We love a good lesbian book at Ylva, so we’re cheering on the Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021, dreamed up by our best-selling author, Jae, by tossing in some Ylva titles of our own.
To participate in this fun challenge for lesbian book lovers, hit Jae’s link for details: https://jae-fiction.com/sapphic-reading-challenge-2021. Here you’ll learn about the themes and tropes of lesbian books to read throughout this year to win different badges and prizes.
And, if you don’t know where to start on the Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021, we have a list of many of our Ylva books and their relevant categories to help readers earn their badges.
While this list, which was submitted by a reader, is extensive, it may not cover every category or Ylva book. So if you know of another Ylva title that would work for one of the Sapphic Reading Challenge categories, please drop a comment at the end.
One small reminder: Each lesbian book can only be used once, even if it could fit into multiple categories.
Oh, and for German readers, Jae has compiled a list just for you with Ylva titles. Here are the rules and prizes in German: https://jae-fiction.de/lesbische-lese-challenge/ And Ylva book suggestions are here: https://jae-fiction.de/lesbische-lese-challenge_lesevorschlaege/
Now, jump in, get reading, and have fun!
Sapphic Reading Challenge categories
Enemies-to-Lovers Romance
The two main characters start out being enemies or rivals before falling in love. Book suggestions below.
G Benson: Who’d Have Thought
AL Brooks: A Heart to Trust; Up on the Roof; Chasing Dreams (out in Oct 2021)
Cheyenne Blue: Code of Conduct; Party Wall; All at Sea
Shaya Crabtree: You’re Fired
Jae: The Roommate Arrangement; True Nature; Second Nature; Paper Love
Lola Keeley: Major Surgery; A Roll in the Hay
Jody Klaire: In Fashion
Jess Lea: A Curious Woman
Faith Prize: The Fifth Surgeon
Roslyn Sinclair: The Lily and the Crown
Wendy Temple: Defensive Mindset
KD Williamson: Drawing the Line
Lee Winter: Breaking Character; The Red Files; The Brutal Truth; Changing the Script; Shattered; Hotel Queens
Fiona Zedde: The Power of Mercy; House of Agnes (out in May 2021)
Chris Zett: Heart Failure
Character with an Everyday Job
The protagonist doesn’t have a glamorous job such as famous actress but an everyday job such as waitress, cashier, mechanic, and so on.
Cheyenne Blue: All at Sea; Fenced-in Felix
Andrea Bramhall: Lost for Words
AL Brooks: Up on the Roof; Chasing Dreams (out in Oct 2021)
Eve Francis: Fragile
Alison Grey: Contract for Love
Lois Cloarec Hart: Stone Gardens; Coming Home
KL Hughes: Popcorn Love
Quinn Ivins: Worthy of Love (Out in April 2021)
Jae: Wrong Number, Right Woman; Perfect Rhythm; Heart Trouble; Under a Falling Star; Paper Love; Something in the Wine; Not the Marrying Kind
Lola Keeley: A Roll in the Hay
Jody Klaire: In Fashion
Catherine Lane: Romancing the Kicker
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You; Reasons to Heal; Sing for My Baby; The Words Shimmer
Charlotte Mills: Body of Work
Rachael Sommers: Never Say Never
Emma Weimann: Heart’s Surrender
Chris Zett: Heart Failure
Return to Hometown
A book in which the protagonist returns to her hometown after years away.
Cheyenne Blue: All at Sea; Not-So-Straight Sue
AL Brooks: Dark Horse
Charley Clarke: Always a Love Song
C. Fonseca: Food for Love
Jae: Perfect Rhythm
Lola Keeley: A Roll in the Hay
Ana Matics: The Return
Blythe Rippon: Stowe Away
Lee Winter: Under Your Skin
Chris Zett: Irregular Heartbeat
Character is a Journalist or Reporter
The protagonist currently works as a journalist, reporter, or newsperson.
