It’s pride month! Which means I’m celebrating with all the sapphic books on my TBR. We’re in serious need of more sapphic representation, so I thought I would round up 20 sapphic books to read for pride (and all year round) PLUS 5 new sapphic books releasing in 2023. Let’s hop in!
{You might also like – 25 Cozy Fantasy Books}
- 20 Sapphic Books to Read for Pride
- 1 – Longshadow by Olivia Atwater
- 2 – Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
- 3 – Even Though I Knew The End by C.L. Polk
- 4 – In The Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland
- 5 – A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
- 6 – Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan
- 7 – Crier's War by Nina Varela
- 8 – Tell Me How It Ends by Quinton Li
- 9 – The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters
- 10 – The Red Scholar's Wake by Aliette de Bodard
- 11 – A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
- 12 – A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar
- 13 – She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
- 14 – The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores
- 15 – Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
- 16 – These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall
- 17 – The Fiance Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur
- 18 – Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni
- 19 – Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner
- 20 – Lucky in Lace by Melissa Brayden
- 5 New Sapphic Releases
- Chat with me!
20 Sapphic Books to Read for Pride
1 – Longshadow by Olivia Atwater
You might be able to tell from my recent posts, but I am in a huge cozy fantasy mood. I’ve been binging the Half a Soul series, and I think Longshadow might be favourite. It’s the third book in the series, and follows Abigail Wilder as she tries to solve the mysterious deaths of upper-class ladies in Regency England.
Thankfully, Abigail is not the only one investigating the terrible events in London. Mercy, a street rat and self-taught magician, insists on joining Abigail to unravel the mystery. But while Mercy’s own magic is strange and foreboding, she may well pose an even greater danger to Abigail’s heart.
2 – Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse…
Honestly, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is still one of my favourite books of all time. I absolutely loved this story. Not only is the writing amazing, but the plot itself has so many good twists and turns. It truly feels like reading a fairy tale. I highly recommend it.
Review | Goodreads | Scribd | LibroFM
3 – Even Though I Knew The End by C.L. Polk
A magical detective dives into the affairs of Chicago’s divine monsters to secure a future with the love of her life. This sapphic period piece will dazzle anyone looking for mystery, intrigue, romance, magic, or all of the above.
This was such a fun novella to read, and the audiobook was really well narrated. I feel like I need an entire series of novellas following these characters.
4 – In The Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland
A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead.
THIS BOOK. I could rave about this book for days. Not only is the main character pansexual, but she’s in a poly relationship with her body guard and a princess. Hell yes. There’s also blood magic, rebellion, and so much more. The writing is beautiful and you won’t be able to put it down. Highly recommend.
Review | Goodreads | Scribd | LibroFM
5 – A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
Perched in the Catskill mountains, the centuries-old, ivy-covered campus was home until the tragic death of her girlfriend. Now, after a year away, she’s returned to graduate. She even has her old room in Godwin House, the exclusive dormitory rumored to be haunted by the spirits of five Dalloway students—girls some say were witches. The Dalloway Five all died mysteriously, one after another, right on Godwin grounds.
It’s Ellis Haley’s first year at Dalloway, and she’s already amassed a loyal following. A prodigy novelist at seventeen, Ellis is a so-called “method writer.” She’s eccentric and brilliant, and Felicity can’t shake the pull she feels to her. So when Ellis asks Felicity for help researching the Dalloway Five for her second book, Felicity can’t say no. Given her history with the arcane, Felicity is the perfect resource.
And when history begins to repeat itself, Felicity will have to face the darkness in Dalloway–and in herself.
Not only is it sapphic, but it’s dark academia as well. Why haven’t you read it yet?
6 – Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan
This irresistible adult debut from beloved YA author Jennifer Dugan is a queer romcom for fans of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care and Written in the Stars, in which a woman gives a drunken bathroom pep talk to a hot stranger, only to find out it’s the bride-to-be she has convinced to leave her fiancé the night before the wedding.
Okay firstly, how cute is the cover? I love a romance book with a cute cover. Secondly, this sounds amazing and I need it right now!
7 – Crier’s War by Nina Varela
After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, Designed to be the playthings of royals, took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will.
Now, Ayla, a human servant rising the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier. Crier, who was Made to be beautiful, to be flawless. And to take over the work of her father.
