Slay the Stigma: A Disability-Led Drag Show

Join All She Wrote Books, Kiera’s Cabaret, and Read My Lips Boston for Slay the Stigma, a drag show starring neurodivergent and disabled performers, at Connexion in Somerville on Saturday, September 20! During intermission, you will have the opportunity to shop from disability-owned bookstores All She Wrote Books and Read My Lips Boston. THE WHEN AND WHERE Date and time: Saturday, September 20, at 7 PM (Doors at 6:30 PM) Location: Connexion, 149 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145 Tickets: $21.99 Please note that you must be 18+ in order to attend, and masks are required. DRAG SHOW CAST Host: Kiera Knox Jelli Beanbags Kelsy Kyrus Lilith Graves Rose Petals M!ss Demeanor Thrash Infection Tommy Boss Travis Ti Stroke the Clown ABOUT THE EVENT HOSTS All She Wrote Books: At All She Wrote Books, we think of “intersectional,” “feminist,” and “queer” as more than tokenized buzzwords. Rather, we see them as guiding lights for all who seek a safe and supportive space of people who love, respect, and care for each other. We are committed to supporting our neighbors and uplifting the voices that have been silenced for far too long. On our curated shelves, those whose stories have, for centuries, been forcibly rewritten can find themselves. Kiera’s Cabaret: Kiera’s Cabaret is a Boston based drag showcase, produced and hosted by Kiera Knox. Kiera’s cabaret offers a rotating cast, highlighting some of Boston’s most talented queens, kings, things, and everything in-between. Their mission is to provide an inclusive space to showcase drag’s rich history, culture, and its varied artistic interpretations. Read My Lips Boston: Read My Lips Boston is a diverse romance bookshop that partners with breweries, cafes, and other establishments to host monthly mobile shops all around Boston. Their curated selection of love stories centers authors and main characters identifying as BIPOC, disabled, queer, big-bodied, and members of other groups historically underrepresented in the romance genre. Read My Lips donates 10% of their proceeds to local and national non-profits and social causes.

Connexion

Rom & Com: A romance bookshop pop-up & comedy show

Calling all lovers of rom and com! In celebration of Bookstore Romance Day — an annual indie bookstore celebration of romance books, writers, and readers — New Normal Comedy and Read My Lips Boston are teaming up for an evening of laughs and books at Idle Hands Craft Ales. Boasting a lineup of women, femme, and non-binary comedians, New Normal Comedy’s ticketed show will tickle your funny bone with horror stories about dating and romance. Additionally, you’ll be able to shop Read My Lips Boston’s curated selection of diverse romance reads and enjoy Idle Hands’ craft brew both leading up to and during the evening’s comedy show. Whether you're a hopeless romantic, a comedy enthusiast, or just in it for the beer, there's something for everyone during our Bookstore Romance Day celebration! WHEN AND WHERE Date:&nbsp;Saturday, August 9 Public bookshop pop-up:&nbsp;5 - 9 PM ET Ticketed comedy show (open to 21+ only):&nbsp;Doors at 9 PM ET Location:&nbsp;Idle Hands Craft Ales, 89 Commercial St., Malden MA 02148 An individual ticket costs $25.30 and gets you entry into the comedy show, plus:<ul><li>A complimentary drink ticket (redeemable for either a non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverage)</li><li>15% off purchases at Read My Lips’ bookshop pop-up during the show</li></ul>We use this alternative method of selling tickets to our events: After filling out <a href="https://bit.ly/rom-and-com">this Google Form</a> with your registration details, you will be able to access a checkout page to pay for your ticket, which will be processed by Square. We use this method because it takes a smaller percentage of profits than Eventbrite or other platforms. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this process. About New Normal Comedy: New Normal Comedy is redefining the comedy scene in New England by creating inclusive spaces where humor meets humanity. They aim to make the stage feel like home, fostering environments where comics can thrive and audiences can connect. By highlighting underrepresented voices, New Normal brings together people who haven’t always been made to feel "normal," ensuring everyone finds their place in the laughter. About Read My Lips Boston: Read My Lips Boston is a diverse romance bookshop that partners with breweries, cafes, and other establishments to host monthly mobile shops all around Boston. Their curated selection of love stories centers authors and main characters identifying as BIPOC, disabled, queer, big-bodied, and members of other groups historically underrepresented in the romance genre. Read My Lips donates 10% of their proceeds to local and national non-profits and social causes.

