Tucked in a semi-basement unit in a retail building on Brattle Street awaits a romance book lover’s paradise. Lovestruck Books opened at the beginning of January, offering a bookstore, boutique, and cafe in one.
Romance is more than a Valentine’s Day specialty here; the store captures the heart of the holiday year-round. An archway of pink, red, indigo, and white flowers lines the patio ceiling entrance. Inside, tables feature cutesy shelves with illustrations of female role models, from Chappell Roan to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the cursive word “Lover” on them. Some tables include seasonal Valentine’s Day items, such as Valentine’s Day gift bags and red and pink decor. Other items, such as the “Spa Day” and “Coffee & A Book” scented candles and artisanal cocktail sets and chocolate, seem characteristic of the store’s year-round romantic style and shop offerings.
A George Howell Coffee shop sits inside the store, with small coffee tables for working or chatting. However, my favorite spot is in the front right corner—a lounge area featuring three cozy chairs, a couch, several pillows, and outlets to power a writing session. The lack of customer Wi-Fi encourages patrons to use the communal spaces to read or chat rather than spend hours on their computers.
The music changes depending on the day, featuring popular artists such as Taylor Swift, Noah Kahan, and even some Toto jams. While not always the best background music for a reading session, the music cultivates a whimsical, welcoming vibe.
Lovestruck Books encapsulates the third place theory—a place outside of home and work to meet people, socialize, and build community. Beyond its typical bookstore and coffee shop operations, Lovestruck hosts book clubs, wine tastings, and release parties.
In an email interview with the Independent, owner Rachel Kanter shared that her inspiration for Lovestruck was rooted in these ideas. “I had my second child in March of 2020 and the incredible isolation of pandemic and postpartum led me to envision a kind of third place (outside of work and home) where I could connect with other people casually over shared interests.”
“[I] wanted to provide a platform and convening space for other groups and organizations looking for a place to gather. The specific combination of bookstore and cafe and boutique and wine bar was just the manifestation of all my favorite things in one place,” she continued.
Lovestruck Books is capitalizing on the rapidly expanding market for the romance genre. From 2020 to 2023, romance print book sales nearly doubled to 39 million copies. Social media supported the genre’s popularity, with the #BookTok trend on Instagram Reels and TikTok showcasing top romance novels.
Though the ‘romantasy’ genre has been around for a few years, it first gained popularity in 2023. Goodreads added the genre to the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards, awarding “Best Romantasy” to Rebecca Yarros for her best-selling novel “Fourth Wing.” Lovestruck built on this online momentum and hosted a book release party for “Onyx Storm,” the third installment of the “Fourth Wing” series. The bookstore even dedicated an entire end of a bookshelf to displaying the new novel.
Kanter emphasized the importance of a romance-focused bookstore in Harvard Square, in particular. “People in academia or challenging professional environments need escapism from their daily grind, and often, they find it in romance novels,” she said.
In addition to honoring romantic love in its book supply and theme, Lovestruck promotes self-love. Tucked into a glass bookshelf by the lounge, labeled “18+”, Lovestruck sells vibrators, sex-themed card games, lube, and BDSM sex toys. Candles and chocolates for sale adorn the bookshelves. Curated trinket tables with blankets, jewelry, sweet treats, tote bags, and mugs line the front of the shop.
Each day I entered Lovestruck, I saw different types of clientele: two older women catching up in the lounge area; young female students working at coffee tables and sipping specialty tea; a group of students reading books while curled on the couch; Cambridge locals and Harvard friend groups all perusing the book aisles.
“We’ve seen an incredibly diverse clientele ranging from college students to professors to writers to tourists, but the unifying force among everyone is a shared love of books and a desire for a respite from daily life,” Kanter said. “The event attendees are similar, although we have a large fan base willing to drive in from far distances, including out of state, in order to see their favorite writers in person.”
Regardless of your relationship status this Valentine’s Day, Lovestruck Books continues to celebrate love and romance in all forms. Whether you visit Lovestruck Books for a Valentine’s Day gift or come around another time to curl up with a romance novel, the shop is here to stay.
Hannah Davis ’25 (hannahdavis@college.harvard.edu) wrote this article from a chair in Lovestruck Books.