Crier had been preparing to do just that—to inherit her father’s rule over the land. But that was before she was betrothed to Scyre Kinok, who seems to have a thousand secrets. That was before she discovered her father isn’t as benevolent as she thought. That was before she met Ayla.
And older sapphic book, but still one worth reading and talking about. It’s such a cool blend of sci-fi and fantasy, it’s a must read.
8 – Tell Me How It Ends by Quinton Li
I mentioned this book in my 2023 Indie Releases post, and I’m putting it on this list because it deserves all the hype.
Tell Me How It Ends is a coming-of-age cozy fantasy with a queer cast, witches, and tarot. Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and Our Flag Means Death.
9 – The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters
Natasha’s sister is missing.
Her car was found abandoned on the edge of a local nature preserve known as the Bend, but as the case goes cold, Natasha’s loss turns to burning anger.
She’ll do anything to find answers.
Della’s family has channeled magic from the Bend for generations, providing spells for the desperate. But when Natasha appears on her doorstep, Della knows it will take more than simple potions to help her.
But Della has her own secrets to hide.
Because Della thinks she knows the beast who’s responsible for the disappearance — her own mother, who was turned into a terrible monster by magic gone wrong.
Natasha is angry. Della has little to lose.
This list wouldn’t be complete without some sapphic horror books, so here’s the first one. Magical angry sapphics, enough said.
10 – The Red Scholar’s Wake by Aliette de Bodard
Xích Si: bot maker, data analyst, mother, scavenger. But those days are over now-her ship has just been captured by the Red Banner pirate fleet, famous for their double-dealing and cruelty. Xích Si expects to be tortured to death-only for the pirates’ enigmatic leader, Rice Fish, to arrive with a different and shocking proposition: an arranged marriage between Xích Si and herself.
Marriage of convience but in space with pirates? Sign me right up thank you. This book has been on my shelf for longer than I care to admit, so I’m definitely getting to it this pride month.
11 – A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
Magic! Murder! Shipboard romance! The second entry in Freya Marske’s beloved The Last Binding trilogy, the queer historical fantasy series that began with A Marvellous Light.
I’m here to give this book just as much hype as A Marvellous Light got, because the sapphics deserve it. I need everyone and their mother to read this.
12 – A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar
Perfect for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper and Girl in the Blue Coat, this high-seas heist from the author of The Henna Wars is an immersive story that makes readers forget one important detail— the ship sinks.
You had me at “high seas heist”. I love a good heist, especially a historical kind of heist.
13 – She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
A house with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.
I love a good spooky read, and She is a Haunting is perfect for any season. There’s ghosts, a creepy house, even creepier family members, and most importantly, a sapphic relationship.
14 – The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores
Francesca Flores’s The Witch and the Vampire is a queer Rapunzel retelling where a witch and a vampire who trust no one but themselves must journey together through a cursed forest with danger at every turn.
To say that I am excited about this book is an understatement. I will always be in my vampire era, so this is on top of my TBR.
15 – Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
If you liked Gideon the Ninth, you will love this twisty tale…
All her life Kyr has trained for the day she can avenge the murder of planet Earth. Raised in the bowels of Gaea Station alongside the last scraps of humanity, she readies herself to face the Wisdom, the all-powerful, reality-shaping weapon that gave the Majoda their victory over humanity.
They are what’s left. They are what must survive. Kyr is one of the best warriors of her generation, the sword of a dead planet. But when Command assigns her brother to certain death and relegates her to the nursery to bear sons until she dies trying, she knows she must take humanity’s revenge into her own hands.
Alongside her brother’s brilliant but seditious friend and a lonely, captive alien, she escapes from everything she’s ever known into a universe far more complicated than she was taught and far more wondrous than she could have imagined.
16 – These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall
In this queer supernatural YA novel, a girl inherits her ancestral home, only to discover that a dark presence lurks within it—and within herself. With the help of the young woman called the Witch of Harrow, she must unlock the house’s secrets and her own if she wants to survive.
This book was one of my favourite books of 2022 and I still think about it to this day. It’s creepy and twisted and will have you sleeping with the lights on. I couldn’t stop reading, and it was well worth a few sleepless nights.
Review | Goodreads | Scribd | LibroFM
17 – The Fiance Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur
Tansy Adams’ greatest love is her family’s bookstore, passed down from her late father. But when it comes to actual romance… Tansy can’t get past the first chapter. Tired of her stepfamily’s questions about her love life, Tansy invents Gemma, a fake girlfriend inspired by the stunning cover model on a bestselling book. They’ll never actually meet, so what’s the harm in a little fib? Yet when real-life Gemma crosses Tansy’s path, her white lie nearly implodes.
