How it all Began

In 2025, I stood in the mirror of Penn Medicine’s Radiology Department dressed in a hospital gown.

Newly 29 and newly married, I thought my entire life was figured out. I’d get my Master's degree, have a baby, and enjoy my newly married life in our cute little townhome. And when I retired in fifty years, I'd open a bookstore.

I thought the ultrasound appointment would be nothing more than another quick checkup with an: “

Everything looks good, I'll see you in twenty years."

But what I got was something completely different.

“Charity, does breast cancer run in your family?” The radiologist clicked the machine a few times, taking pictures, pressing deeper into the two little pebble shaped lumps just under my skin.

I swallowed. “Yes...it does.”

And that’s when fear worse than anything Stephen King has written filled me to my core.

Suddenly, the thought of having breast cancer became a bookmark that put a dent right smack dab in the middle of my future.

I went back for a biopsy a few weeks later.

“It needs to be removed. Don’t try for a baby until after it’s out.”

Slowly but surely, the foundations I laid for my future shattered before me.

And the rest of it became a blur.

From crying in the arms of my mother in front of a bathroom mirror in First Watch to watching women my age walk around with their children without a care in the world. Every detail of the lives being lived around me took a spotlight...and my own felt like an hour glass turned backwards.

After leaving the surgeon's office I settled upon something:

#1: If I can’t try for a baby until whatever is in my breast is out, I’m doing the next best thing:

Opening a Bookstore.

My piggy bank was empty, but my brain was filled with ideas and dreams.

A week after, I chose a 98 square foot landscaping trailer with barn doors. This would be my bookstore inspired after my favorite author, Jane Austen. Someone whose life taught me to never give up.

And there it began. I guess you can say the twist in my story. A God sized dream. A tiny trailer, and lots of paint.

I threw myself into working on the trailer. Our contractor worked by day laying down the flooring, and I spent evenings, watching the sunset while painting the ceiling pink. And visiting Home Depot more times than I can count.

And for the first time in probably forever...

I felt truly alive.

We found a surgeon during that time. Dr. Terylan Carter at Cooper. She had long blonde boxbraids braids, a huge smile, amazing bedside manor, and good news:

The scare was just a scare. There was no cancer.

We scheduled surgery to take out the non cancerous tumors and after I was cleared to work again, I poured myself into my dream.

A free fireplace mantle came next, from an amazing woman who heard about my story and wanted to add the perfect centerpiece to my trailer. Books came in next. And my husband's sketches of flying books on his iPad, turned into a beautiful discounted trailer wrap done by a kind man (who was also really good at photoshop.)

And the entire time, I posted about it.

And something really special started to trickle in.

All of you.

A community of readers who believed in my small business. Survivors who knew the meaning of dreaming, even in the midst of fear.

On September 5th 2025, a little trailer in South Jersey brought hundreds of readers to The Cherry Hill Mall on a hot and rainy opening weekend.

Supportive small businesses let me park outside of their establishments. Austen's Shelf got to co-host a Breast Cancer Awareness month fundraiser and donate to the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.

Lines and lines of people came with stories of survival. Friends were made at audiobook walking clubs. Warm hugs and encouraging words were given at every stop we made.

What started off as such a lonely experience for me turned into community.

Austen’s Shelf became more than a bookstore. It became a sitting room straight out of a Jane Austen novel where friends ventured from far and wide to swap stories.

Some of you said you met your best friends waiting in line or at our audiobook walking club. You've crossed bridges to show up at events. To tell me that my story pushed you to chase your own.

I feel like Emma Woodhouse, matching personalities to other kindred souls. Or like Queen Charlotte, planning beautiful events for friends to meet in the name of books.

But now, we've been given a chance to expand. And I don't want to miss it.

Standing behind the makeshift register under clear skies or days with pelting rain and high winds, I’ve watched lines and lines of people come and go without a place to linger. I've seen some rush through our shelves to give someone else a chance to browse, without a place to sit in a cozy chair and lose themselves into the pages of a book.

Or a place to hang their umbrellas to gather for bookclubs.

Or a place where an author can celebrate their debut novel and sign their name on their book for the first time.

A place where dreamers can come and swap ideas.

Where best friends meet to study together.

