Meet the Staff
Dee
Dee (she/her) is the owner of Romantasy Bookstore—an "older" romance reader with a lawyer brain, a mom schedule, and a marriage that's been going strong for 27 years (mostly!). She's a sucker for contemporary romance with maximum emotional payoff: slow burns, second chances, and the kind of tension that makes you text your best friend at midnight. Her go-to authors are Rebecca Yarros and Christy Schillig—and while she'll always come home to contemporary romance, she also fell hard for the Fourth Wing series when she wants her love story with a side of dragons and danger.
See Dee's Picks →
Alex
Alex (she/her) is the General Manager of Romantasy Bookstore, a drag queen, and your reigning Miss American Vampire of Philadelphia 2025—so yes, her Staff Picks come with a little extra bite (in the best way). She's proudly queer, proudly lesbian, and always chasing stories that blend horror and fantasy: eerie atmospheres, monsters you might root for, and worlds that feel one candle away from chaos. When she's not running the shop, Alex is single and holding down the fort as a cat mom to three absolute gremlins—Chicken, Goose, and Turtle. The cats are crazy, not her! (Or so she says.) If you want a recommendation that's dark, magical, and a little unhinged in the "can't stop turning pages" way, you're in the right place.
See Alex's Picks →
Brie
When Brie is not surrounded by books, you'll usually find her with a coffee in hand, rolling dice in a D&D campaign, or planning her next real life adventure. She reads a little bit of everything so you never really know what's coming on her next TBR. Whether you're looking for your next 5 Star read or just want to chat about books, Brie is always happpy to help you find your next read!
See Brie's Picks →
Joe Joe the Cat 🐱
Meet Joe Joe (he/him)—our cat-obsessed staff picker. From dark romance to paranormal, he'll read anything with a prominent feline. Single (and adoptable!). These are his top picks from the shelves — paw-approved. 🐾
See Joe Joe's Picks →
Irene
Irene is a proud single mom, cosmetology student, and passionate romance reader who believes every great story has the power to heal, inspire and make you fall in love with fictional characters (sometimes a little too easily!) When she's not behind a book, you'll find her working towards her dream career as a hairstylist, spending time with her son, or sharing her latest reads with fellow book lovers. Irene likes romances with found family, emotional healing, protective heroes, small town charm, motorcycle clubs, sports romances, and any good story that leaves you thinking long after you've turned the last page.
See Irene's Picks →
Kat
Kat is a lover of reading (of course), crafting, and her two sweeet cats. She loves getting lost in expansive fantasy worlds with compelling characters. She's a sucker for a good slow-burn, enemies to lovers romance.
See Kat's Picks →
Zoya
Zoya is Oklahoman born (Go Sooners!) and a classic nerd plus mom to a feral toddler! She tends to gravitte towards anything with magical world-building, complex characters and LOTS of yearning! When she's not reading, she's either baking treats (we can attest that they are delicious!) or hanging at the beach with her son!
See Zoya's Picks →
Erika
When Erika is not reading books she's helping out with our favorite charity (where we got our office cat from!) the Community Cat Club. She loves fostering kittens or TNR'ing cats. She loves all things magical and will happily tell you all about her current D&D campaign. Along with a large collection of books, Erika enjoys house plants and caring for her personal cats and two rescue dog.
See Erika's Picks →
Erin
Erin has a passion for the art of writing and the way an author chooses to tell their story. As an avid reader and writer, she always looks for books that are captivating and different. Fantasy and Romance excite her, but it's the supernatural and magical stories that have her heart.
See Erin's Picks →Ready to Obsess Over This Month's Book?
Gather Somewhere Beautiful
Host your book club in a space that sets the mood, sparks the conversation, and makes the evening feel genuinely special. Order 5 or more copies through us and we'll treat every member to a goody bag and a romance tote bag for the group. Because talking about the books you love should feel like an event in itself.