Overview:
Get freaky this Valentine's Day with help from Denver's Spicy Librarian, a bookstore that has made a big splash since it opened in January.
Spicy Librarian, a trendy new romance bookstore in Denver’s River North Art District, is having a moment. Nearly a month after its grand opening on Jan. 18, owner Sydney Ivey is still amazed by the outpouring of community support, which she did not expect to last more than a week.
“I expected a really big push,” Ivey said. “There are so many romance bookstores opening all over the country and as we’re watching them open up—I expected there would be a lot of excitement that first week and for it to really die off, but it really has not, which has been great to see.”
Due to the high volume of customers, Ivey has been working hard to keep the bookshelves stocked, particularly in the fantasy and dark romance section, which runs out every Sunday. She finds it surreal that she has to place larger book orders than her initial order every week to keep up with demand.
“I can barely keep books on the shelves right now,” Ivey said. “Which has been great to see that the community is really coming out and supporting us.”
Customers may enter an industrial building, but the thoughtfully designed space transports them to a whimsical setting. Surrounded by greenery, vibrant floral walls, fun wall art and a stunning book tree that stretches across the ceiling, it is clear that Ivey and her mother, Jewels Ivey, have put their hearts and creativity into every detail.
“My mom helped me create the entire space,” Ivey said. “She’s helping me out every single day and I’m so grateful for that because I don’t know what I would be doing if I didn’t have that. I’m so lucky to have her be willing to step up and help.”
As a former kindergarten teacher, Ivey found herself burnt out and would use romance novels as an escape, which is where she found her inspiration for the space. After seeing others open across the country and visiting The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, a “romantic bookstore,” she was inspired to follow suit and start her own.
“I knew I wanted to go with something that I was passionate about and that I knew people would also love,” Ivey said. Ivey is surprised that Spicy Librarian has seen more than just locals come through their doors. Ivey shares she’s met people from all over Colorado who drive to visit them, as well as people from out of state.
“Author Rebecca Yarros had an event in Denver a couple of weeks ago, and we saw people from all over the country that were flying in to see her—everybody that went to her event seemed to come here as well, which was so great,” Ivery said. “We’re truly seeing people from all over the place. It’s great that they are finding us, and they know that we exist.”
Since the pandemic, interest in reading has increased, causing a resurgence in independent bookstores, particularly bookstores offering specific genres such as horror, romance and mystery. The number of independent bookstores has grown by 200 from 2022 to 2023 and the number has more than doubled between 2016 and 2023.
The American Booksellers Association has also reported online sales for independent bookstores have seen a 500% increase since 2020. This year the association will convene for their Winter Institute from Feb. 23 to 26 in Denver, bringing a lineup of keynote talks, featured speakers and more than 100 authors.
Social media has also become a source of influence for readers. #Booktok, a hashtag used on TikTok, is used by readers to share their latest books and favorite authors, building a community that is venturing into physical space to connect with authors and other readers.
“It feels so great that people really are reading,” Ivey said. “People are buying physical books; they are supporting the authors and not just relying on Amazon. This is one industry that has bounced back in the face of technology—we created a community online, so being able to bring that into a real space is definitely key.”
That’s what Ivey envisions for her—a cozy and welcoming space where readers can gather and engage in conversations about books. As co-organizer for the Silent Book Club, she’ll be hosting monthly meetings at the store, providing a space for members to socialize and read together. Additionally, she is offering the store’s upper level for book clubs, many of which have already reserved the space for meetings.
“As a book person, you can always talk and meet somebody new and bond with somebody over the love of your favorite book,” Ivey said. “These are all people who love books— they’re all people who love romance, and you get to come together and actually meet and talk about it.”
The distinct sitting areas, each reflecting its own subgenre through unique decor, are the store’s standout feature, providing an inviting environment for customers to stay and read. Through the space, Ivey wanted to provide an escape for others, just as romance provided an escape for her in her previous teaching career.
“It’s crazy how much people like to sit and hang out here—which is what I really wanted,” Ivey said. “We’ve had people ask us, ‘Is it okay if I sit and read for a while?’ I’m like, ‘Of course!’ and they’re like, ‘I’ve been kicked out of bookstores because I wanted to do that before.’ It’s crazy because it should be a community space and somewhere people can hang out.”
Walking along the bookshelves, customers will discover a vast selection of titles, including children’s and young adult books. If the choices become overwhelming, Ivey is always available to provide recommendations or suggest their book recommendation jar for extra inspiration.
“Right now I’m reading “The Courting of Bristol Keats,” which is really good right now,” Ivey said. “But there are so many titles because it is February—it is the month of romance releases, so we have huge releases coming up like Tessa Bailey’s “Hockey Romance” just came out—there are so many.”
Throughout the store, books are labeled with peppers indicating their “spice levels,” which refers to the amount of explicit content found in each of them. In addition, Spicy Librarian sells book merchandise, stickers, bookmarks, leather book purses and other fun gifts.
Many customers have taken to social media to share their fun experience at the spicy store; others have left Google reviews praising the concept and execution, especially after visiting “The Vault,” a hidden gem behind a bookcase where adult customers can find a range of “intimacy wellness products,” as Ivey likes to call them.
“A bookstore us gals that LOVE a good romance NEEDS!” said Teri Blanchard on the book store’s Google reviews. “Spoke to the owner..she was very kind, sweet; you can tell she loves her business! The atmosphere, the books, “the vault,” and so many other things make this bookstore unique, cozy and worth EVERY penny … I would recommend this place times 10!”
However, Ivey has received some negative feedback, with a few customers pushing back on the concept. “This space is a niche,” Ivey said. “So it’s not always going to appeal to everyone—people really don’t like that we are so inclusive of everyone; some don’t like that I sell sex toys, and I knew that was going to happen—it’s taking a little bit to get used to that and letting it roll off my back.”
While Ivey navigates her new role as a bookstore owner, she intends to expand her team and continue to provide community space to others by hosting author signings, book clubs and events to bring people together through their love of books. Above all, she is extremely grateful for the ongoing support from the book community.
“I want to thank the community for really coming and supporting us and making this something that is amazing,” Ivey said. “Something that people are traveling hours to come visit—our name is getting out there—so many people are finding us on Instagram and TikTok because of them because they are posting us, they are sharing it, and it’s more than I could have ever hoped for.”