Brb, getting my head checked because I still haven’t read this and I NEED to.
18 – Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni
When Nar’s non-Armenian boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her in front of a room full of drunk San Francisco tech boys, she realizes it’s time to find someone who shares her idea of romance.
Enter her mother: armed with plenty of mom-guilt and a spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked Armenian men, she convinces Nar to attend Explore Armenia, a month-long series of events in the city. But it’s not the mom-approved playboy doctor or wealthy engineer who catches her eye—it’s Erebuni, a woman as equally immersed in the witchy arts as she is in preserving Armenian identity. Suddenly, with Erebuni as her wingwoman, the events feel like far less of a chore, and much more of an adventure. Who knew cooking up kuftes together could be so . . . sexy?
19 – Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner
I only vaguely knew about this book before I started researching this blog post, and I only just read the full synopsis and holy moly, I was not expecting the MILF premise. Colour me intrigued.
When Cassie Klein goes to an off-campus bar to escape her school’s Family Weekend, she isn’t looking for a hookup—it just happens. Buying a drink for a stranger turns into what should be an uncomplicated, amazing one-night stand. But then the next morning rolls around and her friend drags her along to meet her mom—the hot, older woman Cassie slept with.
20 – Lucky in Lace by Melissa Brayden
Juliette Jennings lives her life like a tightly laced corset—not that she’d ever wear one. As a business owner of a stationery store, structure is her favorite. But when her best friend and her ex fall head over heels for each other, everything unravels and leaves her exposed. Even worse, a scandalous lingerie shop has moved in next door, and its tantalizing window displays will drive away her conservative customers. If only the owner would turn off the charm, Juliette is sure she could stop imagining her in nothing but the shop’s lacy best sellers.
And there you have it, 20 sapphic books to read this pride month. And now, here are 5 new releases to look out for this year!
5 New Sapphic Releases
Gwen & Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher – 28 November
It’s been hundreds of years since King Arthur’s reign. His descendant, Arthur, a future Lord and general gadabout, has been betrothed to Gwendoline, the quick-witted, short-tempered princess of England, since birth. The only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other.
All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters – 17 October
Everyone knows the students in Corbin College’s elite academic society, Magni Viri, have it all—free tuition, inspirational professors, and dream jobs once they graduate. So when Tara is offered a chance to enroll, she takes it.
But once she’s settled into the gorgeous Victorian dormitory the academy calls home, something strange starts to happen. As Tara slowly loses her grip on everything she’s ever known, she discovers a terrible secret at the heart of Magni Viri, one that just might turn her dreams into nightmares.
Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner – 19 September
A sapphic rivals to lovers rom com for fans of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own, where two soccer teammates are at odds before falling in love as their team gears up for the World Cup.
The Narrow by Kate Alice Marshall – 1 August
Everyone has heard the story of the Narrow. The river that runs behind the Atwood School is only a few feet across and seemingly placid, but beneath the surface, the waters are deep and vicious. It’s said that no one who has fallen in has ever survived.
Eden White knows that isn’t true. Six years ago, she saw Delphine Fournier fall into the Narrow—and live. Something is haunting Delphine—and now it’s coming for Eden, too.
Junker Seven by Olive J. Kelly – 13 June
Castor Quasar is a junker— a bounty hunter making a living off of collecting and selling valuable scrap. They live a quiet life, bouncing from job to job and not worrying about the brewing galactic rebellion.
Except, when they get a job offer for an irresistible amount of money, they find themself embroiled much deeper than expected. Their task? To smuggle transgender activist Juno Marcus across the galaxy under the watchful eye of the Intergalactic Police Force and a propaganda-informed galaxy.
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Okay, I was *shocked* to find only one book here that I’ve read! GASP! I just added SO MANY to my StoryGraph TBR and I can’t wait to dive in. I love sapphic romance so much and definitely need more of it in my life!
I haven’t read any of these books, but I already have a couple on my list. I love how you have wide range of genres in your list! 🙂
The way this list is mostly new /unread by me, love to see it (but my TBR weeps)! Thank you for this great list and also reminding me that I never read These Fleeting Shadows when my copy arrived in the mail literally months ago