The Ripped Bodice (Brooklyn)

The Ripped Bodice is an independent brick-and-mortar bookstore devoted to the celebration of romance novels. The store is proudly Woman and Queer Owned. Sisters and owners Leah and Bea Koch opened TRB on March 4, 2016 following a successful Kickstarter campaign to bring their dream of a romance-only bookstore to life.The Ripped Bodice features a vast and diverse selection of romance fiction. In addition to books, the store has a wide selection of gift items with a focus on supporting independent, woman owned businesses.The store and its owners undertake several large projects each year including The Ripped Bodice State of Racial Diversity in Romance Report, the Read, Romance, Repeat subscription box and the development of television projects based on romance novels in association with Sony Pictures Television. On June 1, 2023, TRB announced their expansion to Brooklyn, NY with their new store slated to open on August 5. About The OwnersBea and Leah Koch are sisters and the owners of The Ripped Bodice. They grew up in Chicago, IL. Both sisters are lifelong romance readers and feel lucky to spend their days surrounded by books.Bea attended Yale University and NYU, where she wrote a graduate thesis titled Mending the Ripped Bodice. In 2020, she published her first book, Mad & Bad: Real Heroines of the Regency. Her favorite romance subgenre is historicals and her favorite thing to do in the world is hang out with her dogs, Hamilton and Fiona.Leah moved to Los Angeles to attend USC and preferring the eternal sunshine to Chicago winters... never left! Her favorite romance subgenre is contemporary, especially Lesbian romances. When she isn't reading, she enjoys crafts of all kinds, watching women's soccer and the antics of her three cats.