hayleyreadssapphicbooks

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti

Before reading, I was unaware that “Ladies in Hating” by Alexandra Vasti is part of a series until I added it on Goodreads. I’m glad I didn’t notice because the book is incredible! It’s likely “series” overstates the relationship of the books, and they may just be in the same world or Regency era. From a quick glance, it appears this one is the only sapphic one, too (sorry if I’m wrong about that). I can safely say this book is a standalone novel regardless of the others, as it made total sense and didn’t rely on any previous knowledge.

I loved, loved, loved this book! The novel features Georgiana and Cat, two authors who came from different but intertwined backgrounds (one of high status and the other in a servant family) who end up crossing paths years later. At this point, both are highly successful but controversial authors. Enveloped in a sort of feud because of their writing similarities, they both end up researching at a (possibly haunted) dilapidating mansion.

The relationship between the two women changes the course of both of their lives in a collision course of passion and intrigue and it is absolutely delicious and delightful to partake in. The Regency era gives a hint of scandal to their relationship while their colliding careers give stakes and drama.

If you’re interested in sapphic romance, this is definitely not one to miss! Especially if you like Regency romance. Also, a hint of supernatural and murder mystery spice up the novel (in addition to the actual spice). Highly recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC!

POV: third person, past tense, two POVs

Spice: 🔥🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Good Game by Suzanne Lenoir

"Good Game” by Suzanne Lenoir is a sweet romance novel featuring Sam, a gamer, and Lauren, an exec for a gaming company. Lauren recruits Sam to the company as a professional player.

Sam and Lauren end up in a “roommates” romance trope after Sam (the only player who is a woman), moves in with Lauren. I’m not in the industry at all, but I am a gamer, so it was fun to have some insight into that world. I did wonder if some of it wasn’t realistic (like moving in with an exec to avoid the boy’s club of the team housing), but that didn’t detract from the story. I found the romance between Sam and Lauren to be cute, relatable, and full of longing. I appreciated the recognition of bi-erasure, with Lauren appearing straight and dealing with those issues while recognizing the hardships of Sam appearing more masculine, especially in the male-dominated field of gaming.

My only issue with the novel (SPOILER ALERT) was the sex. For an adult book to have closed-door sex scenes was odd to me. Especially since other things were described, such as masturbating. For some reason, though, the sex scenes were skipped over, which is fine if it’s YA or a different genre. But it caught me off guard to have the build up and tension between the characters, only for stuff to be skipped over at the peak.

Even so, I enjoyed this book and do recommend it. Especially those looking for romance without too much spice. I loved the characters, and even though the homophobia and sexism felt difficult to read at some points, I do appreciate the thought put into it and feeling recognition for real-world issues that women and queer women go through.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the digital ARC!

POV: third person, past tense, two POVs

Spice: 0.5/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Too Forward by Krystina Rivers

“Too Forward” by Krystina Rivers is a romance novel focusing on Jane Gray, a professional basketball player who has had a mediocre career but ends up signing for a WNBA team. She finds out the team’s consultant is the woman from her one and only one-night-stand when she gets to town. Even though Jane tries to keep things professional and focus on the game, their attraction is undeniable.

The chemistry between Jane and Kinzie is alluring and so lovely to read. Jane’s character struggles with self-confidence, self-worth, and anxiety. Kinzie is immediately swept off her feet by Jane, but Jane has to overcome her anxieties and worries to believe she’s worthy. I found this really relatable as a person with anxiety myself, and I imagine others would, too. I loved watching Jane come into her power and grow proud of who she is.

The book is a great read, a fun insight into women’s basketball, and a delicious romance. I highly recommend this book to any adult romance reader!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the digital ARC!

POV: first person, past tense

Spice: 🔥🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Here is a fun little legend for my ratings at the end of my reviews! I’ll breakdown what my system means to me.

