Jae

Sapphic Slow-burn romances

The 2026 sapphic fiction reader survey (Part 1)

Sapphic fiction readers survey

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Over the past decade, the sapphic fiction landscape has changed significantly. There are more sapphic books available for readers to choose from than ever before. Audiobooks have become an increasingly popular format, and subscription services and library apps have made books available to more readers.

But not all changes have been positive. Censorship, book bans, and rising homophobia have made it harder to market sapphic books, while the struggling economy and inflation mean a tighter reading budget for many readers. In the past few years, we’ve also seen an influx of AI-generated books.

In the author survey, I explored what those changes mean for authors of sapphic fiction. But what does all of it look like from a reader’s perspective?

Has their economic situation or the political climate changed their reading habits? Do they read fewer or more sapphic books than a few years ago? Where do they discover and buy books? What influences their decision to pick up a book? And how do they feel about AI-generated books, covers, audiobooks, and translations?

To find out, I put together a survey for readers of sapphic fiction.

I’ll share the results of the reader survey in two parts simply because the report got too long. Part 1 will focus on the reading and book-buying habits of sapphic fiction readers and how they might have changed, while part 2 will examine readers’ attitudes toward generative AI in the book world.

Below are the results of part 1 of the survey. Since the full report is pretty detailed and long, I’ve included a summary below for those who don’t have the time or patience to read it all.

TL;DR

Here are the biggest takeaways of the sapphic fiction reader survey:

  • A total of 2,825 readers filled out the reader survey.
  • Nearly half of them were between 25 and 44 years old, while younger readers were underrepresented.
  • The sapphic fiction audience is international, with readers from 72 countries participating. Most readers live in the United States (57%), followed by the UK (10%), Canada (6%), Germany (5%), and Australia (5%).
  • Most sapphic fiction readers are highly engaged. 72% read or listen to at least three sapphic books per month.
  • More than half (51%) of readers report reading more sapphic books than they did 2-3 years ago, with 33% saying they read much more, while 20% of readers are reading fewer sapphic books than in the past.
  • The biggest reasons for reading fewer sapphic books were having less time to read (50%) and difficulty finding books they like (38%), while 16% report difficulty finding books that aren’t AI-generated.
  • 90% of readers said that their reading habits have changed over the past few years.
  • The biggest shift is the way readers access books. 33% report listening to more audiobooks, 29% read more via subscription services like KU, and 25% read more books from libraries (25%).
  • AI is making things harder for newer authors. Almost one-quarter (24%) of readers report that they have become more hesitant to try books from new-to-them authors, mostly for fear of accidentally reading an AI-generated book.
  • Most sapphic fiction readers (77%) use multiple ways to access sapphic books rather than sticking to a single format or access method.
  • Ebooks are still the most widely used format (81%), followed by physical books (47%), but audiobooks have gained popularity (44%).
  • In comparison to mainstream audiences, sapphic fiction readers are more likely to listen to audiobooks and read through subscriptions such as Kindle Unlimited.
  • Amazon is by far the most-used platform where sapphic fiction readers get their books (75%), but it’s not the sole source for most.
  • Buying directly from publishers’ or authors’ webstores is fairly common among sapphic fiction readers (59%).
  • The biggest reason for preferring to buy from major retailers like Amazon was simply convenience (20%).
  • The author matters most when deciding whether to get a book (70%), followed by the book description (47%) and the tropes (38%).
  • For audiobook listeners, the three most important factors were the author, the narrator, and the blurb.
  • Compared to mainstream readers, sapphic fiction readers rely more heavily on community-driven channels to discover books, e.g., author newsletters, I Heart SapphFic, and the Sapphic Book Bingo, while Amazon was the third most mentioned source.

READER DEMOGRAPHICS

Who took the sapphic fiction reader survey?

The survey was open to any reader of sapphic fiction. From August 27 to September 25, 2026, a total of 2,825 readers filled out the survey.

However, the sample should not necessarily be considered representative of all sapphic fiction readers. I recruited participants via my newsletter, my social media, my Facebook reader group, my Goodreads group, and on Reddit, and I asked fellow authors to share it with their readers too. As a result, the survey represents the responses of readers who are part of reader/author communities, connect with authors through social media, or subscribe to at least one author newsletter.

