August was a busy month and there are now 326 physical (brick-and-mortar) romance bookstores in the the directory!
I added several Australian romance bookstores this month, thanks to a reader who directed me to the Australian Romance Readers Association list of romance bookstores (thanks, Jarnae!).
Welcome to new Supporter of the directory, Verse & Vine, a romance-focused bookstore in Poulsbo, Washington. If you’re interested in becoming a Romance Bookstore Directory Supporter, learn how.
Become a Romance Bookstore Directory Supporter!
Overview
According to my research, there are now 326 physical romance bookstores in 12 countries around the world, 227 (or 70%) of which are in the United States.
If we also include online and pop-up romance bookstores, the total number of stores grows to 528 (382 or 72% of which are in the United States).
Growth of Physical Stores
So far in 2026, there has been a net increase of 93 physical romance bookstores worldwide (98 have opened, 5 have closed). In the United States specifically, there’s been a net increase of 69 physical romance bookstores.
Growth Rates (as of August 31, 2026)
Worldwide
2022: 10 stores
2023: 33 stores, 230% increase (3.3x)
2024: 95 stores, 188% increase (2.9x)
2025: 233 stores, 145% increase (2.5x)
3-Year Growth Rate from 2023 to 2025: 606%
United States
2022: 5 stores
2023: 18 stores, 260% increase (3.6x)
2024: 68 stores, 278% increase (3.8x)
2025: 158 stores, 132% increase (2.3x)
3-Year Growth Rate from 2023 to 2025: 778%
Have you heard about the Insider version of the Romance Bookstore Directory?
It’s a new benefit for my annual paid subscribers.
These detailed updates are a benefit for paid subscribers (only US$5/month or US$50/year). Everyone can see the high-level numbers before the paywall, but you’ll need to subscribe for all the juicy details…including a list of all the romance bookstore openings and closings! 🗓️
There are now 539 bookstores in the directory (including Coming Soon).
The following is a breakdown of bookstores by type: Physical, Online, Pop-up, and Coming Soon along with a list of ALL the recently opened and added stores in each category!
📌 Please note that these categories overlap—a store can categorized as multiple types. For example, a bookstore can be online and have pop-ups, with a physical location coming soon.