Denverite occasionally publishes personal essays. Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, our summer 2025 intern, explored the question of representation in the world of romance books — including for her own relationship.

Walking into a romance bookstore like the Spicy Librarian can be oddly intimidating.

It’s not the look of the place: a century-old brick exterior, the door opening to a splash of green and pink and rows of books, tote bags and inviting couches. Nor the secret door to the adults-only section.

Rather, something more personal was on my mind when I visited this summer.

As an avid romance reader, I was excited to visit Denver’s first physical, romance-only bookstore, but I was scared I wouldn’t see myself in this space.

I’m a Colombian girl with dark brown skin whose idea of courtship

See Full Page