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Welcome back to Bookstore Pix, our new Book Pix newsletter, which brings you inside an independent bookstore and invites you to browse their shelves—and their recommendations. This week, I’m taking you into the aisles of New Jersey’s very first romance-only bookshop!
Francesca McDonnell Capossela
The Shelf Talker
Current 📚: As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann
Living a You’ve Got Mail Fantasy
Photo provided by Kiss & Tale
Welcome to Kiss & Tale: A Romance Bookshop, New Jersey's very first romance-only bookshop!
Nestled in the charming town of Collingswood, New Jersey, Kiss & Tale is located on Haddon Avenue, home to some of the cutest shops in South Jersey. Collingswood is full of fantastically niche shops, delicious food, and very kind people.
A woman-owned and operated business, Kiss & Tale, opened in 2024. The owner, Katie, says she feels personally responsible for the influx of alien smut being read in the South Jersey region and is very proud of this fact.
The booksellers at Kiss & Tale are passionate about ensuring that every reader feels welcome and represented when they walk into the shop. Every love story is important, and they want you to see yourself reflected on their shelves.
Kiss & Tale has been lovingly organized into over 27 sections of romance subgenres, ranging from Historical to Dark to Time Travel to Dystopian Romance, and everything in between.
Read more about Kiss & Tale & scroll down for their picks!
Kiss & Tale Booksellers: Katie’s Pick
Bound to the Battle God
by Ruby Dixon
“You’re going to laugh, cry, swoon, enjoy an adventure, and it will all be wrapped up by the end of the book. This is my go-to rec for anyone looking for a great romantasy to get lost in.”
—Katie, Kiss & Tale
Katie Cunningham (she/her) opened Kiss & Tale in 2024 and cannot believe this is her real life. While Kiss & Tale is her newest business venture, she and her cinnamon roll husband, Andrew, also own K&A Bagel Cafe, an award-winning restaurant in Cherry Hill, NJ. Katie has always been an avid reader, and is thrilled to share her love of romance with her customers every day.
The Stack
Together with ThriftBooks
Start Preparing for The Odyssey Now
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is one of the most anticipated movies of this summer, and if you want to walk into the theater knowing your cyclopes from your sirens, now’s the time to start reading. Whether you’re looking for the original epic, a modern retelling, or a fresh take on the story, these three books will get you ready for the journey to Ithaca. Pick them up from ThriftBooks and get ahead of the hype for less!
The Odyssey
by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson
If you want the original story itself, this is the place to start. Emily Wilson’s acclaimed translation brings Homer’s epic to life with crisp, contemporary language while preserving the story’s power and poetry.
Odyssey: The Greek Myths Reimagined
by Stephen Fry
Mythology expert and bestselling author Stephen Fry retells the tale of Odysseus with his signature wit, humor, and storytelling flair. This is an accessible, entertaining way to refresh your knowledge of what makes this epic so enduring.
The Penelopiad
by Margaret Atwood
What was happening back in Ithaca while Odysseus was off adventuring? Margaret Atwood gives Penelope the spotlight, retelling the myth from the perspective of the wife who waited twenty years for her husband’s return.
Kiss & Tale Bookseller: Sarah’s Pick
The Stars Too Fondly
by Emily Hamilton
“I REALLY love when I’m reading, and I can’t figure out how the author is going to get us to that all-important HEA. In TSTF, one of the FMCs is a hologram, and the lack of physical contact turns the yearning up a million notches!
If you’re looking for a delightful space adventure paired with a little mystery, a loveable crew, and the triumph of good over evil, this is for you!”
—Sarah, Kiss & Tale
Sarah Garvey (she/her) is living her You've Got Mail dream job here at Kiss & Tale, and couldn't be happier about it. She loves all books, but romance is her first love. When she's not at the shop wrapping Blind Dates With a Book, she's usually at home reading while snuggled on the couch with her two dogs and husband, who is a real-life book boyfriend with slutty little glasses.
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Pendry Chicago
The Vibe: Timeless architecture, modern mood
The Location: Chicago, IL
Instaworthy Activities:
Set inside the iconic 1929 Carbide & Carbon Building, Pendry Chicago delivers a modern luxury stay shaped by bold design, historic architecture, and a distinctly stylish point of view. The hotel’s 364 rooms and suites pair Art Deco influences with contemporary comfort, creating a polished retreat overlooking Michigan Avenue and the Chicago skyline. Just steps from Millennium Park, the Art Institute, the Riverwalk, and the city’s best dining and theater, it’s the kind of place you look forward to returning to after a busy day exploring the Windy City.
Kiss & Tale Booksellers: Jamie’s Picks
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion
by Beth Brower
“This series is written in diary form from the perspective of Emma, a plucky and hilarious Victorian woman on a mission to reclaim the inheritance of her home in a fictional part of London called St. Crispians.
It features a charming cast of characters, a whimsical setting, and a slow-burn romance. And don’t even get me started on the genius and addictive writing style of Beth Brower!”
—Jamie, Kiss & Tale
A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke
by Adriana Herrera
“Adriana Herrera is one of my favorite historical romance authors. This story is about a female doctor in 1880s Paris who operates underground abortion clinics and reluctantly falls for a Duke. It’s a fun enemies-to-lovers romance that feels refreshingly modern for a historical setting! I absolutely love that the Duke falls first and hard for her, and it has such good steamy scenes.”
—Jamie, Kiss & Tale
Jamie Bennett (she/her) is an integral part of the Kiss & Tale team as a bookseller, but she also handles most of the social media content for the shop. (So if you see any posts that could be better, Sarah and Katie are probably responsible for those.) Jamie reads any and every romance subgenre, and is currently in her cowboy romance era, but still picks up a good old-fashioned bodice ripper whenever she can.
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Hotel on Rivington
The Vibe: Views on views on views
The Location: New York City, NY
Instaworthy Activities:
Wake up feeling like a true New Yorker in your spacious, apartment-like suite at Hotel on Rivington. Each room boasts Tempur-Pedic mattresses, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and Japanese-inspired deep-soaking bathtubs. Not to mention the private balconies with unobstructed Manhattan views! Located on one of the neighborhood’s most iconic streets, the hotel puts guests steps from acclaimed restaurants, nightlife, galleries, and boutiques. With its elevated perspective and effortlessly cool energy, Hotel on Rivington captures the creative pulse of downtown New York.
Until next time!
That’s all for now! Come back two weeks from today for recommendations from a Brooklyn indie specializing in spooky books.
See you then,
Francesca
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