A good bookstore is always on my list when visiting a new city & The Ripped Bodice was my Brooklyn bookstore choice! The decor is honestly one of the best I have ever seen, they have tons of options pertaining to genre of books. They also have cute book/store themed items. The employees were kind and offered to help find a book/type of book to those who entered! Will be back again whenever I'm in town. :) read more

See all

Beautiful book store that is for the romance lovers. The details in decors is definitely whimsical vibe. The find the books are priced average and not overly pricy like some other independent book stores. The Ripped Bodice is definitely a must to visit if ever in Brooklyn. read more

See all

My second time visiting this gorgeous romance bookstore! The Ripped Bodice is full of welcoming staff and the romances are split by genre such as sports, contemporary, historical, fantasy, and paranormal. There is also a section of non-romance books. I love all the merch they have from stickers, clothing, and bookmarks. read more

See all

I was so excited on our trip to New York that we were able to stop by this bookstore. I love reading and romance is definitely one topic that is always fun to read. So this is a bookstore that caters to that genre and it was wonderful. It was so whimsical inside that I was entrances as soon as I walked in. I talk to some of the staff and I was able to pick out a few books that I was very excited to read. They also hold events monthly that you can look on their website to see. The selection is out of the world. And they have a little bit of something for everybody. I will say that if this is your genre to read and if you have time to visit, definitely do it. read more

See all

I loved this place so much! They had the cutest interior, fully decked out in all things romance and books. They had a surprisingly massive selection of books to look through. One thing I really loved is that, not only did they have a huge selection of LGBTQ+ books, but they weren't confined to just those shelves! They were woven in with all genres throughout the store. It was nice to not see those stories featured everywhere. To me, the employees were perfect. They greeted me as I walked in, but the let me browse in silence. Once I was ready to checkout, they happily helped me. They were very nice! HIGHLY recommend checking this place out! read more

See all

Loved the store, but the service could have been better. Visited this bookstore during our last trip to NYC, and the store itself is so cute! They have a huge variety of books and merch inside. Loved all the different displays and everything was organized for each sub genre of romance. They even had blind date books! However, the staff didn't really acknowledge us or say much as we tried to check out. It felt like us trying to purchase the books was an inconvenience. Was nice for a one-time visit, but wouldn't make the trip back. read more

See all

What a great store! This was my first time visiting this neighborhood in Brooklyn and I already can't wait to go back. The Ripped Bodice was filled with so many books. I had tickets to an author event. The staff was very friendly and welcomed us in. They had several chairs set up perfectly for us to sit and for the size of the space it didn't feel too crowded at all. I was impressed with how comfortable I was sitting with a large group in this type of space. The event was very well organized and timed perfectly. We had plenty of time to listen to the author, ask questions and then get our books signed. This is a wonderful store and I am already making plans to get back into the city (from Jersey) to visit again. read more

See all

The Ripped Bodice is just the most perfect romance bookstore a romance reader could ask for. Extremely helpful and friendly staff are readily available to answer your questions and recommend books to you based on your preferences. It's cute and aesthetically pleasing. The books are well-organized (contemporary fiction, queer, erotica, fantasy, etc). The bookish merch they have is SO cute (candles, stickers, jewelry, custom pronoun pins, etc) that I really just want to buy it all. I also love that they hold author/book events here and have book clubs. I've been here for 2 author events now and they went so smoothly and efficiently! I always look forward to my trips here from NJ :) read more

The Ripped Bodice - Brooklyn - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Overpriced bookstore. Everything was organized, but the prices are a tad steep. Same for accessories for desk supplies, little novelty gifts, etc. read more

Really fun and pretty big book store for romance novels of all categories and types. Big LGBTQ+ section! Lots of fun little things like stickers, pens, pins, tote bags, etc. as well. Branded shop merch too. I highly recommend a visit. read more

The Ripped Bodice - Brooklyn - In the back of the store - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

Omg, this was probably my favorite part about my visit to NY! This was such a well curated romance bookstore and the bookworm in me lived for everything! They had the new romance reads, adorable totes, cool bookmarks, pins, and so much more!!! The staff was so welcoming and helpful in finding my next read. I told her my fav books and she brought 5 suggestions, 3/5 I had already read so she knew her stuff. I grabbed a book and bookmark but I will be back for more. read more