Readers who get their book recommendations primarily through retailers and their algorithms and who have little or no direct connection to authors may have different reading habits and attitudes toward generative AI.

Nevertheless, with nearly 3,000 responses from readers, the survey still gives us meaningful insights into the reading habits and experiences of readers who are part of the sapphic book community.

How old are participating readers?

Here’s what the age distribution among the readers who filled out the survey looked like:

  • Younger than 18: 0.2%
  • 18-24 years old: 5%
  • 25-34 years old: 20%
  • 35-44 years old: 24%
  • 45-54 years old: 18%
  • 55-64 years old: 15%
  • 65 or older: 17%
  • Prefer not to say: 1%

The readers participating in the survey represent a wide range of age groups. Nearly half of them were between 25 and 44 years old, with readers 35-44 years old making up 24% and readers in the 25-34 age group accounting for 20% of responses.

The relatively small number of readers aged 18-24 reflects how the survey was distributed. We didn’t have a lot of authors sharing it on TikTok, where it could have reached more younger readers.

The age range of sapphic fiction readers in this survey was broadly comparable to the 5,715 readers who participated in Nora Phoenix’s 2022 MM romance reader survey. In that survey, 4% of readers were aged 18-25, 18% were 26-35, 28% were 36-45, 28% were 46-55, 14% were 56-65, and 7% were 66 or older. So younger readers were represented at similar levels, while older readers (65+) made up a larger share of sapphic readers.

What country do participating readers currently live in?

Readers from 72 different countries participated in the survey. Below are the 20 countries with the highest number of participants:

  • United States: 57%
  • United Kingdom: 10%
  • Canada: 6%
  • Germany: 5%
  • Australia: 5%
  • Netherlands: 2%
  • France: 2%
  • Brazil: 1%
  • New Zealand: 1%
  • Sweden: 1%
  • Ireland: 1%
  • Italy: 1%
  • South Africa: 1%
  • Spain: 1%
  • Denmark: 1%
  • Norway: 1%
  • Austria: 1%
  • Belgium: 1%
  • Poland: 1%
  • Philippines: 0.5%

The majority of participating readers came from the US (57%), followed by the United Kingdom (10%) and Canada (6%). Readers from Germany and Australia accounted for 5% of responses each.

READING HABITS

How many sapphic books do readers typically read or listen to in a month?

When asked how many sapphic books they typically read or listen to in a month, readers reported a wide range:

  • 1-2 books: 28%
  • 3-5 books: 36%
  • 6-10 books: 18%
  • 11-15 books: 7%
  • 16-20 books: 5%
  • More than 20 books: 5%

Nearly three-quarters of participating readers read three or more sapphic books per month. The largest group of readers (36%) reported reading or listening to 3–5 sapphic books, while 28% typically read 1–2 books. 35% read at least six sapphic books per month.

This result suggests that the survey reached mostly engaged readers who regularly read sapphic fiction, not just casual readers who occasionally pick up a sapphic book.

CHANGES IN READING HABITS

Has their reading of sapphic books changed compared to 2-3 years ago?

When asked whether the number of sapphic books they read changed compared to a few years ago, readers fell into the following categories:

  • Reading much more: 33%
  • Reading somewhat more: 18%
  • Reading about the same: 29%
  • Reading somewhat less: 15%
  • Reading considerably less: 5%

More than half (51%) of readers report reading more sapphic books compared to 2-3 years ago, while 20% are reading less and 29% report no meaningful change.

That’s definitely an interesting result, especially considering that, according to the author survey, more than half of sapphic fiction authors report a decline in their writing-related income. How is it possible that many readers are reading more sapphic books while the majority of authors are earning less?

I’m examining possible reasons in a recent post over on my Sapphic Quill blog for authors. Feel free to head over and read it if you’re interested in finding out more.

What are the reasons some readers are reading fewer sapphic books compared to the past?