POV: narrative mode including the grammatical person, tense, and if there were different perspectives

Spice:

0: just kissing or closed-door scenes

🔥: one or a couple spicy scenes included, may include some open door sex scenes

🔥🔥: several graphic and explicit scenes

🔥🔥🔥: erotica

Rating:

⭐️: I hate it

⭐️⭐️: don’t like it but has some redeeming qualities

⭐️⭐️⭐️: good and enjoyed reading but maybe wasn’t for me

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: great book, recommend

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: fantastic, a masterpiece

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Holly Jolly July by Lindsay Maple

“Holly Joly July” by Lindsay Maple is a romance novel featuring Ellie and Mariah who are both in a Canadian city to film a Christmas movie in July. Unbeknownst to them, they end up seeing the same guy. When they discover the truth, they team up to seek revenge and end up falling for each other instead.

If you’re looking for a book with spicy M/F and F/F scenes, this is the perfect book for you! I personally had to gloss over the former but I can see how this is probably a rare occurrence in the romance novel world. I enjoyed the silliness in the revenge and the opposites attract romance in the relationship between Ellie and Mariah.

The premise is a fun and unique idea for a romance novel, and I enjoyed reading something a bit different. The inclusion of pieces of the script from the movie they were working on was an interesting idea but the excerpts were super cringy (probably intentional, but it caused me to wince every time).

Overall, “Holly Jolly July” is a cute, sweet, and funny book, especially once you get past the f*ckboy and get to the chemistry and romance of Ellie and Mariah. The book combines humor and the realness of people and relationships well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital ARC!

POV: present tense, first person, two perspectives

Spice: 🔥🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Worth Waiting For by Kristin Keppler

“Worth Waiting For” by Kristin Keppler is a contemporary romance that follows Peyton, an aquarium worker. After nine years since their high school romance, Hanna shows up as the aquarium's newest employee. Kristin has been heartbroken since they broke up and sought relief through sex and surfing. Hanna seems successful with her new PhD in hand, a girlfriend, and success. So why is she here?

The book is a sweet romance that shows a second chance love story. Unlike other contemporary romance novels, “Worth Waiting For” is only from the perspective of Peyton. I enjoyed this as I felt the reader got to relearn Hanna at the same time as Peyton. Some chapters also flashback to their high school era, which shows how their relationship was back then compared to now. I didn’t expect the flashbacks, and they weren’t my favorite part of the book as I wanted to read about adult romance in an adult romance book, but I can see why the chapters were there.

I haven’t read any other books by Kristin Keppler, but this one establishes her as a great sapphic romance author. And after looking into her other books there is another romance novel set in the same world, featuring Peyton’s best friend in this one, called “One Last Summer.” I enjoyed “Worth Waiting For” and so I will be adding the other to my reading list.

I think “Worth Waiting For” is a perfect book to add to any sapphic reader, especially if you like the second chance trope and a little bit of spice along with a sweet romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the digital ARC!

POV: first person, present tense

Spice: 🔥

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter

“Ready to Score” by Jodie Slaughter is a fantastic adult sapphic romance novel. The book features Jade and Franny, two high school teachers trying to coach football. Jade sees Franny as competition so the book starts out with enemies-to-lovers vibes. One-sided though, as Franny always attempted to get on Jade’s good side, even if she played along with the competition.

While I wasn’t initially thrilled about the book's premise, I really liked the cover and decided to read it anyway. But after starting, I couldn’t put it down! I love how strong of characters Jade and Franny are, as they’re breaking into a male-dominated field as two queer women of color. The chemistry between the two is intoxicating and sexy.

Even if you’re not a sports fan, I highly recommend this book for the romance and for the fierceness of the characters. If you are a sports fan, even better!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC!

POV: third person, past tense, two POVs

Spice: 🔥🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

A Ballad for Slayers & Monsters by Rita A. Rubin

“A Ballad for Slayers & Monsters” by Rita A. Rubin is a sapphic fantasy novel, featuring the main characters of Kas, a monster slayer, and Claudia, a half “vampyric” monster. The two form an unlikely alliance to stop, Serisa, a full vampyric from using a relic to reawaken dragons and doom humanity.

Between fierce battles, the heart of the story is a lovely romance between two sworn enemies. Both carrying the baggage of traumatic pasts, they reluctantly team up and realize, along the way, that they have more in common than they once thought.

The novel has a good premise, especially with a classic enemies-to-lovers trope, and has an interesting world full of monsters. However, the way so many magical creatures were included felt like going through bullet points or a list of monsters. I also assumed (my fault) that the book is YA, but the slaying and battle scenes can get quite violent. So, if you, like me, assumed the age range based on the cover, just know this book does include fairly explicit scenes of violence and sex.