Idle Hands Craft Ales

So You Want to Write a Romance Novel

Join writer and literary agent Maggie Cooper for an introduction to the essentials of romance writing. We’ll begin our time together by defining some key terms, then dive into brainstorming exercises and generative writing prompts to get your ideas flowing. Whether you’re just getting started or need a little push to get back to a stalled-out draft, you’ll leave class ready to write your way towards your characters’ happily ever after. This class is open to writers of all levels of experience and subgenres—from contemporary rom com to romantasy, hockey romance, and historicals. Tickets include a workshop seat and private shopping (with 15% off your purchase) from&nbsp;<a href="https://read-my-lips-boston.square.site/">Read My Lips Boston</a>, Boston's diverse romance pop-up bookstore! More about Maggie Cooper: Maggie Cooper is a writer, literary agent, and lifelong romance reader. In her agenting practice, she represents adult fiction and nonfiction with an emphasis on queer and trans stories and books that make our world weirder, kinder, more joyful, or all three. She’s the author of the prose chapbook The Theme Park of Women’s Bodies (Bull City Press 2024) and her fiction has appeared in The Rumpus, Ninth Letter, Quarterly West, and elsewhere. Maggie also teaches writing at GrubStreet in Boston. More about Read My Lips Boston: Read My Lips Boston is&nbsp;a diverse romance&nbsp;bookshop. They partner with breweries, cafes, and other establishment to host monthly mobile shops all around Boston. Read My Lips Boston's curated selection of love stories centers authors and main characters identifying as BIPOC, disabled, queer, big-bodied, and members of other groups historically underrepresented in the romance genre. Read My Lips Boston donates 10% of their proceeds to local and national non-profits and social causes.

The Lavender Room at Arts at the Armory

Read My Lips Boston pop-up & free wine tasting at The Urban Grape

Come join us for a diverse romance bookshop pop-up and free public wine tasting at The Urban Grape, a Black-owned and woman-owned wine shop that highlights BIPOC and LGBTQ+ producers! (Psst...Celebrities like Issa Rae are known to stop by!) What's in store: 💋 A freshly curated selection of (mostly) gently pre-loved and (some) new romance books with diverse representation! 📚️ Blind dates with books: Let fate decide your next romantic adventure!⁠ 🌟 Staff recommendations: Handpicked stories that'll make you swoon.⁠ 🛍️ Fun swag, T-shirts, stickers, candles, and more: Because who doesn't love a little extra?⁠ At each of our pop-ups, we donate 10% of our proceeds to a different non-profit. This month, a portion of the event proceeds will go to <a href="https://www.tnlr.org/en/">The Network/La Red</a>, a survivor-led, social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, kink, polyamorous, and queer communities.

The Urban Grape

Read My Lips Boston: Book Buyback Sunday

Looking to clear out your bookshelf and make way for some new reads? Well, we've got you covered! We're launching Book Buyback Sundays and will take your books in exchange for store credit with Read My Lips Boston. The when and where: 📆 Sunday, June 1 from 9 AM to 1 PM ET 📍 Cafe Reynard / Idle Hands Craft Ales (89 Commercial St, Malden 02148) How the buyback works: 📚 Bring us your gently used books and we'll review your books on the spot 💰 For any books we accept, you'll get 50% of their value in store credit, which you can redeem right away at our pop-up onsite or save it for a future purchase 📖 For any books that don't qualify for store credit, we're more than happy to donate them to the Malden Public Library on your behalf 🚫 We will be not accepting ARCs (advanced reader copies) or damaged books (torn covers, missing pages, etc.) You are more than welcome to bring books of all genres but please be aware that romance books are more likely to be accepted for store credit.