Those readers who said they are reading fewer sapphic books compared to previous years were asked for their reasons. They could select multiple options. The most frequently mentioned responses were:

  • Having less time to read: 50%
  • Difficulty finding books they like: 38%
  • Other forms of entertainment competing for their time: 24%
  • Difficulty focusing: 22%
  • Difficulty finding books that aren’t AI: 16%
  • Their financial situation: 16%

The biggest reason for reading fewer sapphic books seems to be a lack of available time and attention. Half of readers who read fewer sapphic books said they now have less time to read than they did in the past—especially compared with the pandemic years—, while 24% said that other forms of entertainment such as TV, streaming, gaming, podcasts, and social media have taken up some of the time they once spent reading.

Another significant barrier is the difficulty of finding appealing and trustworthy books. 38% said they have trouble finding books they like, while 16% struggle to find books that aren’t AI-generated. Many readers commented on how frustrating it has become to spend time “playing detective” and having to “weed through” AI-generated titles to find books by human authors.

In an open-ended question, readers could mention additional reasons they are reading fewer books. The most common responses were:

  • Reading more books that aren’t sapphic: 5%
  • Quality of sapphic books getting worse: 4%
  • Health/mental health issues: 3%
  • Sapphic books are becoming too formulaic: 3%
  • Re-reading/re-listening to favorite books for comfort: 2%
  • Binging after first discovering sapphic books, now slowed down: 1%
  • Started to write their own book: 1%
  • Lack of representation (not enough older, BIPOC, neurodivergent, or asexual characters): 1%
  • State of the world: 1%
  • Discourse in the sapphic fiction community: 1%
  • Difficulty finding sapphic books in libraries/library apps: 1%

5% of the readers who now read fewer sapphic books aren’t reading less in general. They are simply reading more non-sapphic books. Many of them are primarily reading genres other than contemporary romance, e.g., speculative fiction (fantasy, romantasy, sci-fi, etc.) or thrillers/crime/mystery. Some say that they have already read most of the sapphic books available in those genres; others feel that the quality couldn’t keep up with mainstream books.

Smaller groups of readers also cited dissatisfaction with current sapphic books as their reason for reading less: 4% complain about the declining quality/lack of editing, while 3% feel many sapphic books are becoming too formulaic and are all starting to sound the same. 1% said sapphic books aren’t diverse enough and don’t offer enough representation, especially of BIPOC or older people.

What else has changed about the reading habits of sapphic fiction readers over the past 2-3 years?

When asked how their reading habits had changed other than the number of sapphic books they read, readers mentioned the following changes most frequently:

  • Listening to more audiobooks: 33%
  • Reading more via subscription services like Kindle Unlimited: 29%
  • Using a library or library app more: 25%
  • Mostly sticking to authors they know/becoming more hesitant to try books by new or new-to-them authors: 24%
  • Buying more books: 21%
  • Buying fewer books: 12%
  • Buying more physical books: 12%
  • Their reading habits haven’t changed at all: 10%
  • Cancelling their Kindle Unlimited subscription: 7%

90% of readers report that their reading habits have changed.

The biggest shift seems to be the format of books and how readers access books. 33% of all readers consume more audiobooks, which seems to fit with the earlier finding that many readers struggle to find enough time to read. Audiobooks allow readers to turn non-reading time into reading time, e.g., while commuting, working out, or doing chores.

12% are buying more physical books than in the past. Given the political climate, one possible reason might be that readers prefer to own a physical copy rather than rely on ebooks that could potentially be removed from their device by retailers.

29% report that they are reading more via subscription programs such as Kindle Unlimited or Kobo Plus, while only 7% cancelled their KU subscription. 25% are reading more by borrowing sapphic books from their local library or library apps.

So there’s a group of readers who buys less and borrows more, but there are also 21% of readers who say they are buying more sapphic books than they did in the past.

Almost one-quarter (24%) of readers report that they have become more hesitant to try books from debut or new-to-them authors and prefer sticking to authors they are already familiar with. For most of them, that hesitancy to try new authors is driven by not wanting to read AI-generated books and either not knowing how to tell the difference between AI books and books by human authors or not having the time/energy to figure out whether the author uses generative AI.

Others are motivated by financial considerations, making them more cautious about spending money on authors they don’t already know and trust to deliver a good reading experience. And some readers feel that books by newer authors don’t always meet the same quality standards as books by more experienced authors.

