When Theresa @ Sappho’s Library initially posted the Sapphic Book Tag, I meant to participate but forgot to actually post. She’s now updated the tag, so I figured I should finally participate!
While it’s not required, I’m doing this tag by recommending only sapphic books, so you’ll get not only the 15 prompts as recs, but also 16 sapphic books recs from me!
CRIER’S WAR – a book with the enemies to lovers trope
A recent sapphic book I read with the enemies to lovers trope was Like Other Girls by Britta Lundin. This book comes out on August 3rd. It’s an honest, nuanced exploration of internalized misogyny from the perspective of a teen butch lesbian, who’s grappling with what gender identity means to her and how she can be butch but still respect and appreciate femininity in others.
It’s also a great addition to the existing range of queer sports books, especially because there’s such a big focus on sports in the book as opposed to more romance-driven stories. Which is not to say there isn’t a romance, but it doesn’t take the front seat.
THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO – a book about a celebrity (real or fictional)
Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner is an adult romance about a Hollywood actress who gets photographed with her assistant on a red carpet, which leads to people assuming they’re in a relationship. This leads to a lot of gossip but it also eventually leads to them growing closer together and falling in love. This is especially the book for you if you love a slow burn, because this was a slooooow burn!
GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE – a book with strong feminist themes
One of my favourite sapphic books of all time is We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia, which is again an enemies to lovers book but this time it’s a YA dystopian. It’s about a sexist hierarchal society where men get assigned two wives: one to run his household and one to have the children. But what happens if these two wives fall in love with each other?
THESE WITCHES DON’T BURN – a book with magic
Another recent sapphic read is Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley, which I received in a Rainbow Crate book box. It’s about a witch who’s cursed to never love anyone, who bargains people into giving her their own love. The book has a lot of classic European fairytale vibes, so if you’re a fan of those, you can’t miss this!
YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN – a book with royalty
I guess I’ve been reading a lot of sapphic books lately because here’s another recent read for you: How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole. This is part of Alyssa Cole’s Runaway Royals series, which is a spin-off of her Reluctant Royals series, and it’s an adult romance retelling of Anastasia. Even though it’s part of a series, you can definitely read it as a standalone! Alyssa Cole is one of my favourite romance authors and this is probably my favourite book of hers!
THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR – a book with star-crossed lovers
It was kind of hard coming up with a book for this prompt, ngl! But then I thought of Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust, which is amazing in so many different ways and has kind of a star-crossed romance in a morally grey way. It’s a reimagining of a Persian fairytale that I thought was absolutely exquisite.
CINDERELLA IS DEAD – a book that retells or reimagines another story
So okay, I’ve already shared two retellings, so let’s go with something entirely different for this prompt: Cool For the Summer by Dahlia Adler, which is a Jewish and bisexual YA contemporary retelling of Grease. If you’re still looking for a perfect summer read, don’t pass up this one!
THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST – a book you’d like to see adapted to screen
When it comes to my favourite sapphic books of all time, I have a very clear top 2 of two books who are tied for the number one spot. One of them is Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers, which I can’t use for this post as it’s a prompt later on, and the other is One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. This is actually inspired by Kate & Leopold, which I have never seen so I can’t tell if it’s a close reimagining, but it gives a lot of 90s/early 2000s romcom vibes and I think it would make a delightful movie.
HOW TO MAKE A WISH – an upcoming release you ‘wish’ you had right now
My number 1 sapphic release for the rest of the year is A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee, which is part of the Remixed Classics series which is exciting in itself. This book is a Treasure Island retelling. C.B. Lee wrote the Sidekick Squad series, which is an amazing superhero series with so much varied queer rep, and I absolutely can’t wait to read A Clash of Steel.
THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE – a big book! a real chonker of a book!
Another recent read! The Unbroken by C.L. Clark was seriously a PROJECT to read, it was so big, and honestly, quite dense. I did really enjoy it though! It’s definitely a book to take your time with and I think I’ll have to reread it eventually to fully appreciate it, but it’s a brilliantly plotted and very intriguing fantasy. Also, like, there’s Touraine’s impressive arms.
HONEY GIRL – a tiny baby short book
If you want a very quick read, as in, only 30 pages, Sunny Pastures by Lilah Suzanne is a short but sweet adult romance novella about a Frankie, who falls in love with a home health aide at her grandmother’s retirement village.
SAWKILL GIRLS – a spooky book
We’re not out of recent reads to recommend yet, and a book that you’re going to HAVE to get your hands on if you want a spooky read for Halloween (or, you know, any other time of year) is The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould. This book comes out on August 3rd. I’m not a huge thriller reader but I could not put this one down. It’s really atmospheric and I especially loved the family dynamic between the main characters and her dads.
THE MIDNIGHT LIE – a book with an intoxicating romance
For this prompt I had to go with Sugar Summer by Hannah Moskowitz, which is a new adult Dirty Dancing retelling that I loved SO MUCH. It’s another perfect summer read, and the ebook is very affordable, so get on it! It’s a pretty close retelling with a modern update and just a very enjoyable read if you’re a fan of the movie.
THE HENNA WARS – a book that explores a culture different from your own
Many of you have probably already read this, but if not: read Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo! I absolutely adore Elizabeth Acevedo’s books, they’re each so incredible. Clap When You Land is a gorgeous verse novel about two sisters, one of which is in an established sapphic relationship! The book is partly set in the Dominican Republic.
THE FALLING IN LOVE MONTAGE – a rom com
The final recent read I want to share is Love Bites by Ry Herman, which is a sapphic vampire romcom that’s set in the 90s. It was a pretty weird book, but I really liked it! I will admit I liked the sequel less, but you can easily read this as a standalone.
RECOMMEND A SAPPHIC BOOK
My final recommendation is a book that I think more people should read: The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus. This was such a unique reading experience and such a stunningly written book.
Are any of these books on your TBR?
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