Complete with pink tablecloths, red bookmarks with the words “Sucker for a Slowburn,” and cursive lettering reading “Lovestruck,” the Kennedy Room at the Charles Hotel was ready for a night of romance…

Romance books, that is.

Lovestruck Books and Cafe, the latest addition to the Boston independent bookstore scene, hosted a conversation with award-winning fantasy and romance author Sabaa Tahir on Dec. 7. Tahir recently released her sixth novel, “Heir,” categorized as a romance-fantasy, or “romantasy.” The up-and-coming genre mash-up is exploding worldwide, including mega-hit titles such as “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros and “Powerless” by Lauren Roberts.  

Located in Harvard Square, “Lovestruck” will have its official opening on Jan. 17 following a soft opening occurring later this week—the store will be open, but the events celebrating the opening happen in January. The new bookstore focuses on romance, with a uniquely curated collection to delve deep into the multitudes of subcategories: dark romance, sports, paranormal; romantasy, rom-com, contemporary, historical; witch-fic, classic romance, YA, graphic novels, monster romance, queer romance, and the list goes on and on.

“The process of opening Lovestruck has been so joyful,” said manager and founder Rachel Kanter. “Other local independent bookstore owners and booksellers have been so incredibly welcoming—I’ve truly never experienced a more inclusive, helpful community, and I’m so grateful to be part of it.”

The wide range of romance types and topics was important to Kanter in creating the store’s catalog.

“We strive to create a space where everyone can see themselves reflected in the stories and activities that we share,” Kanter said. “Bookstores serve an essential role in communities as a third place—a space that isn’t work or home. They provide a gathering space for like-minded folks to share ideas and connect around shared interests.”  

This sense of community was present at Tahir’s talk. The author thanked her delighted audience before introducing her talk, which she called “The Missing Ingredient: what romance books taught me about emotional intelligence.” She broke down character experiences in her first series, “An Ember in the Ashes,” and her newest novel “Heir.” She highlighted the elements of emotional intelligence, or EQ, present in her works. 

She drew on her history with romance novels, citing the book and film “Bridget Jones’ Diary” as changing her life by introducing her to the modern romance genre. The works she read as a young college student, she admitted, expanded her view of emotional intelligence and reshaped her thoughts around her romantic relationships.

Tahir was incredibly personable and humorous and spoke with an engaging cadence that captured the audience. She signed copies of her books after the event, allowing audience members to chat about their favorite books.  

Lovestruck is planning to host similar events during their grand opening weekend, Jan. 17–19, bringing notable names in the romance space such as Chloe Gong, Jasmine Guillory, and Nikki Payne to Boston. 

“I’m excited for our Lovestruck community members to tell us the kinds of events they want to see, and have their priorities reflected in the programming we offer,” said Kanter. “The enthusiasm around our store has been so heartwarming and affirming.” 

Stores and events such as Kanter’s are in high demand at the moment, following the monumental rise in popularity of the genre in the past few years. 

“Publishers are putting real dollars behind romance authors, which is contributing to the increased inclusivity within the genre—we’ve moved beyond virginal, white cisgender female protagonists into a space that is much more diverse,” Kanter said.

Still, there are common misconceptions that romance is lowbrow, badly written, or unserious, despite its work to provide a valuable and safe outlet to learn about the nuances of romantic relationships. Kanter would respond with the wit and insight of someone who’s built their life around the genre.

“All I’ll say is, I’ve spoken to MIT professors who eagerly await the next Ali Hazelwood novel,” Kanter said.