Good Girl Books is proving just how much Knoxville loves romance
Good Girl Books became known not just for its curated collection of love stories, but also for its bright pink truck and the original “good girl,” Poppy, who is Streeter’s constant canine co-pilot.
When Rayanne Streeter decided to start a business, it wasn’t because she set out to be an entrepreneur. It was because she really loves romance novels.
As an Associate Professor of Psychology at Maryville College, Streeter knows a thing or two about people. She also bet that other people loved romance novels just as much as she did. Turns out, she bet right — big time.
Her idea for Good Girl Books, a romance-centric bookstore, began not in a retail space, but on wheels. Within weeks of opening, word of her mobile shop spread like wildfire on social media, and love-hungry people across Knoxville wanted a taste.
“We originally started as a mobile romance bookstore on wheels. Real estate is expensive and crazy, and so the mobile option felt feasible, and it also felt like something I could create community with,” she said.
Driving from location to location, Good Girl Books became known not just for its curated collection of love stories, but also for its bright pink truck and the original “good girl,” Poppy, who is Streeter’s constant canine co-pilot.
She often parked at local businesses, built partnerships, and created pop-ups that drew large crowds. The truck quickly became more than just a store. It was a community hub for romance lovers.
One day, after wrapping up a book club meeting, a fellow romance lover, Lauren Morrill, approached Streeter with an idea.
“She was a huge fan of the truck and what we’re doing with Good Girl Books. And she planted the seed of, ‘hey, if you ever want to open a romance bookstore, I would do it with you. I would help you,’” Rayanne recalled.
That casual conversation turned into action. The new business partners soon found the perfect space in Rocky Hill — a location they had already used for a pop-up.
The storefront is now nestled between a flower shop and a donut shop.
“All the stars aligned for us to get this space. And what’s better than romance books next to a flower shop? On the other side, donuts,” Streeter said.
Today, Good Girl Books offers a welcoming, inclusive space for romance readers to gather, celebrate the genre, and feel seen.
“Romance is the number one selling genre in fiction. It really holds up the book industry,” Streeter said. “And so we just want to give that space for people who love romance to come out of the shadows and scream it at the top of their lungs that they love romance novels.”
Despite keeping her role as a professor, Streeter has embraced the demands of running a business—even if the “entrepreneur” title still feels a bit foreign.
“I still struggle with thinking of myself as an entrepreneur. I don’t know why—probably some impostor syndrome,” she admitted. “But I guess technically I am. I’ve created this brand, I’ve created this store, I’ve helped to create this thriving community.”
That community, she said, has been one of the most fulfilling parts of the journey. From excited visitors to TikTok shoutouts, she sees the joy Good Girl Books brings every day.
“We just want to provide that fun, joyful space for people to love, love,” she said.
Streeter plans to keep building the community-centered, joy-filled business that keeps her surrounded by what she loves most: romance novels.
It’s a story she never imagined writing — but one with a very happy ending.
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