30 Romance Bookstores That Cater to the Passion of Romance Book Readers

Have you always wanted to visit a romance bookstore that was filled with rows upon rows of romance books? Well now you can by visiting these romance bookstores that cater to the passion only romance book readers know best. Travel across the country and be sure to stop at one of these romance bookstores for your next read!

*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Romance Bookstores Quick List:

In the United States:

• Anchorage, Alaska: Beauty and the Book
• Belfast, Maine: Grump and Sunshine
• Brooklyn, New York: The Ripped Bodice
• Buffalo, New York: Afterflow
• Cambridge, Massachusetts: Lovestruck Books
• Charleston, South Carolina: Sweeter Than Fiction
• Charlotte, North Carolina: Trope Bookshop
• Chesapeake, Virginia: Novel Grounds
• Chicago, Illinois: The Last Chapter
• Deerfield Beach, Florida: Steamy Lit Bookstore
• Fairbanks, Alaska: The Ivy Bookshop
• Ferndale, Michigan: Love and Other Books
• Fort Pierce, Florida: Wanderlust Book Boutique
• Hayden, Idaho: It’s a Love Story
• Kansas City, Missouri: Under the Cover
• La Mesa, California: Meet Cute Bookshop
• Louisville, Kentucky: A Novel Romance
• Los Angeles, California: The Ripped Bodice
• Minneapolis, Minnesota: Tropes and Trifles
• Orlando, Florida: The New Romantics
• Portland, Oregon: Grand Gesture Books
• Salt Lake City, Utah: Lovebound Library
• Tampa, Florida: Steamy Lit Bookstore
• Tinley Park, Illinois: Love’s Sweet Arrow
• Vancouver, Washington: The Romance Era Bookshop
• Ventura, California: Smitten
• Wichita, Kansas: Blush Bookstore
• Wilmington, North Carolina: Beach Read Books

In Canada:

• Calgary, Alberta: Slow Burn Books
• Happily Ever After (online bookstore)

Romance Bookstores Every
Romance Reader Should Visit

The Ripped Bodice
Culver City, California and Brooklyn, New York

The Ripped Bodice was one of the first romance bookstores to open in the United States that caters exclusively to the romance reader.

Located in Culver City, California, The Ripped Bodice bookstore opened a second store in Brooklyn, New York in 2023!

Started and owned by sisters, Leah and Bea Koch, it offers a diverse selection of romance fiction and keeps a pulse on diversity in the genre with its The Ripped Bodice State of Racial Diversity in Romance Report.

Not only can you search the variety of romance books they carry, but you can also find a wide selection of gifts with a focus on supporting independent, woman-owned businesses.

The Ripped Bodice ships books domestically but international shipping is limited.  They also started the Read, Romance, Repeat subscription box which is their version of the Romance Book of the Month Club.

Meet Cute Romance Bookshop
La Mesa, California

I love how Meet Cute calls itself “a place for romance readers (and the romance-curious) to hang out, and generally get nerdy about kissing books.”

It already sounds like my kind of place and I can’t wait to visit this romance bookstore which opened in September 2022.

Even if you can’t make it to Meet Cute in San Diego, you can order books online or participate in their virtual events. If you are local, stop by and check out their in-person author events!

Love’s Sweet Arrow
Tinley Park, Illinois

This mother-daughter-owned and operated romance bookstore opened in the summer of 2019 because they love happily-ever-after endings as much as the next romance book reader.

In addition to romance books, Love’s Sweet Arrow carries candles made by local women vendors and a line of handmade cards.

They also host events and a monthly book club. At times they also offer a variety of book boxes for sale.

Blush Bookstore
Wichita, Kansas

Blush Bookstore opened in March 2023 in Wichita, Kansas and offers a wide selection of romance books including contemporary, young adult, fantasy and dark romance titles, plus some cozy essentials and unique items the fill the needs of a modern romance reader.

Owner, Jaclyn Wooten created the bookstore as a means to connect with other readers in the area, so be sure to check it out!

The Last Chapter Book Shop
Chicago, IL

The Last Chapter Book Shop started off as an online store in 2021 but fully opened its doors in Chicago, IL in September 2023 in the Roscoe village area.

