Robyn is the CEO & Founder of HER. Find her on Twitter.
Nov 08, 2022
Do you live vicariously through the love life of fictional lesbians? Then you came to the right place!
A good representation of queer women in literature has a pretty short timeline. A post-Sappho world still relied on subtext for centuries until the 1950s, with Patricia Highsmith’s The Price of Salt, known as the first lesbian novel with a happy ending.
After decades-worth of pride parades and women’s history, we now have a fair share of passionate love stories written about lesbians through the female gaze, and we put together a list of 7 book recommendations for every hopeless romantic sapphic to enjoy.
Set in Victorian London, Fingersmith is a historical fiction piece with a thrilling heist plot, in which Sue Trinder, an orphaned girl turned skilled thief, finds the opportunity of a lifetime lying in the fortune of the wealthy heiress Maude Lilly.
This book has it all: pretend friendships, a back-stabbing twist of events, an extremely difficult choice, and the high-stakes of true love. Told from both protagonists’ points of view, you’ll be allowed to weave together an intricate story and enjoy every single second of it.
The first chapter of the “Ms. Right Trilogy” begins just like your favorite early 2000’s rom-com: Rosie, a girl with a head full of dreams, just inherited a bookshop in Manhattan and basically has it all figured out, except for her love life, of course. Everything changes when her favorite author, Brie, comes along and shakes up her world.
Read Between The Lines has a tension-filled “will they, will they not” vibe, not to mention a fair share of steamy details, that will get you finishing the whole book in one sitting.
Although this one isn’t a work of fiction, the words of this sapphic poet will truly charm you. Her view of day-to-day, unextraordinary but real romance makes us hopeless romantics feel, well, hopeful.
In She Is The Poem, you will read her most personal thoughts, feelings, and desires while imagining what’s it like loving in such a deep, meaningful way. In fact, maybe you already know, and it reminds you of a woman who is your poem.
Perfect for reading and re-reading, gifting, and keeping close to your heart.
Our list of lesbian books wouldn’t be completed without this one. We read the heartfelt story of Sara, a star bartender who ran away from home as a teenager, and Emilie, a florist with heavy commitment issues. These two women with troubled pasts work at the popular restaurant Yerba Buena, and the spark between them is pretty strong, but are their unresolved problems stronger?
This contemporary love journey might feel more relatable than others because we know a good relationship needs more than fate and chemistry. What if you meet “the one” in the middle of your own path to self-discovery! If that’s your case, I recommend learning a few tips from Emilie and Sara.
Meant for a younger audience but enjoyed by everyone, The Girl From The Sea is where blush-worthy storytelling and beautiful artwork meet. This graphic novel shares the familiar tale of a 15-year-old who feels like she doesn’t fit in with her peers until she meets Keltie, a mystery girl that came out of the ocean to save her from drowning.
In this lesbian coming-of-age story, these teens unveil secrets, fall in love, and go against the current to become their true selves, together.
The summer of ‘77 was all about sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll, except in Tammy Larson’s life. Music from Another World tells the story of a closeted young lesbian dealing with her conservative Christian family through the gay civil rights movement. In the middle of the chaos, she met her punk-loving pen pal Sharon, an expert in keeping secrets just like her.
This award-winning book accurately narrates a historical event through the eyes of teenage girls, becoming a captivating yet heart-wrenching ride, reminding us that love also comes in the form of powerful friendships and acts of bravery.
At this point, I think we all have heard about this lesbian book, and for a good reason! As misleading as the title can be, do not be fooled! This scandalous novel follows the conversations between Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo and the writer she hired to pen her autobiography since pretty much everybody wants to know the tea on the actress’s ever-changing love life.
Reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo feels like the most heated gossip session with your friends, so get the wine and start flipping through the pages of this erratic lesbian story.
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Robyn is the CEO & Founder of HER. Find her on Twitter.
