Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know, and a few things you didn’t know you needed to know.
Still have a question after this? Send us a message or email hello@lovestorybooksandcafe.com. We answer within a business day, book recs included.
Ordering from us
Do you ship nationwide?
Yes. We ship anywhere in the U.S. Shipping is a flat rate based on the weight of your order, starting at $6.99 for a single paperback, and you’ll see the exact amount at checkout before you pay. Orders usually ship within 5 business days.
Can I pick up my order at the shop?
Please do. Choose Pickup at checkout and there’s no shipping charge. We’ll email you when it’s ready, usually the same day during shop hours, and you just give your name at the counter. Grab a latte while you’re here.
How do I track my order or see past orders?
Your shipping confirmation email has the tracking link. You can also sign in to your account to see every order, its status, and your book club membership. Signing in is passwordless: enter your email and we send you a one-time code.
Can I change or cancel an order after I place it?
If it hasn’t shipped yet, usually. Email hello@lovestorybooksandcafe.com with your order number as soon as you can and we’ll do our best. Once a package is on its way, our return policy applies.
Can I return a book?
Books are non-returnable. Other items (merch, accessories) can be returned within 30 days in original packaging and condition for a refund. After 30 days we offer store credit. Email hello@lovestorybooksandcafe.com to start a return. If anything arrives damaged, email us and we’ll make it right.
How do pre-orders work?
Order it now and we’ll have it waiting for you on release day, or ship it out as soon as it lands. Pre-orders through us are a real order at our shop, so your copy is reserved and you’re supporting an indie bookstore instead of a warehouse. Browse what’s coming on our Pre-Orders shelf.
Can I place a special order for a book you don’t carry?
Absolutely. Email us at hello@lovestorybooksandcafe.com with the title and we’ll do our best to get it for you.
Do you carry ebooks or audiobooks?
We’re a physical bookstore at heart, but we love supporting indie book retail across formats. For ebooks, check out Bookshop.org. For audiobooks, we recommend Libro.fm. Both support indie bookstores.
Do you offer gift cards?
Yes. Gift cards are available at the counter, and you can send an eGift card online in about a minute. Because nothing says “I love you” quite like letting someone pick their own romance novel.
What payment methods do you accept?
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay. Online payments are processed by Shopify Payments; in the shop we use Square.
Did the website change?
It did, in October 2026. Same shop, same people, new site that’s faster and easier to browse. Old links still work and send you to the right place. If you had an account on the old site, just sign in here with the same email and you’ll get a one-time code; no password to remember. Orders from the old site won’t show in your new account, but we have every one of them, so email us if you need a receipt or a reorder.
Visiting the shop
Where are you located?
8927 N Hess St, Suite A, Hayden, Idaho 83835. Come for the books, stay for the lattes. Map and directions.
What are your hours?
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Come read with us.
What does the café serve?
A full drink menu: specialty lattes, bookish drinks that rotate with the seasons, teas, matcha, and more. Breakfast burritos, egg bites, and a pastry case with our house croffle. See the whole menu.
Is the store kid-friendly?
We welcome families. Just keep in mind that we’re a romance bookstore, so some of our books have spicy content. Our Young Adult section is great for teen readers, and the café is for everyone.
Do you have a place to sit and read?
That’s literally what we built this place for. Grab a drink, find a spot, and settle in.
What do the spice levels mean?
Every book on our shelves and on the site carries a heat rating so you know what you’re getting into. Vanilla is no spice, Cinnamon is closed door, Jalapeño is open door, Habanero is open door and explicit, and Ghost Pepper is abundant and explicit. Shop by heat from the Spice menu, or ask any of us at the counter.
What is Blind Date with a Book?
A wrapped book, hand-picked for you, with only a few clues on the front. Take our short quiz online or at the shop, tell us your shelf and your heat level, and we do the rest. Here’s how it works.
Book clubs and The Lounge
How do your book clubs work?
We have three monthly subscription book clubs: The Archer’s Quill (romantasy, $35.99/month), An Illicit Affair (dark romance, $30.99/month), and Slow Burn Society (contemporary, $30.99/month). Each one delivers the monthly pick to your door, plus the discussion, the community, and the chaos. Join a club.
Which club is right for me?
The Archer’s Quill if you want fae courts, sword-wielding heroines, and slow-burn tension that spans entire realms. An Illicit Affair if you like your romance with an edge: morally grey everything, possessive heroes, unapologetically spicy. Slow Burn Society if small towns, second chances, and will-they-won’t-they are your comfort zone. Can’t decide? Join two. Nobody here will judge you.
Can I join a book club if I don’t live in Idaho?
Absolutely. Our book clubs ship nationwide and The Love Story Lounge is fully virtual. Distance is not a factor. Obsession with romance novels is.
Can I cancel or skip my book club subscription?
Yes. Manage your membership from your account, including skipping a month. Each club’s minimum term and monthly cancellation cutoff are listed on that club’s page. Boxes that have already shipped are non-refundable.
What is The Love Story Lounge?
Our virtual community on Mighty Networks, like a book club that never stops meeting. Book discussions, reading challenges, early access to store events, exclusive content, and the kind of unhinged book talk that only happens around people who get it. Join here, it’s free.
Love Story After Dark
What is Love Story After Dark?
Our collector’s book box, made for collectors by collectors, launching late 2026. Deluxe editions and the kind of extras you keep. It lives on its own site at itsalovestoryafterdark.com.
How do I get in?
Join the waitlist at itsalovestoryafterdark.com. The first 500 on the list are the Founder’s Circle, with first access and founder pricing when the door opens.
Is After Dark the same as the book clubs?
No. The book clubs are a monthly reading pick and a community. After Dark is a collector box: special editions, limited runs, and a separate waitlist. You can absolutely do both.
Signings, craft nights, and more
How do I find out about upcoming events?
Check our events page, follow us on Instagram and TikTok, and join The Love Story Lounge for early access and announcements.
Are event tickets refundable?
Event ticket sales are final. If you can’t make it and give us advance notice, we may be able to work something out case by case. Email us.
I’m an author. Can I get my book on your shelves or do a signing?
We love hosting and stocking authors, indie and traditional. Consignment terms, what we look for, and the inquiry form are all on our For Authors page.
Do you work with brands or press?
Yes, when it fits our bookish, cozy, romance-loving energy. Email hello@lovestorybooksandcafe.com with your idea, or see the Contact page for press features and details.