“We carry a lot of Jane Austen and then we skip a couple hundred years. We primarily focus on things published in the past 15 years.”
A bookstore that promises shelves full of that kind of material is sure to gain some significant attention from the romance community — and it has.
When The Ripped Bodice opened its LA doors back in 2016, it was a dream come true for book lovers and romance readers alike.
“When we opened, we were the first and only all romance bookstore in the US, so I think a big part of it was lending legitimacy and respect to a genre that typically – especially in bookstores – is not necessarily treated as such,” says Leah Koch, who sat down with BookTrib at The Ripped Bodice in LA. Leah is the co-owner of the Ripped Bodice bookstore, which she founded with her sister, Bea.
The store gained recent attention last summer with the opening of its newest location in trendy Park Slope, Brooklyn. As a Woman and Queer Owned store, Leah affirms that having a physical space to celebrate a beloved genre with like-minded people was part of the vision.
“A lot of people wanted to know why we were doing brick & mortar. But community is really the reason. We want to create this wonderful physical community – there’s something really special about being in person with people, especially after COVID. We love giving romance readers of all types the ability to meet other people and be in a space with others who are excited about what they are excited about.”
But The Ripped Bodice is not just a place to buy books, though the store prides itself on selling “every kind of romance novel you can think of — from very traditional contemporaries to gargoyles in space. We like the say that we really have something for everybody.”
Whether day or night, The Ripped Bodice has become a community space, promising “book clubs, tons of author events, writing classes & workshops, free stand-up comedy shows, singles mixers,” and more. With a website advertising midnight release parties for fan-favorite books, community writing nights, and book signings, there really is something for everybody.
Of course, with reading communities come trends in genres. The Ripped Bodice makes sure to stay on top of what’s most popular.
“Right now, it’s all about romantasy!” confirms Leah. “This is definitely top of people’s minds and reading lists right now. Romantasy – a hybrid of the fantasy & romance genres — has been on an upswing the past couple years. There’s lots of cool stuff coming out in this genre and I would say this is leading the trend right now.”
If you’re on BookTok, you’ve likely seen the influx of videos in the Romantasy tag, and romance publishers are taking the hint from bestsellers like Rebecca Yarros’ Iron Flame topping the charts.
“[Another] thing that is always increasing in popularity – for as long as I’ve been in the romance world – is rom-coms. They never go out of style.”
The reason for that? Leah says it’s all about escapism, bringing people joy, and appealing to a wide audience — after all, the community that comes with it is what many romance readers love about the genre.
For readers who come into The Ripped Bodice, not quite sure what they’re looking for, Leah and the team always have a few expert recommendations on hand — another reason why a physical location that specializes in romance is so important for readers.
“It’s very different to browse on the internet than to browse in person. The algorithm can feed you things, but you lose the ability to be surprised. The physical act of browsing is so valuable. As experts in Romance, we can go beyond ‘these are our bestsellers’. We can take you to, ‘this is the book for you’.”
So what would she recommend?
“Recently, we’ve been loving Christina Forest. Romantasy – we love Maria Veil. Historical – Beverly Jenkins is our go-to.”
“I read a few months in advance, but here are a couple books to look forward to – Bride by Ali Hazelwood. This is great – our shop is passing around the advanced copy and we’re all loving it. Also, Here We Go Again by Alison Kochran – a sapphic road trip comedy about death. It’s so good – out in June and absolutely fantastic.”
With locations that have been visited by Ali Hazelwood and authors like Casey McQuiston (Red White and Royal Blue), Sarah MacLean (Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake), Christina Lauren (The True Love Experiment) and Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen), you never know who you might bump into while browsing or attending an event. Whether you’re in Park Slope or Culver City, The Ripped Bodice is worth the trip for an unexpected meet-cute with a book you just might fall in love with.
To keep up with Leah, Bea & The Ripped Bodice, follow @therippedbodice on socials.
