The Plot Twist Book Bar celebrated one year of bringing romance-based novels to Denton in January
The details
Owner Dawn Conner said the idea for a romance-themed bookstore stemmed from the height of the “Twilight” book franchise’s success. She and her daughter, Darci, bonded over the Stephenie Meyer books and said they both felt the need for a new career challenge two years ago.
“[Darci] casually proposed the idea of a bookstore/bar concept over dinner one night in the spring of 2024. By her birthday that summer, I had established all of our business registrations with the necessary government agencies and surprised her with them as a gift,” Conner said.
The duo have lived in the Denton community for several years, with Darci graduating from Texas Woman’s University. Conner said she always felt downtown Denton had a welcoming atmosphere and that a location on the square felt like a perfect place for people to connect.
“The friends who return again and again to share new stories, participate in our book clubs, attend and support our events and find their next favorite read on our shelves are who we are most grateful for,” Conner said. “[They] tell us what they want to read, believe in what we’re building and continue to support our store and our mission.”
Not only has the community welcomed The Plot Twist, with patrons lined outside the door and down the street during its opening, but the Denton Main Street Association provided a grant to help with renovations for the store.
“Many local businesses have partnered with us to create some truly amazing events,” Conner said. “Local authors and crafters continue to bring diverse and exciting offerings to our community.”
Zooming in
The bookstore carries a variety of novels with a romance twist. According to its website, some of the romance genres The Plot Twist carries include:
- Contemporary
- Sports
- Historical
- Christian
- Western
- Libros en español
- Young adult
- LGBTQ+
- Romantasy
- Monster
- Sci-fi
- Dark fantasy
- Dark romance
The Plot Twist also hosts monthly events, including author book signings, reading hours, writers workshops and release parties. The events are for guests 18 and older.
A full bar is at the front of the bookstore and has crafted cocktails, mocktails, dirty sodas, wine and local craft beer.
Looking ahead
While there are no major changes coming to The Plot Twist in the near future, Conner said the bookstore will continue to host events where friends can gather and celebrate the Denton community.
“As we grow, we hope to bring even more of these events to the Denton area, supporting not only our small corner of downtown but also the many wonderful businesses around us,” she said. “Collaboration is incredibly important to us, and we love finding ways to work together to strengthen our community.”
