What started as a “what if” conversation during the pandemic has turned into something much bigger, and steamier, than anyone could have predicted.
Meet the powerhouse behind Steamy Lit, a romance-centered business that went from packing subscription boxes in a kitchen to running not one, but two physical bookstores, a full merch line, and a romance book convention. Oh, and she’s not done yet.
Let’s rewind to where it all began.
A Steamy Book Subscription Box Idea Born in Quarantine
Like many of us during COVID lockdowns, Melissa Saavedra was trying to stay sane and entertained. Based in California at the time, she found herself diving headfirst into the romance genre.
Then one day, a brilliant idea struck: What if romance books were paired with vibrators and self-care goodies?
Her friend’s response? “Why don’t you do it?”
So she did.
With zero experience but a ton of curiosity, she started researching, sourcing items wholesale, and hand-packing boxes in her kitchen.
Steamy Lit’s subscription box was born. It was bold. It was cheeky. And it struck a chord.
Instagram Helped Kickstart the Buzz
Before launching the box, Melissa had already dipped her toes in the book world as a reviewer. So when she started promoting the idea on Instagram, the community showed up. Through organic word of mouth, she began building a following and a subscriber base.
The box itself? It’s quarterly and comes in different tiers. You can get just the books, the books plus self-care items, or the whole shebang—books and a sexual wellness item (yes, that includes vibrators). It’s fun, empowering, and all about self-love.
Taking Romance to the Streets with Pop-Up Bookstores
After seeing success with the boxes, Melissa wanted to create real-life community moments. That meant meetups at book conventions, Instagram Lives with authors, and eventually, pop-up bookstores.
Think: rolling in with bookshelves, merch, tables, and setting up shop in a cozy corner of a local café. Tampa, in particular, really showed up. The popups at Blind Tiger Coffee were such a hit, they eventually turned into something permanent.
Now she runs two bookstores—one in Deerfield Beach and one in Tampa. Each has its own vibe, but both stay true to the brand’s mission: celebrating diversity in romance, especially BIPOC and underrepresented authors.
Special Edition Books for Sale
Selling just books isn’t a recipe for bookstore success anymore. So Melissa got creative.
There’s apparel, a bookish merch line full of hats, tees, stickers, and more.
Plus, what really sets them apart? Exclusive special edition books. She partners directly with authors and publishers to produce editions you can’t find anywhere else. If you’re a collector (or just a fangirl like many of us), this is the dream.
BIPOC Community and Representation
At its core, Steamy Lit isn’t just about selling romance novels. It’s about creating a space where everyone feels seen. That includes launching the Steamy Lit Foundation, a nonprofit that helps remove barriers for BIPOC authors trying to break into publishing.
Turning a Romance Passion Into a Business
Melissa gets asked all the time: How do you start a bookish business? Her advice is clear: Do your research. Don’t expect someone else to do the legwork for you. Know what it takes to source books, what the margins are, and what goes into running a bookstore or subscription box.
Also, be ready for your hobby to turn into a job. Reading isn’t just for fun anymore. It’s part of her work now. That shift can be hard, especially when your business is built around something you love.
Still, she wouldn’t change a thing.
Publishing Dreams and More Bookstores
The vision is still growing. Melissa’s eyeing a Miami storefront and dreams of eventually launching her own publishing house. A Palm Beach County location might be on the horizon, too (fingers crossed for Delray!).
But at the end of the day, it’s all about the books, the readers, and the spicy, joyful escape that romance provides.
