Why We're Adding a Romance Bookstore to Fantasy Gifts
If you've been a Fantasy Gifts customer for any length of time, you might be wondering: "A bookstore? Really?" But if you've been paying attention to what's been happening in the romance world—and in our stores—this news probably feels like the most natural evolution we could make.
Here's the truth: we've been in the romance business all along. We just didn't have enough shelf space to do it justice. Until now.
We've Always Carried Romance Books
Walk into any of our three New Jersey locations, and you'll find romance novels tucked between the massage oils and blindfolds. We've stocked them for years because our customers asked for them. You'd come in for a new vibrator and leave with the latest erotic thriller. You'd browse lingerie and pick up a romantic fantasy novel on your way out.
The books were always there—but they deserved more. They deserved their own space, their own spotlight, and a collection that could truly serve the romance-loving community we've built over the past three decades.
So we're giving them 500 square feet in our Turnersville location - and soon a second location in Lumberton. A dedicated romance bookstore where the stories get the same care and attention we've always given to pleasure, wellness, and connection.
Romance is Having a Moment (And We're Here for It)
Let's talk about what's happening in the romance world right now, because it's nothing short of a revolution.
Romantasy is everywhere. The blend of romance and fantasy—think "Fourth Wing," "A Court of Thorns and Roses," and "From Blood and Ash"—has exploded. These aren't your mother's bodice-rippers (though we love those too). These are epic, immersive stories with strong heroines, swoon-worthy love interests, and world-building that rivals any fantasy series.
Spicy books are mainstream. BookTok has made it okay—no, celebrated—to read books with explicit content. Readers are proudly sharing their favorite spicy scenes, rating books by pepper emojis, and demanding more heat in their romance. Sound familiar? We've been normalizing conversations about pleasure and sexuality for 45 years. This is our lane.
Diverse romance is thriving. LGBTQ+ romance, polyamorous love stories, disability representation, and characters of all backgrounds are finally getting the spotlight they deserve. Our leadership team includes non-binary, lesbian, queer, and pansexual voices. We've always championed inclusive love stories—now we can offer them in book form too.
Readers want community. Book clubs, author events, buddy reads—romance readers want to connect over the stories they love. And we've been building community around intimacy and connection since 1980. Adding books just gives us one more way to bring people together.
You're Already Here for the Spice
Let's be real: if you're shopping at Fantasy Gifts, you're not shy about pleasure. You're sex-positive. You're curious. You're open to exploring what feels good—whether that's a new toy, a lace teddy, or a fantasy world where the tension between characters could melt steel.
You're already here for the spice. Why not add a book to your bag?
Think about it: you can pick up the latest romantasy novel, grab a new vibrator, and treat yourself to some luxe lubricant—all in one trip. It's self-care, entertainment, and a little indulgence wrapped into one shopping experience. And honestly? That sounds perfect to us.
Sustainable Reading: Our Used Book Buy-Back Program
Here's something else we're excited about: our used book buy-back program. Romance readers are voracious. You finish a series in a weekend and immediately need the next fix. Our buy-back program means you can trade in books you've finished for store credit toward new reads (or anything else in our store).
It's sustainable. It's affordable. And it keeps you coming back for your next great read. We're building a circular economy around the stories you love—because romance readers deserve that.
This is Who We've Always Been
Since 1980, Fantasy Gifts has been about more than products. We've been about education, empowerment, and creating a judgment-free space where people can explore their desires. Our staff is trained in sexual health and wellness. We host workshops like "Pleasure is Resistance." We celebrate all expressions of love and identity.
Romance books—especially the inclusive, sex-positive, boundary-pushing stories being published today—are a natural extension of that mission. They spark imagination. They normalize desire. They remind us that love, pleasure, and connection come in infinite forms.
So yes, we're adding a romance bookstore to Fantasy Gifts. But really, we're just making official what's been true all along: we're here for every chapter of your pleasure journey—including the ones you read.
Come Visit Us
Our romance bookstore is now open at our Turnersville location:
Fantasy Gifts Turnersville
5101 Black Horse Pike
Turnersville, NJ 08012
(856) 228-7002
. . . and because every great story needs a sequel, we're opening a second location at our Fantasy Gifts Lumberton
1603 NJ-38
Lumberton, NJ 08048
(609) 491-7521
Browse our growing collection of romantasy, contemporary romance, LGBTQ+ love stories, and spicy reads. Trade in your finished books. Ask our staff for recommendations (we're readers too). And remember: pleasure comes in many forms—sometimes it's battery-powered, sometimes it's bound in paperback.
We can't wait to share this next chapter with you.