Despite that slightly odd introduction, I started shopping there regularly. I bought things, and I even brought friends who also became customers. I was a genuine supporter, following everything they did on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
During my visits, I excitedly shared that I am a published author. I told the owner about my book, "Secrets of a Sissy Boy: A Gay Grimoire of Modern Magic for Men who Love Men and the Hags who Worship Them." Her reaction was immediate and enthusiastic. She mentioned that her father and son are gay and even suggested she’d love to carry my book in her store.
Thrilled, I brought in my personal copy on my next visit so she could read it and decide. What happened next was a series of frustrating delays and silence.
A week later, I messaged her on Instagram. Her reply: She hadn't had time yet.
Another week passed. I went back to the store, bought something, and asked again. The answer was the same.
A full month went by, and I watched her on social media actively promoting other writers and celebrating women, while my book sat on a shelf, clearly untouched.
The initial awkwardness now felt like a huge warning sign. I realized I thought she had been insincere, offering me this amazing opportunity with no real intention of following through. My interactions with her grew cold, mirroring the sudden disappointment I felt toward the whole shop.
This was a deeply personal letdown. Getting my book into a physical store was a major goal of mine. Her behavior was hurtful, not because she didn't want the book, but because she offered, then strung me along. I felt lied to and used. I unfollowed all their social media pages, decided I’d never return, and completely severed ties. I even got rid of or destroyed everything I had purchased there—and I just left my book behind.
For a year and a half, I completely forgot about Oaklawn Enchantments. Then, the universe seemed to conspire to bring it back up. First, an acquaintance recommended it as a better option than another store which was further away. Then, a friend messaged me out of the blue to suggest I check it out. Finally, I had to drive right past the building to pick up another friend.
These three events in quick succession brought all the painful memories flooding back.
Around that time, I’d started writing positive reviews for local businesses I genuinely liked, focusing on celebrating good service. I almost never write negative reviews; I usually just take my business elsewhere.
However, the feeling of being deceived was still so strong that I decided to share my valid, critical experience in a review in late July/early August. I stated my concern that the owner was disingenuous and that the shop felt unwelcoming to men. My review was definitely not well-received.
Before my post, their newest review on Google was three months old. After the owner saw and responded to my criticism, Google was immediately flooded with several new positive reviews that I strongly suspect she solicited from her friends. Simultaneously, there were two other negative reviews that the owner baselessly accused me of writing.
But the most shocking reaction came right after. Between August 2nd and August 4th, my book, Secrets of a Sissy Boy, was suddenly targeted. Three men—Ethen Duvall, Cole Duncan, and Ian C—left scathing, unverified reviews, calling my work homophobic, predatory, and misogynistic. The timing and content couldn't be clearer. It seems more than obvious to me: the owner of Oaklawn Enchantments allegedly retaliated by orchestrating a review bomb on my published work.
It's a stark reminder that when I challenge an establishment, the response can be disproportionate and intensely personal. This whole experience confirms my decision to walk away from Oaklawn Enchantments. My opinion is firm: my trust was broken, and their alleged subsequent actions show a level of pettiness and malice that has no place in a community built on enchantment and connection. I will not shop there, and the places they go, I will not follow.
Carolina Dean
Links:
Oaklawn Enchantments (Google Reviews)
Oaklawn Enchantments (Website)
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