In an open-ended question, readers were also invited to describe additional changes to their reading habits that were not covered by the multiple-choice question I described above. Here are the most commonly mentioned responses:

  • Spending more time vetting authors/books to make sure they’re not AI-generated: 2%
  • Relying more on book recommendations from trusted sources: 2%
  • Re-reading/re-listening more: 2%
  • Getting more books for free or at a discount: 2%
  • Reading more ebooks: 1%
  • Reading more review copies: 0.5%
  • Boycotting Amazon: 0.4%
  • Becoming more selective regarding quality (books having sapphic characters is no longer enough): 0.4%
  • Reading more fan fiction: 0.4%

These percentages might look small, but it’s important to remember that the respondents mentioned these changes spontaneously, without being prompted by a predefined list of multiple-choice options.

The most frequently mentioned additional changes to their reading habits had to do with AI. Some respondents expressed their frustration at having to spend time vetting new-to-them authors, reading reviews, and trying to make sure they are not accidentally buying AI-generated books. For some readers, it led to a hesitancy about trying new authors or even to reading fewer books in general because the flood of AI books (especially in Kindle Unlimited) makes it harder to find new books to read.

As a result, some readers said they now rely more than before on recommendations from trusted sources. The most-mentioned trusted sources were I Heart SapphFic (IHS), the Sapphic Book Bingo, Facebook groups with strict no-generative-AI rules, and their favorite author newsletters.

Many of the other mentioned changes had to do with finding ways to make reading more affordable: getting free books, buying them at a discount, re-reading or re-listening to books they already own, and reading fan fiction. However, saving money wasn’t the only reason readers re-read or re-listen to books. Several also mentioned comfort reading to reduce anxiety.

PREFERRED FORMATS & ACCESS METHODS

Which formats do sapphic fiction readers read regularly, and how do they access sapphic books?

For the question about their preferred formats and access methods, readers could choose multiple options that applied to them.

  • Buying ebooks: 65%
  • Buying physical books (paperback or hardcover): 43%
  • Reading ebooks via a subscription service like Kindle Unlimited or Kobo Plus: 41%
  • Borrowing books via their local library or a library app like Libby or Hoopla: 39%
  • Listening to audiobooks via a subscription service: 35%
  • Buying audiobooks: 31%

Most sapphic fiction readers (77%) tend to use multiple ways of accessing books rather than sticking to a single format or access method, while 23% use only one.

65% of readers buy ebooks, 43% buy physical books, and 41% read through a subscription service, most often Kindle Unlimited.

Overall, ebooks are the most widely used format (81% of readers), followed by physical books (47%). Audiobooks have gained a lot of popularity in recent years, with 44% of readers listening to that format now.

The proportion of ebook and physical-book readers is comparable to the findings of the 2026 Written Word Media reader survey, in which 76% of respondents said they regularly read ebooks and 51% said they read physical books. However, sapphic readers were more likely to listen to audiobooks (44% compared with 22% in the Written Word Media survey) and to read through Kindle Unlimited (41% compared with 25% in the Written Word Media survey).

11% of readers read only purchased ebooks. 4% rely entirely on a subscription service like KU. 3% read only physical books they bought, and another 3% exclusively read books from libraries or library apps. 1% use only purchased audiobooks, and another 1% listen only to audiobooks via a subscription service.

6% of readers are audiobook-only, meaning they don’t read physical books or ebooks at all.

BUYING HABITS

Where do readers buy or get the sapphic books they read?

For the question regarding where they buy or otherwise get their sapphic books, readers could choose multiple options.

  • Amazon: 75%
  • Library or library apps such as Libby & Hoopla: 36%
  • Publishers’ or authors’ webstore: 35%
  • Audible: 33%
  • Indie bookstores: 26%
  • Major chain bookstores: 12%
  • Barnes & Noble: 9%
  • Spotify: 8%
  • Kobo: 7%
  • Bookshop.org: 6%
  • Apple Books: 5%
  • Google Play: 2%

When asked in an open-ended question about what other platforms or sources they use to get sapphic books, readers most often answered:

  • Libro.fm: 2%
  • Storytel: 1%
  • Used bookstores, thrift stores, and second-hand platforms: 1%
  • Chirp: 0.5%
  • Everand: 0.4%
  • Literary conferences and book fairs: 0.3%
  • itch.io: 0.2%

Amazon plays a prominent role and is by far the most-used retailer (75%), but it’s not the sole source for most readers. A notable number of readers (36%) borrow sapphic books from their local library or library apps like Hoopla, Libby, or the Queer Liberation Library. 35% regularly buy books directly from the authors’ or publishers’ web stores.