AL Brooks: The Long Shot
Shaya Crabtree: Tight Knit
Sheryn Munir: Falling into Place
Lee Winter: The Red Files; Under Your Skin; The Brutal Truth
Fiona Zedde: House of Agnes (out in May 2021)
From TLR’s “Best of the Best” list
Read a book from The Lesbian Review’s “Best of the Best” list.
G Benson: Who’d Have Thought
AL Brooks: Dare to Love; The Long Shot
Jae: Backwards to Oregon; Hidden Truths; Perfect Rhythm; Second Nature; Wrong Number, Right Woman
Georgette Kaplan: Scissor Link
Lola Keeley: The Music and the Mirror
Lee Winter: Breaking Character; Requiem for Immortals
Only One Bed
There’s only one bed, so the two main characters have to share it (although they’re not a couple).
Andrea Bramhall: Just My Luck
Jae: Just for Show; Hidden Truths; Not the Marrying Kind
Character with a Disability or Mental Illness
A book with protagonist who has a physical disability, a chronic illness, or a mental disorder.
Jae: The Roommate Arrangement; Just Physical; Manhattan Moon
Lola Keeley: The Music And The Mirror
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You; Reasons to Heal; The Words Shimmer; Sing for My Baby
RJ Nolan: Wounded Souls
AC Oswald: Hold My Hand
Ellen Simpson: The Light of the World
Character is a Book Lover
The protagonist is a writer, librarian, book editor, or an avid reader.
Andrea Bramhall: Lost for Words
AL Brooks: Write Your Own Script; Up On the Roof; Chasing Dreams (out in Oct 2021)
Alison Grey and Jae: Good Enough to Eat
Lois Cloarec Hart: Coming Home
Jae: Just for Show; Love at First Write; Second Nature
Catherine Lane: Heartwood
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You
Cindy Rizzo: Getting Back
L.T. Smith: A Work in Progress
Emma Sterner-Radley: Long-Distance Coffee; Coffee and Conclusions
HP Tune: Rewriting the Ending
Hazel Yeats: Bunny Finds a Friend
One-night Stand to Forever
The romance starts with a one-night stand, a fling, or a friends-with-benefits arrangement.
G Benson: Flinging It
AL Brooks: Miles Apart; Write Your Own Script
Jae: Just Physical
Georgette Kaplan: Scissor Link
Faith Prize: The Fifth Surgeon
Emma Weimann: Heart’s Surrender
Chris Zett: Heart Failure
Speculative Fiction
A book with strong fantastical, supernatural, or futuristic elements, e.g., science fiction, fantasy, or paranormal fiction.
AL Brooks: Never Too Late For Heroes
Nino Delia: Caged Bird Rising
Karen Frost: Daughter of Fire—Conspiracy of the Dark; The Darkness Rising; Destiny’s Choice; Death’s Champion (out April 2021)
Sacchi Green: Shadow Hand
Alison Grey and Jae: Good Enough to Eat
Jae: True Nature; Second Nature; Natural Family Disasters; Manhattan Moon; Heart Trouble
Georgette Kaplan: Ex-Wives of Dracula
Catherine Lane: Tread Lightly
Andi Marquette: The Bureau of Holiday Affairs; The Secret of Sleepy Hollow
Ellen Simpson: The Light of the World
LT Smith: Driving Me Mad
Alex K. Thorne: Chasing Stars
Roslyn Sinclair: The Lily and the Crown
Lee Winter: Shattered
Fiona Zedde: The Power of Mercy; A Lover’s Mercy
Ice Queen Character
The protagonist comes across as cold, aloof, and prickly (at least in the beginning of the book—the ice queen sometimes thaws a bit after falling in love).
