This week’s Sapphic Book Bingo category covers a fun micro-trope: flirting via text messages.
The characters might exchange some sexy late-night texts, engage in playful banter, or even confess their love via text messages.
15 sapphic books that include flirting via text messages
Below, you’ll find a list of 15 recommended sapphic books in which the main characters flirt via text messages:
Eve Falls First by Fiona Zedde
Teacher Eve Marshall has just crawled out of a bad relationship and has no plans to get twisted up in another romantic mess. Except she never counted on meeting the jaw-dropping Scarlet Hunt.
Yoga instructor Scarlet has been focused on raising her daughter since her ex-wife ditched them both to pursue her Hollywood dreams. The last thing she expects is to stumble into Eve’s adoring gaze. The teacher at her daughter’s school is too young, too cute, and far too interested, so it’d be wildly inappropriate to ask Eve to tutor her daughter. Right?
As the risk of catching feelings hangs over them, a certain sexy Hollywood ex swaggers back into Scarlet’s life, needing one hell of a favor… How much more complicated can life get?
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Telling Lies Online by Miranda MacLeod
Jamie Richards is a scientist who embraces reason– except when it comes to romance. Tired of her impulsive streak leaving her heartbroken, she’s determined to do everything right the next time she’s in love. But her resolve crumbles when a technical glitch matches her with perfection in Claire, a woman who lives on the opposite side of the country. Who is straight. And under the impression that Jamie’s a guy. But Jamie can’t help being smitten. Would one tiny lie be so terrible if it gets her closer to the woman of her dreams?
Claire Flores is a dreamer and a believer in signs, but she has a secret that keeps her cautious about love. All she wants is a picture-perfect family of her own, but she’s never met a man who attracts her. Until now. Throwing caution to the wind, she goes from Portland to Boston to meet Jay, her online love. Instead she meets Jamie, his work colleague, who befriends her in Jay’s unexpected absence. Claire’s heart is aflutter. Jamie stirs up feelings Claire never knew possible, but how close can she get without having to admit that she’s been lying to herself about her dreams all along?
What starts as a simple fib soon snowballs as Jamie fabricates increasingly ridiculous tales to keep her identity as Jay under wraps, until a comedy of errors threatens to topple the whole charade to the ground. Can true love prevail when it’s founded on a lie?
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Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae
Flirting has never been Denny’s strong suit, but so what if she’s too shy to ask women out? She’s content with her simple life, working as a cashier and helping her sister raise her niece.
But then she gets a wrong-number text message from a stranger named Eliza, asking her of all people for dating advice!
Eliza is Denny’s total opposite: witty, outgoing—and straight. Despite their differences, the accidental text sparks an unlikely friendship. Soon, Eliza—self-proclaimed queen of disastrous first dates—would rather banter back and forth with Denny than to keep trying her luck at online dating.
When they meet in person, there’s an instant connection. But what Eliza is feeling can’t be attraction, right? It doesn’t mean a thing that she’s starting to wish the guys she dates would be more like Denny. Or does it?
Can the wrong number lead to the right woman after all?
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All Things Beautiful by Alaina Erdell
Leighton Vaughn’s prestigious fine art atelier—and her life—appear to be settling down after a messy divorce. She prioritizes her daughter, art, and, teaching—that is until gifted Casey Norford joins the close-knit New York academy.
Casey didn’t receive the artistic education she expected from her bachelor’s degree, but a spot at Atelier Vaughn will remedy that. Even more than the opportunity to study with the famed Leighton Vaughn, Casey wants to give her son a stable childhood that won’t resemble her own. She’s not sure of the true extent of her artistic talent, but she’s keenly aware of her attraction to her instructor, and that attraction appears mutual.
Their sticky teacher-student relationship puts the future of the atelier in jeopardy, the needs of their young children are at odds with their dreams, and Leighton’s obsessive ex tracks her down. Will they sacrifice everything to be together?
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George and Izzie by Charlotte Rowan
At first sight, George and Izzie couldn’t be more different.
George is unabashedly queer, filled with confidence and purpose. Her friends are her family, more than most of her blood relatives ever were. She doesn’t need to know where she’s going, as long as she remembers who she is and what truly matters.
Content with her long-term partner and her loving parents, her cat and her books, Izzie leads a tranquil, quiet life, just as she wanted. She put hard work and determination into getting where she is now, but hopes to go further for the sake of the students she dedicates her days to.
But when George and Izzie’s paths cross, it appears that things aren’t as they seem.
