Opening of a new romance novel-only bookstore on Lehi Main

Brynn Carnesecca | Lehi Free Press

A new bookstore will open on Main Street on October 19th. Unlike major companies like Barnes and Noble and Amazon, Lagg (Like a Good Girl) bookstore will be a mecca for women, stocking and selling only romance novels.

For longtime AFHS teachers Whitney Beckstead and Kara Allen, Lagg took a year. As they worked together, they discovered their shared love of reading – particularly the romance genre. They frequently discussed their favorite authors and new releases and felt the urge to enrich their current teaching careers with a creative endeavor.

“We both had the idea of ​​opening a bookstore where we could talk about what we were passionate about. “It didn’t feel like there was a physical space for it, even though there are a lot of online spaces like Bookstagram and BookTok,” Beckstead said. “We both had in mind that we wanted to physically create this space.”

One evening while attending an online book event, the duo decided to make their dream a reality and open a bookstore just for romance novels. The couple scouted a few locations and found a space previously owned by Slope House Mercantile. They were drawn to Lehi Main’s sense of community while still remaining close to their roots in American Fork.

Lagg brings a unique twist to the classic bookstore and highlights the increasingly popular romance genre.

“We only sell romance. Another big difference is that we will be more of a bookstore and a boutique,” ​​Allen said. “There will be a lot of merch here. We will have stickers, keychains, jewelry and clothing. Basically everything a girl needs.”

In addition to the regular opening hours, numerous book-related events take place at Lagg.

“We will definitely have midnight release parties around books. We also want to host book clubs and have a room in the back that we rent out to groups. We see ourselves in the future as a space that can contribute to the education of women,” explained Beckstead.

In the weeks since Lagg’s announcement, the couple has received an outpouring of support from American Fork students, parents and faculty.

“Even just posting on social media made me feel so loved and cared for by our community. We still have a great passion for teaching, which is reflected in what we want to do in the future. I love our community and am very proud to be a part of the school,” Beckstead said.

Allen and Beckstead hope to provide a safe space for women in Utah County to engage with the books they love.

“Romance has long been a secret passion of women. Most people don’t realize that it is as popular as it is. Romance is the highest-grossing genre. “It’s huge and in many ways people are shocked by this statistic because so many women have kept it a secret,” Allen shared. “But with the opening of BookTok and these romance bookstores, we as women are living more honestly. I love the idea of ​​highlighting women’s lifestyles.”

Allen continued: “We’ve already read romance novels and we’re no longer ashamed of them. This is part of girl culture and nothing to be ashamed of. It’s something to celebrate and talk about. We’re really excited to be a part of it.”

Lagg will open on October 19th with a grand opening celebration from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, follow @laggbookstore on TikTok and Instagram.