Curated blind dates with books, thoughtful surprises, and the joy of finding your next favorite read.
Book Around has been “around” since 2024, but its story began with Flori Fundamentals, Alyssa Flori’s consulting agency dedicated to supporting authors and their books. After several years working in the industry, Alyssa wondered what it might look like to take that work beyond promotion and into a physical space where readers could discover those books for themselves. A few experiments with blind dates with a book quickly became the shop’s signature offering, creating a way to connect readers with authors while making the experience of choosing a book a little more unexpected.
Each blind date begins with a book chosen for its potential to be the right match, then wrapped with a carefully curated collection of goodies designed to complement the reading experience. Depending on the theme, that might mean tea, matcha, skincare, stationery, mugs, socks, or something else entirely. Every wrapped book includes a tag offering clues about what’s inside, from sapphic fake dating academia romance to gothic coming of age mystery, giving readers just enough information to make an informed leap.
What makes Book Around unmistakably Alyssa is the belief that selling a book is only part of the job; finding the right book is what matters. Whether helping with a custom order or chatting with someone in the shop, Alyssa considers favorite tropes, content preferences, and the little details that make a reader feel understood. Book Around’s tiny storefront in Pawtucket feels more like a cozy living room than a traditional bookstore, filled with natural light, a big window, and, naturally, far too many books.
What You'll Find at Bloom
Blind dates with books paired with thoughtfully chosen goodies, spanning a wide range of genres, themes, seasons, and milestones.
Follow Along
With Book Around
Why Bloom?
“We've heard such amazing things about Shop Bloom PVD. For us, it's about the community. We are so excited to have our products offered in the shop, but even more so to connect with the other businesses in our cohort and find fun ways to support each other!” - Book Around
Fun Fact
Because Book Around falls under the other side of their business, Alyssa does lots of fun collabs with of amazing authors, like their most popular campaign "Traveling ARC Program," where readers around the country gain early access to a book before it's released!