The Sapphic Book Bingo 2022 is over, and I think it’s safe to say it’s been a big success and very popular with readers.

I heard from so many readers who said it encouraged them to read more sapphic books—and especially to try books and authors they otherwise wouldn’t have given a chance.

Running a year-long reading challenge is also a huge endeavor. I spent a total of 284 hours running the reading challenge and putting together 37 book lists with a total of 1,050 books.

A big thank-you goes to Erin, who helped me look up all the blurbs and links, and to fellow author Donna Jay, who helped me run the Sapphic Book Bingo Goodreads group.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank all of the readers who participated and enthusiastically talked about the books they found and loved; the authors who donated books for the giveaway, and everyone who helped promote and spread the word about the Sapphic Book Bingo.

 

Sapphic Book Bingo 2022 stats

Here are some interesting stats about the Sapphic Book Bingo 2022:

• 3,411 readers downloaded a Sapphic Book Bingo card. Many more followed the weekly book recommendation posts to find new books to read, even if they didn’t officially participate in the Sapphic Book Bingo.
• 973 readers joined the Sapphic Book Bingo Goodreads group.
• 801 readers sent in a completed book bingo card.
• A total of 42.320 sapphic books were read for the Sapphic Book Bingo. Most likely, it was more than that, but that’s the official count from the bingo cards that were sent in.
• 71% of the participating readers completed not just a regular bingo card, but also at least one Book Unicorn card, which represents harder-to-find genres and themes.
• The reader with the most books read for Sapphic Book Bingo sent in 11 regular cards and 11 Book Unicorn cards. She read a total of 407 sapphic books for Sapphic Book Bingo!

 

The winners of the Sapphic Book Bingo giveaway

Using a random number generator, I drew 15 winners.

• 5 winners who sent in a bingo card with one complete line. They each won 1 ebook. The winners were: Alicia K., Avery S., Britta T., Gianna L., and Victoria B.
• 5 winners who sent in a completed Book Unicorn card. They each won 2 ebooks. The winners were: Charlie W., Evelyn M., Henriette M., Lisa H., and Sophia H.
• 5 winners who sent in a completed regular bingo card. They each won a bundle of 5 books (ebooks or paperbacks—winner’s choice). The winners were: Chloe C., Evren D., Maeve, Nathalie D., and Paulina R.

 

Congratulations! If you are one of the winners, keep an eye on your in-box. I’ll email you within the next day to arrange the delivery of your book prizes.

 

The most-read books for Sapphic Book Bingo 2022

It was very interesting to take a look at the bingo cards as they came in and see what books readers were reading for each category. I decided to put together a list of “most-read books” for each category and share them with you in case you want to stock up your to-be-read list (as I did). After all, so many avid readers can’t be wrong!

Here are the top 5 books for the Sapphic Book Bingo 2022 categories:

 

Your favorite romance trope:

1. A Whisper of Solace by Milena McKay
2. Truth and Measure by Roslyn Sinclair
3. Under a Falling Star by Jae
4. Mrs Middleton by Melissa Tereze
5. The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter TIED WITH Something in the Wine by Jae

 

Sapphic book about a disaster:

1. The Island Between Us by Wendy Hudson
2. Shaken to the Core by Jae
3. Everybody Needs a Hero by KC Luck
4. Without Warning by KG MacGregor
5. Darkness Falls by KC Luck

 

Sapphic sports romance:

1. Thrust by Rachel Spangler
2. Gold by EJ Noyes
3. The Clinch by Nicole Disney
4. Kick Back by KJ
5. Catch and Cradle by Katia Rose TIED WITH Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler

 

Author’s pick:

1. Irregular Heartbeat by Chris Zett
2. The Headmistress by Milena McKay
3. The Fifth Surgeon by Faith Prize
4. Coming Home by KJ
5. Those Who Wait by Haley Cass

 

Sapphic fake-relationship romance:

1. The Great Charade by Gerri Hill
2. Just for Show by Jae
3. Her Royal Happiness by Lola Keeley
4. Breaking Character by Lee Winter
5. Who’d Have Thought by G Benson

 

Free sapphic book:

1. A Place to Call Home by Jae
2. Third Act by Emily Banting
3. Lucky Yellow Shoes by Jae
4. Telling Lies Online by Miranda MacLeod
5. Laid Bare by Anna Stone TIED WITH Three Ways to Ruin a Perfect Wedding by Chris Zett

 

Sapphic classic:

1. Touchwood by Karin Kallmaker
2. Curious Wine by Katherine V. Forrest
3. Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
4. The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
5. Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown TIED WITH Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

 

POC character:

1. Match to Love by Johana Gavez
2. House of Agnes by Fiona Zedde
3. Chef’s Kiss by Stephanie Shea
4. Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
5. Stud Like Her by Fiona Zedde TIED WITH Between the Lines by KD Williamson

 

Character with a disability:

1. The Roommate Arrangement by Jae
2. Wounded Souls by RJ Nolan
3. The Loudest Silence by Olivia Janae
4. What the Heart Sees by KC Luck
5. Just Physical by Jae

 

Not set in the US or the UK:

1. Paper Love by Jae
2. The Number 94 Project by Cheyenne Blue
3. Changing the Script by Lee Winter
4. Perks of Office by Liz Rain
5. The Lily and the Crown by Roslyn Sinclair

 

Sapphic erotica or erotic romance:

1. The X Ingredient by Roslyn Sinclair
2. Worth the Wait by Jae
3. The Sex Therapist Next Door by Meghan O’Brien
4. The Club by A.L. Brooks
5. The Night Off by Meghan O’Brien TIED WITH Seasons of Love by Harper Bliss

 

Character with a different sexual orientation or gender identity than your own:

1. Perfect Rhythm by Jae
2. Chemistry Lessons by Jae
3. The Awkward Truth by Lee Winter
4. The Art of Growing by Jacqueline Ramsden
5. Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly TIED WITH Fake It by Lily Seabrooke

 

Sapphic book that is not a romance

1. The Tell Tale by Clare Ashton
2. They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
3. No Good Reason by Cari Hunter
4. Pink by KD Williamson
5. A Touch of Truth by Nita Round

 

Butch character:

1. Departure from the Script by Jae
2. The Awkward Truth by Lee Winter
3. Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae
4. Conflict of Interest by Jae
5. Home Is Where the Heart Is by Jenny Frame TIED WITH A Convenient Arrangement by Aurora Rey & Jaime Clevenger

 

Sapphic book about a bet or a dare:

1. The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter
2. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
3. Just a Touch Away by Jae
4. The Romance Bet by Jae
5. Bet Against Me by Fiona Riley

 

Award-winning sapphic book:

1. The Headmistress by Milena McKay
2. Hotel Queens by Lee Winter
3. Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae
4. Chemistry Lessons by Jae
5. Before You Say I Do by Clare Lydon TIED WITH Lost in Paradise by Rachel Lacey AND Remember Me, Synthetica by K. Aten

 

Sapphic full-time writer:

1. The Awkward Truth by Lee Winter
2. Chemistry Lessons by Jae
3. Exclusive by Melissa Brayden TIED WITH The Number 94 Project by Cheyenne Blue
4. At First Glance by Melissa Tereze TIED WITH And Then She Kissed Me by Harper Bliss
5. With a Twist by Georgia Beers TIED WITH Reclaiming Love by Amanda Radley AND The Great Charade by Gerri Hill

 

Sapphic book about an established couple:

1. Next of Kin by Jae
2. Above All Things by Roslyn Sinclair
3. Under Your Skin by Lee Winter
4. Crossing Lines by KD Williamson TIED WITH Hidden Truths by Jae
5. Arms Wide Open by Donna Jay TIED WITH Small Packages by J.A. Armstrong

 

Sapphic book that is out of your comfort zone:

1. The Lily and the Crown by Roslyn Sinclair (sci-fi romance)
2. F Is for Five Sapphic Tales by Donna Jay (steamy short stories)
3. Dead Lez Walking by G Benson (zombie apocalypse)
4. Broken Not Shattered by Rita Potter (abusive marriage)
5. Strange Attractors by Ana K. Wrenn (psychological thriller) TIED WITH Scatter by Molly J. Bragg (superhero novel)

 

New sapphic author:

1. The Fifth Surgeon by Faith Prize
2. Perks of Office by Liz Rain
3. Sprinkled in the Stars by Violet Morley
4. Irregular Heartbeat by Chris Zett
5. The Love Factor by Quinn Ivins

 

Coming-out story:

1. Not the Marrying Kind by Jae
2. Dare to Love by A.L. Brooks
3. The Headmistress by Milena McKay
4. The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter
5. The Love Factor by Quinn Ivins TIED WITH When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass

 

Sapphic book about a non-human character:

1. Second Nature by Jae
2. Wild by Meghan O’Brien
3. Good Enough to Eat by Jae & Alison Grey
4. True Nature by Jae
5. The Perfect Match by Milena McKay

 

Sapphic book about an unusual job:

1. Just a Touch Away by Jae
2. Go Around by EJ Noyes
3. Requiem for Immortals by Lee Winter
4. Her Royal Happiness by Lola Keeley
5. At First Glance by Melissa Tereze

 

Sapphic book with a meet-cute:

