Recs if you like The Traitor Baru Cormorant...

every struggled to find actual lesbian/sapphic books when at the library or bookstore? so did I!

bc of said struggle, I started to curate a personal list of books that either has lesbian MCs and/or featured a primary sapphic romance.

i haven't read all of these, but I do try my diligence in confirming that they meet the above perimeters, since many books claim to be sapphic when they're not. this is an ever updating list, only fiction for now!

SFF with worldbuilding that informs the plot, prose, characters, and underlying narrative in deeply meaningful, intentional, and complex ways, so much so that changing the world means changing the shape of the story itself. Or: worldbuilding that goes beyond simple set dressing and becomes a vehicle for the story and narrative. Always open to recs and suggestions! ❤️

books that are so changed by the end that they're entirely different books on the re-read. books best entered blind, with a twist or gradual reveal that is not just surprising, but retroactively rewrites everything you've already read – the meaning, tone, genre, or intention of every page before it.

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."

recs so so welcome!

Need a gift for your extremist family member, but they already have a red baseball cap AND a Don't Tread on Me shirt? Were you told "Don't bring up politics at family dinner" and need some safe books to discuss instead? Well we have a full menu for you to choose from! Each just for fun book comes with our guarantee: No real world political messages under the 100% fictional plot! 😉 (Taking Recommendations!)

in progress

Basically, a huge list of every book I ever heard features sapphic characters.

I have not read all of these, so I cannot be sure of the amount of the time on page of the sapphic characters or of the quality of the books.

Some of these I do not plan to read at all, since they are not my style. If you feel like a book doesn't belong here, let me know.

For my favs / read, check out my other lists & shelves.

Open to suggestions for more titles.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Suggestions always welcome in the pursuit of women's rights and women's wrongs! For the terrible women in science fiction and fantasy who are gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing their way to the top, using any and all tools at their disposal—the more war crimes, the better. These women are generally characterized as ruthless, cunning, scheming, manipulative, and as all around horrible people.

There will be no one breasting boobily anywhere here.

Some criteria:

• women characters should be multidimensional with their own goals, agendas, and flaws
• the main character should be a woman, and there should be at least one other female character who is significant to the plot
• women characters’ role should not be defined solely by her relationship to a man
• author is a cis man
• one book per author

Let’s hold male authors to a higher standard because it is possible.

Another resource for those looking for butches in books.

Disclaimer: I do not necessarily recommend all of these books. Please check out my page for reviews of the ones I’ve read!

books w/ full names in the title (mostly fiction)

i love women and nonbinary people and i think if they tore oppressive systems down things would be better for everyone :D (p.s. i would loveee reccs for this list!!! im always looking for more books like these!!!)

If we are going to do Qwordy's the Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do 3.0 - we should probably get some Pagebound badges along the way! I'm specifically going to be adding books from Quests and readalongs that go past the July start date and match at least one of these title prompts: Periodic Table, Familial Terms, Rainbow of Words (also Joseph's coat), Numerical Titles, Titular Counting 5+, Pun in the Title, and First & Last Name in the Title. Recommendations welcome!

Fiction has always been where truth hides. Across horror, thriller, literary fiction, fantasy & mystery every book on this list has something to say about power, who holds it, who destroys it, and how it reproduces itself.

Is it healthy? Absolutely not. Am I going to look inward and unpack why I love it? Also no. Is it Gay? Definitely. Am I going to read books filled with obsession, rivalry, manipulation, betrayal, codependency, and dangerous sapphic longing? Obviously.

Fictional stories. Real consequences. Profit > People is dedicated to books with capitalist critique, focusing on the lives - and bodies - sacrificed at the altar of industry and interest. Always taking recommendations!

It's Lesbian visibility week! Here are 100+ books starring lesbians! Includes some non-fiction about lesbian women. (This list is presented by Duck Prints Press, the indie publisher focused on publishing queer art and stories by queer creators! A group of us collaborate to make these recommendations.)

i amassed this list of sapphic sci-fi and fantasy from various recommendations from reddit and pagebounds and books i found myself! recommendations welcome x

Queer books and books written by queer authors that are featured in the indie game "Tiny Bookshop", a cosy bookstore management life sim by the studio Neoludic

Sapphic books where one or both of the main characters is a knight or a bodyguard.

A woman's place is in the revolution. Featuring magical/gifted women who disobey the powers that be and rage against the machine.

secret plots, political moves, and pursuits of power all within imperial, royal, or noble courts.