I’m Andi, your average book-loving millenial woman, and the owner of Flatbed Fiction.

My story probably isn’t very surprising, but if you’re here, parts of it might sound familiar: I have always been a book lover; my major at Georgetown was English; I once had dreams of working in publishing; a bookshop is my happy place; and yes, I caught the Romance bug along with everyone else around the time of the pandemic.

In September of 2024, I lost my job at a tech startup. I spent the fall retreating to the comforts of reading, looking to escape after spending hours applying to jobs. At the same time, I couldn’t help but notice the blossoming Romance bookstore landscape, and I started to sketch out my own fantasy. I love the idea of bookstores as a “third place”, and as the fall wore on, I felt a keen need to connect with my immediate community in a way that remote corporate work could never offer.

Through the depths of the New England winter, I fretted and planned. Aquidneck Island has a few brick and mortar bookstores I call home, but I wanted to embrace the “beach read” in a way I hadn’t encountered locally. When I found this 1961 Studebaker Champ on Facebook Marketplace — in mint condition and only an hour from home — I knew it was a sign.

Flatbed Fiction’s custom shelving was built out by the Moore Brothers Company in less than a month, and she carries new paperbacks, used favorites, and a fun selection of children’s offerings. While we love fiction, you’ll find a spectrum of nonfiction, cookbooks, and thematic coffee table books on our shelves as well. Soon, we’ll have branded merch designed by Soleil Creative.

Incidentally, while I was building out the truck, I did find a job, but this rolling bookshop is only getting started. You’ll find the Studebaker this summer at Third Beach for a few sunset reading sessions, and popping up around Aquidneck Island on weekends. Check out our schedule to meet up with us soon, or reach out using the link below if you’d like to request a visit!