Other big retailers such as Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Google Play combined are used by 22% of readers.

The majority of readers (79%) get their sapphic books from more than one retailer or platform, while 21% use only one source.

15% of readers get their sapphic books exclusively from Amazon, 2% only from Audible, and 2% only from libraries or library apps. 1% buy books exclusively from author or publisher webstores.

What influences readers’ decision to buy/read a sapphic book most?

Readers were asked to pick the three things that matter most to them when deciding whether to get a sapphic book or not.

  • The author: 70%
  • The blurb/book description: 47%
  • The tropes: 38%
  • The reviews: 28%
  • Recommendations from a friend or fellow reader: 25%
  • The audiobook narrator: 21%
  • The sample/excerpt: 17%
  • Whether it’s included in their subscription, e.g., Kindle Unlimited: 15%
  • The cover: 14%
  • The price: 11%
  • The publisher: 5%

The three most important factors for the decision to buy or read a sapphic book seem to be the author (70%), the book description/blurb (47%), and the tropes, e.g., fake dating, age gap, enemies-to-lovers, etc. (38%).

That doesn’t mean that the other aspects don’t matter at all; they are just less likely to be among the top three considerations.

The author is by far the strongest factor (70%). Who wrote the book seems to be even more important than what the book is about.

The book’s content (blurb and tropes) is the next important factor, while social proof such as reviews and recommendations from friends and fellow readers are the third most frequently mentioned factor.

Different factors matter to different reader groups: The price of a book is among the top three factors for 16% of readers who buy books, while it matters to only 9% of readers who borrow books via a subscription service like KU or a library.

Among audiobook listeners, the top three most important factors are the author (named by 74%), the narrator (42%), and the blurb (42%).

Among readers who exclusively listen to audiobooks, the author is still the most important factor (81%). To that group, the narrator (71%) is even more important than to mixed-format readers, while the blurb is mentioned as one of the most important aspects by 33%.

It’s plausible that mixed-format readers might switch to getting the ebook or paperback instead of the audiobook if they don’t like the narrator, whereas audio-only readers don’t have that option.

Do readers buy sapphic books directly from authors’ or publishers’ webstore?

When asked if they ever buy books directly from authors’ or publishers’ webstore, readers said:

  • Yes, whenever possible: 20%
  • Yes, occasionally: 39%
  • Not yet, but they are open to it: 32%
  • No, they prefer to buy books from major retailers like Amazon, Apple, or Kobo: 9%

59% of readers buy from authors’ and publishers’ webstores at least some of the time, with the biggest group occasionally purchasing from authors or publishers (39%) and 20% prioritizing buying directly whenever possible. About one-third of readers haven’t yet bought directly from authors or publishers but would be open to it.

That means buying direct is already pretty common, and more readers might be convinced to do it if circumstances were right.

Compared to the broader 2026 Written Word Media survey, the results suggest that sapphic fiction readers may be more open to buying directly from authors or publishers. In that survey, 35% of readers said they prefer to buy from major retailers, while only 9% preferred to buy from authors.

Why do some readers not buy directly from authors or publishers?

Those readers who don’t buy books from authors’/publishers’ web stores or rarely do so gave the following reasons:

  • Buying from Amazon is more convenient: 20%
  • They don’t buy books; they use subscriptions or the library: 17%
  • Buying from publishers/authors directly is more expensive: 14%
  • Shipping is more expensive or not available to their country: 9%
  • Prefer to keep all books in one space instead of multiple apps/platforms: 6%
  • It just didn’t occur to them or they didn’t know it was an option: 6%
  • Audiobooks are seldom available in publisher/author webstores: 5%
  • Security concerns regarding their payment info/credit card: 4%
  • Concerns regarding ebook compatibility with their device: 3%
  • Publisher/author stores are hard to find: 3%
  • Want to support their local indie bookstore: 2%
  • Prefer to browse for multiple authors on one platform: 2%
  • Most authors don’t have a webstore: 1%
  • Publisher/author websites aren’t user-friendly: 1%
  • Advantage of getting the audiobook at a discount when buying the ebook from Amazon: 1%

