Saw this beautiful print but Jenifer Prince and wow 😍
Ended up really liking the book

This is a very first-world problem, moan.
A a post about book recommendations and bookstagram made me think about this.

I started reading books for/by/with lesbians in them maybe 20ish years ago. And the landscape has changed MASSIVELY, especially so in the last 5 years, or so.

The number of books in the 'queer' genre has exploded, but I don't necessarily feel that is for the better. This is a legit question, because I know I can only appreciate it from my own perspective. I feel like in the last few years, there has appeared a new division in my head: 'a real novel or a lesbian novel', and only occasionally does a lesbian novel move into the real novel category. Just because so SO many of them have horrible writing style, no/or very little character development, and only a superficial plot that exists to make sure that the protagonist has a surface to bang someone on. And do not get me wrong, I do not mind a sex scene- one of the first lesbian books I remember reading was Geri Hill's Hunters Way- and she is plenty horny, but the book still had a plot, good dialogue, etc etc. But now, I feel like very often the sex scenes are the whole point, and we are all collectively reading softcore porn disguised as thrillers, fantasy, sci-fi, etc., etc etc.

And as a result, now when I'm stressed and need trash to read- I read one of them, but when I want a good book- I've started intentionally reaching for non-gay books. Which, in my head, is a very sad development.

Apologies for the rambling, but let me know what you think.

And if you have a way of digging through 5000 recommendations for 'spicy sapphic romance' to find an actually good book- teach me :D.

Hey, I’m looking for new spicy paranormal romance recommendations.

I will say Lily X’s witch x vampire series, Sun Poisoning by Phoenix Kathryn, sWitch by Kat Blackthorne, Wither and Bloom by E.K. O’Conner are all on my TBR.

I’m quite picky when it comes to sapphic novels/novellas. I want them to be well-written, have a compelling story, complex characters, and romance ofc!! As you know from my previous tier list, all my books vary in spice levels but there is guaranteed to be some, ask about a book if you want to know specifics though! Happy to reply.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ : Women of the Dark Streets Anthology by Radclyffe & Stacia Seaman, Wild by Meghan O’Brien, everafter series by Nell Stark & Trinity Tam, The Midnight Hunt(ers series) by L.L. Raand, Garoul series by Gill McKnight, The Girl Who Bit Me by Valerie Hunter, Bloodmoon: Bound by Emily K. Hardy

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️: Hearing Red by Nicole Maser (no, I don’t support her AI cover), Blood in the Tea Leaves by Beka Westrup, We’re All Monsters Here by Amy Marsden (less a romance tbh), Better Off Red by Rebekah Weatherspoon, Decay and Devour by G.E. Masters (mind TWs), Charon Docks at Daylight by Zoe Reed, Sun-Kissed Fangs by Rawnie Sabor (didn’t really like her other books as much), Just My Type by Lucy Bexley & Bryce Oakley

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️: Delirium Nocturnum series by Rojana Krait (writing is bad but stories are compelling), Witch Wolf series by Winter Pennington, Darknsss Embraced duology by Winter Pennington, Club Blood by Sarah James, Five Moons Rising by Lise MacTague, Claimed by Stein Willard, Lure of a Demon by Stefanie Dawn (kindle smut ngl), The Price on Her Head by Suzanne Clay

⭐️: The Beast of Her Dreams by Naomi Piper (ABO iirc), The Wolf’s Consort by Max Ellendale (insta-love), anything by Darva Green (bad writing and bad smut), The Princess’s Pet by J.K. Jeffrey (dislike writing), Frost by Liza James (TWs), House of Rayne by Harley LaRoux (insta-love), Contract Bound duology by Elle Mae (plain plot and writing), At the Crossing by Suzanne Clay (rlly not that bad, but not my thing)

Guys, please DO NOT read Deliverance by Katelyn Taylor or Pretty Litfle Psycho by R.E. Bond. I love dark romance but they’re tagged as “lesbian” and have so much m/f and abuse it’s insane how they have overall positive reviews. Both come from authors who write het dark romance and want to try something “different”.