Cafe Reynard / Idle Hands Craft Ales

Read My Lips Boston pop-up at Winter Hill Brewing Company

We’ll finally be returning to&nbsp;Winter Hill Brewing Company&nbsp;for a cozy spring pop-up full of books, brews, and good vibes! 🍻📚 We’re bringing our curated selection of gently pre-loved diverse romance novels for you to peruse while enjoying a delicious beer (or three). You'll also be able to shop stickers, swag, bookish merch, and more.⁠ The when and where:⁠ 📆 Saturday, May 24 from 10 AM to 1 PM ET⁠ 📍 Winter Hill Brewing Company (328 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145)⁠ ⁠ 10% of all proceeds from this pop-up will be donated to our featured nonprofit, Hearth -- a non-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of homelessness among the elderly. This mission is accomplished through a unique blend of prevention, placement, and housing programs all designed to help elders find and succeed in homes of their own.⁠ ⁠

Winter Hill Brewing Company

🔥 Sizzling Scenes: An inclusive sex writing workshop & romance bookshop pop-up 🔥

Are you ready to learn how to write some spicy smut? 😏 During this Sex Week Boston workshop, you'll learn from romance writing and editing instructor Megan Hennessey about how to write your very own smutty scenes! Be sure to bring your notebook, laptop, and/or other preferred writing tools. You'll write your own scenes at the end of the workshop, and will walk away an expert on writing sweat-inducing, sizzling scenes that also reveal character, move the story forward, and heighten tension. Afterwards, you'll have ample time to network with other romance fans and writers and browse titles at our romance bookshop pop-up. Tickets: <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPv2RcR0td9vl3wauliUcA804qLZGekVTkPkllfdBU7X6lwQ/viewform?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeDEUmWla_HExECYTLKaUXWMSNIgynYyJVVtNg8tknDHWyQtWHPX9Em0uhelA_aem_XRHpGS8v_U4M2BZuS0Ki2g">You can register and purchase your ticket for the workshop via this link</a>. After filling out the form, you will be able to purchase your selected ticket. Your ticket will include a workshop seat, a selection of tea and pastries from Rite Tea &amp; Espresso, and private shopping from Read My Lips, Boston's diverse romance pop-up bookshop! We are offering 3 pricing tiers for tickets: 🎟️ A discounted $19.99 ticket for those experiencing economic challenges (7 available, first come, first served) 🎟️ A $29.99 base ticket that covers the cost of our event space and paying our instructor and booksellers a fair wage 🎟️ A $34.99 "pay it forward" ticket that helps us offer our discounted tickets - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  📚 About Read My Lips Boston: Read My Lips Boston is a pop-up inclusive romance bookshop that highlights authors and main characters who identify as BIPOC, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA,&amp; more. They hold pop-up bookshops at local events, monthly book clubs, author events, and more. 🌶️ About Sex Week Boston: Sex Week Boston is a week-long series of events designed to educate, inspire, and empower individuals to embrace their sexuality in a safe, inclusive, and fun environment, while also fostering sex-positive community. The week is a vibrant celebration of sex education, queer and trans liberation, and sex-positive community building. 👩‍🏫 About the instructor: Megan Hennessey got her start in romance at the height of 50 Shades of Grey at Sourcebooks Casablanca reading the slush pile. She continues sharing her love for romance by giving workshops and courses at writers’ groups, the Women in Publishing Summit, and the Editorial Freelancers’ Association. She loves romance novels that break the rules and center queer, kinky characters.

The Annex at the Charles River Speedway

Independent Bookstore Day pop-up at Idle Hands Craft Ales

Independent Bookstore Day is a one-day party that takes place at indie bookstores all across the country on the last Saturday in April. Join Read My Lips Boston, Boston's diverse romance pop-up bookstore, at Idle Hands for our own unique celebration -- and take a chance on a blind date with a book for a chance to win a $30 Idle Hands gift certificate! You can also shop a curated selection of gently pre-loved diverse romance novels, stickers, swag, and more! Read My Lips Boston donates 10% of its proceeds to a different featured non-profit each month. This month, your purchase will benefit the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (<a href="https://barcc.org/">BARCC</a>).

