While some avid romance readers do not feel the need to keep a copy (or two) of all of their favorite novels in their homes, I do not fall into that category. I keep copies on hand for two reasons: first, you never know when you will want to reread one of your favorite authors earlier books, and second, you never know when you’ll meet someone who has never read a romance novel.
To illustrate this second point, at a recent small gathering in our Brooklyn apartment (large gatherings are not possible in 800 square feet unless you want your guests chatting in the bathroom), I learned a good friend of ours had never read a romance novel. I immediately pounced on this opportunity. After a series of questions, I pulled a well-read Regency historical from under the bed and told her to let me know when she needed her next book. She called a week later.
Some might ask in wonder: why do you store your collection of romance novels under the bed? It’s a question I’ve heard many times from my husband. The answer is simple, really. When they were stacked on the floor beside the night table, our cat made it her nightly mission to topple the pile. Thus the collection moved to somewhat organized piles under the bed.
Of course, some of my collection lives on bookshelves. But I also needed to make space for my husband’s books. The closet was simply out of the question. A NYC apartment rarely offers an abundance of closet space and ours is no exception. We decided to keep the clothes in the closets instead of the books, as the clothes would not fare well under the bed.
If anyone has found another solution to this conundrum, I would love to hear from you!