G Benson: Who’d Have Thought
Cheyenne Blue: A Heart This Big; Code of Conduct; Party Wall
AL Brooks: A Heart to Trust
Jae: Under a Falling Star; Paper Love; Next of Kin; True Nature
Quinn Ivins: The Love Factor
Lola Keeley: A Roll in the Hay; The Music and the Mirror; Major Surgery; Slammed
Jess Lea: A Curious Woman
Georgette Kaplan: Scissor Link
Andi Marquette: If Looks Could Kill
Faith Prize: The Fifth Surgeon
Roslyn Sinclair: The X Ingredient; The Lily and the Crown
Rachael Sommers: Never Say Never
Lee Winter: The Red Files, Under Your Skin, Requiem for Immortals, Shattered, The Brutal Truth, Breaking Character, Changing the Script, Hotel Queens
KD Williamson: Drawing the Line; Blurred Lines
Fiona Zedde: House of Agnes (out in May 2021)
Chris Zett: Irregular Heartbeat
Neurodiverse Character
A book with a positive and realistic portrayal of a neurodiverse character, e.g., a protagonist who’s on the autism spectrum or has dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia, etc.
Quinn Ivins: Worthy of Love (out in April 2021)
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You; The Words Shimmer
Longer Book
A book of at least 120,000 words. For an audiobook, that means 12 hours or more. Page numbers can be misleading since it depends on the font, the font size, the margins, page size, etc., but if you can’t find the word count, go for books that have 350+ pages
G Benson: Who’d Have Thought; All the Little Moments
May Dawney: Survival Instincts
Lois Cloarec Hart: Broken Faith; Kicker’s Journey
Jae: Backwards to Oregon; Hidden Truths; Falling Hard; Shaken to the Core; Damage Control; Next of Kin; Second Nature; True Nature; Conflict of Interest
Georgette Kaplan: Ex-Wives of Dracula
Lola Keeley: The Music and the Mirror
Lee Winter: The Red Files; Under Your Skin; The Brutal Truth
Character is a Medical Professional
The protagonist works in health care, e.g., a physician, dentist, nurse, chiropractor, paramedic or EMT, etc.
G Benson: Who’d Have Thought; Flinging It; All the Little Moments
Cheyenne Blue: Not-So-Straight Sue; Almost-Married Moni; All at Sea
Alison Grey: Hot Line
Wendy Hudson: Meant to Be Me
Lola Keeley: Major Surgery
Catherine Lane: Romancing the Kicker
Jae: Perfect Rhythm; Falling Hard; Heart Trouble; Manhattan Moon; Conflict of Interest; Just for Show
Jenn Matthews: The Words Shimmer; Reasons to Heal
RJ Nolan: Wounded Souls; LA Metro; In a Heartbeat
Faith Prize: The Fifth Surgeon
L.T. Smith: See Right Through Me
Michelle L. Teichman: Rescue Me
KD Williamson: Blurred Lines; Crossing Lines; Between the Lines; Drawing the Line
Chris Zett: Heart Failure; Irregular Heartbeat
Grumpy and Sunshine
A romance in which a grumpy character falls for a character with a sunny, upbeat personality.
Cheyenne Blue: Party Wall
AL Brooks: Dark Horse
Jae: The Roommate Arrangement; Under a Falling Star
Lola Keeley: The Music and the Mirror
Jess Lea: A Curious Woman
Sheryn Munir: Falling Into Place
Roslyn Sinclair: The Lily and the Crown; The X Ingredient
Lee Winter: Under Your Skin; The Brutal Truth; Breaking Character
Character is a Teacher or Professor
A book with a protagonist who’s teaching for a living.
AL Brooks: One Way or Another
Lois Cloarec Hart: Kicker’s Journey
Wendy Hudson: Mine To Keep
Quinn Ivins: The Love Factor
Jae: Chemistry Lessons (out in July 2021)
Jenn Matthews: Sing for my Baby; Hooked on You; The Words Shimmer
LT Smith: See Right Through Me
Fiona Zedde: The Power of Mercy; A Lover’s Mercy
Coming Out Later in Life
The protagonist is aged at least thirty and comes out as LGBTQIA during the course of the book, either because it took them longer to figure out they aren’t straight or because they were struggling to come out to friends and family.
