Lucy Yu

Lucy Yu (@lucyywaves) opened Yu and Me Books (@yuandmebooks) in December 2021. Her dream was to create the kind of home she never found in a bookstore growing up. Yu and Me Books is a unique bookstore, café, and bar that highlights the strong, diverse voices of the community, with a particular focus on immigrant stories. The initials of the bookstore, YM, are also her mother’s initials—a tribute to the stories and love passed down through generations in different languages.

Lucy believes Yu and Me Books is a space where people can dream together, share passions, strive for change, and push systems closer to justice. Recognizing the lack of representation in the literary world, she has created a welcoming environment where everyone feels seen and heard. There’s something profoundly special about reading a story you can relate to and seeing yourself represented after a lifetime of not being able to.

In just over a year, it’s clear that Lucy’s journey of sharing stories and fostering a safe, inclusive space to sip, read, and engage in meaningful conversations has only just begun.

She has been featured in major media outlets such as Forbes and CNN and warmly welcomes everyone—from best-selling authors to self-published creators. Lucy has also organized countless incredible events for the community, further cementing Yu and Me Books as a cultural hub.