-
The Luis Ortega Survival Club (2023)
After falling in love with Sonora Reyes’ 2022 debut YA Sapphic romance, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, I was honored when I was selected by Reyes themself to read an Advanced Reader Copy of The Luis Ortega Survival Club! What enamored me in Reyes’ debut–their penchant for calling out institutions who justify and/or cover…
-
The Song of Us (2023)
I was so excited when Kate Fussner herself approached me with an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of her debut middle grade novel-in-verse, The Song of Us. I grew up in a time when “queer” and “gay” were especially dirty words, so suffice it to say I never read a middle grade book with explicitly queer…
-
In the Event of Love (2022)
Debut author Courtney Kae’s In the Event of Love (2022)–the first installment of their Fern Fall series–is the feel-good, incredibly safe sapphic Christmas romance we’ve been waiting for from Hallmark and Lifetime (which neither of them have yet to deliver). I am the biggest sucker in the world for a story of best friends to…
-
Honey Girl (2021)
I’ll start this review by saying that the pain inflicted by Honey Girl is not related to the queer experience. Rather, it is a uniquely millennial and a uniquely POC pain that Morgan Rogers articulates in her debut novel.
-
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School (2022)
Sonora Reyes had me at Catholic School. Well, let’s be real–she had me at Lesbiana. I’m finally at the point where discussions of homosexuality and Christianity no longer make my eyes twitch and my body convulse, so I’m aware that the pain score I’ve assigned might not be harsh enough. However, Reyes really has found…
-
Pepper’s Penance (2021)
Pepper’s Penance landed in my lap this past winter when I’d reached out to Twitter’s writing community looking for books on musicians. Davina Lee had promised me a happy(ish) Sapphic love story, and so I was more than willing to take the plunge.
-
Women (2014)
“(We are, both of us, probably, addicted to anguish. Perhaps this is our bonding attribute: Our penchant for anguish and longing and the solitude that is required of both.)”Introduction to Women, Elizabeth Ellen I’m hesitant to write this review. It’s not because I’m one of those readers who accused Caldwell of sexual tourism (though even…
-
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2017)
This book is deceptive–with a title like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, one does not expect Evelyn Hugo’s true love to be a woman. In fact I didn’t pick it up for years because I assumed the titular character to be straight. And what a lovely treat this novel was once I discovered this…
-
Undergrounder (2022)
As someone who, as a rule, shies away from fantasy, I absolutely adored Undergrounder. Perhaps this is because it is a lesbian retelling of a “tale as old as time.” Perhaps it’s because of J.E. Glass’ sharp wit. Or perhaps it’s because it’s powerfully feminist—the real monsters are not the beings with fangs and claws…
Save Sappho 