The most frequently mentioned reason for preferring to buy from Amazon or other major retailers was simply convenience (20% of readers who never or only rarely buy from authors/publishers directly). Buying directly involves extra steps such as setting up an account, entering payment information, and getting the ebook onto their device. Several readers in this group mentioned that they aren’t very tech-savvy and aren’t sure how to transfer ebooks onto their device if they don’t buy from Amazon or Kobo.

The second biggest group of readers (17%) doesn’t buy books at all (from Amazon or authors/publishers); they rely mostly on subscription services or the library.

For many readers, cost was an important factor too. Amazon and other retailers are often less expensive, especially for international readers who have to take exchange rates into consideration or may have to pay for shipping, tariffs, and customs charges.

6% prefer to keep all of their ebooks in one app/one platform because they find it easier to keep track of the books they have already bought and avoid ending up accidentally buying the same book twice.

The same number of readers (6%) say it never occurred to them or they didn’t know buying from authors or publishers directly was an option.

BOOK DISCOVERY

How do readers discover sapphic books to read?

For the question regarding where they discover sapphic books, readers could select multiple options. The most common responses were:

  • Author newsletter: 52%
  • I Heart SapphFic: 46%
  • Amazon: 43%
  • Instagram: 33%
  • Goodreads: 32%
  • Recommendations from friends or fellow readers: 30%
  • Facebook: 26%
  • Sapphic Book Bingo: 25%
  • Reddit: 22%
  • Publisher newsletter: 17%
  • TikTok: 14%
  • Storygraph: 9%
  • ChatGPT and other AI tools: 2%
  • Threads: 2%

The three most frequently mentioned sources through which readers discover sapphic books were author newsletters they subscribe to (52%), I Heart SapphFic (46%)—a site that, among other things, offers a new releases newsletter and a handy BookFinder database of currently 11,000 sapphic books—and Amazon (43%).

Among social media platforms, Instagram (33%) and Facebook (26%), especially Facebook groups, were the most commonly mentioned sources for discovering books.

Note: It’s important to keep in mind that these results are influenced by where we were able to share the reader survey. For example, we didn’t have a lot of authors sharing the survey with readers on TikTok, so readers who discover their books on TikTok are underrepresented. However, the results still provide valuable insight into how readers who took part in the survey discover sapphic books.

In an open-ended question, readers were asked what other places they discover sapphic books. The most common responses were:

  • Bluesky: 2%
  • The Lesbian Review: 1%
  • Libby: 1%
  • Publisher website: 1%
  • Audible: 1%
  • YouTube: 1%
  • Romance.io: 1%
  • Jae’s events, e.g., Sapphic Book Advent Calendar: 1%
  • Discord: 1%
  • PageBound: 1%
  • Tumblr: 0.5%
  • X/Twitter: 0.5%
  • NetGalley: 0.5%
  • Library: 0.5%
  • Local bookstores: 0.5%
  • Sapphic or queer book clubs: 0.5%
  • GCLS award winners: 0.5%
  • Google: 0.4%
  • Fable app: 0.4%
  • Bookbub: 0.4%

Overall, 95% of readers rely on multiple sources to discover sapphic books, while 5% use only a single source, most often Reddit, recommendations from friends, I Heart SapphFic, and Amazon.

Compared with the broader reader survey by Written Word Media, sapphic readers differ from mainstream readers in how they discover books. For the readers in the Written Word Media survey, Amazon was the most common way to discover books (68%, compared with 43% of sapphic readers). Goodreads was also more commonly used by that audience (46%, compared to 32% of sapphic readers), as were recommendations by family and friends (45%, compared with 30% of sapphic readers).

Bookstores and libraries also played a larger role in the Written Word Media survey at 27% and 29% respectively, compared with 0.5% of sapphic readers.

In contrast, sapphic readers relied more heavily on community-driven channels, especially author newsletters and sapphic platforms such as I Heart SapphFic and Sapphic Book Bingo, to discover books—which makes sense because family and friends as well as bookstore and library staff may not be part of the LGBTQ+ community and might not be as familiar with sapphic books.

