Shortly after rekindling her passion for reading, Katie Mitchell discovered The Ripped Bodice, the country's first romance-only bookstore, on Instagram. Inspired, Mitchell introduced Charlotte to its very own romance-only bookstore on wheels, Trope Bookshop, in October 2023.
The Green Girl, as Mitchell calls the bus that transports Trope’s selections, conjures a cozy library hideout with its checkerboard floors and wooden shelves stocked with books organized by romance tropes. (Think marriage of convenience or second-chance romance.) Mitchell partners with coffee shops and breweries to feature The Green Girl at pop-up events around Charlotte. She plans to expand Trope Bookshop to a brick-and-mortar location this year.
Like many millennials, Mitchell grew up with the Harry Potter series. That was where her love for reading started, she says. Years later, working in a corporate job, her reading habit dwindled. But during the pandemic, she and her friends started watching book reviews on TikTok, which inspired her to pick up books again.
After reading popular author Sarah J. Maas, she was hooked. A self-described fan of “romantasy” (fiction that combines romance and fantasy), Mitchell says, “Your taste changes, just like it does in food or wine ... You have to try something new every now and then.”
For those new to the romance genre, Mitchell suggests starting with authors like Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, and Ali Hazelwood. They write contemporary books that don’t involve intricately constructed settings–like foreign planets–or complicated systems–like magic—that might intimidate newcomers, she says.
Charlotte has a robust network of romance authors as well, and Mitchell enjoys organizing events to highlight their work.
“It’s been really cool to meet and connect with local authors and connect them with readers,” she says.
The romance genre's market continues to grow, fueled by TikTok and a desire for happier endings. From 2020-2023, annual print sales in the United States more than doubled.
"(Some people) think that it’s silly and frivolous and unserious, and to that I say romance is the fastest-selling, largest-selling genre in the market,” says Mitchell.
As a sign of romance’s mainstream status, Caroline Chambers–author and top food and drink writer on Substack–frequently mentions the romance books she reads.
Trope Bookshop is now one of more than 20 romance-only bookstores in the U.S., which is a reflection of the genre's popularity.
For Charlotte-based author Jessica Peterson, having a romance-only store here fills her with joy.
“It’s such a special thing, and important, too–for so long reading romance was a ‘guilty pleasure,’” Chambers says.
Fresh off Trope Bookshop’s one-year anniversary, Mitchell has been encouraged by its reception among other small businesses, many of which are also women-owned.
“We want each other to succeed,” she says.
One of her favorite parts of running her business is fostering relationships through Trope’s book club, Troop Trope.
“I have helped other people make new friends," she says. "That feels pretty amazing.”
"(Some people) think that it’s silly and frivolous and unserious. To that I say romance is the fastest-selling, largest-selling genre in the market,” says Mitchell.