Yes, yes! Oh, yes! Here’s why it’s OK to heart romance novels

Greek tycoons. Shy cowboys. Damsels, vampires, quivering members, steamy sex. Why hate on romance novels when we can all just enjoy them?

The Brooklyn location, which opened in August, wasn’t even the first outpost of The Ripped Bodice. There’s been one in Los Angeles since 2016. Fans went nuts anyway. Many fans travelled for the opening and there were queues of readers waiting to get in. The store’s décor features novels hanging from the ceiling. There are Victorian-style birdcages, deep wingback chairs, fake flowers and a shelf full of blind-date novels (books covered in gift wrap, with only a one-sentence description on the cover). Of course, the entire store sells only romance novels.

The Ripped Bodice sells only romance novels. Its outposts in LA and Brooklyn have been a runaway hit. (Instagram/@bookstacam; mandy.readsromance)

The Ripped Bodice décor features novels hanging from the ceiling. (Instagram/@bookstacam; mandy.readsromance)

Mills & Boon set the template for romance novels, including a damsel in distress who’s determined to get by on her own. (A virgin, obviously).

Add in vampires to the typical romance plot and Twilight emerges.

Write in a death to romance plots and you get a Nicholas Sparks novel.