Reading is Sexy. Here's Where To Do it in Dallas to Find Your Next Summer Fling

Gone are the days when reading was solely the province of nerds and introverts. Influencers and “it girls” like Dua Lipa and Kaia Gerber have not only made reading cool, but they have also made it unapologetically sexy. Gerber’s book club, Library Science, even sells a shirt with a bare minimum requirement in the search for dating someone, which reads: “HOT / CAN READ.” Comedian John Mulaney has also hopped on the book club bandwagon, recently announcing his own aptly-titled book club, Mulaney Reads.

For the city of Dallas, this sea change could not have come at a better time. Dating apps are losing popularity, making a quick and easy digital connection more challenging. While that is a problem if you’re in the market for a fun summer fling, it’s not an insurmountable barrier. You could put on your most flattering bikini or sweetest pair of swimtrunks and hightail it to the pool to engage in some wholesome American flirtation, no app required.

Which brings us back to the seductive power of literature.

Even with the risk of fighting the “performative for social media” allegations, we recommend engaging in a bit of conspicuous public reading this summer. Reading is for hot people now, and it can be done indoors, making it functionally Texas-weatherproof. And if you think about it, reading a book is like a real-life Hinge prompt in that it can serve as a natural conversation starter. If you need some help finding a good book to lose yourself in, we’ve also got a great list of options to help you look sophisticated and sexy.

Once you have a book selected, your next step will be finding the perfect public space to get reading at. You want somewhere you can actually focus on the literature, but also have the option to take an occasional break to covertly scan the room by looking like you’re in deep pensiveness — this will give someone an opportunity for smize-led eye contact. Libraries are out (too formal and quiet), and bars are hit or miss (inversely, too dimly lit and loud).

Thankfully, Dallas has a hefty slate of options that can put you in prime position for a bit of banter with someone who appreciates a well-read hottie.

La La Land Kind Cafe

The Dallas-based coffee chain boasts 12 locations around North Texas. With a bright, cheery interior, La La Land Kind Cafe presents the perfect mid-morning or early afternoon location for conspicuous reading. The menu is every bit as delightful as the cafe’s vibes (we recommend the banana cream top latte and a 'crookie'), so you can settle in for quite some time. Most locations have limited seating, but that can be used to your advantage; you have to sit close to other patrons, and if you position yourself next to someone whose eye you want to catch, you can increase the odds of an impromptu chat.

The Breweries of Greater DFW

If you prefer a more adult environment for your meet-cute, Dallas has breweries aplenty. We recommend 3 Nations Brewing in Carrollton, White Rock Brewing Co. in West Dallas, or Hop and Sting Brewing Company in Grapevine. Each has a sterling selection of craft beers on tap, a variety of indoor and outdoor seating options you can use while the weather holds up, and tends to attract a crowd on the weekends. More people mean more of a likelihood that someone will see you being noticeably literate and shoot their shot when you put the book down.

The Wild Detectives

If you can’t decide between going to a cafe or a brewery, you don’t have to. Located in Bishop Arts, The Wild Detectives is tailor-made for this list. Offering both coffee and alcohol, it represents the best of both a bar and a cafe. It’s a cozy space, providing plenty of opportunities for engaging with other patrons, and it has an inviting patio out back so you can take advantage of the sun while it shines. It also has the added benefit of being an actual bookstore with an eclectic selection, meaning your reading material is ready and waiting when you arrive.

Join A Silent Book Club

Silent book clubs are a way to enjoy a peaceful reading experience in the company of like-minded others, and then follow that up with casual conversations. These events encourage both solitary time for diving deep into your book and casually socializing with other readers. Don’t be weird about it, obviously, but if someone catches your eye at the Dallas chapter’s meetings, this could be an easy way to use reading to ignite the spark you’re looking for.