The book includes multiple perspectives from characters including Kas, Claudia, and Serisa. I enjoy reading multiple perspectives but the switches in this book were often sudden and short-lived and slightly overlapped each other. I found that switching so often took me out of the story a bit, especially when reading the same dialogue as the previous page.

Although I had some issues with the pacing and wished some things were given more time to flesh out, I enjoyed the book. I think “A Ballad for Slayers & Monsters” is a super fun fantasy and romance novel with lots of action scenes too. I love the inclusion of queer characters and I am a fan of the star-crossed lovers, enemies-to-lovers, vibes. I think the book feels a bit like a dnd campaign, so if these vibes are for you, I definitely recommend reading!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the digital ARC!

POV: third person, past tense, multiple POVs

Spice: 🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto

Y’all. Y’ALLL. Listen to me. LISTEN. SPACE HEIST. EVERYONE IS QUEER. NONBINARY MC. LESBIANS EVERYWHERE. HAWAIIAN REP.

No I will not be chill about this.

Zero notes.

PLEASE READ THIS

POV: third person

Spice: 🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

If I Told You, I'd Have to Kill You by Mae Marvel

I found out before reading that Mae Marvel is a pen name for Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare. I recently read their book “Big Name Fan” so I was surprised to see this book coming out so near to that one! I will say I wasn’t that enamored with “Big Name Fan” so when I found out this book has the same writers, I went into it with lowered expectations. That being said, this book was such a delightful surprise!

The romance and chemistry between Yardley and KC is delicious and I was rooting so hard for them. Usually, romance books have two characters meet and fall in love throughout the book. But in this one they are already in love, just having issues, and have recently broken up. Working their issues out meant that instead of realizing their feelings for the first time they fall deeper and deeper in love. I enjoyed watching their beautiful connection grow and strengthen. I love that this book didn’t have the typical third-act breakup that other romance novels have. Plus, the book takes a typical spy premise (along the lines of Mr. And Mrs. Smith) and makes it queer. The two of them being in the same field and not knowing it is such a fun way for us to meet the characters. The build-up and payoff of the heist are entertaining and pulled me in! I said up until 4am to finish reading because I needed to know what happened.

If you already like Ruthie Knox or Annie Mare you will enjoy this! If you were skeptical about their work before, give this a chance! If you like romance, especially with the extra flair of espionage, this is a great read!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC!

POV: third person, past tense, two POVs

Spice: 🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner

Another queer romance by Meryl Wilsner! I was super excited about this one just from the cover. A plus-sized MC is rare. And to have nonbinary representation too! Exciting! That said, “My Best Friend’s Honeymoon” didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Personally, I’m not a fan of romance books that involve a main character just breaking up with someone. It creates too many passages of a romance between two people to be focused on someone else. Elsie ends her engagement when he tries to spring a surprise wedding on her but since the honeymoon is nonrefundable, he is nice enough to suggest Elsie takes her best friend, Ginny, with her instead. The inevitable comparisons between Ginny and her ex, Derrick are plentiful enough to be annoying. Especially during sex. Even though they’ve been best friends for years, I found the no-questions-asked, immediately sleeping together after one statement a bit unbelievable. I did like that sex was looked at in a healthy way and lots of consent was given even after multiple times. Though the romance and plot felt a bit predictable, I still enjoyed the read. The book had lots of spice and some less typical sex, too, than you’d expect from reading Wilsner’s other books.

Overall, you can’t lose reading a Meryl Wilsner book. Even if this isn’t one of my favorites of theirs, the book is still a fun ride. Maybe I had too high of specific hopes for this book. It’s still a good read even if I’ll recommend “Mistakes Were Made” first.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC!

POV: third person, present tense, two POVs

Spice: 🔥🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Bed and Breakup by Susie Dumond

“Bed and Breakup” by Susie Dumond is a sweet, small-town, romance novel about Molly, a stained glass artist, and Robin, a chef, who accidentally see each other (seven years after separating) at the bed and breakfast they own. While attempting to go on their separate lives, being back in the comfort of Eureka Springs and in the place they built together, their romance rekindles.

