This week’s Sapphic Book Bingo category leads us to books set in the great outdoors: sapphic books featuring hiking or camping.
For this square of your bingo card, read a sapphic book in which the main characters go camping or hiking. It could be a camping trip, a deluxe glamping getaway, or a story of survival in the wilderness.
15 sapphic books featuring hiking or camping
Below, you’ll find 15 sapphic books featuring hiking or camping:
Coming to Terms by Laura G. Wiser
It is the start of the fall term and Olivia Brandon is returning to her alma mater for graduate school. Now at 35, she is an adult and knows what she wants in life. Or so she thinks. Upon arriving, she comes face-to-face with her former English professor, the one who flunked her a decade before. Olivia has grown since then and knows the consequences of failing helped form her into the adult she is today and she is grateful. But meeting this professor again, the beautifully dark-haired and dark-eyed Kate Edwards, poses more questions than Olivia can answer. Is she a potential friend or something more?
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The Target by Gerri Hill
Sara Michaels is the daughter of a prominent senator who has just announced his candidacy for President of the United States–the same senator who has been receiving death threats against his family. Sara Michaels is also the owner of a self-help clinic and is hell-bent–despite the FBI’s warnings–on leading a group of ten women on a two-week sojourn through the Rocky Mountains.
In an effort to protect Sara, the FBI recruits homicide detective Jaime Hutchinson to infiltrate the group and secretly provide the protection they are so certain Sara will need. After some clever maneuvering, Jaime finds herself welcomed by the ten conservative women–who soon begin playing matchmaker with Sara and Jaime.
But then Jaime is reminded of the reason that she has joined this group of women when she’s forced to lead them out of the mountains and away from a sniper’s bullets. Will Sara finally figure out who is behind the death threats? And will Jaime realize the truth–and be able to save Sara before it’s too late?
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Choosing Yellowstone by Carol Anne Douglas
In Choosing Yellowstone, Professor Elaine Flaherty’s opportunity to teach journaling in Yellowstone National Park conflicts with her plan to volunteer with her partner at a Syrian refugee camp. Elaine and Pam must come to a decision that serves their personal needs yet honors their relationship of fifteen years. Elaine chooses Yellowstone while Pam flies to the Middle East. Through emails, they eloquently share details of their summer apart—and worry that something could go wrong. Something does. And Elaine’s misogynist English Department chair makes everything even worse.
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In the Woods by S.E. Smyth
Jamie is stuck at the site of the family cabin, in the woods and off-balance, as the world dissolves around her. She lost her job. She doomed her marriage. Her wife is dating the boss of her new side gig. She lives for the time being on jointly owned property but refuses to go inside the cabin.
Everything is in disarray, and things cannot possibly look up. Until someone from Jamie’s past appears and breathes new hope into the situation. She evaluates and weighs her life and recent decisions to find out what’s important and what’s worth fighting for.
In Jamie’s world of crime and deceit, love presents the only light. It’s a love she’s held onto. The journey, the hike through the brush in the metaphorical woods, can cut and mar, but the light Jamie is searching for is so bright.
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The View from the Top by Rachel Lacey
Emily Janssen prefers to play it safe. At thirty-five, she’s still working at the inn her grandmothers own while dreaming of a day when she’s able to support herself fully with her art. And while her friends have all hiked to the summit of the mountain in their hometown of Crescent Falls, Vermont, something has always held Emily back.
Diana Devlin has already made it to the top. Well, almost. She’s this close to securing the promotion that will put her in line to take over as CEO of her family’s hotel chain when her father retires. Everything is going to plan until an unexpected run-in with an alluring artist on a mountainside throws Diana off course, resulting in one of the hottest nights either she or Emily have ever experienced.
Emily walks away from their rendezvous feeling inspired to channel some of Diana’s confidence and finally chase her dreams. For Diana, it’s a reminder that with the right woman, she is capable of wanting more than one night.
But their growing passion threatens to burn them both when they learn that the hotel Diana’s in town to buy is none other than Emily’s grandmothers’ beloved inn. It’s Emily’s home, and no big city outsider—not even Diana—is going to take it away from her.
Will the view from the top be worth the climb, or will they both have farther to fall?
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Waterlogged by Nance Sparks
After nineteen years as a conservation warden on some of the busiest lakes in Southern Wisconsin, Jordan Pearce is ready for a change of pace in the quiet of the Northwoods on the same lake she used to vacation on with her family. Her wish is granted when a colleague quits without notice. Everything seems to be falling into place.
Hanna Quinn returns to the Northwoods to help care for her aunt Dottie after a cancer diagnosis. Both her aunts have been her saving grace and now it’s her turn to be their strength. There’s plenty to keep her busy, and the new conservation warden is a welcome distraction from her overflowing plate.
Odd occurrences put the community on edge, and the serenity of the Northwoods is rocked when a body is discovered floating in the flowage. Jordan pushes the limits of her authority to keep Hanna and her new town safe, but the truth isn’t always as it seems.
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Leveled by Serena J. Bishop
After having her travel papers stolen to research in India, Dr. Persephone ‘Perse’ Teixeira succumbs to living in her sister’s basement and working in retail. Just as she’s about ready to hit rock bottom, Perse is offered an opportunity to teach anthropology and history at Chesapeake Bay University. Perse is thrilled; now her only worry is managing her anxiety. However, that changes once she meets a science professor, Dr. Stefanie ‘Stef’ Blake.
Stef is cute, quick-witted, and a touch neurotic. She’s also very interested in dating Perse. When Perse declines her romantic advances because it is imperative that she focuses on her new job, Stef explains she has a relationship system that consists of six levels, which will ensure perfect compatibility before marriage. It’s casual, slow, and, really, what are the odds of getting to level six?
Perse is amused, yet intrigued by Stef’s analytical approach, and agrees to go out with her. But logic only goes so far and when feelings start to grow, Perse must contend with her anxiety issues, because history has taught her nothing good comes out of falling in love.
Are Perse and Stef compatible enough to get through the levels? Will Perse’s past cause her to run before they can find out? Or did Stef create the perfect system for happily ever after?
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Double Dyno by Sharon K Angelici
On a two-week hiking and climbing tour, Al Hadley guides a small team toward high adventure. With her best friends PB and Britt making up the Extreme Adventure Group, the goal is to build confidence and experience for each client. What they weren’t counting on was Violet Crest and her amateur adventuring ways.
Weeks of planning and detailed maps can’t tame Violet’s curious nature. She’s determined to make every moment count by capturing as many as possible through her camera lens, testing the boundaries and the patience of AEG’s team leader, Al.
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Pumpkin Spice by Tagan Shepard
Nicki Russell has never been smooth. More like a bumbling, awkward mess always falling short of her dreams. Good college? She never had the money. Post-grad? She’ll get around to it someday. Happy ever after with the perfect woman? One major heartbreak is enough to have her swearing off love forever. Current life plan? Avoid all unnecessary human contact. That goes double for Carter, the hot new butch in town.
Unfortunately, Carter works at the town’s pick-your-own pumpkin patch and Nicki’s niece is obsessed with Halloween. So obsessed she ropes her favorite aunt into organizing the school Halloween festival, hosted by Carter Farms. Volunteer weekends are scary enough, but Carter seems to be everywhere Nicki goes, and it’s just a matter of time before she discovers Nicki’s more likely to trip over a chair than successfully flirt.
But Carter can’t seem to get enough of her company, and as their accidental encounters slowly simmer into romance, Nicki begins to believe she’s not a complete disaster after all. The date of the festival is fast approaching, and this pumpkin spice season is turning out sweeter than expected.
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When Dreams Change by Violet Morley
As another softball season begins, Coach Lennox Clementine is juggling many balls in the air. With so many upperclassmen returning, she feels confident about Sitka High School’s chances, but only if she can manage to keep the girls in one piece. Outside of the softball field, Lennox has to keep up with the challenges of her job at the hospital. Everything would be easier if she could keep her mind from drifting to her boss, Jenna.
After separating from her husband, Jenna Macintyre is suddenly looking at the lonely blank page of her new life. She’s trying hard to keep herself from being crushed by the quiet, especially since her daughter, Wren, is finishing her senior year and is busy not only with her friends, but also softball. Left to her own devices, Jenna finds herself seeking out Lennox.
As Lennox and Jenna navigate a blossoming friendship, the two women stumble over feelings both old and new. Lennox does her best to keep her feelings hidden, but she can’t ignore the way Jenna makes her feel. All Jenna has to do is look past everything she’s known, and maybe she’ll find everything she’s been looking for.
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Mending Bones by Merlina Garance
Claire, a Detective Inspector in her late forties, has known and worked with Estelle for many years. Ever since they met, it felt like there could have been something more there: Estelle’s gentle flirting and compliments have been a constant in Claire’s life, but her self confidence never allowed her to truly believe the other woman meant anything by it.
Until one day, Claire breaks her leg and finds out soon after that Estelle has decided to retire from the police, at only 56. Something doesn’t feel right there, but before Claire can begin to ask more questions, Estelle offers to take her away to her seaside cottage for a week. After all, with Claire on sick leave and Estelle retired, they both have the time.
Surely a week of lazy mornings, too much food and wine, and walks through the countryside aren’t enough to make Claire fall when she’s resisted for so long?
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Apophis: A Love Story for the End of the World by Eliza Lentzski
From a very young age, Samantha Poulsen knew she was different from other girls – the unrequited crush on her best friend, Andrea, was just the tip of the iceberg. But when the earth’s temperature plummets, and you and your family are just looking to survive, things like finding a girlfriend and being in love become trivial fantasies.
Scientists first spotted the asteroid in the year 2004. They named it 99942 Apophis after the deification of darkness. When the asteroid struck the planet, it set off a chain of events that few expected – the first Ice Age in nearly 12,500 years. The flowers were the first things to die. Beautiful things of little practical value had no place in the new world that emerged because of the Frost. Now, two years after Apophis’s impact, survival is all that matters. But when Sam’s family rescues a man and his daughter – a beautiful woman named Nora who reignites all those previously banished, trivial emotions – Sam might be convinced that there’s still a place for beauty in this new world. Now with extended ending!
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Not Just Gal Pals by Elizabeth Luly
Jenny Lynton never planned to be an influencer. It just sort of…happened. When an unfortunate post results in Jenny being “almost canceled,” she extends her stay in her hometown, Sapphire Springs, New York, to wait out the storm. Jenny’s agent suggests a fling with a flannel-wearing lumberjack might be just the thing to distract her. But after a string of disastrous dates, Jenny has sworn off flings. And lumberjacks are in short supply in Sapphire Springs. Lumberjanes, on the other hand…
Blake Mitchell is Sapphire Spring’s only doctor. She’s also had a crush on Jenny since high school. A crush that makes her a socially awkward mess whenever she’s around Jenny. Blake moved back home to avoid being hurt by another relationship–there’s not exactly a lot of dating options for lesbians in Sapphire Springs–but Blake can’t stop thinking about Jenny now she’s back in town.
When Jenny and Blake are forced to work together to save a friend’s bachelorette party, sparks fly. But with Jenny’s return to LA a ticking time-bomb, is it wise for them to explore their feelings for each other, or do they risk being hurt yet again?
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Unforgettable You by Chelsea M. Cameron
Reid: According to my mother, I ruined my life the minute I quit ballet in college and destroyed her dreams of having a professional dancer in the family. My steady bartending job, friends, and fanfic hobby weren’t good enough apparently. Not that I cared what she thought anymore. Mostly. Things had been pretty conflict-free up until my new neighbor showed up and threw everything into chaos.
Sophie: I never expected to run into Reid Hayward of all people when I moved into my first off-campus apartment. To say that she isn’t thrilled to see me is an understatement. That’s fair, considering the last time we saw each other she and my sister were in the middle of a very loud breakup that I witnessed. Reid is still livid though, as if I was the one who lied to her and ended the relationship years ago.
Reid: The last time I saw Sophie Love, she was this annoying teenager who was always asking to tag along on my dates with her sister. That was a longggg time ago, because she’s all grown up now and I’m doing my very best not to notice. That becomes even more of a challenge when I discover that our beds are up against the same wall and I can hear…a lot of things. Personal, intimate things, if you know what I mean. My first instinct is to pound on the wall to get her to stop. My second is to listen.
Sophie: Mortification doesn’t begin to cover the way I feel after I realize she heard me last night. The awkward conversation after doesn’t kill me, but it does give me an idea. You see, I’ve only recently realized I’m not as straight as I always thought, and Reid works at the only sapphic bar in the state. If there’s anyone who knows about this stuff, it’s her. What if she took me under her wing and taught me how to date a woman? Reid doesn’t even like me, so it wouldn’t mean anything. Just a way to get all my nervousness and fumbling out of the way before I try to do this for real. It’s a wild idea, but what’s even wilder is that she agrees.
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Fragments of the Heart by Ally McGuire
Archeologist Kelly Pierce lives for adventure, weaving a tapestry of exploration, seeking out artifacts that whisper stories of the past. Always ready for the next expedition, she never thought Oklahoma would be on her map.
Shawn Scott thrives in predictability. As Director of Descriptive Statistics, numbers are her world, but people? They’re a puzzle. So, collaborating with a British archaeologist is an incongruous with her routine as a desert oasis in the Arctic.
But when a new site is temporarily exposed in Alaska, Kelly and Shawn unite, racing against time to claim the artifacts. Amidst the treacherous terrain and chilling uncertainties, they grapple not only with the elements but with the awakening of emotions neither anticipated.
As danger looms, will they unearth more than artifacts or will the forces that brought them together ultimately tear them apart?
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What book will you be reading for the “sapphic books featuring hiking or camping” category? Let us know in the comments!
5 Responses
One more addition to your list: I loved CAMP LOST AND FOUND by Georgia Beers.
Also ONLY THIS SUMMER by Radclyffe
Thanks for all the recs. I bought 3 and added 4 to my wishlist!
I hope you’ll enjoy them!
Read The View From the Top earlier this year!