Cheyenne Blue: Not-So-Straight Sue
AL Brooks: Dare to Love; Write Your Own Script
Quinn Ivins: The Love Factor
Jenn Matthews: Hooked On You
Jae: Something in the Wine; Next of Kin; Not the Marrying Kind; Wrong Number, Right Woman
Lois Cloarec Hart: Coming Home
Faith Prize: The Fifth Surgeon
Roslyn Sinclair: The X Ingredient
Lee Winter: The Brutal Truth; The Red Files
Historical Fiction / Historical Romance
A novel that takes place at least 25 years in the past.
Paulette Callen: Charity; Fervent Charity
Jae: Backwards to Oregon; Hidden Truths; Beyond the Trail; Shaken to the Core
Lois Cloarec Hart: Kicker’s Journey
Meg Harrington: The Lavender List
Nerdy or Geeky Character
The main character is a nerd or a geek—meaning they are very enthusiastic about some kind of non-mainstream activity or specialized subject, e.g., a video games, science, technology, comic books, cosplay, collections.
Quinn Ivins: The Love Factor
Jae: Paper Love; Something in the Wine
Georgette Kaplan: Scissor Link
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You; Reasons to Heal; Sing for My Baby
Roslyn Sinclair: The Lily and the Crown
Lee Winter: Changing the Script
Age-gap Romance
A woman-loving-woman romance novel in which one main character is at least eight years older than the other.
Andrea Bramhall: Just My Luck
AL Brooks: The Long Shot
Lois Cloarec Hart: Coming Home
Quinn Ivins: The Love Factor; Worthy of Love
Jae: Wrong Number, Right Woman; Next of Kin
Georgette Kaplan: The Woman at the Edge of Town; Scissor Link
Lola Keeley: The Music and the Mirror
Catherine Lane: Heartwood
Roslyn Sinclair: The X Ingredient; The Lily and the Crown
Rachael Sommers: Never Say Never
Lee Winter: The Red Files; Under Your Skin; The Brutal Truth; Breaking Character
Fiona Zedde: House of Agnes (out in May 2021)
Protag of Different Ethnicity, Culture, or Race Than You
It’s preferred readers pick a book that is own voices, meaning the author shares their main character/s racial/ethnic/cultural background.
Own voices:
Fiona Zedde: The Power of Mercy; A Lover’s Mercy; House of Agnes (out in May 2021)
Sheryn Munir: Falling into Place
KD Williamson: Pink; Between the Lines
Non-own voices:
C. Fonseca: Food for Love
Sacchi Green: Shadow Hand
KL Hughes: The Wrong McElroy
Catherine Lane: Romancing the Kicker
Jae: Falling Hard; Heart Trouble; Next of Kin; Second Nature
Jenn Matthews: Reasons to Heal
Georgette Kaplan: Candice Cushing and the Lost Tomb of Cleopatra; Easy Nevada and the Pyramid’s Curse
Lee Winter: Shattered
Character is a Musician
The protagonist is a musician.
Charley Clarke: Always a Love Song
Jae: Perfect Rhythm
Jenn Matthews: Sing for My Baby
Lee Winter: Requiem for Immortals
Chris Zett: Irregular Heartbeat
Your favorite author’s favorite book:
A novel that is one of the favorite books of one of your favorite authors.