Where warm hugs can be shared with stories of overcoming cancer and other mountains life may throw our way.

Most importantly, I’ve witnessed disappointment from readers because storm warnings and blizzards have forced us to shut down for the day.

I want an extension where the lingering hearts can rest. Regroup. Read. And most importantly: Feel at Home.

Yes, I’m dreaming (again). Don’t judge me.

I will still most certainly continue to bring Austen’s Shelf to a town near you. Nothing will stop me from bringing the trailer to local coffee shops and other small businesses to continue making books accessible to every town in NJ, especially those without bookstores.

You will still find me sitting behind my table with a book recommendation in hand and a dream fulfilled smile on my face.

But my hope is for Austen's Shelf to also find a home in a permanent space, where you, Dearest Reader, can escape from the business of the world–for just a moment–and find rest.

So, I suppose the hour glass is still spilling sand.

And I guess that’s what it does for all of us, huh?

Life passes quickly, some say it's a vapor.

So I’d hate to miss this opportunity.

Why Bordentown, NJ?

On January 11th, Austen's Shelf parked outside of Turtle Beans Coffee Roasters for a Books and Coffee Event in Bordentown, NJ. It was the most crowded event we've ever had.

It has felt so nice to not only return to where I lived for three years before getting married, but to be welcomed by readers with lines stretching down the block. It showed that this town truly, believes in creating a space created for adventurous readers to venture and find new worlds to tuck themselves into.

Additionally, this town has welcomed me with open arms.

Take my wonderful realtors Sruti Desai and Michele Gore (Bordentown Locals) for instance. Out of the blue, I received a text message from them. In it was a picture of a pretty yellow building across from a coffee shop, tucked away within a small historic downtown in NJ.

II couldn’t resist taking a look.

Vince Schino of Schino Property Management walked me through the space, pointing out corners that would make the sweetest reading nooks.

Both my realtors and Vince have been absolute angels throughout this process, helping me settle into a space that feels so undeniably charming.

It feels just right — like it’s been waiting — for a tiny, Jane Austen–inspired bookstore to finally take root. And with just a little work, it will be a reader's paradise.

Just twenty minutes from hubs like Cherry Hill and Princeton, NJ, Bordentown is one of our state's best kept secrets. It's home to one of NJ's cutest downtown areas with restaurants, a record shop, boutiques, ice cream shops, and historical charm perfect for Austen's Shelf to exist beside.

Readers that come to visit will be able to browse with a drink in hand from a local coffee shop, join us for a bookclub/author visit, traverse the town and visit it historic landmarks and then grab a bite to eat at their award winning restaurants. And if you're still feeling bookish, visit The Old Bookshop that specializes in collector's books and NJ history.

I would be so grateful for your help in reaching my goal of raising $25,000 to transform this space into a true home for readers to linger.

A place filled with stories and light.

A place with cozy chairs where authors can write, readers can wander, and little dreamers can fall in love with books for the very first time.

We plan to begin preparations in March, start full renovations in April. I am hoping to reach our goal before April, so Austen's Shelf can open its doors in May.

Why $25,000 Is Needed

Opening a safe, welcoming bookstore requires more than just books. These funds cover the essential costs required to legally, safely, and sustainably open:

Custom Built-In Bookcases & Shelving – $6,500

Secure, permanent shelving designed to safely hold inventory and maximize space.

Chairs, Reading Nooks & Gathering Furniture – $2,500

Comfortable, durable seating to create a welcoming community space for book clubs and events.

Initial Curated Book Inventory – $4,000

Opening inventory to fully stock shelves and begin generating sustainable revenue.

Signage, Décor & Finishing Touches – $1,000

Exterior signage and the small details that make the space feel cohesive and inviting.

Permits & Required Licensing – $1,000

Municipal permits, inspections, and required approvals before opening.

Point-of-Sale System & Setup – $1,000

Register, card reader, and inventory software needed to operate efficiently.

Total Goal: $25,000

Every single donation carries this dream forward. You can give whatever you desire.

Every single dollar counts towards our grand opening.

But I totally understand if donating isn’t possible right now. You can still support Austen’s Shelf by:

Thank you for helping create a community space that will stay open even through the stormiest of days.

After all, it creates the perfect ambience for reading.

Charity

Please Note: "No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe."