UK’s First Romantasy Bookshop Bad Girl Books Opens Oxford July 2026

Key Points

• Bad Girl Books, the UK’s first romantasy-only bookshop, will open on 4th July 2026 in Oxford
• The shop is located at 29 Walton St, Oxford
• Founder Starlin Marot is launching the permanent brick-and-mortar store after hosting monthly pop-ups across the UK
• The grand opening will be marked by a “mini summer romantasy festival” running every Saturday and Sunday throughout July and August 2026
• The festival features free entry and includes author events, book clubs, craft workshops, and social gatherings
• Over 6,000 people attended Bad Girl Books’ previous romantasy pop-up events
• The shop celebrates romantasy genre books featuring romance and fantasy tropes, including works by Sarah J Maas
• Bad Girl Books aims to create a genuine community space for book lovers with regular programming
• Monthly pop-ups continue across the UK while the Oxford shop prepares for permanent opening
• Free tickets are available for the grand opening festival via Eventbrite

Oxford(Oxford Daily)June 02, 2026 – The UK’s first romantasy-only bookshop is finally opening its doors in Oxford, marking a significant milestone for fans of the booming romance-fantasy genre. As reported by the LinkedIn company page for Bad Girl Books, founder Starlin Marot announced that the permanent brick-and-mortar store will launch on 4th July 2026 at 29 Walton St, Oxford.

The grand opening celebration includes a “mini summer romantasy festival” running every Saturday and Sunday throughout July and August 2026, featuring free entry for all attendees. According to TikTok coverage from Starlin’s bookshelf account, the festival will showcase author events, book clubs, craft workshops, and fun social events designed to build community among romantasy enthusiasts.

Starlin Marot, the founder behind Bad Girl Books, has been hosting monthly pop-up events across the UK leading up to this permanent opening. As stated on the company’s LinkedIn page, “Monthly pop-ups hosted by Starlin across the UK in the meantime” while the Oxford location was prepared. These pop-ups have gained significant traction, with Instagram posts revealing that over 6,000 people attended previous romantasy pop-up events.

Why Is This the UK’s First Romantasy-Only Bookshop?

Bad Girl Books distinguishes itself by focusing exclusively on the romantasy genre, which combines romance and fantasy elements. According to the Crowdfunder campaign page, Starlin Marot is “raising money to open a permanent brick-and-mortar Romantasy Bookstore / Gift Shop in Oxford, called Bad Girl Books”. This makes it the first retail space in the UK dedicated solely to this increasingly popular genre.

The shop’s name reflects its mission to celebrate books that some might label as “bad girl books.” As Starlin explained on the Bad Girl Books website, “There is nothing wrong with bad girl books, and this romantasy bookshop will celebrate them”. The founder credits author Sarah J Maas for inspiring her journey into romantasy, noting that Maas’ works helped shape her passion for the genre.

Romantasy has seen explosive growth in recent years, driven by popular authors and social media communities like BookTok. Penguin’s beginner’s guide to romantasy explains that the genre explores specific meaning, popular tropes, and contains some of the best books for new readers entering the space. Bad Girl Books positions itself as a dedicated destination for fans seeking these specific types of stories.

What Events Will Happen During the Mini Summer Romantasy Festival?

The mini summer romantasy festival marking Bad Girl Books’ opening will run throughout July and August 2026, with events scheduled every Saturday and Sunday. According to TikTok coverage from @starlinsbookshelf, “To celebrate the grand opening, a mini book festival will run every Saturday and Sunday throughout July and August. This event will feature…” various programming elements.

The festival programme includes multiple components designed to build community engagement. As stated on Bad Girl Books’ website, “The goal for Bad Girl Books is for it to feel like a genuine community, with regular book clubs, craft workshops, author events, fun social events and more”. These activities align with the festival’s community-focused approach.

The grand opening event itself is scheduled for Saturday, 4th July 2026, starting at 10:00 at 29 Walton St, Oxford. Entry to the festival is free, with tickets available through Eventbrite. As noted on Instagram, “FREE tickets on eventbrite in my bio!!” for those wanting to attend the opening celebration.

