KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A mobile bookshop is catching people’s attention in Knoxville – and on social media – as it brings modern romance novels to the streets.
One local woman created the pink truck outfitted with custom shelves. She drives it to pop-up shops in the area.
“It just felt like destiny, like I was meant to do this,” said Rayanne Streeter.
She opened Good Girl Books and said she always imagined opening her own bookshop. Now that dream is a reality with one plot twist: it’s on wheels.
“Rent is really expensive so this is a little bit of a cheaper alternative,” Streeter said. “But also, this allows me flexibility. I don't have to sit in a shop all week. I can keep my normal job and then do this on the weekend or in the summer when I have more free time.”
Specifically, Streeter said she likes going to markets hosted by the Maker City community to interact with customers like Marissa Dalton.
“People here, when they come, they’re just so friendly,” Dalton said. “It's fun to, like, meet other like-minded readers in line.”
Streeter began bringing books to people like Dalton in June.
“It's pink and girly and romantic,” Dalton said. “What’s not to like?”
As adult romance books grow in popularity, shown by an increase in Google searches over the past five years and social media trends, Streeter found herself falling in love with the books herself.
“I started reading and romance was the thing that I was drawn to. I love soft, sweet stories. I love watching people fall in love and get that tingly feeling … Life's hard enough, just read a romance book,” Streeter said. “I think social media has allowed people to start being proud of the fact that they love romance and building community and finding friendship. It's almost the epitome of girlhood. And so being able to create that community, talk to one another — I think romance brings that out in people.”
Streeter said she’s gotten to see this through starting Good Girl Books, as well as by teaching sociology and gender and women’s studies classes at Maryville College.
“It's all about building community, breaking down gender stereotypes and just letting people feel good and happy,” Streeter said.
“It's just happy,” Dalton also said. “I mean, the world isn't always so happy. So when you crack open your book, you want to read something that definitely is going to be.”
That same happiness is what Streeter says she’s writing into her own life through this newfound journey.
Good Girl Books hosts pop-ups on the weekends, with the next coming up on Saturday at the East Tennessee Makers Market in Maryville.