A romance-focused bookstore called Under the Cover opened last week in Kansas City, Mo., the Kansas City Star reported.
Store owner Carley Morton, a longtime romance reader who also hosts a podcast dedicated to the genre, held a soft opening for her store on Wednesday. Located at 605 E. 31st St. in midtown Kansas City, the bookstore features a wide variety of romance sub-genres with section names like "Yes, Your Majesty," or "Oh, a Billionaire." There are also sections focused on local authors and titles that have taken off on BookTok.
Morton told the Star she was inspired by her love of the genre, the ongoing boom in romance sales, and the other romance-focused bookstores that have opened around the country in recent years. "I was talking to my husband afterward and was like, 'Look, I think we could do a romance bookstore.' And then he did a bunch of research and was like, 'Look, you could totally do a romance bookstore.' "
So far the bookstore has met with an enthusiastic response, and a video taken of the bookstore on opening day went viral, garnering more than 207,000 views on TikTok. Added Morton: "So, it's been crazy. I've been getting so many texts about it."
Under the Cover will host a grand opening celebration this weekend on Indies First/Small Business Saturday. There will be food, drinks, and visits from local authors, including Sierra Simone.