Come join us for a pop-up and free public wine tasting at The Urban Grape, a Black-owned and woman-owned wine shop that highlights BIPOC and LGBTQ+ producers! (Psst...Celebrities are known to stop by, and Issa Rae visited in June!) What's in store: 💋 A freshly curated selection of (mostly) gently pre-loved and (some) new inclusive romance books! 📚️ Blind dates with books: Let fate decide your next romantic adventure!⁠ 🌟 Staff recommendations: Handpicked stories that'll make you swoon.⁠ 🛍️ Fun swag, T-shirts, stickers, candles, and more: Because who doesn't love a little extra?⁠ At each of our pop-ups, we donate 10% of our proceeds to a different non-profit. This month, a portion of the event proceeds will go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nativedisabilitylaw.org/">The Native American Disability Law Center</a>. Help us do some good as we go into the holiday season!

November Romance Book Club (and author visit!) with Read My Lips Boston

We are partnering with Rite on a monthly Romance Book Club! November's pick is Dukes and Dekes by Torie Jean, who will join us for a discussion of her most recent romance with endometriosis/chronic illness rep! After the event, feel free to hang out in the Annex! Rite has made the space super cozy, and it's the **perfect** reading spot. Q: When does the book club meet?⁠ The second Thursday of each month in the Annex at the Charles River Speedway!⁠ Q: I couldn’t make it to the kickoff event or subsequent meetings. Can I still join the book club?⁠ You sure can!⁠ Q: How do I get a copy of the book?⁠ * You can order a copy through us for pickup at Rite! Please DM us and we’ll send you a secure payment link.⁠ * You can purchase it through Bookshop.org or Libro.fm. (see link in bio)!⁠ * Check out your local library or Libby!⁠ Q: What if I don’t finish the book before the meeting?⁠ Finishing the book is not required! Just be aware the discussion may surface spoilers. :)⁠ If you have any questions that aren't answered here, please shoot us an email at <a href="mailto:readmylipsboston@gmail.com">readmylipsboston@gmail.com</a>! We hope you can join us.

Silent reading party & private holiday shopping

Spots are limited, and tickets are $25. Please sign up (and submit payment) via&nbsp;<a href="https://forms.gle/dUXBDJa4JQnQHzEp9">this Google form</a>&nbsp;to secure your place. Bring your book (audiobooks w/ headphones count!) and join Read My Lips Boston for a cozy Silent Reading Party with light snacks &amp; drinks at the disability-friendly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehouseofid.com/">House of id</a>! Read My Lips will bring a curated selection of gently used &amp; new books from their inclusive romance bookshop, and the House is full of gorgeous, curated (and buyable) treasures -- so, if you find yourself in the mood, this is a laid-back &amp; private holiday shopping opportunity, too! We will be joining the House of id in donating a portion of the event proceeds to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nativedisabilitylaw.org/">The Native American Disability Law Center</a>. Help us do some good as we go into the holiday season!

House of id

Haunted romance bookshop pop-up with Read My Lips Boston

Grab your pals or a date, snag a beer (or two) and head on over to our spooky pop-up at Idle Hands Craft Ales in Malden, MA! What you can expect:⁠ * Costumes encouraged! (One of us may or may not be dressing up as an evil Cupid)⁠ * Spooky &amp; cozy romance reads centering queer, BIPOC, disabled, plus-size &amp; other underrepresented perspectives in the genre ⁠ * Beer &amp; book pairings (of course!)⁠ * Spooky swag!! ⁠ 10% of our proceeds this month will go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abilitiesdanceboston.org/">Abilities Dance Boston</a>, a Boston-based nonprofit that uses dance as a tool to dismantle ableism and advocate for intersectional disability rights. ⁠