Andrea Bramhall: Always Alex (Robin Alexander)
Cheyenne Blue: The Language of Hoofbeats (Catherine Ryan Hyde)
AL Brooks: Just Jorie (Robin Alexander)
Sacchi Green: Heiresses of Russ 2012: The Year’s Best Lesbian Speculative Fiction (Edited by Connie Wilkins and Steve Berman)
Wendy Hudson: Tell it to the Bees (Fiona Shaw)
Jae: And Playing the Role of Herself (KE Lane)
Cori Kane: Gay Pride & Prejudice (Jane Austen and Kate Christie)
Lola Keeley: Requiem for Immortals (Lee Winter)
Catherine Lane: Tipping the Velvet (Sarah Waters)
Jess Lea: Requiem for Immortals (Lee Winter)
Jenn Matthews: Backwards to Oregon (Jae)
Faith Prize: The Brutal Truth (Lee Winter)
Quinn Ivins: The Red Files (Lee Winter)
Roslyn Sinclair: The Price of Salt/Carol (Patricia Highsmith)
Wendy Temple: Desert of the Heart (Jane Rule)
Jane Waterton: Survived by Her Longtime Companion (Chris Paynter)
Lee Winter: The Lily and The Crown (Roslyn Sinclair)
Fiona Zedde: At Her Feet (Rebekah Weatherspoon)
Chris Zett: No Strings (Gerri Hill)
Character was Adopted/in Foster Care
The main character was either adopted or grew up in the foster system.
G Benson: Pieces
AL Brooks: One Way or Another
KL Hughes: Popcorn Love
Jae: Heart Trouble; Second Nature
Lola Keeley: The Music and the Mirror
Lee Winter: Changing the Script
Shy or Socially Awkward Character
The protagonist is shy or uncomfortable/awkward in social situations.
Cheyenne Blue: Fenced-In Felix
AL Brooks: Up on the Roof; The Long Shot
Lois Cloarec Hart: Broken Faith
Jae: Wrong Number, Right Woman; Something in the Wine
Jess Lea: A Curious Woman
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You; Reasons to Heal; Sing for My Baby
Blythe Rippon: Stowe Away
Roslyn Sinclair: The Lily and the Crown
Emma Sterner-Radley: Long-Distance Coffee; Coffee and Conclusions
Michelle L. Teichman: The Space Between
Wendy Temple: Defensive Mindset
Lee Winter: Breaking Character; Requiem for Immortals; Shattered; Hotel Queens
Character Rocks a Power Suit
A book about a main character who’s regularly seen and looking great in a power suit.
Cheyenne Blue: A Heart This Big
AL Brooks: A Heart to Trust; Miles Apart; One Way or Another; Never Too Late for Heroes; Chasing Dreams (out in Oct 2021)
KL Hughes: Popcorn Love
Quinn Ivins: The Love Factor
Jae: Damage Control; Next of Kin; Just for Show
Lola Keeley: A Roll in the Hay; Major Surgery
Cindy Rizzo: Getting Back
Rachael Sommers: Never Say Never
Lee Winter: The Brutal Truth; Hotel Queens
First Day of A New Job
A book in which the main character starts a new job in the first three chapters.
AL Brooks: A Heart to Trust
Lola Keeley: A Roll in the Hay; The Music and the Mirror; Major Surgery
Catherine Lane: The Set Piece
Jae: Under a Falling Star; Paper Love
Roslyn Sinclair: The X Ingredient
Lee Winter: Changing the Script
Chris Zett: Irregular Heartbeat
Mystery Novels
A book that revolves around a murder or other crime to be solved.
Andrea Bramhall: Collide-O-Scope; Under Parr; The Last First Time
Meg Harrington: The Lavender List
Wendy Hudson: Mine to Keep; Meant to Be Me
Jess Lea: A Curious Woman
Charlotte Mills: Fair Game; Body of Work; Payback
Ellen Simpson: A Heist Story
Lee Winter: The Red Files
Friends-to-Lovers Romance
The two main characters already know each other at the beginning of the book and have been friends for a while, maybe even for years, before falling in love.
Andrea Bramhall: Just My Luck
Jae: Chemistry Lessons (out in July 2021)
Georgette Kaplan: Ex-Wives of Dracula
Lola Keeley: Slammed
LT Smith: Beginnings
Body-positive Book
A book that celebrates women of all sizes and shapes, e.g., a plus-sized protagonist.