Sometimes, it takes one person to change it all.
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Unbelievable You by Chelsea M. Cameron
Hunter: Things had been going pretty well for me. My time was filled with my jobs and friends, and my parents seemed to have finally given up on bullying me to go to law school. Then everything changes in the blink of an eye. One minute I’m teaching a yoga class, and the next there’s smoke and then fire and with it comes firefighters. One in particular.
Stace: There are only three things that I take seriously—my job as a volunteer firefighter, my work with the animal shelter, and my family. Everything else? Not so much. And then we get a call and I end up carrying an unbelievably gorgeous woman down the stairs and I feel like my entire world has shifted and nothing will ever be the same.
Hunter: She lifted me like some hero from a romance movie and I couldn’t help but notice how good she looked when she took her helmet off and smiled at me. But that’s neither here nor there. I’ll never pursue someone like Stace. Love doesn’t work out for me, not for any member of my family. It’s just not in our genes. Why would I sign up for the inevitable downfall that will wreck my life? I’ll keep my heart whole and intact, thank you very much. Stace is the kind of person who demands all or nothing, and I have nothing for her.
Stace: Hunter is…complicated. Closed-off. A challenge, not to mention she’s so beautiful that she’d make angels jealous. I’ve never met anyone who deserves to be seduced and spoiled by affection more than her. So that’s what I’m going to do. Because I have to have her.
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So Not My Type by Dana Hawkins
Sophie Black has clawed her way up from coffee runs to project manager at a top Seattle ad agency. She’s laser-focused on her career—until the CEO’s daughter, Ella Northwood, joins the team. Forced to work together on a high-stakes campaign, sparks fly as Sophie’s scrappy determination clashes with Ella’s polished privilege. But there’s more to both women than meets the eye, and, over late nights in the office, their assumptions about each other start to crumble.
When an impromptu hot tub session leads to a steamy night neither can forget, everything changes. The ice-cold chip on Sophie’s shoulder finally starts to melt, while Ella hopes that for the first time, someone might see beneath her trust-fund facade. But as the temperature in the office soars, a shocking revelation threatens to derail everything. Now Sophie and Ella must decide if their feelings are worth fighting for…
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Temptation at Randy’s by Emily Alter
New beginnings didn’t usually come with a side of temptation.
Arlene
The last thing I would’ve expected when I dared to attend a local munch at my favorite diner was to run into one of my favorite YouTubers. Claude wasn’t part of the munch, as far as I could tell, and they hadn’t posted anything in forever, but they still approached me. Me.
It was a miracle I didn’t lose it right then and there.
Claude
Despite what my friends from LA said, I didn’t regret moving to Boston. It had started as an attempt to run away from a PR crisis I hadn’t known how to handle, but I liked it here. I’d found a safe haven at Randy’s, and people to surround myself with.
People to surround myself with shouldn’t have included a financial advisor with a sweet tooth and gorgeous eyes, but… Here we were.
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Take Two by Stephanie Shea
Being in love is Whitney Dimaano’s favorite past time. Though lately, she can’t seem to get it right. She’s tried—she is trying—but it just hasn’t…clicked, and maybe her time would be better spent focusing on all the things that are actually good in her life. The gym she all but built with her own two hands, the new-found bond with her brother and sister, her friends… Anything but chasing the ghost of how it felt with the woman who left her behind.
Award-winning documentarian Andy Vahn dreamed of being an extraordinary filmmaker. Her recipe for success is a fusion of meticulous planning, diligence, and never letting anything stand in her way. Not even love. When a trip to convince a misanthropic celebrity chef to appear in her docuseries leads her home, Andy knows it won’t be easy. Least of all because she hasn’t been back in six years. Hasn’t seen Whitney in six years. Still, it’s true what they say. You never forget your first.
Maybe Andy’s return is the closure Whitney needs. But what if all it does is reaffirm Andy’s deepest fear?
She should never have left.
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The Summer We’ve Had by Katherine Blakeman
After a nightmare couple of years following the death of her celebrity singer mother, Cass Mulligan is moving down to the sun, sea and shingle of Cornwall for a fresh start. But she soon realises that she’s not the only one in need of some TLC…
Felicia Wilson’s life is one long series of spinning plates. She has Dissociative Identity Disorder, a system of five alternate personalities living in her body, and they all have different hopes, fears and desires.
When Cass is thrown together with Felicia, some beautiful friendships grow, and soon there is substantial mutual attraction between Cass and dominant alter Heather. But if things go wrong, they could go very wrong. Can they build a relationship AND keep everybody happy?
