A romance-focused bookstore called Forbidden Fiction Bookshop has opened on a limited basis in Oceanside, Calif., FOX5 San Diego reported.
The bookstore made its debut at 528 S. Coast Hwy. on Saturday, March 28. While Forbidden Fiction sells an assortment of romance titles, owner Samantha Matouzzi places a major emphasis on the dark romance sub-genre and on independent authors.
"I'm a dark romance girly, and so every time I go to romance stores, it's hard finding dark romance," Matouzzi told FOX5 San Diego.
Matouzzi described the opening on March 28 as "phase one" of the bookstore's opening, with "phase two" coming on Independent Bookstore Day, April 25. Phase two will include the unveiling of an additional room in the bookstore called the Red Room, which will feature more inventory.
She noted that the response to the bookstore has been very strong. "Once I started posting more, it was weird, like just blew up," Matouzzi said. "I've never had that experience, and so it's just like, oh my gosh, this is great. It actually made me feel like, wow, I'm doing the right thing."