Cheyenne Blue: Party Wall
Andrea Bramhall: Just My Luck
AL Brooks: The Club; Up on the Roof
Quinn Ivins: The Love Factor; Worthy of Love (Out in April 2021)
Jae: Just for Show; Wrong Number, Right Woman
Lola Keeley: A Roll in the Hay
Jess Lea: A Curious Woman
Jess Matthews: Hooked on You; Sing for My Baby
Disguised or living as a man
The main character is a woman pretending to be a man or an AFAB genderqueer person living her life as a man.
Jae: Backwards to Oregon; Hidden Truths
Character Works in the Food Industry
The protagonist is a baker, chef, bartender, waitress, and so on.
AL Brooks: Dark Horse
RG Emanuelle & Andi Marquette: All You Can Eat; Order Up
C. Fonseca: Food for Love
Alison Grey: Contract for Love
Meg Harrington: The Lavender List
Wendy Hudson: Mine to Keep
Jae: Not the Marrying Kind; Something in the Wine; Heart Trouble; Just for Show; Chemistry Lessons (out in July 2021)
Catherine Lane: Heartwood
Chris Zett: Heart Failure
Taking A Trip
A book in which the main characters take a trip together. They don’t necessarily have to take a car; any vehicle, including a plane or boat, will do.
Cheyenne Blue: All at Sea; Fenced-In Felix
May Dawney: Survival Instincts
Lois Cloarec Hart: Kicker’s Journey
Jae: Backwards to Oregon; Just for Show; True Nature; Under a Falling Star
Lola Keeley: Slammed
Emily O’Beirne: Points of Departure
Lee Winter: The Red Files
Hazel Yeats: Bunny Finds a Friend
Bisexual or Pansexual character
A book with a bisexual or pansexual protagonist. Note: A character who has slept with men in the past before realizing she’s a lesbian is a lesbian, not a bisexual/pansexual woman.
G Benson: Flinging It
AL Brooks: Dark Horse
Jae: Paper Love; The Roommate Arrangement; Not the Marrying Kind
Lola Keeley: The Music and the Mirror
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You
Ellen Simpson: The Light of the World
Animal on Cover
A book that has some kind of animal on the cover.
Cheyenne Blue: All at Sea; Fenced-In Felix; A Heart This Big; Party Wall
AL Brooks: Up on the Roof; Write Your Own Script
Shaya Crabtree: Tight Knit
Cheri Crystal: Across the Pond
May Dawney: Survival Instincts
Nino Delia: Caged Bird Rising
Amber Jacobs: Primal Touch
Jae: Second Nature; True Nature; Natural Family Disasters; Backwards to Oregon; Hidden Truths
Georgette Kaplan: The Woman at the Edge of Town
Lola Keeley: A Roll in the Hay
Jess Lea: A Curious Woman
LT Smith: Once; Puppy Love
Girl-Next-Door Character
The protagonist is the “girl next door” type—sweet, kind, and everybody’s darling.
Cheyenne Blue: A Heart This Big; Party Wall
AL Brooks: One Way or Another; Never Too Late for Heroes
Wendy Hudson: Meant to Be Me
Jae: Perfect Rhythm; Not the Marrying Kind; Conflict of Interest; Falling Hard; Heart Trouble; Under a Falling Star; Wrong Number, Right Woman
Jenn Matthews: Reasons to Heal; Sing for My Baby
Lee Winter: Breaking Character; The Brutal Truth
Adventure in nature
A book with a plot revolving around an outdoor adventure, e.g., hiking, kayaking, rafting, sailing, rock climbing, snow-shoeing, etc.