October Romance Book Club with Read My Lips Boston

We are partnering with Rite Tea &amp; Espresso (at the Charles River Speedway) on a monthly Romance Book Club! October's pick is Rules for Ghosting by local author Shelly Jay Shore! After the event, feel free to hang out in the Annex. Rite has made the space super cozy, and it's the **perfect** reading spot. Costumes encouraged, because, duh, 'tis the season. ;) Q: When does the book club meet?⁠ The second Thursday of each month in the Annex at the Charles River Speedway!⁠ ⁠ Q: I couldn’t make it to the kickoff event. Can I still join the book club?⁠ You sure can!⁠ Q: How do I get a copy of the book?⁠ * You can order a copy through us for pickup at Rite! Please email or Instagram-DM us and we’ll send you a secure payment link.⁠ * You can purchase it through Bookshop.org or Libro.fm. * Check out your local library or Libby!⁠ Q: What if I don’t finish the book before the meeting?⁠ Finishing the book is NOT required! Just show up and join the discussion! Please be aware that spoilers may surface.

Read My Lips Boston pop-up at Idle Hands Craft Ales

It's almost the end of summer...Treat yourself at Read My Lips' Bookstore Romance Day pop-up!⁠ ⁠ What is Bookstore Romance Day? Well, besides being one of our little shop's favorite holidays, it's officially designed to give independent bookstores an opportunity to celebrate Romance fiction—its books, readers, and writers—and to strengthen the relationships between bookstores and the Romance community! ⁠ ⁠ To celebrate this magical day, we will be popping up at Idle Hands Craft Ales on August 17, 3-6 PM. Come on by for our fun bookish merch, on-demand romance recommendations, and curated mix of new and pre-loved romance novels with inclusive representation! At each pop-up, we donate 10% of our proceeds to a local non-profit. (Feel free to tell all your friends you read steamy books for a good cause, wink wink). We are excited to share that, on Bookstore Romance Day, a portion of what you spend will go to Stone House! ⁠ Stone House is an incredible local non-profit (based in Roxbury MA) whose mission is to care for and protect adult and child survivors of domestic abuse, and help them rebuild safe, secure, independent lives of purpose and self-fulfillment. Stone House provides housing (short-term and long-term) for survivors looking for a place to stay, a safe community space, childcare, advocacy, and more. Join us! Happy shopping (and happy reading).

Read My Lips Boston pop-up at Mother Juice / Open Newbury

Mother Juice is hosting Read My Lips Boston for our Disability Pride Month Sale on Sunday, July 28, 2-5 PM! Stop by during Open Newbury Street for a scrumptious juice fix and your new favorite beach read. 💕🏖️ As always, we will have a freshly curated selection of (mostly) gently pre-loved and (some) new inclusive romance books, staff recommendations, blind dates with books, fun swag, and more — with ✨10% off your full purchase!!✨⁠ ⁠ At each of our pop-ups, we donate 10% of our proceeds to a different local non-profit. This month, we’re excited to be donating this portion of our sales to Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD). ⁠ PYD is a Boston non-profit whose goal is to create a world where young people with disabilities will be able to live with dignity and pride in who they are, and to lead self-determined lives filled with purpose. To achieve this goal, PYD works to build the skills and abilities of young people with disabilities, and to increase the inclusivity of workplaces, organizations, and communities.⁠

Mother Juice / Open Newbury Street

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

readmylipsboston

Experiences

Slay the Stigma: A Disability-Led Drag Show

Rom & Com: A romance bookshop pop-up & comedy show

So You Want to Write a Romance Novel

Read My Lips Boston pop-up & free wine tasting at The Urban Grape

Read My Lips Boston: Book Buyback Sunday

Read My Lips Boston pop-up at Winter Hill Brewing Company

🔥 Sizzling Scenes: An inclusive sex writing workshop & romance bookshop pop-up 🔥

Independent Bookstore Day pop-up at Idle Hands Craft Ales

Read My Lips Boston pop-up & free wine tasting at The Urban Grape

November Romance Book Club (and author visit!) with Read My Lips Boston

Silent reading party & private holiday shopping

Haunted romance bookshop pop-up with Read My Lips Boston

October Romance Book Club with Read My Lips Boston

Read My Lips Boston pop-up at Idle Hands Craft Ales

Read My Lips Boston pop-up at Mother Juice / Open Newbury