CONCLUSION

The results of the 2026 sapphic fiction reader survey offer fascinating insights into where the sapphic fiction audience stands right now and what has changed.

Most readers are still highly engaged. More than half are even reading more sapphic books than they did a few years ago.

But the way readers discover and buy books is changing. 90% of readers report that their book-buying and reading habits have changed.

Sapphic fiction readers are increasingly listening to audiobooks and turning to more affordable ways of reading, including subscription services such as Kindle Unlimited, books from libraries or library apps, and free or discounted books.

The influx of AI-generated books has also had a massive impact not just on authors but also on readers. Many readers have become more hesitant to pick up a book from a debut or new-to-them author because they fear that it might have been AI-generated.

As a result, sources within the sapphic book community that have no-generative-AI rules and try to filter out AI-generated books have become more important to readers, including I Heart Sapphic, the Sapphic Book Bingo, and recommendations from trusted authors.

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2

I’ll post part 2 of the reader survey tomorrow, where I’ll take a closer look at how sapphic fiction readers feel about generative AI used to create books, covers, translations, and audiobooks.

If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss it, please subscribe to my blog.

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22 Responses

  1. I am an avid sapphire book reader. I read about a hundred or so books a year. I would really like more information on identifying AI generated books.

  2. Wonderful information. Thanks for everything you do. I love that more people are using Audible Books. I lost my vision and reading ability from a traumatic brain injury.

  3. Thanks for doing this, Jae. I think for new authors it’s harder to break through because there are so many quality options now! I actually miss having time to revisit old favorites. I have a reading group of friends that discuss books often and when one of us really loves something, we encourage others to read or listen to it! Additionally, if a favorite author recommends a book, I will usually pick it up.

  4. Hi Jae, thanks so much for conducting the survey and communicating this interesting and valuable information to the community. You are a gem. I will read the AI results with interest.

  5. Hi Jae, thanks for this info, I too miss being able to re-read older stories due to a shortage of time. This is interesting.

  6. Very interesting results. I just started listening to audiobooks this year, and I definitely have favorite narrators, but I wouldn’t buy an audiobook I haven’t already read. With my favorite books I buy the physical copy, ebook, and audiobook version, and absolutely love a special edition.

    I discovered several books, and new to me authors on kickstarter this past year. I feel like I’m really supporting an author this way. I’m also a paid member to a couple of authors Patreon’s, one author was able to start writing full time based on how many paid members they have, and I think that’s absolutely fantastic! My plan is to join another Patreon next year too.

    I do wish more authors had newsletters, and sold physical copies of their books online. I do understand though that things like newsletters are an expense (thanks Rawnie Sabor for breaking down the cost of self publishing a book), and storing and selling your books online would be too, as well as the amount of time and energy it would take away from writing.

  7. A momumental task, thank you so much. Facinating. My comment is wrt Audible Books. I buy a huge amount, travel for work etc The narrator is a HUGE contributor, you have to search the title page for the narrator’s name, which is usually in small font! I also buy audiobooks because I have read the book which was a great read, to be so disappointed in the quality of the narrator, in my opinion of course. Leaving the book un heard. Please give narrators more visibility when advertising.

  8. Thank you for this; lot of work! I paused Audible this week; it kept ‘previewing’ audiobooks and when I called them, they said I could not stop it via computer! End of days!!

  9. Great information! I read 100+ ebooks a year, Mostly sapphic from KU or my libraries, if they have the book.
    I am also interested in what to look for in finding an AI book, vs. not AI.
    Sorry I missed the survey.

  10. Thank you, Jae, for all the considerable time and effort you’ve given for these surveys. It’s much appreciated. I’m now looking forward to the second part and learning more on how to identify AI books.

  11. Wow, thanks for analyzing the data and presenting it back to us! I found it very interesting. I’m rather surprised by the lower representation among the 18-24 age group, I’d have thought that group might cast the widest net. Looking forward to part 2 and lessons on how to spot AI.

  12. Wow, this information is so valuable for our community of readers and writers. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this and offering such extensive informative results. As well as explaining the different terms and how they’re used with regards to writing.

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