Interview by Carol Wright | Photos by Stephanie Girard and Jeremy Wetmore Spann
We got to chat with entrepreneur Annabelle Chang, who owns a first-of-its-kind YA bookstore, Annabelle’s Book Club LA. Chang talked to NYOTA about helping young adults fall in love with reading, connecting with authors, and owning a brick-and-mortar store.
What initially inspired you to start Annabelle’s Book Club LA?
Growing up, bookstores were my favorite places, and I’ve always been a huge reader. When the pandemic hit, I received so many requests for book recommendations that I decided to create an Instagram account to share my favorite books. After seeing how excited people were about the stories I featured, I launched a blog where I continued to share recommendations and reviews, as well as publish interviews with YA authors, bookstore owners, and other entrepreneurs in the book world. I started selling some of my favorite YA books online and eventually transitioned to in-person pop-up events. After seeing the overwhelmingly positive response, I started to think about creating a store where my book curation would be more permanent. As I researched bookstores in L.A. and across the country, I realized that there were no YA-focused ones, and I wanted to fill that gap in the market.
Do you hope that Annabelle’s Book Club LA helps young people become more interested in reading?
Yes! Reading is such a great pleasure in life, and I want everyone to share that experience. One of the things I love about YA books is that they authentically represent the stories of young people, which is both engaging and inspiring to readers. Graphic novels and comic books are also vibrant ways of telling stories that can energize young people and capture their interests. I believe that when a child doesn’t love reading, they just haven’t found the right book yet. That is why it is especially important to me to offer a selection of books that celebrate diverse perspectives and backgrounds. I am constantly looking to expand my own reading tastes, and my goal is to make Annabelle’s Book Club LA a place where there is truly something for everyone.
Young adult readers can truly change the trajectory of an author’s career, especially now with books going viral on TikTok and other platforms. Do you think that the literary community doesn’t always realize the power of young adult readers?
I think the literary community has historically undervalued the power of young adult readers, but I think we are at a moment where that is changing. More than half of the customers in my store buying YA literature are adults. I think there was a perception that YA books are just fun reads, but there is now a realization that they often tackle difficult and serious issues. A lot of parents come in to buy books to read along with their kids, which I think is fantastic. YA is a great window into the world of what it is like to be a kid today.
Annabelle’s Book Club LA started out as pop-ups, and now you have a brick-and-mortar store. Have you learned a lot about yourself as an entrepreneur since opening the brick-and-mortar location?
One of the most important things I’ve learned is that when you truly believe in your vision and your brand, others do, too. Our entire team wholeheartedly believes in the importance of YA literature and the ability of these books to bring joy to people of all ages. That translates to our customers, who end up being our best brand ambassadors. In only two months, the word of mouth has led to a wonderful sense of community being built around the store. We are excited for the in-person book clubs and author signings we have coming up. I really find joy in connecting fellow book lovers.
Curating the store must be a large part of your work now. How do you go about choosing which books to sell in-store?
Although we are a YA-focused store, our book selection is incredibly diverse and offers something for everyone. After choosing my favorite YA titles, I began curating other sections, such as children’s books and memoirs. From the get-go, I wanted to highlight historically underrepresented voices and celebrate all types of stories, so I am always searching for new narratives to feature. I also always love receiving book recommendations from customers and friends of all ages.
With the brick-and-mortar store also comes events and book signings. As someone who loves to read, has it been rewarding for you to meet authors and other book lovers through these events?
Connecting with authors and fellow book lovers through events is one of my favorite parts of having a brick-and-mortar store. Authors have always been my personal heroes, and it has been amazing to host signings and discussions for some of my all-time favorite writers. I love having the opportunity to meet people who are as passionate about reading as I am.
Outside of books, you sell shirts, totes, and hats. Did you come up with all of the designs and quotes used for the merch?
Yes! It’s been so much fun coming up with designs and seeing people respond so positively to them. I am a huge fan of pop art and vintage comics, so when I started to design my merchandise, I was immediately drawn to a Lichtenstein-inspired aesthetic. I love creating graphics that are bright and humorous and, most of all, celebrate the joy of reading.
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Talk to as many entrepreneurs as possible, and ask tons of questions! The book entrepreneurs who I’ve spoken to have all been incredibly generous with their time and advice. They were also honest and shared the challenges they faced along the way. Before starting my store, I reached out to bookstore owners, authors, editors, agents, book influencers, and entrepreneurs in other fields as well. I was really inspired by their advice, and their insight was invaluable. Almost daily, an issue comes up that causes me to reflect on and appreciate these conversations. I look forward to a time when I can support a first-time founder with the knowledge I will gain in the coming years.
Follow @annabellesbookclubla on Instagram and TikTok!