See all

Cute bookstore! Had a good selection of romance books and the interior was is well decorated. There is a small seating my area in the back. read more

The Ripped Bodice - Brooklyn - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

I have been a bookworm since I was a young child. Reading is one of my favorite escapes and I could not imagine a world that wasn't filled with books. I purchase books like an addict. That's okay, there are many worse addictions to have. I love books of all genres and all types. I don't just read romance and chick lit but I do really enjoy them very much. The Ripped Bodice is a charming gem, an oasis of romance, classics and pure joy. The store is adorable, cozy, warm and welcoming. I could easily spend the day there. There is a cute seating area. If you use their bathroom, the walls are covered with notes of positivity. The staff is very friendly, helpful and really made me feel welcome. They have a great selection that is super fun and unique, "blind date with a book." The book will be a pleasant surprise! There is a nice sized section of books that are signed by the author. There are books focused on sexuality , classics and also non- fiction. There is also so many cute stickers, candles, book marks and tabs, bags and many other goodies. Head on over to Park Slope for a wonderful book experience! read more

See all

Can't believe I haven't written a review for The Ripped Bodice before! I first came across this charming bookstore last year and absolutely fell in love at first sight. The bookstore specializes in romance, and has a fairly robust curation from ranging from beach reads to classics to erotica. One of my favorite sections was the Blind Date, which had books wrapped up with a brief description. Perfect for someone who wants a surprise! The space is fairly big, and there is also a restroom towards the back with walls completely covered in messages on Post-Its from patrons. Overall, The Ripped Bodice feels welcoming and inclusive, a gorgeous romantic sanctuary that also happens to be women-owned and operated too! read more

The Ripped Bodice - Brooklyn - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

I've been meaning to check out The Ripped Bodice for quite some time as I'm a big fan of cheesy romance novels and this place did not disappoint. They have a great selection of not only sappy love stories but erotica, poems and even have a blind book section that lets you choose a book without knowing what's inside the package which I think is a really fun addition that I have never seen in a bookstore before. The selection of books range from $5 to more expensive intricately designed books and they have a signed by the author section as well. The interior is so beautiful and really well decorated with lots of small details to take in. Checkout is fast and easy with friendly cashiers and overall it's a super great New York experience. read more

The Ripped Bodice - Brooklyn - The back of the store - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

Ain't no Fabio romance books here! Kid's section, small gifts, feminist, LGTBQ section and so much more. I love this store. They are so welcoming and they have such a wonderfully curated selection of all kinds of romance-ish books and gifts. A great place for gift shopping. The staff is friendly but not intrusive. I love shopping here. 100% recommend even if you think you are not a reader of romance novels. There is the cutest little seating area. This adorable shop has so much more than your basic romance novels!! read more

See all

I love a good theme and The Ripped Bodice is such a welcoming haven for book lovers and fans of the romance genre. The bookstore caters to every type of romance novel you can think of and has such a good feel-good vibe to it that it's hard to not peruse for a while. Every-time I stop in I tend to spend close to 45 minutes reading through their extensive selection. If you're a voracious reader or just want to visit a retail space with lots of charm, you should stop by. read more

This is such a cute bookstore. I love that it's dedicated to one specific genre. The store is extremely girly. The floor is pink, and they have a seating area that is perfect to take a selfie. I was there for an hour, and I saw most of the customers are women. I saw one man, but it looked like he was just tagging along with a significant other. The books are same prices as amazon. Hence, if I was you, I rather buy from this indie bookstore and save on shipping cost. read more

See all

The greatest book shop in New York! I just wish it was open a bit later, but no worries that's what weekends are for. read more

See all

What a delightful and u expectedly needed store in Park Slope! This bookstore focuses on romance novels...and they have them all. My favorite recent surprise was TJ Klune's Wolfpack series. Highly recommend you out this on your list to check out! read more

Romance literature galore! Been wanting to check out this bookstore in Park Slope for a while now; walked in early weekend morning and was met with staff at the front counter. Staff informed books are assembled in categories and easy to find. Aisles of books separated from contemporary/modern literature, historical genre, and even some erotica books as well. With the popularity of Manga/Anime/ and Web-toons- was hoping for a more mix of Asian inspired romance novels. There are some velvety chairs in the back section of the shop that gives it a more comfy vibe. Book prices are comparable to online bookstores as well. Overall, nice place to browse for romance genre novels. read more

