Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Duran.
Christina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Of course! I’ve always loved to read but as I got older it got harder to find the time. After I had my little girl, I found it very rare to have any down time that was solely dedicated to doing something I enjoyed. On a trip with my husband I decided to pick up a book and make it my goal to finish that book on the trip and I completely fell back in love with the romance genre and reading in general. I quickly found out that once I’m 100 pages into a good book, even as a busy and tired new mom,I can find the time to read! My personality lends itself to not being able to do anything casually, so early on into my new reading journey it became something I wanted to pursue beyond a passion or hobby. From there, an idea started to grow: what if I created a space just for romance readers here in Nashville? Not just a bookstore, but an experience—something fun, girly, and made specifically for those unapologetically obsessed with reading and romance. That’s how Sugar and Spice Book Co. was born—a romance-only bookstore on wheels. I wanted to bring the magic of romance books to readers in a fresh way, whether they’re already in the community or just getting started. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m just getting started!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not a completely smooth road—though it’s absolutely been a rewarding one. Starting Sugar and Spice Book Co. from the ground up meant learning a lot on the fly. I didn’t have a background in retail, or business in general so everything from sourcing inventory to navigating all the necessary business needs for a mobile business was brand new to me. Luckily my husband has some business experience so that was helpful but for the most part, we were both googling things day and night until we solved one problem and moved onto the next. There’s definitely quite a learning curve, especially with mobile retail businesses because there aren’t many of them out there, so there is significantly less information on the start up requirements for something like this. That means a lot of guessing work and research to figure it all out! Balancing entrepreneurship with being a full-time mom has also had its challenges—most of my brainstorming happens during car naps or after bedtime. There were moments of doubt, delays with the trailer build, and plenty of “am I really doing this?” But since the day of the grand opening I knew I was meant to do this, to connect with romance readers in Nashville and to create this space for the community.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Sugar and Spice Book Co. is a mobile, romance-only bookstore based here in Nashville, TN—designed for readers who love love. We specialize in curating romance books across all subgenres, from sweet small-town stories to dark, spicy reads and all the romantasy in between. We are passionate about supporting indie authors and bringing readers stories they don’t typically see in their average bookstore. What sets us apart is the experience we offer: think pink, fun, and full of personality. It’s not just about selling books—it’s about creating a space where romance readers feel seen, celebrated, and part of a community.
We partner with local businesses to pop up around Nashville with our decked-out, fully customized trailer featuring romance books, bookish merch, and fun extras like our cute blind dates with a book. We also love doing private events for book clubs and showing up at festivals and markets. We are currently working on launching our very own monthly book club, as well as planning some fun social bookish events and we may just have some really cool author events up our sleeve for later this year!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
For me, it’s authenticity. I built Sugar and Spice Book Co. around what I genuinely love and am excited about—romance books, all things pink, making reading cool again and creating a fun experience for the book girlies. My hope, and what I believe, is that authenticity resonates. I’m not trying to be everything to everyone; I’m building something niche, personal, and exciting for those that get it. That focus helps guide every decision, from the books I stock to the events I host. When you’re rooted in what feels true to you, people can feel it—and they want to be part of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sugarandspicebookco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarandspicebookco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sugarandspicebookco
