“Do Kiss and Tale” by Sky Middleton

Who doesn’t love, love? It’s something I’ve always wondered about but will never understand. As a reader, I am always searching for romance in the books I pick up. This is something Katie Cunningham and I have in common. When she opened up Kiss & Tale, a romance bookstore in the heart of Collingswood, she had a few goals in mind. 

“I want everybody to feel seen here and to find their story here,” Cunningham said. “My ultimate goal is if you love romance, I want to help you find your next favorite book.” 

We sat in the store as Sabrina Carpenter played overhead. It has only been a few weeks since their opening but customers flow in and out while we chat. Older women come in for their next read, while their husbands follow behind them observing the cozy space. Cunningham and I sit on hot pink chairs near their cash register. 

“Romance books have gotten me through hard times and happy times. They’ve always been there,” Cunningham said. “No matter what mood I’m in, I can find a book.”

Yet, another thing we have in common. Romance has been a pillar for me as a reader, and writer. Finding a safe place in this genre when the world gets to be too much. As Cunningham said, no matter what you’re going through, there’s a book for that. While women have been enjoying romance novels for decades, the rise in popularity and acceptance can be linked to social media. The growing online community of romance readers has changed the culture for the better.

Cunningham felt that women especially have had to keep this part of themselves quiet, the desire to read romance once frowned upon. When Ripped Bodice opened in Brooklyn in 2016, there was a rush of support in the reader community. Without making it out to Brooklyn herself, Cunningham decided why not bring that to Collingswood.

“Romance readers are a very accepting community and I wanted to bring that to New Jersey,” Cunningham said. “They are always looking for people to talk about books with, and find their community and I am trying to build that here. It would be amazing to get people in the same spot to talk about romance books.” 

Within just a few weeks, the support Kiss & Tale has seen from locals is inspiring. Cunningham expects to host book clubs in the future while growing her company and newfound community. When I tell her my hopes to write a romance book one day she smiles brightly. She has dedicated a space in her store for local authors and encourages me to reach out down the line.   

“I want everybody to feel seen here, they can find their story here. Creating a fun, inclusive space for romance readers,” Cunningham said. “My ultimate goal is if you love romance, I want to help you find your next favorite book, I want to help you create a community of people who are reading it with you and rooting for you.”