Toronto has a new neighbourhood gem — and it’s already stealing hearts. Hopeless Romantic Books, the city’s first romance-only bookstore, has officially opened its doors at 1080 Queen Street West, adding something beautifully unique to one of the city’s most vibrant cultural corridors.
This charming independent shop is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about stops for readers looking for the best independent bookstores Toronto and romance bookstores in Toronto.
The storefront of Hopeless Romantic Books — Toronto’s first romance-only bookstore on Queen Street West.
Run by sisters Kearston and Serena, Hopeless Romantic Books was created with one mission in mind: to give Toronto a space where romance lovers can browse freely, gush loudly, and discover their next book-to-obsess-over.
“Every book in our shop has one guarantee… a happy ending.” – The Founders of Hopeless Romantic Books.
A Romance Paradise in West Queen West
From the moment you step inside, everything is pink, cozy, and irresistibly charming. The store is designed like a love letter to romance readers — with floor-to-ceiling pink shelves, curated displays based on tropes, and of course, their already-famous Spice Wall. Using their signature 1–5 chilli-meter rating, readers can choose exactly how sweet, medium, or spicy they want their next romance to be.
Behind the bookshelf wall is one more surprise — a hidden room tucked away like a secret scene in your favourite novel. Fans online are calling it “the prettiest bookish hideaway in the city.”
Meet the Sisters Behind the Store
Kearston and Serena grew up surrounded by stories — from Harry Potter to Twilight — and carried their love for books with them from Northern Ontario all the way to West Queen West.
Kearston divides her time between being a midwife and helping customers find their next perfect book boyfriend. Serena, now raising her young family up north, co-curates the shop from afar and brings her deep love of fantasy romance and the Maasiverse to their selection.
Together, they’ve created something Toronto has never seen before: a specialty bookstore entirely dedicated to modern romance fiction.
Whether you’re into contemporary romance, fantasy romance, enemies-to-lovers, second-chance tropes, or hidden-identity stories — the shop has it all.
Visit Hopeless Romantic Books
1080 Queen St W, Toronto
Open now
Visit their website and follow @hopelessromanticbooks on Instagram for new arrivals & events!