Celebrating romance, one bookshop at a time

Lilac Mills
21 hours ago
3 min read

Hanging white sign reading Romance with pink hearts, in front of a colorful bookshelf of romance novels.

Have you noticed that there’s been a change in the book scene in the UK over the past couple of years? I mean, romance readers have always been enthusiastic about their favourite genre, but now they’re getting something that I never thought I’d see – bookshops dedicated entirely to romance novels!

For a long time, us romance readers often had to head straight for a single shelf tucked away in the corner of a general bookshop. And that’s if the bookshop actually had a dedicated shelf at all. I was in WH Smith the other day (soz, but I still can’t think of it as TGJones – the same way I can’t think of Twitter as X), and it had a crime section and a thriller section, but not a romance section – although it did have a shelf dedicated to romantasy, so that’s better than nothing. But no good to me, because I was looking for something more lighthearted. And my nearest bookshop doesn’t even have that.

However, romance lovers have been taking matters into their own hands by opening bookshops that only sell romance, and I was thrilled when one opened in Cardiff.

Pink gift-wrapped book with Love Stories label beside a bookstore and colorful shelves, with a hand browsing books.

Part of the appeal is that readers know exactly what they’re going to find when they walk in. Instead of searching through several sections, they can browse shelves filled with contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic comedy, fantasy romance and everything in between. The focus is entirely on stories centred around relationships and happy endings, which is exactly what many readers are looking for.

Social media has played a significant role in this growth. Platforms such as BookTok and Bookstagram have helped romance reach a wider audience than ever before. Readers share recommendations, discuss new releases and celebrate favourite authors with an enthusiasm that is a delight to behold. It makes sense that physical spaces would follow, because romance matters.

I’ll say it again, louder for those at the back - ROMANCE MATTERS!

There’s finally a growing recognition that romance deserves to be taken seriously as a publishing category. It's long been one of the most commercially successful genres, yet it's often dismissed, despite attracting millions of readers. Dedicated bookshops challenge that perception. They place romance front and centre, and treat it with the same respect that specialist shops have given crime fiction, science fiction or independent literary fiction for years. And about time!

Romantic illustration of a couple embracing amid roses, hearts, wine and chocolate, with text Romance Matters!

These romance only bookshops know that readers are looking for comfort and escapism, and romance offers stories

where emotional journeys matter and where readers can usually close the book feeling satisfied. They are also becoming places to host author events, book launches and reading groups, and since reading is often thought of as a solitary hobby, romance readers have shown how much they enjoy connecting with others who share their interests by attending these events.

Independent bookselling has faced – and is still facing – plenty of challenges, but specialist shops often succeed because they know their audience. And with new romance only bookshops thriving on our high streets, it shows there’s a demand for spaces built around a genre people genuinely love – and judging by the excitement surrounding new openings, that demand shows no sign of disappearing any time soon.

From a romance author’s perspective, this is wonderful news!

From a romance reader’s perspective it’s blimmin’ brilliant!!