Still in search of a summer romance? Lucky for you, Aug. 17 is the sixth annual Romance Bookstore Day, a national event that brings together independent bookstores for a celebration of the romance genre. Whether you’re a fan of Jane Austen’s classics or “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” stop by any (or all) of the eight participating stores to get to know the indie bookstore scene and discover your next romantic read.
Each bookstore is celebrating Bookstore Romance Day in its own special way. From Aug. 16-18, you can grab a bite at a food truck, get a first look at new releases with advance readers copies, and enjoy discounts on purchases. If you get your bookmark passport stamped at all eight participating bookstores, you’re eligible for the grand prize drawing of a gift card to each store, which will be announced the following week. Visit the website for a full list of the eight participating Twin Cities bookstores and read on for book recommendations from your local booksellers.
Magers & Quinn Booksellers
Magers & Quinn Booksellers recently celebrated its 30th anniversary as an Uptown staple and as one of the largest independent bookstores in the Midwest. Known for its large collection of rare, new, and used books, Magers & Quinn often plays host to local and touring authors and speakers across topic genres.
Photo by Doug Rusk
Magers & Quinn Booksellers’ Pick:
BEST ROMANTIC COMEDY: “Yours Truly” by Abby Jimenez
“Abby is one of Minnesota’s most beloved contemporary romance writers, and her novels always deliver humor and heart in equal measure. Abby’s characters face real-world challenges, and the magic of her fiction is that her protagonists find the right person to help them meet those challenges. In ‘Yours Truly,’ newly divorced Briana and anxious Jacob become coworkers, then friends, then something more complicated when Jacob agrees to be a kidney donor for Briana’s brother and Briana agrees to be Jacob’s date to a complicated family event. A classic rom-com setup with an emotionally hefty twist, Abby will have you laughing, crying, and cheering for this loveable couple.” – Annie Metcalf, Magers & Quinn Marketing & Event Coordinator
Big Hill Books
Big Hill Books is a woman-owned neighborhood bookstore in Bryn Mawr, one of the most popular neighborhoods for homebuyers in 2024. This eclectic store opened a little over six months ago and hosts live music events, date nights, and a weekly silent reading time in their self-described “ugly church basement” space. Come say hi to the bookstore’s cats, Adso and Goose!
Big Hill Books’ Picks:
BEST SPORTS ROMANCE: “The Prospects” by KT Hoffman
“An ‘instant favorite guaranteed’-type of book about the first openly trans baseball player who falls into a rivals-to-lovers romance with a new teammate while his minor league team battles to make it to the playoffs. Unrepentantly hopeful, transformative, and hilarious.” – Beth Thompson, Big Hill Books Owner
BEST BEACH READ: “Act Your Age, Eve Brown” by Talia Hibbert
“A flighty chef determined to prove herself accidentally hits an uptight B&B owner with her car, sparking a chaotic relationship in this pithy, heartfelt contemporary. You will fall in love with Eve Brown!” – Beth Thompson, Big Hill Books Owner
BEST LGBTQIA+ ROMANCE: “Delilah Green Doesn’t Care” by Ashley Herring Blake
“This book is a triumph of contemporary romance— an exploration of queer identity, female friendship, and girlhood set against the backdrop of a small-town wedding. The love story is authentic, heartfelt, and plenty steamy.” – Beth Thompson, Big Hill Books Owner
Tropes & Trifles
Tropes & Trifles knows a thing or two about romance. In fact, that’s pretty much all it sells. The shelves are organized by genre, ranging from nonfiction explorations of the queer liberation to the latest contemporary fiction. During the weekend of Bookstore Romance Day, visit the store to participate in a scavenger hunt and enter for a chance to win one of three themed gift bags.
courtesy of Tropes & trifles
Tropes & Trifles’ Picks:
BEST YA ROMANCE: “Throwback” by Maurene Goo
“Sam’s mother is a perfectionist who doesn’t understand that her daughter wants different things than she does. Sam doesn’t want to join the country club, be a cheerleader, or attend Yale. She especially doesn’t care about homecoming. After Sam and her mother have a huge fight, Sam books a ride to school in a rideshare app and ends up transported 30 years back in time to the 90s— where her mother is a teenager. The horror of time travel is real! If Sam can’t figure out how to fix things with her mother in the past, she won’t have a future to return home to.” – Katie Polley, Tropes & Trifles Bookseller
BEST HISTORICAL ROMANCE: “We Could Be So Good” by Cat Sebastian
“Nick and Andy are working at a paper together that Andy’s father owns. Andy has one year to prepare for taking over the paper, with little to no experience in journalism. Nick takes him under his wing, and as Andy gets to know Nick in a deeper way, Andy starts to discover feelings he’s never had before. A beautifully tender story, ‘We Could Be So Good’ transplants you to the world of Nick and Andy as they discover new parts of themselves, their friendships, and their journalism amid trying to find each other through it all.” –Katrina Poplett, Tropes & Trifles Bookseller