I enjoyed the slightly slow-burn aspect of the romance and how each character opened up to show their insecurities about what went wrong in the past. I’m not a huge fan of two people promising to keep sleeping together casually when they obviously are not keeping it casual. But in this case, with their history, it made more sense. I enjoyed the experience of them relearning everything about each other and why they love each other. However, I will say the sex scenes fell flat and were basic and fast.

Another aspect I found myself wanting more from was the ending. SPOILER ALERT: They essentially renew their vows together (as they never actually got divorced) and the author doesn’t even show their dialogue for that scene! The book felt like a build-up to this moment and then it was just paraphrased over. So, I ended the book feeling like I was missing out.

Another thing that has nothing to do with the writing is the cover. I love the art on the cover and the references to things in the book, such as the title being in stained glass and the hummingbirds representing the name of the inn, the Hummingbird. My issue is the inn itself. The inn was clearly described as having four floors, or three with a livable attic. To have such specific details and then to miss that was odd to me.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to sapphic romance readers, especially fans of Ashley Herring Blake or Haley Cass.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the digital ARC!

POV: first person, present tense, two POVs

Spice: 🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli

“Amelia If Only,” by Becky Alberta is a slow-burn YA novel about a Jewish high schooler, Amelia, who drags her friends on a road trip to meet her favorite YouTuber. Though she thinks she has a crush on him, she ends up meeting and befriending him and realizes her crush is her best friend, Natalie.

By slow-burn, I mean she doesn’t realize her crush until way into the book (at least 80%). Though interspersed throughout the book are her subtle thoughts of her actually falling for Natalie. The book is a sweet YA novel that has an adorable group of friends who are all queer and deeply care for each other. Amelia is a jokester and as the book is in first person, the humor comes across on the page even in her thoughts.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to any readers looking for a YA romance, especially if looking for bisexual or Jewish representation.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the digital ARC!

POV: first person, present tense

Spice: 0/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Hollywood Hearts by Toni Logan

“Hollywood Hearts” by Toni Logan is an enemies-to-lovers romance about a fairly famous actress, McKenzie, who unknowingly falls for a paparazzo, Rylee. I was skeptical about this setup as I, like McKenzie, have negative feelings for paparazzi. I wasn’t sure how Rylee could be depicted as a good person and paparazzi at the same time. And how the issue of celebrity and paparazzi could be resolved.

I thought the book was a cute romance and had some interesting side characters as well. My main issue was the pacing. Over halfway through the book Rylee and McKenzie had barely interacted. So when they did finally get together, their feelings felt rushed and underrepresented in the pages. I wish the book had spent more time on them together and explored more of the conflict that could arise from a celebrity dating a paparazzi.

Overall, “Hollywood Hearts” has an interesting premise but did feel like it could be fleshed out more thoroughly. I did enjoy the read and had a good time with it. If you’re a fan of celebrity romances, I would recommend checking this out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the digital ARC!

POV: 3rd person, past tense, two POVs

Spice: 🔥🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid

Lesbian Hunger Games meets The Last of Us!!

“Fable for the End of the World” by Ava Reid is a post-apocalyptic and dystopian story in the same vein as “The Hunger Games” but with zombie-like creatures called Wends. In the place of New Amsterdam (located in current New York), a single corporation, Caerus, controls every aspect of society, including debt. Once a person goes beyond 500,000 credits of debt, they are nominated for a televised spectacle called the Gauntlet. The debtors can appoint a family member to compete in the Gauntlet instead. Caerus raises and trains “Angels,” young killers, to hunt down those nominated in the Gauntlet, called Lambs. The book is split between the POV of an Angel, Melinoë, and the Lamb, Inesa. Inesa’s mother secretly racked up debt and then gave up her daughter to the Gauntlet.

The setting and world of “Fable for the End of the World” is fascinating. A frightening outlook that feels all too real for our own world to fall into. The real-world references in lakes and places underscore how close we are to falling into the same world of despair due to selfish corporations, a growing divide between classes, and a landscape marred by climate change. Inesa and Mel are on opposite ends of the divide, but we will learn that despite having credits and recognition, Mel is just as oppressed as Inesa. Having both POVs grants the reader the ability to be with each character as they discover themselves through each other and learn to disregard the prejudice taught to them through their life circumstances. Despite the gloomy setting and plot, moments of sweetness and hope squeeze through. The longing and yearning between Inesa and Mel is lovely to read through. Ava Reid does a great job of encapsulating the thoughts and feelings of the characters as they go from enemies to lovers.

