Romance-focused bookstore Lovebound Library has opened in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. The store is located at 145 E. 900 South.
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| Owner Courtney Stookey | |
Owner Courtney Stookey stocks a variety of romance sub-genres, including LGBTQIA+ romance, historical romance, and fantasy romance. In addition to books, Stookey carries sidelines like tote bags, candles, journals, pens, and bookmarks, with nonbook products sourced primarily from women-owned businesses.
Stookey told the Tribune that she was inspired not only by the success of other romance-focused bookstores around the country, but also by the success of genre and speciality bookstores in Salt Lake City, including the Legendarium, which focuses on science fiction and fantasy, and the queer bookstore Under the Umbrella.
She noted that she's always been a big genre reader, but did not start reading romance until the Covid-19 pandemic. Discovering the genre was a "breath of fresh air." In creating Lovebound Library, she wanted romance readers to feel the same excitement she felt when she first visited the Legendarium. She also wanted to make sure that everyone feels welcome.
"I know there is kind of the whole stigma of 'romance is only for women,' but it's really not," Stookey added. "I want people to feel empowered to come in, whoever you are... and just feel empowered and not judged. This is a very safe space and that's what I really wanted to create."