Main
Character
Books
Read for pleasure.
Find romance novels, snacks, and book clubs. Fall in love with your new community.
Go on, add to your TBR.
Find us for great novels, bookish gifts, community events, and much more at our flagship store.
Main Character Books, Spitalfields Market
30 Spital Square
London E1 6DX, UK
Hours
M: 11:00–18:00
T–Sa: 11:00–19:00
Su: 12:00–17:00
Find amazing reads online on our Bookshop.org page — your bookshelf will thank you!
Listen to swoony stories and support the shop with Libro.fm audiobooks!
Show off your passion.
From contemporary to romantasy to that spicy one with the dragons, we’re here with a shared love for the genre. We’re building out our online offerings, but treat yourself to a little merch while you’re here!
Represent your favourite trope with this Beechfield EarthAware® organic cord baseball cap. Available in multiple colours, medium profile, and adjustable.
Our products are made to order, and can take up to 5 business days to ship (plus two days for shipping). We thank you for your patience!
Obsessed with magic, dragons, and far-away lands? Us too.
Represent your favourite genre with this Beechfield EarthAware® organic cord baseball cap. Available in multiple colours, medium profile, adjustable back.
Our products are made to order, and can take up to 5 business days to ship (plus two days for shipping). We thank you for your patience!
Large tote for all your book (and non-book) shops. EarthAware® large shopper made from 100% organic cotton canvas. Available in multiple colours with white embroidery, size 52 x 38.5 x 16cm.
Our products are made to order, and can take up to 5 business days to ship (plus two days for shipping). We thank you for your patience!
The rivalry is living rent free in our heads, so we put it on a hat. You can find us at the cottage for the foreseeable future.
White thread embroidered cap made from 100% brushed washed cotton. Available in multiple colours, low profile, unstructured crown, and adjustable fabric strap with buckle.
Our products are made to order, and can take up to 5 business days to ship (plus two days for shipping). We thank you for your patience!
The rivalry is living rent free in our heads, so we put it on a hat. You can find us at the cottage for the foreseeable future. Call it manifesting.
White embroidered soft 100% cotton corduroy baseball cap. Available in multiple colours, low profile, unstructured, with adjustable back.
Our products are made to order, and can take up to 5 business days to ship (plus two days for shipping). We thank you for your patience!
The rivalry is living rent free in our heads, so we put it on a hat. You can find us at the cottage for the foreseeable future.
White thread embroidered cap made from 100% brushed washed cotton. Available in multiple colours, low profile, unstructured crown, and adjustable fabric strap with buckle. Our products are made to order so can take up to 5 business days to ship. We thank you for your patience! We hope you’re enjoying the fervor as much as we are.
Join us for a book club!
Main Character Books will be hosting a series of book clubs, online and in-person in London. Sign up for our newsletter to hear about new offerings!
Let’s revisit the thrills and sorrows of A Court and Thorns and Roses together, as we get ready for the sixth book releasing this fall! Join us for discussion, games, and community on Tuesday evenings in the shop, 19:00. Refreshments available. This experience is designed for those who have already read the ACOTAR series, and may include spoilers, but all are welcome to join!
Membership options include attendance with paperback boxed set, attendance with hardback boxed set (indulge in some shelf love! The next two are hardback!), or attendance only (no books.)
Welcome and chat starts at 18:30, club activity from 19:00–20:00, and mingling until 8:30.
26 May 2026: A Court of Thorns and Roses
23 June 2026: A Court of Mist and Fury
21 July 2026: A Court of Wings and Ruin
18 August 2026: A Court of Frost and Starlight
22 September 2026: A Court of Silver Flames
Join us for the sweet, sexy saga of Talia Hibbert's Brown Sisters, plus her newest rerelease, A Girl Like Her!
Membership options include attendance with paperback books, or attendance only (no books included.)
1 June 2026: “Get a Life, Chloe Brown”
13 July 2026: “Take a Hint, Dani Brown”
24 August 2026: “Act Your Age, Eve Brown”
28 September 2026: “A Girl Like Her”
Refreshments available at Main Character Books. Welcome and chat starts at 18:00, club activity from 18:30–19:30, and mingling until 20:00.
Join us for a first look into one of romance's hottest authors, Ali Hazelwood! We'll visit Love Hypothesis, Mate, Problematic Summer Romance, and Two Can Play. Join us for discussion, games, and community on Thursday evenings in the shop.
Membership options include attendance with paperback books, or club attendance only (no books included.)
21 May 2026: Love Hypothesis
18 June 2026: Mate
16 July 2026 : Problematic Summer Romance
13 August 2026: Two Can Play
Refreshments available at Main Character Books. Welcome and chat starts at 18:30, club activity from 19:00–20:00, and mingling until 20:30.
Celebrate books at our community events!
BOOK RELEASE PARTY: Score by Kennedy Ryan
19 May, 2026
17:00–19:00
We can’t wait for Kennedy Ryan’s newest book, Score, second in the Hollywood Renaissance series! This second-chance romance follows a screenwriter and a composer as they collaborate on a high-stakes film about the Harlem Renaissance — and try to put their complicated past behind them.
Your ticket includes a copy of Score on release day, along with a bookmark, art print, and exclusive essay by Kennedy! We’re also throwing a celebration with refreshments, cake from Luminary Bakery, and more if you pick up during the event.
Book may be purchased through this link and picked up separately from the party.
Praise for Score and Kennedy Ryan:
‘Breathtaking, gut-wrenching, viscerally romantic’ TALIA HIBBERT
‘SPECTACULAR!” CHRISTINA LAUREN
‘A gorgeously poignant story of healing, family and love’ HELEN HOANG
‘Every page is perfection’ FARRAH ROCHON
‘Real, raw, magnificent’ COLLEEN HOOVER
Join us! Georgia Stone on The Roommate Rule, in conversation with Lucy Jane Wood
20 May, 2026
19:00 Doors
19:30 Main Event!
Join us for an evening with Georgia Stone, celebrating her new novel, The Roommate Rule. We can’t wait to chat about this perfect summer romance read!
Your ticket includes admission, a copy of The Roommate Rule for signing, and refreshments!
✨ Author talk
✨ Book signing
✨ Themed snacks and drinks
✨ Hanging with the romance community
Let’s talk books.
Stay in touch to hear more about our opening, book clubs, and events.
Contact Main Character
The shop
Spitalfields Market
30 Spital Square
London E1 6DX, UK
Find us on the North side of Spitalfields Market, near the elephants!
Hours
M: 11:00–18:00
T–Sa: 11:00–19:00
Su: 12:00–17:00
Main Character is the brainchild of Owner/Founder Cassie and Comms Director Allie, who found comfort and community in a romance book club during COVID. Since then, we’ve had children, moved countries, changed jobs, and worn too many (romance) hats. Main Character is a love letter to the community of romance-book loving people who have seen and supported us through it all.
We are lady-owned and embrace diversity and love in all its forms. We believe that books should be fun and enjoyable: if you like it, it’s the book for you! We don’t yuck someone else’s yum and think that everyone should read for pleasure.
Contact us at hello@maincharacterbooks.co.uk!