Another aspect of the book I enjoyed was how the people and place names were well thought out and often referred to Greek mythology. Of course, interspersed with enough real-world references to make it jarring and unsettling.

As I often feel with good books, I wish this one was longer. The setup was intriguing and I would love to read more about other people in the world and to dive deeper into the corporation and the world, such as more about the Wends. I hope a sequel is in the works!

Even though this book is YA, I think any adult could find value in reading this. The story is engrossing and complex. I loved the sapphic aspect as well, and I think anyone interested in sapphic novels would enjoy this.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC!

POV: 1st person, present tense, two POVs

Spice: 0/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

The Art of Unmaking by Parker Lennox

“The Art of Unmaking” by Parker Lennox is a wonderful historical fiction novel about two women from opposite sides of the art world. Clara is trapped in a traditional school, traditional values, and traditional expectations. And Evelyn belongs to a world promising innovation, illumination, and freedom. The book reminisces of Gentleman Jack in Evelyn’s critique of normality and her pushing the usual boundaries of what’s expected of women and Portrait of Lady on Fire with its dive into artistry and creation paralleling a burgeoning relationship.

Lennox does a wonderful job of illustrating the artworks and life of Clara and her society with just her words. I was enthralled and fascinated every step of the way. I could picture the foggy streets just as much as the impasto paintings they created together.

The book was filled with yearning and longing both for a destiny and a person beyond expectation. These themes feel so valid and relatable even 100 years later. I got goosebumps from the pining and the chemistry.

The only thing about this novel I wish I could change is its scope and length. Only 268 pages and easily consumed (but not easily forgotten). I want to dive deeper into this world and the relationships held within. I could easily see this being a series, but I would have loved to read 600 pages.

As an art history nerd, this book scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. I highly recommend “The Art of Unmaking” to book and art lovers in addition to those who love romance and fantasy.

Bonus! In addition to the beautiful cover, the book includes a lovely piece of art depicting Clara and Evelyn that I can imagine they would be proud of.

POV: 1st person, past tense

Spice: 🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

The Roommate by Claire Forsythe

“The Roommate” is a sweet, slow-burn* sapphic romance. Featuring “straight” Jess and freshly single Sydney. They meet on a train under unrelated, distraught circumstances. For Jess, she realizes her attraction to a woman for the first time. Sydney, however, falls head over heels right off the bat. They end up serendipitously meeting once again when Sydney takes over a room in Jess and her bestie (Chloe’s) apartment.

For first impressions, however, I have to say that the book's cover is terrible and doesn’t represent the quality of this book at all. The cover looks like two childish cartoon dolls. The art looks amateurish and unprofessional. I personally would be embarrassed to be holding this book in public. (Thank god for kindles). PLEASE, I beg, get different cover art for this book before it's released.

Otherwise, I enjoyed “The Roommate.” The book does a good job of taking a popular trope (“and they were roommates”) and making it special and unique. The meet-cute was exciting and fun, and the longing between the two characters felt palpable.

One aspect I disliked was how long the main character, Jess, took to break up with her boyfriend. Her avoidance and discussion of him did feel like it went on too long and became repetitive. Additionally, I feel like the book wrapped up too quickly. I know it’s common in romance novels for the big breakup to occur towards the end, and then they reunite and solve everything right before the end of the book, but I guess I was hoping for something different. Especially since I felt like this book had a lot to offer, especially not necessarily falling into the formula of other books.

I enjoyed the found family aspect of Jess’s work family and Sydney’s close relationship with her sister. I think that Jess and Sydney had a lot of chemistry and when they finally got together, it was a fun relief.

I would recommend this book to any reader of sapphic romance. It’s fun and quirky! A fast read for a cozy night.

P.S. “Slow burn” gets an asterisk because the book itself is fairly short but in the book itself it takes about 3/4 of the way for even a kiss to happen.

POV: 3rd person, past tense

Spice: 🔥🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5