I know some of y’all like dark romance, but please stay away from these. I suffered so you DON’T have to! I DNF’d so fast

Can anyone confirm if “Court Ordered” by C. Jacoby is just as bad? Looks like it based off reviews

Saw these two post within a few days of each other and really made me think about the number of books I may have judged differently if I wasn’t going into based off a certain recommendation.

This might just be a problem because I like fantasy and less a problem if you’re indifferent or avoid fantasy elements.

I’m so glad we’re at a time where there is so much to choose from but I dislike that there’s so much confusion with genres. I know female authors in general struggle with the romantasy label no matter how far a backseat it takes to main plot, so I’m not really trying argue about that.

More so like the idea that just because the is a sapphic romance in the book, it doesn’t necessarily make the book romance centered.

Like, I’ve seen a few books recommend just going off one small thing that happens to fit what the person asking for recommendations but for the most part doesn’t so many times.

I know publishers play a part when it’s larger authors, but often it’s not necessarily the author but others recommending it that will seem off though obviously an author would want to appeal to the largest audience possible. Idk, I just saw someone say they were looking for more High Fantasy and get recommendations Elle Mae(no shame) but I don’t think that’s high fantasy??

I'm not sure where to start. So far this is my second favorite of the Court of Chains series. Nothing yet, has compared to A Little Sin.

I'm noticing a theme about women who doubt themselves to the point of feeling unlovable finding safety and deep love in the arms of a "monster." A monster that carries even deeper pain and insecurity than the person they end up with, like the two characters save each other.

Maya and Harper have a beautiful love story and the sex was smoking hot! I also really liked the thrilling conflict toward the end of the story. I don't understand stand what took Natalya so long to respond to Evie's terror, but Maya did step into the hero/savior role.

This killed me in the best way possible...

"I'd take a minute of silence with you over weeks of conversation with anyone."

That quote encapsulates the peace and safety I have with my wife. Literally, it speaks to conversation and noise. I read it as the scariness and chaos of life. TMI alert...it makes my sexual experiences with her something I didn't even know was possible!

That's what I will remember most about Sun-Kissed Fangs. The safety of being in the arms of someone in-love with you as much as you are with them comes through loud and clear in Maya and Harper's story.

Yesterdays book group was costume required. Can you guess what we’re reading? Also, show me your book inspired costume!

I've read(listened to) these two so far, I work a job where I can listen to audiobooks without interruption pretty much every day

I seriously don’t know how much more yearning I can take from Caroline! Ugh, but I love them both so much already. The hangout weekend nearly broke me.

Haley, you’d better make this worth my while. I know you will, you always do, but I want to be kicking my feet and blushing by the time these two put me out of my misery.

I've had a serious hankering for some monsterfucker romance but I feel like I've read everything there is. I'm especially bored of vampires, as much as I love them. I'd really like some recs of books that have a monster love interest that is truly inhuman, be it physically, mentally, or both.

Books I've already read:

All Rawnie Sabor (liked)

How To Get a Girlfriend When You're a Terrifying Monster (decent)

The Woman From the Waves (loved)

Most Darva Green (okay)

The One Who Eats Monsters (great, excited for the new one whenever that drops)

Wild (good)

Jae's shifter books (good, but not really what I'm looking for)

Five Moons Rising (meh, also not really what I'm looking for)

Someone You Can Build a Nest In (fun!)

Aurora's Angel (I hated this book with a passion)

Probably any vampire book you can imagine

I'll take any genre. Spice is a plus but not 100% necessary. Any monster or creature is welcome. The weirder the better. Aliens would be especially appreciated.

Edit: added some previously read that I'd forgotten.

I just read, and loved these two books, I read Now She is Witch in a week and Call Forth a Fox in three days, I was so sad/frustrated that I finished them as I loved them that much.

Does anyone have any recommendations of similar books?

hello! i’m looking for lesbian books that are in fantasy/scifi/horror genres with a subplot of romance preferably and bonus points if it’s butch femme!

I just finished this novel and I have some mixed feelings about the sapphic/wlw representation but I

don't know if I'm being a whiner or if they are valid...

Spoilers ahead!