It offers a diverse selection of books as well as a variety of monthly trope boxes, book club boxes, and bookish merch.

The store’s mission is to continue to support the many members of romancelandia, and connecting readers with the books they love, the merch they can’t live without, and the authors that are a positive force in the community.

The Romance Era Bookshop
in Vancouver, WA

The Romance Era Bookshop first started as an e-bookshop with pop-ups around Vancouver but found a physical space in 2023. The romance bookstore is a love letter to the genre, according to the owner, whose love of books started with Scholastic Book Fairs. It is also a creative space for writers!

Tropes & Trifles
in Minneapolis, MN

Tropes & Trifles opened in November 2023 by friends Lauren and Caitlin who met at a romance book club. They wanted to open a romance bookstore “where readers and writers can find books with happy endings.” They carry a diverse list of romance books as well as shelves dedicated to Minnesota authors.

Novel Grounds
in Chesapeake, VA

Novel Grounds opened its doors to a brick and mortar book store in 2023 but has been an online romance bookstore and fictionally inspired merchandise company for 10 years that offers clothing, bags, stickers, keychains, patches, coffee, art prints and various other book-themed merchandise.

Visit the store for fun purchases or check out their merchandise online and save 10%.

Related: Best Bookish Shops Online

Grump and Sunshine
Belfast, Maine

Visit Grump and Sunshine for books, bookish merchandise and adult toys. The store offers two in-person book clubs as well as the Grump & Sunshine’s Naughty and Nice Monthly Subscription Boxes.

A Novel Romance
Louisville, Kentucky

A Novel Romance opened in July 2023 as a place for romance enthusiasts to find books, bookish items and novelty gifts and participate in a local book club which has four different themed books to read each month. They also have co-working spaces and events so check out A Novel Romance.

Under the Cover
Kansas City, Missouri

Check out Under the Cover, a romance bookstore in Kansas City, which opened in November 2023 and serves up romance books and author events!

Wanderlust Book Boutique
Fort Pierce, Florida

The Wanderlust Book Boutique opened in January 2024 and sells romance books as well as bookish merchandise.

Lovebound Library
Salt Lake City Utah

Located in Salt Lake City’s Maven District, Lovebound Library opened its doors in February 2024 and offers a variety of romance books as well as bookish merchandise from women-owned businesses.

Steamy Lit Bookstore
Deerfield Beach & Tampa, Florida

The Steamy Lit Bookstore opened in February 2024 in Deerfield Beach and another location in Tampa later that year though it has been offering The Steam Box book subscriptions for longer. Check out their brick-and-mortar store for books, merch and events!

Related: Best Romance Book Subscription Boxes

Trope Bookshop
Charlotte, North Carolina

The Trope Bookshop is a one-of-a-kind romance bookstore on wheels that travels all around the Queen City! Owner, Katie Michell aims to provide access to indie books, local authors, & other hard-to-find books that other big box stores cannot as well as build a bookish community in Charlotte. She also runs a book club on the second Thursday of the month.

The Ivy Bookshop
Fairbanks, Alaska

The Ivy Bookshop is Alaska’s first romance bookshop. It is a romance bookshop that carries a variety of novels ranging from dark romance to romcom and romantasy.

Beauty and the Book
Anchorage, Alaska

Beauty and the Book is owned by sisters Ally Hartman and Baylee Loyd and opened in June 2024 to a line out the door. This romance bookstore has a pair of rooms, decorated for different types of romance books: a pink room for traditional romance and a dark room for dark romance, sci-fi, fantasy and provocative themes. They also have an area that features Alaska authors.

It’s a Love Story
Hayden, Idaho

It’s a Love Story is a romance bookstore and café that opened in Hayden, Idaho in July 2024. It offers a wide selection of romance books plus “Blind Date with a Book,” a monthly book box, merchandise and fun events including a silent reading club, game night and book signings.

Love & Other Books
in Ferndale, Michigan

Love & Other Books is a romance bookstore outside Detroit, Michigan run by a husband and wife team. They wanted to create a space where readers can take their time and connect with others over their shared love of books. They run book clubs, have author signings and run a lot of other fun events.

Sweeter Than Fiction
in Charleston, South Carolina

Sweeter Than Fiction is set to open at the end of 2024 as a romance bookstore in Charleston. Shop for the latest romance book releases, unique stationary, gifts and more!