See all

I've been to the Ripped Bodice in Culver City and the Brooklyn location is just as beautiful and just as fun. Getting there was an easy subway ride and a couple of blocks' worth of walking. The inside was very welcoming and pink and decorated whimsically. The store is all romance novels and (in the back) a few literary and graphic novels -- the popular stuff that is on like the NY Times bestsellers' lists -- and is organized by category, like LGBTQ+ romance, historical romance, Young Adult romance, etc. There are stickers, pins, chocolate, trope-specific candles, and tea available for purchase as well. I also attended an event at this store and the only drawback I can see is that the conversation chairs for the authors are right next to the bathroom door, so if you have to use the toilet in the middle of an event, it's really not possible. In my favorite local bookstore in my city, the bathroom is in the back so you can sneak away during an author talk to use it. But that's all that I can complain about! I loved this visit and hope this location has a lot of success! read more

See all

This is the bookstore of my dreams. It's like the inside of my brain threw up everywhere. Their book selection is incredible as is their small merch selection. I've gotten so many gifts from them! My ONE request would be for more trope specific organization of the books (i.e. sports romance, enemies to lovers, friend to lovers, brother's best friend, bully romance, dark romance, etc.) because sometimes I know what I'm in the mood for and just want to browse those tropes specifically. I love supporting a small women owned biz and it's even cuter that it's sisters! read more

An independent bookstore dedicated to romance novels (and is family-owned - by sisters, woman-owned, and queer-owned)? It's like a dream to walk into The Ripped Bodice. And the store is fun and happy and romantic and beautiful and everything nice! I stopped by last month when I was in NYC for a long weekend, and it lived up to all my romance novel expectations! Wonderfully organized into sections that help you find the romance novel for you (historical, paranormal, LGBTQ+, contemporary, etc.), it's so well stocked. Something for anyone that likes romance and romance novels! I loved it. I can't wait to visit again on a future trip to NYC. read more

See all

If romance is your jam(or should i say genre?) this is the book store for you. Books sections off my romance tropes, lots of cute stickers and bookish merch as well as the option to ship if you're visiting. I am from Wisconsin so not having to bring my books in my already stuffed bags was a relief. I could have spent hours in this store trying to decide what book(s) to buy. read more

The Ripped Bodice - Brooklyn - Photo opt spot - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

Fantastic book store! Great selection and helpful staff! Highly recommended! Check them out for the best selections read more

I have no bad things to say about this place . It's a safe place for us woman . Like I felt so safe . There were tampons in the bathroom . The words of affirmation were adorable I just loved it so much . They have so many books and it's just aesthetically pleasing . They have more than romance books . And the prices are very decent . It's just a beautiful place and I can't wait to visit again read more

See all

So lovely! I was so looking forward to visiting The Ripped Bodice, being a romance novel fan. The space is so beautiful and, indeed, romantic. I came away with a new tote bag and four new books. The staff are helpful, even getting me a paperback copy of a book I couldn't find. I wish I lived closer so I could attend their author events! read more

See all

Pros: Really cute, fun girly vibe They have a restroom -- and you can read all of the post-its when you're in there! Good variety. They have a lot of standard romance novels of course, but they also have all different types of books, ranging from sci-fi romance to paranormal romance to LGBTQ-themed novels, classic fiction such as Jane Austen, general fiction that doesn't promise to be "HEA" (Happily Ever After), nonfiction, etc. What could be even better: More seating - I've seen that a few other reviewers have commented on this. The store gets a little warm and crowded and I'm not sure if there's a great way to combat that, but possibly something could be done to open up space and make it a little congested. However I do really like that the store has been so lively and so many people seem interested in going in there. It's good to see a bookstore getting attention! The first time I was in there, I saw an employee (or maybe it was one of the owners?) giving recommendations to a customer. They were near the back of the store. On subsequent visits I haven't seen any employees around the store except the ones at the front of the store ringing up people's purchases. I'm not sure if they definitely need someone working the back but it might be nice to have an employee who roams around occasionally, checking if anyone needs anything or has questions. read more

