On Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10, Roscoe Village's The Last Chapter Book Shop is celebrating Bookstore Romance Day. Amanda Anderson, the store's owner and dedicated proponent for romance writing, is looking forward to it.
“There has always been a stigma against romance books and against the genre as a whole," explained . "It's more than sex and erotica. It teaches you about friendships, how to love yourself, not to settle in life, and to put yourself first. I wanted to create a place that celebrated that.”
Founded by Anderson, The Last Chapter is a Latina and BIPOC-owned romance-only bookstore located at 2013 West Roscoe Street. While it began as an online and convention-only business in 2021, Anderson first opened the store's doors in September 2023.
“When we first opened, there were only five romance-only bookstores I can think of,” shared Anderson. Now, she says, there are far more. “I'm so glad to see the genre getting the respect it deserves.”
What Is Bookstore Romance Day?
“It’s a big old party,” enthused Anderson, describing it as a day of celebration for the romance genre. "We celebrate romance 365 days a year. So we see it as a thank you to our customers. We always go hard for it.” This year, Anderson explained, The Last Chapter is celebrating all weekend instead of just one day.
The store planned a exciting agenda, offering a raffle and more. Customer who spend more than $50 receive (while supplies last) a tote filled with romance-relevant books, goodies, and items. Romance aficionados can look forward to signings by area author such as L.B. Dunbar, Cynthia A. Rodriguez, McKenzie Burns, and Erin Marie Bassett. Local Latino business Traguitos Bartending Co. will sell mocktails too. Details may be found on The Last Chapter’s eventbrite page.
Interested, but can’t make it? Don't lose heart. “We do tons of events, so if you're local or trying to dip your toes in or make friends in the genre, come!” shared Anderson.
“We love this community. We love the Chicagoland area. Wherever you are in your reading journey, know that our doors are wide open and we're ready for you to come in and see how we can help that journey grow,” Anderson concluded.
The Last Chapter will celebrate Bookstore Romance Day on Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, August 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holly Smith is a communications specialist with a history in publishing and the bookstore world. Now she tackles book and literary event reviews one at a time. You can read more of her book reviews at Holly Reviews, Bookman!.
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