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V.A.M.P.: Book One—Serena & Katerina by Kimberly A. Todd
Is it possible to find a second chance at love?
Being rich, powerful, and thirty years old for eternity has its perks. Being a heartbroken, 800-year-old lesbian vampire, not so much.
Serena Vanderen is chairman and CEO of V.A.M.P. Global. Advertiser by day; scientist, murderer, and cleanup artist for her pharmaceutical client by night.
Since her girlfriend was killed thirty years ago, Serena has been going through the motions of running her advertising agency while grieving and trying to armor her heart against any more pain. But when Katerina Davenport attends her company gala, everything changes.
Can this captivating, gorgeous, sexy redhead help Serena find love again? Will she reignite Serena’s long-dormant sexual desires? Will Katerina be able to accept that she is falling in love with a vampire? What dark secrets does the agency conceal that challenges their love—and Katerina’s safety?
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Back to September by Melissa Brayden
Building a bridge between two worlds can be tricky.
Hannah Shephard likes her life, her job, and her perfectly cozy apartment around the corner from her shop. She’s never been one to take big risks and would much rather stay in on a Friday night with a warm cup of decaf and her favorite mystery novel, so why do her friends insist she needs more? Plus, Hannah has bigger problems to focus on. She’s in trouble. Well, her bookstore is, and if she doesn’t find a way to bring in some more cash, she’ll be closing the doors of A Likely Story for good.
When world famous romance novelist Parker Bristow accepts her request to come in for a signing, Hannah might finally be able to drum up some much-needed attention and save the shop. What she didn’t anticipate was an unexpected evening and a woman she wouldn’t soon forget. A real romance is off the table. Parker is flashy, sought after, and Hannah is just, well, Hannah. But for Parker, it seems like Hannah might be a safe place to fall. The question is, what kind of falling are they doing?
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Moon Over the Gateway Arch by Renn Loraine
Sarah knew the elegant blonde in the St. Louis bar was dangerous. She just didn’t know how….
When the woman pulls Sarah aside on the crowded dance floor to tell her she’s not safe, Sarah doesn’t believe her. But as the events of the evening progress – she’s not so sure.
Soon, Sarah realizes that in order to escape, she may have to trust this beautiful stranger. But only Sarah’s wits can save her now – and she doesn’t know how deep the rabbit hole goes.
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In Your Hands by Johana Gavez
After being single for several years, Manuela is eager to end her dry spell. She tries her luck on a dating app where she encounters Sophia, a confident and straightforward woman. Their instant connection leads them from flirtatious messages to steamy exchanges on the app.
“In Your Hands” follows Manuela as she explores pleasure on her own and later the world of sexting, roleplaying and one-night stands that turn into more.
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Ribbonwood by Ruby Landers
Lara Bennett is world-famous in Ribbonwood, population 907. She’s the woman you don’t trust your husband with: a real-life femme fatale. If there’s a scandal in town, she’s at the center of it, ruining businesses, marriages, and egos everywhere she goes, with her sharp tongue and that body that makes you look twice. Besides… didn’t she more or less kill a man?
Ollie Gabrielli left Ribbonwood right after high school, back when Lara was her arch-nemesis. The queen bee and the closeted soccer star: natural enemies. When she comes home for three months it’s to recover from burnout and spend time with her chaotic family, not to reconnect with old classmates. Only somehow, she can’t seem to take her eyes off Lara. How did she only get hotter? And is she really everything they say she is?
Sometimes, there’s a reason you should never try to go home.
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Birthday book giveaway coming up!
My birthday is coming up next week, and like every year, I’ll celebrate by giving YOU gifts! I’m preparing a big book giveaway with different prizes to pick from (signed paperbacks & book candles, ebooks, or audiobooks). I’ll send out a newsletter to let you know when it’s time to enter the drawing. If you don’t want to miss it, feel free to subscribe to my newsletter.
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What sapphic book will you read for the “flirting via text messages” category? Let us know in the comments!
7 Responses
Hey Jae, I love your list, but I wish you would have included “Those Who Wait” by Haley Cass. Happy early birthday! Hope it’s your best ever!
Thank you! Those Who Wait is on my list for other categories, but you are right, it fits this category too.
I already read (by chance): Rian Birch, Swept Up in You / Sandy Lowe, The Naked Truth – both great reads
It will forever be Those Who Wait by Haley Cass for me.
Definitely a great read!
A very Happy Birthday to you, Jae!
Thank you!