Lovestruck Books in Cambridge celebrated its one year anniversary Jan. 30 with special in-store offers and romance-packed events continuing throughout the weekend. Shoppers perused colorful shelves lined with popular romance titles while given the opportunity to make their own bookmark, customize a tote bag or receive a personalized poem written just for them.
Riley Mulroy, the store’s events manager, said Lovestruck Books started planning the anniversary event six months ago with the goal of creating a fun and inclusive experience for guests.
“Everything we did this weekend was meant for our audiences to feel connected to us and to feel this is as much their anniversary as it is ours,” said Mulroy.
Mulroy was most excited for the store’s Step Into a Romance Novel party, where attendees could design the synopsis for their very own romance novel. Guests were treated as main characters, even taking part in photoshoots as if they were featured on the cover of their own love story. This experience placed emphasis on the store’s appreciation for its customers.
“For this weekend, we wanted people to feel like they were part of our story, and part of our story is romance novels,” said Mulroy.
Elizabeth Hambleton and Wiliam Cates traveled from Worcester to attend the celebration. Hambleton said she and her partner, Cates, took the day off to spend time together, but were unsure what they could do considering the day-long spending strike in protest of ICE. They both decided to visit Lovestruck Books to support a local business.
Cates was enticed by the romance focus of the store, explaining that he had started writing romantic short stories himself. He also cited the unique atmosphere the store provided for shoppers.
“The dressing of this place definitely has a different vibe. It’s a lot more lively. The way they decorate it definitely stands out a little more than just a bookstore,” said Cates.
Madi Doyle, a student at Lasell University in Newton, Massachusetts, also felt the aesthetic of the store was unlike any other. She said the flowers at the front of the store enhance the store’s beauty, and they also appear to reflect the store’s brand.
“It’s for the girls,” said Doyle.
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Doyle was in the market for a new romance book and decided to go home with “An Academic Affair” by Jodi McAlister. She also made her own bookmark at the bookmark bar.
Compared to the previously mentioned attendees who traveled up to an hour to visit Lovestruck Books, Riya Kalbag said the store was practically in her backyard. She recently moved to Cambridge from New Jersey for a new job. She saw an advertisement for the anniversary celebration on social media and thought she would check it out.
“Since I just moved here, I don’t really know anyone, so I’ve been trying to do solo date-type situations,” said Kalbag.
Kalbag took advantage of the store’s pop-up poetry offer. In a conversation with poet Iman Khondker, she opened up about her experience moving to Massachusetts and starting a new chapter in her life. Khondker used that to write a personal poem for Kalbag to take home with her.
The anniversary featuring special literary and artistic offers did not stop there. Romance author Tessa Bailey visited the store to discuss her book “Catch Her If You Can,” giving shoppers the opportunity to receive a signed copy and the Step Into a Romance Novel party took place Saturday night.
All offers and events were part of an action-packed weekend, curated so Lovestruck Books could express its appreciation for all romance-lovers.