Beach Read Books
in Wilmington, North Carolina

Beach Read Books is a cozy and inviting coastal bookstore, where you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and get lost in a good book. They have a selection of summer reads, romance novels, and North Carolina based books to choose from and run several book clubs.

Grand Gesture Books
in Portland, Oregon

Grand Gesture Books is a queer, women-owned romance bookstore in Portland Oregon that offers a wide variety of books as well as book clubs.

Afterglow Books
in Buffalo, New York

Afterglow Books is a premiere romance bookstore that caters to the romance book lover and fantasy lover. It sets out to create a haven where book enthusiasts can explore a diverse array of titles in their favorite genres. The bookstore runs events, book clubs and accepts used or “second chance” romance books!

Lovestruck Books
in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lovestruck Books is going to open in Harvard Square in Cambridge Massachusetts. Stay tuned for online ordering and events.

Smitten
in Ventura, California

Smitten is the latest romance bookstore in California to offer a variety of romance books and women’s fiction titles. They offer events in their Smitten Lounge and run five book clubs.

The New Romantics
in Orlando, Florida

The New Romantics is a Romance-Only Bookstore featuring books from a diverse range of authors covering a wide range of romance genres.  They offer a Book Box, book club, events and more!

Romance Bookstore In Canada:

Slow Burn Books
Calgary, Canada

Just over the border you can travel to Slow Burn Books, a specialty romance bookstore that offers a wide range of romance books, book signings, author talks, book clubs, wine and cheese nights, writing workshops, and other community events that help build connections within the romance reader and indie-author community.

Online Romance Bookstore

If you can’t visit one of the above romance bookstores in person, then you can surely visit this online romance bookstore devoted to the romance reader.

Check them out for your next book purchase or to subscribe to one of their romance book subscription boxes!

Happily Ever After Books
Based in Toronto, Canada

Happily Ever After Books is an online bookstore for romantics. Happily Ever After Books believes everyone deserves a happy ever after so they are committed to making sure all their customers find themselves in the pages of the books they carry.

I love that Jenny started this bookstore from her own love of reading romance and because she sees the importance in reading romance.

As an online bookstore, Happily Ever After Books not only ships books but also holds virtual events and offers a monthly romance book subscription box (for readers in Canada or the United States) that includes one new release from that month, bookmarks, stickers, and 2-4 additional items.

Extra Bookstore Highlight:

Turn the Page Bookstore
Boonsboro, Maryland

Why not visit a bookstore associated with a queen of romance, Nora Roberts?!

Turn the Page Bookstore is owned and operated by Nora Roberts’ husband, Bruce Wilder. While it is not a bookstore devoted exclusively to romance books, they do carry a complete line of Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb titles that are in print.

Want a signed book by Nora Roberts? Then you’re in luck!

Ms. Roberts signs books three nights a week at Turn the Page Bookstore so if you’re looking for a personalized message, just contact the store. Signed books are available for in-store patrons and online orders. You can also purchase a variety of Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb promotional items. 

This bookstore also organizes book clubs, Girls’ Night Out and up to seven book signing events a year with Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb and other authors.

Take a visit to this romance bookstore and stay at the Inn of Boonsboro On the Square, a boutique bed and breakfast where each room bears the names of literary lovers who found their happy endings. It would make the perfect place to read Roberts’ The Inn Boonsboro trilogy!

Tune in for Bookstore Romance Day

Bookstore Romance Day is a “day designed to give independent bookstores an opportunity to celebrate Romance fiction – its books, readers, and writers – and to strengthen the relationships between bookstores and the Romance community.“

The upcoming Bookstore Romance Day will be August 17, 2024.

Visit the Bookstore Romance Day organization for the complete list of participating, independent bookstores who you can support on this day and after!

Which of these romance bookstores are you going to visit first? Share in the comments below.

Have you already been to one of these romance bookstores? Tell us about your experience!

You May Also Enjoy:

• The Best Romance Book Subscription Boxes
• The Best Reading Resources for Readers
• The Best Gifts for Bookworms and Romance Book Lovers
• The Best Reading Journals for Book Lovers of Every Type
• The Romance Book Reading Journal

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