The biggest offense to me is Avery cheating with a man ... She's a lesbian and states it, haven't had slept with a man since high school, telling her wife that she is a lesbian and only wants her... But to top it off the sex scene of Avery and Charlie was much more graphic than any of the other intimate scenes and she was experiencing pleasure like nothing before, reaching the depths of her soul... The way it was written just gave homophobia to me. I wouldn't have been bothered if Avery was bi or pan... And maybe the author just wanted the shock of a lesbian sleeping with a man... but there was something about it that just got under my skin.

The other thing was the fact that Avery and Chiti were still friends after everything... What a cliche first of all but fuck you Avery, Chiti should've left and never spoken to you ever again. But don't worry, Avery is married yet again to another woman.

I didn't like the weird sex scene and obsession with Lucky and 'Troll doll'...

If I wasn't the target audience for this book, that is fine. I know the characters aren't meant to be likeable 24/7. This just seemed like such a miss and poor representation of sapphic women but the reviews I've read on goodreads and seen on Instagram seem to think it's incredible and I now feel silly for being bothered by it and wanting to discuss it.

Did you know Riley LaShea has a second spicy book?

As like many of you, I read Behind the Green Curtain and LOVED it! She also has a lesser known book called Night Falls on the Piazza with just a tad bit less spice (I’m talking about maybe 10 Behind the Green Curtain compared to 8 idk) it’s not significant.

Night Falls on the Piazza is a little more of a plain than Behind the Green Curtain with Jack’s POV. Same level of depth of description ;) and so so good! If you’re missing Caton and Amelia, Sabine and Callista will get you out of your longing!!!

I haven’t read any other of Riley LaShea’s novels but based on the reviews, this is her only other spicy book

I made Pinterest boards for each of the Court of Chains books l've read so far🙂‍↕️
—makes me feel I'm actually there🧘‍♀️ (I tried to find pics that have NO Al)

(Post 3/3)

Always in the hunt for a good ambient or haunting horrors.

I honestly could care less if there is romance in it, prefer ifita more set more modern.

I loved "we used to live here" but prefer my books to be written by women.

Other books I enjoyed include

That which feeds us

The darkness greeted her

The honeys

Burn our bodies down

Camp damascus

She is haunting

Summer sons

Grey dog

Our wives under the sea

Wilder girls

I feel I have read everything there is about enemies to lovers😭💔

All of Ruby Landers works, both Bloom town books, all of Lee Winters and JJ Arias Too, Ruby Roe, Haley Cass
My absolute favorite No Shelter but the Stars
The safekeep, Learning Curves, Charon Docks, Delilah green

Help a fellow lesbian out😭❤️ is there another awesome book with lots of banter, good rated books? Thank you so much🥺❤️

Stories where mc just gets into 'questionable' and complicated romantic/intimate situations. It could be bad dating experiences, hook ups, love trianges/squares, exes, situationships etc. Also that everyone involved in this are women (I really don't like male exes, third parties, etc.)

Some stories that sort of fit the bill of what I'm looking for that I enjoyed.

Only Hope by Ruby Landers - Love Square (sort of), friends (kind of) to lovers with some mafia involvement.

Experienced by Kate Young - Gf asks for a relationship 'break', questionable dating/hook ups, in love with your sapphic dating guru/friend.

Wolf Shirts and High Heels by Evie Marque - Almost platonic marriage, dating/going after someone your ex was into (?), shitty friends

Purposefully Accidental by G Benson - Childhood Friends to Sort of Bickering Enemies to Workmates/Forced Proximity to Fake Dating to Lovers. Also Celebrity related dramas.

And ones that are similar but I didn't really enjoy: Those Who Wait, Mistakes Were Made, Cleat Cute

Please and thank you. I just want to be stressed out but also root for the main couple lol.

How is Moira Darling's writing? I keep seeing adds for a couple of her books, and I'm really tempted by the "Halo Hearts" trilogy, which looks like it's essentially sapphic K-pop Demon Hunters fanfic with the serial numbers filed off, but I want to make sure she's A> a real author and not one of the AI dump authors, and B> that the books are gonna be at least decent.

I've read Orpheus Girl and the Love and Lies of Ruksana Ali

I made Pinterest boards for each of the Court of Chains books l've read so far🙂‍↕️
—makes me feel I'm actually there🧘‍♀️(I tried to find pics that have NO Al)

(Post 2/3)