I stumbled into this store while walking down 7th Avenue and was instantly smitten. The Ripped Bodice is a romance book lover's dream and chock full of a variety of different genres of romance and beyond. The store is so clean, bright and well organized with all the sections labeled. Loved that they had an LGBTQ+ section!! Such a wide array of books, I was so impressed. It's also just adorable with interesting art made from book pages around the store and a lovely Pride flag made from flowers. The staff was friendly and I was surprised how many people were in there in the middle of a work day. You'd be remiss not to check this out the next time you're in Park Slope! read more

See all

Love this bookstore! The inside is beautiful and clearly a lot of thought was put into the design. The selection is insane and the organization of the store is perfect. They host lots of cool author events and book clubs too. read more

Obsessed with this place!!! Such friendly staff and the inside is so beautiful!!! And the books are reasonably priced. Can't wait to come back! read more

See all

It's a great start and good addition for Brooklyn. I love the volume of stickers and knickknacks available and the book category's throughout are spot on. Compared to the Culver City location, its not as whimsical, but it still delivers a vibe. Only downside is I would love to see more seating, if possible, the two seats there are beside the toilet. Will definitely go back soon. They already have a nice Fall lineup of events (see pic). read more

See all

Feeling romantic? Amazing new niche bookstore. Plenty of places fie Insta pics. Super friendly staff. Super cute decor. What there not to love? A welcome addition to the neighborhood! read more

See all

Super sweet staff! Great selection and loved all the recommendations. I do wish there were more of the blind date books to choose from! And maybe even a little more merch. read more

See all

I've been wanting to go here since it opened. I am so glad to have gotten the chance to go. The entire store was so well decorated and stocked to the brim with all of my favorite books and so many new ones that I've never even seen. There was an amazing selection of all types of books from contemporary to historical and the best part...THEY ARE ALL ROMANCE! Ok I'm lying, most of them are romance but they had a small section of nonromance books and also kids books! Those selections also seemed really solid. They also had candles, stickers, pins, and even earrings. My favorite section was the autographed book section where some of my favorite authors had signed the books. This was mostly a self service shop. The owners, Bea and Leah, were super nice and helpful in answering my questions. I loved being in the space and the overall vibes. All the books were affordable, ranging from $15-$30, a select few being a bit more or less. Even the autograph books were within that range! The merch were super cute and a little on the higher end but still good. p.s. they have some amazing events coming up so make sure to check out their website and their instagram @therippedbodice. read more

See all

Oh my goodness, this place is a dream. It's a gorgeous bookshop targeted towards romance readers, but they have a little bit of everything which makes it a valuable resource. Coming from LI it isn't the easiest trek, but it was worth it. My friend and I attended a romance trivia night hosted by Bramble (an imprint of Tor Publishers/Macmillan). We had no idea there would be drinks and snacks while we did our best to answer the questions. We ended up meeting a really greta group of people and have started our own little book club. Definitely follow them on social media to find out more about events such as trivia nights, author signings, and more. I do hope to return soon just to peruse the racks and find some great deals and new favorites. read more

Gorgeous store, at first I was elated to shop there, but I ended up being really disappointed by the LGBTQ+ selection, in particular the sapphic selection. I really wanted to find a sapphic fantasy book. When I asked for what section to look in, I was directed to the LGBTQ+ section (only two bookshelves in the whole store). The selection was incredibly limited and hard to sort through - I ended up settling for one of the three sapphic sci-fi books because none of the three (if you count vampires?) fantasy books spoke to me. The store presents itself as very queer friendly (love the pronoun pins and the cool stickers!) but doesn't follow through in its book curation. I just wanted a book with swords, magic, and a romance that resonated with me but couldn't find one. I left feeling disappointed and excluded. Please consider expanding your queer book selection because I was really excited about shopping here but can't imagine going back unless something changes. read more

Unique bookstore with a wide variety within its chosen speciality. Enjoyed the organization of the themes and different featured selections. An obvious go-to to patronize if you love the theme. It would have been a bit nicer of a visit if you were greeted at any point, the employees at the front didn't acknowledge anyone at any point, which was noticeably odd. read more

See all

The selection was great and I loved the vibe of the store. I wish there had been more seating to really enjoy. I was in and out because of how crowded it was. read more

See all