Romance bookstore champions ‘no judgement’ reading space

A new bookstore is tapping into the booming romance genre by creating a judgement-free space for women to explore “spicy” fiction openly.

Good Girls Read was born from owner Marianne Locke’s love of books and the rise of romance fiction. At her Newtown store, no trope is too taboo for the shelves.

From fantasy worlds and small-town lovers to sports-team flings and steamy affairs, Locke wants readers to feel comfortable exploring every corner of the genre.

Romance fiction generated more than $46 million in sales in 2024, yet many readers still struggle to find good recommendations.

Many readers are reluctant to ask for recommendations – particularly for explicit or “spicy” books – because of fear of judgement, while many bookstores don’t stock a broad range of romance sub-genres.

“I want to create this really safe space where people can come in and ask me for recommendations based on specific tropes,” Locke said.

“If I don’t have them, I will find them. I want people to feel comfortable in here asking about anything. Nothing is off limits.”

Locke said the rise of female authors publishing explicit romance has helped drive the genre’s popularity, with bestselling series such as Empyrean, Heated Rivalry and Off Campus introducing new readers to romance fiction.

She believes the growing number of women writing romance has also challenged long-held perceptions of the genre.

“When men are writing, it’s a book with a sex scene in it. When women write it, it’s smut and has no plot,” Locke said.

“That is not true. It’s men still having digs at women for writing it.”

She said jokes about men writing women have long existed, but female authors “just get it”.

For many readers, the appeal extends well beyond the romance itself. Relationship-driven stories encourage reflection on their own lives, while reading intimate content gives readers greater control, with their imagination shaping the scenes.

The consumption of these stories, Locke said, is also removing barriers for women off the page.

“Because of these books, women are finally feeling safe within their friend groups or within their relationship to ask for more and say what they really want,” she said.

Locke hopes Good Girls Read will support more than just romance readers.

The store will stock books by local, independent and emerging authors alongside viral bestsellers and mainstream authors, creating a space for the region’s book community to gather and discover new stories.

She also hopes readers of every genre will be encouraged to give romance a try, confident there is a book for every taste.

Good Girls Read opens its doors on 4 July.