Jae

Sapphic Slow-burn romances

books return to hometown

Books with a “Return to Hometown” Theme (Sapphic Reading Challenge #3)

The third category of the Sapphic Reading Challenge is a theme that I see a lot, especially in WLW & lesbian romance: books in which the protagonist returns to her hometown after years away.

Maybe it’s the fact that many queer people have to leave their hometown to be able to be their authentic selves and then have to face their past sooner or later—families that might not have reacted too well to their coming out or a first crush they left behind.

character with an everyday job

Character with an everyday job (Sapphic Reading Challenge #2)

It’s time for the second category of the Sapphic Reading Challenge. This one features sapphic books with main characters who have an everyday job.

As you probably know, a lot of books—especially in WLW and lesbian romance—feature characters who are actresses, famous musicians, surgeons, or CEOs of big companies. That’s why I’d like to spotlight protagonists who don’t have glamorous jobs. Instead, they make a living as a waitress, cashier, mechanic, massage therapist, or work in another everyday job.

butch butch couple

Book with a butch/butch pairing (Book Unicorn post #1)

For the first Book Unicorn category, I’d like you to read a book about two butch women falling in love or being in an established relationship with each other.

For the unlikely case that you aren’t sure what being butch means: Stonewall defines it this way: “Traditionally, in lesbian culture, the word ‘butch’ refers to a woman whose gender expression and traits present as typically ‘masculine’.”

When I put together a list of books about a butch/butch couple, I was amazed about how few there are! I think this is pretty much the only category for which I didn’t manage to find 15 books. So if you know of any others, please leave a comment with the title and author, and I’ll add the book to the list.

sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance

Sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance novels (Sapphic Reading Challenge #1)

Welcome to the Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021! I hope you had a good start into the new year and are ready for the first category: enemies-to-lovers romance novels!

In an enemies-to-lovers romance, the two main characters start out hating or disliking each other. Maybe their personalities are clashing, or they are rivals in their jobs, or they have a history that turned them into enemies. The protagonists might spend a portion of the book butting heads, but the sexual tension between them is undeniable.

Sapphic Reading Challenge

Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021

Happy New Year and welcome to the Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021!

The Sapphic Reading Challenge is a fun, year-long event for readers of women-loving women fiction. It runs from January 1 to December 31, 2021. You can join any time you want. You can earn badges and win ebooks and signed paperbacks at the end of the year. The real prize, however, is discovering new favorite books and authors all year long!

The F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge—wrap-up & the winners of the grand prize

  What a weird year! I don’t think any of us are sad to wave 2020 goodbye. But I love knowing that the book-themed crossword puzzles were one of the highlights of the week for many of you, offering a pleasant distraction while you were stuck at home.   A big thank-you to everyone who participated in the F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge I’d like to thank all the participating authors and publishers who contributed books for the giveaways—among them Bold Strokes Books, Bella Books, Ylva Publishing, Desert Palm Press, Bywater Books, and many indie authors. A big thank-you also to …

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