Once upon a time, two women met and forged an instant connection. It was as if they had known each other their entire lives—which they had, but not really.
Charmed, they quickly formed a tight bond, making up for lost time. They found themselves bound by the parallels of their life arcs and by their mutual passions, especially the books they devoured.
Readington residents Stefanie Mandelberg and Kelsey Di Meglio met in a completely ordinary way: at their children’s back-to-school night in 2024. A casual classroom conversation revealed they both loved Disney. A spark.
As they swapped stories, they realized they were a missed connection from childhood. Mandelberg, who grew up in Clinton and attended North Hunterdon High School, and Di Meglio, who grew up in Whitehouse Station and attended Hunterdon Central Regional High School, danced at the same studio as kids but never met. Even their children overlapped: Mandelberg’s son, Owen, and Di Meglio’s daughter, Siena, both 7, were in the same class. Mandelberg’s daughter, Lainey, 5, and Di Meglio’s daughter, Emma, 4, were in ballet together. (Mandelberg also has a daughter, Della, 2.) Their birthdays are even two days apart.
“It was an instant ‘soul sister’ connection,” Mandelberg says. “We instantly knew that we were destined to be best friends forever.”
Then, fate intervened.
“Stef had a Disney trip planned, and I asked if she had heard of New Romantics, a romance bookstore in Orlando that I followed,” Di Meglio says. “We started texting about how there is nothing like that up here—and, kind of joking, how we should open a similar store. We couldn’t stop thinking about this idea.”
Di Meglio loves contemporary romance (think Emily Henry), historical fiction and what she calls “romantasy” (think Fourth Wing). Mandelberg gravitates toward darker, edgier stories, having grown up “idolizing authors like Jodi Picoult, who showed me that stories can be both emotionally powerful and beautifully told.” Together, they cover a broad spectrum of the romance genre.
From that spectrum came the perfect name: Charmed & Bound.
“It’s a complementary duality,” Mandelberg says. “Kelsey represents Charmed—contemporary romances, rom-coms, beach reads and lighter romances. I represent Bound—the darker romance novels, like the Fifty Shades of Grey world.”
The pair decided to create a space where readers like themselves could gather. Before opening their storefront in December on Main Street in Flemington, the friends built the Charmed & Bound community through monthly curated subscription boxes in Charmed or Bound themes. The boxes featured author-autographed items, exclusive art prints, bookmarks, cocktail or mocktail recipes and playlists to complement the books.
“It’s an immersive experience, putting subscribers in the frame of mind to be fully engulfed in the book,” Mandelberg says.
Over the past year, the subscription boxes built a loyal fan base both locally and nationwide. Through pop-ups and social media, the pair laid the foundation for an inclusive community. “We want Charmed & Bound to feel like you’re stepping into a friend’s house. There’s something for everyone,” Di Meglio says. “We have an extensive [inclusive] section and a section called ‘Little Lovers’ with board books and inventory for preteens and teens.”
The fun doesn’t stop there. The shop hosts author meet-and-greets, book-themed crafting parties and private book club events.
“Book clubs can rent the entire store,” Di Meglio says. “There’s a comfy area with couches, a kitchenette and custom cocktail mixers, coffee and tea.”
They also know how to keep reading spicy. Their “Blind Date With a Book” experience wraps books in paper with genre clues written on the outside. They frequently partner with local businesses as well. Nex Level Ninja hosted their “Train for the Threshing” Fourth Wing–inspired event in February. Alkemy Coffee Co. roasted an exclusive Charmed & Bound blend, and Zip-A-Dee Tees created custom merchandise.
As in every romance, there are supportive heroes behind the scenes: Mandelberg’s husband, Corey, and Di Meglio’s husband, Anthony, have championed their dream from the beginning. But the friends say the biggest impact is on their daughters.
“My girls are the reason I do everything I do,” Di Meglio says. “I want to show them, not just tell them, how important it is to follow your passions and to dream big.”
Mandelberg agrees. “I want my kids—especially my daughters—to see their mom building something meaningful and unapologetically hers.”
Browse the latest titles at charmednboundbooks.com.
Charmed & Bound
Address: 150 Main St Store 2, Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: (609) 874-5839
Website: charmednboundbooks.com