Jen just couldn't control herself.

It all started when Rindy made one critical mistake: She went to California and left Jen alone with her thoughts for an entire fucking week.

If you know us, you already understand why this was dangerous.

At the time, we both had our own things going on. Rindy had a craft business and loved creating interesting things—but hated doing shows alone. Jen had an energy healing practice she was ready to walk away from and was trying to figure out the next steps her life would take.

And we both had an absolutely unreasonable number of books.

So while Rindy was peacefully enjoying her vacation, Jen's brain did what it always does. It spiraled:

I have waaaaaay too many books. Rindy has waaaaaay too many books.

Rindy loves to craft. I love to make herbal teas.

Books make both of us ridiculously happy.

...what if we opened a pop-up used bookstore together?

And that probably would have been enough. Except Jen’s brain kept going.

What if it wasn't just a bookstore? What if we specialized in Blind Date With a Book?

What if someday we turn those teas into cocktails? Could we pop up at breweries? Pair books with beer? What about cannabis? Could we work with other local businesses? Create weird little bookish experiences? What if… what if… what if…

The idea just kept getting bigger and fucking bigger.

Jen obsessively thought about it all week until she finally texted Rindy:

“Hey, I really need to talk to you when you get home. It's kind of important. Don't worry, it's something fun for us to do together!”

Totally normal text to receive while you're on vacation, right?

Two days later, Rindy finally pulled into her driveway around 10 p.m. after traveling all day. She was exhausted, jet-lagged, and she really had to pee.

Unfortunately for her, Jen was sitting in the driveway waiting.

“Are you ready to talk? I'm going to burst if I don't tell you!”

“Can I pee first?”

Fair request. So she went inside to use the bathroom and of course Jen followed her—because…besties.

And while Rindy sat on the toilet, Jen proceeded to word-vomit approximately one entire week's worth of obsessive planning at her.

“Okay, so it's a bookstore—but it could have a bar—and we could do pop-ups—and make tea—and pair books with drinks—and...and...and...”

Meanwhile, Rindy was sitting there like:

Bitch. I'm on the fucking toilet.

Eventually Jen stopped long enough for Rindy to process what the hell had just happened.

“Okay...”

A pause.

“But can I wipe my ass first?”

And alas...

Broken Spines Books was born.

We had no fucking clue what we were doing.

We knew we loved books. We knew we loved creating beautiful things. And we knew we wanted to build something together that felt different. That was about it.

We aren't a big company. We're about the farthest thing from perfect you're going to find. We're just two best friends who love getting lost in a good story, love creating thoughtful little things for people, and apparently have absolutely no ability to leave a simple idea alone.

Because Broken Spines Books never really became just the used bookstore we imagined in that bathroom.

It became so much more. Books truly were just the beginning. It became Blind Date With a Book experiences, those herbal tea cocktails we dreamed about, Book Forts, festivals, collaborations with bars, breweries, and businesses we never imagined we'd get to work with!

It became people sitting together and reading. Kids coloring next to adults. Friends picking mystery books for each other. Strangers hanging out in the Book Fort long after they’ve finished shopping.

And somewhere along the way, we realized what we were actually building.

Broken Spines Books is about more than books.

It's about creating that little moment when someone finds something, opens something, tastes something, or experiences something and thinks: “Oh my God. This was made for ME.”

We didn't know that night where this business would take us.

Truthfully?

We still don't.

But here we are.

Two best friends. A whole lot of books. An ever-growing collection of ridiculous ideas. And we're loving every second of fucking around and finding out.

Books are just the beginning.