THE BOOKSELLERS Association is delighted to welcome Love Stories Bookshop, Wales’s first in-person independent romance bookshop, opening this winter in the heart of Cardiff. The shop will open its doors on December 13 in the Castle Arcade, joining the vibrant community of independent businesses that define the city’s historic arcades.
Love Stories Bookshop offers a broad and carefully curated range of romance titles, with over 1,000 books across 14 sub-genres, including contemporary, fantasy, historical, LGBTQ+, young adult, science-fiction, and non-fiction romance. Alongside books, the shop stocks a hand-picked selection of non-book items created primarily by women-owned, UK-based small businesses, celebrating craft, creativity, and independent makers.
The shop is owned by Aimee Cummings and Charlie Seddon, a wife-and-husband team bringing their passion and expertise to Cardiff’s bookselling landscape. Aimee, who will run the bookshop day to day, has spent the past decade working in academia, focusing on the mental health of children in contact with the social care system, and is due to submit her PhD early next year. Charlie manages the business’s accounts, drawing on his experience as Head of Commercial Operations at Tiny Rebel Brewery.
A lifelong romance reader, Aimee traces her love of the genre back to childhood.
She said: “Growing up, I was a voracious reader. My mum eventually started lending me her own books—maybe not the most age-appropriate at the time—but that’s when I fell in love with romance.
“Romance is one of the most popular genres in publishing, yet it still carries so much stigma.
“With Love Stories, we want to create a space that feels welcoming and inclusive, where readers can browse without judgement and chat enthusiastically about their favourite books, authors, and tropes.
“Cowboy romance? Over here. Monster smut? Right this way! And if someone doesn’t know where to start, we’re always happy to recommend something.”
She added: “The idea came from a growing sense that I’d reached the end of my road in academia. On a trip to New York, Charlie and I visited The Ripped Bodice – a must for any romance lover – and I remember feeling almost jealous.
“Talking about books all day… that was the dream. When I joked that maybe I should open a bookshop, Charlie said the most enthusiastic ‘sure, let’s do it’. Eleven months later, here we are.”
Choosing a location was equally instinctive.
Aimee said: “I knew the arcades were the right home. They’re full of history and packed with gorgeous independent businesses. That’s the community I wanted Love Stories to be part of.”
From launch, Love Stories Bookshop aims to build a warm, community-minded space for romance readers at every stage—from seasoned fans to those discovering the genre for the first time.
Amy Bradley, Interim Membership Manager at the Booksellers Association, said: “Love Stories Bookshop is a fantastic addition to Cardiff’s thriving independent shopping scene. It’s inspiring to see a dedicated romance bookshop -Wales’s first – rooted in passion, inclusivity, and community.
“Aimee and Charlie are creating a space where readers feel welcome, celebrated, and excited to discover new stories. Shops like Love Stories enrich local culture, champion independent creators, and remind us why bookshops matter.”
Love Stories Bookshop will open tomorrow (December 13).
