spicy plotlines with guaranteed happily-ever-afters.
The pandemic turbocharged the genre’s growth, as readers sought comfort and connection.
Additionally, BookTok, podcasts, and social meetups have made connecting and discovering new titles even easier.