Romance Road Trip!
And How You Can Put Your Favorite Authors on a *List*
Every author dreams of hitting a list: USA Today, Wall Street Journal, New York Times. Even that coveted orange banner on Amazon gives an author publicly verifiable proof of concept that tells the world a lot of people are reading my book!
Over the years, authors and publishers have tried to figure out the formula: how many books do I need to sell to hit a list? Do ebooks carry equal weight as paperback? Library purchases, author copies… No matter where you look, there is a variable to consider when trying to spread the word about your books.
One belief the industry has as a whole (You can research this! This article is old, but it gives a comprehensive look into what authors, publishers, and booksellers face.) is that the weight given to bestselling books sold in paperback or hardcover through independent bookstores factors heavily into whether a book hits a list.
Romance authors have a harder hill to climb since we are still in so many places relegated to small sections or shelved in general fiction. I’m tremendously fortunate to live in a big city where bookstores—independent, major, and everything in between—are a drive (and a $$$ parking spot) away.
Where do you buy books? Are you an Amazon fan (No shade to the ‘Zon! I love KU and Prime shipping!)
You may not know this but where and when you buy books matters to those authors working hard to hit bestseller lists. Pre-orders give authors a massive boost as well. The next time you want to pre-order or purchase a book for an author you love, consider reaching out to your favorite indie. Many independent bookstores offer in-store pickup, so you can save on shipping costs.
I’ve pulled together a list of some of the wonderful romance bookstores you might want to put on the list for the next time you’re ready to order or pre-order a book:
The Ripped Bodice Bookstore, Culver City, California
TRB is my local indie bookstore. I live about five miles from them, and I host a monthly book club in the store.
Meet Cute Romance Bookshop, San Diego, California
Where I live in LA is about a two-hour drive from Meet Cute, but this one is high on my list to check out! The mural on their wall is something I’ve stalked on social media so many times. It’s adorable and I hear the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable!
Steamy Lit Bookstore, Deerfield Beach, Florida
If you’re in the romance community in any way, you need to know about Steamy Lit! They put on an amazing reader conference/signing, and they also have a bookstore in Florida. These women are powerful and are making things happen in the romance community, advocating for diverse representation and supporting diver romance authors and creatives. LOVE!
The Last Chapter Bookstore, Chicago, Illinois
Making my hometown proud is this new romance-focused bookstore!
Love’s Sweet Arrow, Tinley Park, Illinois
For those who prefer shopping in the burbs, Love’s Sweet Arrow is a south suburban alternative for romance readers. They were one of the first romance bookstores I heard opening after The Ripped Bodice, so this mother-daughter duo was definitely ahead of the trend!
Grump & Sunshine Bookstore, Belfast, Maine
I have never been to the state of Maine, but this adorable bookstore is reason enough to visit!
Under The Cover, Kansas City, Missouri
With a store name this cute, I feel like organizing a romance bookstore road trip! Who’s with me?
Tropes & Trifles, Minneapolis, Minnesota
I have a dear friend in Rochester, MN, who I desperately want to visit…and who I know I could drag over to this store!!
A Novel Romance, Louisville, Kentucky
I have not been to Louisville, but I have been to other parts of Kentucky. I would absolutely include this cute stop on my romance road trip!
Smitten Bookstore, Ventura, California
As cute as Smitten looks, my romance road trip won’t last very long if I just stay in California… But Ventura is gorgeous, so Smitten caps off my list!
Where are you from? Did I miss any romance bookstores? Let me know because I’m absolutely serious! I’m ready to hit the road and shop…and maybe even schedule 2025 signings!
Have you taken a romance roadtrip? Tell me everything! Thanks for supporting indie authors and bookstores!
This is such a fun list! Definitely writing down the bookstores in Kansas City and Chicago down for next year just in case. 💖
In Iowa, during Indie Bookstore Day the local shops team up for a road trip event. There's a cute map (somewhere in my office) illustrated with all Midwest indie bookstores on it. Closer to home, ~8 bookstores have passports customers can have stamped at each location and be entered into a drawing. I usually have a conflict, so I only make it to a couple stores, but I love the idea!
Some fun indie bookstores in the Des Moines area are Beaverdale Books, Dog-Eared Books, Reading in Public, and StoryHouse Book Pub 📚