Steal My Crawl: Melli Carfagno
Need ideas for your crawl? We asked some folks to share how they participated last year, or what they’d like to do this year. Take inspiration or copy them outright–we won’t tell!
Melli Carfagno, @mellireadsromance
Melli is a romance lover from South Jersey. When she’s not reading, she’s chasing her two young kids and acting as their own personal Uber.
Melli’s 2026 Crawl
I would love to get out each day a visit and support some shops! Day one will be what I’m calling the South Jersey Tour Leg, visiting Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties with Kiss and Tale, Inkwood Books, Ren’s Coffeehouse and Books, Words Matter Bookstore, and finishing up at Barney Loves Books. Day two would be my Mercer and Burlington County tour: visiting Booktraders, Cloak & Dagger, Labyrinth books, Austen’s Books, The Novel Realm, Romantasy, and Second Time Books. I’d also love to visit the pop up bookshops! So many of these stores are in such cute small towns and I’m looking forward to popping into so local businesses as well!
Melli’s Shopping List:
I love picking up local indie authors books, and I always have my eyes peeled for signed/special editions.
Favorite bookstores outside of NJ: Friends to Lovers Bookstore in Alexandria, VA, it’s a super cute store, friendly staff, and fun bookish finds!
A bookstore I’d like to visit: The Ripped Bodice in NYC and Romance-landia in Maryland are at the top of my list!
I read best… on the beach with the ocean in the background.