1. Under a Falling Star by Jae
2. Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae
3. Changing the Script by Lee Winter
4. If the Shoe Fits by EJ Noyes
5. From Fan to Forever by Tiana Warner

 

Sapphic romantic comedy:

1. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
2. Blissfully Blindsided by Robin Alexander
3. Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
4. The Lure of White Oak Lake by Robin Alexander
5. Two of a Kind by T.B. Markinson & Miranda MacLeod

 

Sapphic book with two generations of LGBT+ characters:

1. Hidden Truths by Jae
2. Humbug by Amanda Radley
3. Safe Harbor by Radclyffe
4. Always by Kris Bryant TIED WITH Schuss by EJ Noyes
5. An Alaskan Wedding by Nance Sparks TIED WITH I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

 

Sapphic book featuring therapy:

1. Ask Me Again by EJ Noyes
2. A Whisper of Solace by Milena McKay
3. Perspective by Monica McCallan TIED WITH Broken Not Shattered by Rita Potter
4. Change of Plans by KJ
5. Sweet Surprise by Jenny Frame

 

Sapphic book in which faith plays an important role:

1. Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
2. Who I Believe by Jamey Moody
3. Invisible, as Music by Caren J. Werlinger
4. Ignis by KJ TIED WITH Carmilla and Laura by SD Simper
5. Always Believe by Aimée TIED WITH Wild Things by Karin Kallmaker

 

Sapphic book based on a historical event:

1. Shaken to the Core by Jae
2. 96 Hours by Georgia Beers
3. Backwards to Oregon by Jae
4. In Every Port by Karin Kallmaker TIED WITH Secrets Well Kept by Lynn Ames
5. Once in Berlin by Jo Haven TIED WITH In the Shadow of the Past by J.E. Leak

 

Sapphic book in which the characters practice safer sex:

1. Falling Hard by Jae
2. Heart Failure by Chris Zett
3. The Headmistress by Milena McKay
4. Chasing Dreams by A.L. Brooks TIED WITH No Rings Attached by Rachel Lacey
5. Get It Right by Skye Kilaen

 

Characters over 50:

1. Reading Her by Amanda Radley
2. 46 by Lynn Ames
3. Never Too Late for Heroes by A.L. Brooks
4. That Woman Next Door by Harper Bliss TIED WITH What the Heart Sees by KC Luck AND The Goodmans by Clare Ashton
5. Honey in the Marrow by Emily Waters TIED WITH And the Truth Is… by Jamey Moody

 

Sapphic book with more than 400 pages:

1. Jericho by Ann McMan
2. Those Who Wait by Haley Cass
3. Conflict of Interest by Jae
4. Hotel Queens by Lee Winter
5. Truth and Measure by Roslyn Sinclair TIED WITH Purposefully Accidental by G Benson AND Aurora’s Angel by Emily Noon

 

Sapphic book with BDSM elements:

1. Being Hers by Anna Stone
2. The Club Revisited by A.L. Brooks
3. Shadow Haven by AJ Schippers
4. Shadowland by Radclyffe
5. Just One Reason by Jaime Clevenger

 

Sapphic book that mentions another sapphic book:

1. Go Around by EJ Noyes
2. Up on the Roof by A.L. Brooks
3. Something in the Wine by Jae
4. Next of Kin by Jae
5. The Date by T.B. Markinson TIED WITH Under the Sitka Sky by Violet Morley

 

Sapphic book in which a character is having her period:

1. The Number 94 Project by Cheyenne Blue
2. Paper Love by Jae
3. No Strings by Gerri Hill
4. Turbulence by EJ Noyes
5. Perks of Office by Liz Rain

 

Sapphic book with more than two points of view:

1. Unbreakable by Cari Hunter
2. Never Too Late for Heroes by A.L. Brooks
3. The Hummingbird Sanctuary by Erin Zak TIED WITH Everybody Needs a Hero by KC Luck
4. The Tell Tale by Clare Ashton TIED WITH Undercover by Barbara Winkes
5. Four Steps by Wendy Hudson

 

Sapphic book with a main character who’s a twin:

1. Something’s Different by Quinn Ivins
2. Paper Love by Jae
3. Down to a Science by Haley Cass
4. And Then She Kissed Me by Harper Bliss
5. Ready or Not by Melissa Brayden TIED WITH Hold Me Closer, Toni Danzig by Laura Henry

 

Join the Sapphic Book Bingo 2023!

I’ll be running another year-long reading challenge in 2023. It will be another Sapphic Book Bingo, and you can again choose between a regular bingo card and a Book Unicorn card with harder-to-find themes.

I’ll post the rules and categories tomorrow (January 1) and the book recommendations for the first square (sapphic age-gap romance) on January 5.

Make sure you subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it!