Overview:
At the Hermosa Beach Farmers’ Market, locals lined up for a twist on book shopping: a “Blind Date with a Book.” Hosted by The Fleruria and Friends of the Library, mystery books were wrapped in brown paper with only image hints to guide buyers. From thrillers to heart-tugging dramas, no one knew what they were getting until they unwrapped it — and every purchase helped support the library.
Hermosa Beach, California – Ever wanted to go on a blind date… with a book? Hermosa Beach gave locals that chance — and the results were full of surprises.
On Friday, September 19, The Fleuria teamed up with the Friends of the Hermosa Beach Library to bring the “Blind Date with a Book” trend to the farmers’ market. Shoppers wandered past fresh fruit and flowers only to find a cart stacked with mysterious, brown-paper-wrapped books.
The rules were simple: pick a book, look at the image clues taped to the front, take your best guess, and then unwrap your surprise. Every book sold sent money straight back into the community library.
One lucky reader, Maria Cornejo, grabbed a package with a scary image, people, and a planet. After a quick guess, she tore it open to find The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden. “What a surprise!” she laughed — exactly the reaction this fundraiser was designed to spark.
From thrillers to romances to everything in between, no two blind dates were the same. And while The Fleuria usually sells more than just books, this partnership showed how local businesses and community groups can make giving back feel like an adventure.
In Hermosa Beach, it turns out the best stories really do come wrapped in brown paper.
Sources
- Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library
- Follow Friends of The Library HB Instagram here
- Follow the Fleuria Book Truck Instagram Here
