A bookstore and game shop in Burlington County is bringing people together through stories, strategy and shared experiences.

The Novel Realm in Columbus offers a mix of books, board games and events designed to create a welcoming space for longtime fans and newcomers.

“When you enter, you’re entering another realm so it’s like a place to escape reality,” owner Avory Reed said at the end of the interview. “It’s a place where you can come feel comfortable, feel safe and shop for books and games you can play.”

The shop sells hundreds of used and new books, carefully curated across multiple genres.

“We started mostly just with fantasy and romance, horror, then we added some local authors,” Reed said. “We have sci‑fi, kids’ books, so we have a little bit of everything.”

Beyond the shelves, The Novel Realm hosts game nights, trading card events and craft‑and‑sip parties that regularly fill the tables.

“When we first started, it was mostly just board games,” Reed said. “Then we found out a lot of people really like cards like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering, so we do events for them.”

Friday nights are dedicated to free gaming, with nearly every table in use.

The shop also hosts book clubs, bingo and trivia nights.

“A lot of bookstores are just books, a lot of game stores are just games,” Reed said. “You come in here, we have a little bit of everything.”

Reed said every visit is meant to feel like the start of a new chapter.