Upcoming author events include appearances by romantasy and urban fantasy writers. Instagram posts confirmed that “Elvie Grace join us for our summer pop-up event on Saturday 29th August! Elvie writes romantasy and urban…” fiction.

Where Is Bad Girl Books Located and How Can Visitors Access It?

Bad Girl Books will be permanently located at 29 Walton St, Oxford, as confirmed by the Eventbrite listing for the grand opening festival. This location places the shop in Oxford’s retail district, making it accessible to both local residents and visitors to the university city.

Prior to the permanent opening, Starlin has been hosting pop-up events at various UK locations. A December 2025 pop-up took place at “198 Hackney Road, E2 7QL” in London, according to the LinkedIn company page. The founder has indicated flexibility in expanding to other cities, with the Events page stating that

“Starlin is currently planning pop-ups in London and Oxford, but may bring Bad Girl Books to different cities on request”.

For those interested in attending events, free tickets are available through multiple channels. The Eventbrite page for “Starlin Marot” lists the Bad Girl Books GRAND OPENING: MINI SUMMER ROMANTASY FESTIVAL with free admission. Instagram posts direct followers to “FREE TICKETS on eventbrite in the bio link” for upcoming events.

Background of the Romantasy-Only Bookshop Development

The development of Bad Girl Books represents a significant evolution in specialist book retailing in the UK. The concept emerged from Starlin Marot’s personal passion for romantasy literature, which she attributes to discovering Sarah J Maas’ works. The founder’s journey began with monthly pop-up events designed to test demand for a dedicated romantasy retail space.

The Crowdfunder campaign reveals the business model behind the project. As stated on the campaign page, “I am raising money to open a permanent brick-and-mortar Romantasy Bookstore / Gift Shop in Oxford, called Bad Girl Books”. This crowdfunding approach demonstrates communitysupport for the concept before the permanent location opened.

The pop-up strategy proved successful, with Instagram posts celebrating that “OVER 6,000 PEOPLE CAME YAY!” to previous events. This attendance figure validated the market demand for a dedicated romantasy bookstore. The LinkedIn company page confirms that Bad Girl Books operates as a privately held company with one employee, indicating a lean startup approach.

The romantasy genre itself has experienced substantial growth, with Penguin publishing a beginner’s guide to help readers navigate “the genre’s meaning, popular tropes and the best romantasy books to start with”. This genre expansion created the market conditions that made a romantasy-only bookshop viable for the first time in the UK.

How Will This Development Affect Oxford’s Book Community and Romantasy Readers?

The opening of Bad Girl Books will directly affect romantasy readers in Oxford and the surrounding South East region by providing their first dedicated physical space for genre-specific book shopping. Prior to this opening, romantasy enthusiasts had to browse general bookshops or purchase online, without access to a curated selection focused exclusively on romance-fantasy crossovers.

Local book communities in Oxford will gain a new hub for regular programming. The planned book clubs, craft workshops, and author events will provide structured opportunities for romantasy fans to connect in person. As stated on Bad Girl Books’ website, the shop aims “to feel like a genuine community, with regular book clubs, craft workshops, author events, fun social events and more”.

The festival programming throughout July and August 2026 will immediately benefit visitors attending the weekend events. With free entry and diverse activities, the mini summer romantasy festival lowers barriers to participation for new readers exploring the genre. This accessibility could expand the romantasy reader base in Oxford beyond existing dedicated fans.

Oxford’s retail landscape will experience increased diversity with the addition of a genre-specialist bookshop. The Walton Street location adds to the city’s existing book retail options, potentially attracting visitors from outside Oxford who specifically seek romantasy titles. The London pop-up experience suggests the shop could draw regional attendance, given the 6,000+ people who attended previous events.

For aspiring booksellers and entrepreneurship in the literary sector, Bad Girl Books demonstrates that crowdfunded, specialist bookshops can succeed. The transition from monthly pop-ups to permanent retail space provides a model for other niche genre retailers considering similar pathways.

Romantasy authors, particularly emerging writers in the genre, will gain a dedicated retail partner for book sales and events. The confirmed appearance of author Elvie Grace at the 29th August summer pop-up event shows the shop’s commitment to featuring romantasy and urban fantasy writers. This relationship could provide increased visibility for authors whose work aligns with the shop’s focus.