CAMBRIDGE – A romance bookstore – the first in the Boston area – has opened its doors in Cambridge, giving fans of the genre a chance to enjoy romance reads.
A first for the Boston area
“We are the first brick-and-mortar romance-focused bookstore in the Boston area,” says Rachel Kanter, owner of Harvard Square’s new Lovestruck Books.
For customer Birukti Tsige, there is no better feeling than cuddling up with a good novel.
“There’s just something comforting about it. I love the characteristics of the genre,” she said. The twists and turns of a good love story keep her turning the pages. “I probably read two or three a week sometimes.”
According to Kanter, the store is stocked with 10,000 books. “We have Romances; we have sports, dark romance, historical books… I mean literally everything,” she said.
Books aren’t the only thing on the bookshelves. “We have everything designed to enhance the reading experience: we have tea; we have things for a fun night out. We also have craft activities if you need a mental break from the things going on in your life.”
A community brought together by romance
Kanter hopes her store will become more than just a destination for readers. She wants to create a community.
“There’s so much going on in the world right now that it’s hard. I wanted it to be a place that almost felt like an escape,” she said. “I think people just really want something that’s optimistic and hopeful.”
She wants readers to feel like they belong here and be inspired to find love and write their own novels.
“My dream is to have a wedding here. But first dates would be great too,” Kanter said.