Cheyenne Blue: All at Sea
Andrea Bramhall: Rock and a Hard Place
Lois Cloarec Hart: Above the Tree Line
Wendy Hudson: Four Steps; The Island Between Us (out in September 2021)
Amber Jacobs: Primal Touch
Jae: Backwards to Oregon; Hidden Truths; Shaken to the Core
Jenn Matthews: The Words Shimmer
Mistaken Identity
A character is mistaken for someone else for at least a part of the book. Usually, it’s misunderstanding (or at least it starts out that way), rather than one character intentionally lying or disguising herself. The misunderstanding can be cleared up quickly or the other character can play along and start pretending to be someone she isn’t, but the situation didn’t start out as an intentional disguise.
Jae: Wrong Number, Right Woman; Something in the Wine; Under a Falling Star; The Roommate Arrangement
Roslyn Sinclair: The Lily and the Crown
Lee Winter: Requiem for Immortals
Set in a Country You Don’t Live In
Choose a book that takes place in a country that you don’t currently live in. Since the majority of lesbian books and readers are based in America, here are some Ylva books set outside of the US.
Set in the UK
Andrea Bramhall: Lost for Words; The Last First Time; Collide-O-Scope; Under Parr; Just My Luck
AL Brooks: One Way or Another; Up on the Roof; Write Your Own Script; Miles Apart; Dare to Love
Cheyenne Blue: Never-Tied Nora
Cheri Crystal: Across the Pond
Wendy Hudson: Mine to Keep; Four Steps; Meant to Be Me; The Island Between Us (out in September 2021)
Lola Keeley: A Roll in the Hay; Major Surgery
Jody Klaire: In Fashion
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You (Iraq and England); The Words Shimmer; Sing for My Baby
Charlotte Mills: Payback; Fair Game; Body of Work
LT Smith: Driving me Mad; Once; Hearts and Flowers Border; See Right Through Me; Puppy Love
Wendy Temple: Defensive Mindset
HP Tune: Rewriting the Ending
Set in Canada
AL Brooks: Miles Apart
Lois Cloarec Heart: Stone Gardens; Bitter Fruit; Kicker’s Journey; Coming Home; Broken Faith; Walking the Labyrinth
Michelle L. Teichman: Rescue Me
Set in Europe
HP Tune: Rewriting the Ending (several countries)
Jae: Paper Love (Germany)
Hazel Yeats: Bunny Finds a Friend (The Netherlands)
Set in India
Sheryn Munir: Falling Into Place
Set in Australia
Cheyenne Blue: All at Sea; A Heart This Big; Almost-Married Moni; Fenced-In Felix; Party Wall; Not-So-Straight Sue; Code of Conduct
AL Brooks: Dark Horse
G Benson: Flinging It; All the Little Moments
C. Fonseca: Where the Light Plays; Food for Love
Jess Lea: A Curious Woman
Emily O’Beirne: Here’s the Thing
Jane Waterton: Times of Our Lives
Lee Winter: The Brutal Truth (Australia and US); Requiem for Immortals
Set in New Zealand
Lee Winter: Changing the Script
Set in Mexico
Fiona Zedde: A Lover’s Mercy.
Set in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and UK
JR Wolfe: Deliberate Harm
Set in other far-away places
Andrea Bramhall: Rock and a Hard Place (Patagonia)
Georgette Kaplan: Candice Cushing and the Lost Tomb of Cleopatra; Easy Nevada and the Pyramid’s Curse (The Sahara)
Lee Winter: Shattered (Socotra)
Part of a Book Series
A book that is part of a series. It doesn’t have to be book one.
Cheyenne Blue: Girl Meets Girl series—Never-Tied Nora; Not-So-Straight Sue; Fenced-In Felix; Almost-Married Moni
Andrea Bramhall: Norfolk Coast Investigation Stories—Collide-O-Scope; Under Parr; The Last First Time
Paulette Callen: Charity series—Charity; Fervent Charity
Karen Frost: Daughter of Fire—Conspiracy of the Dark; The Darkness Rising; Destiny’s Choice; Death’s Champion (out April 2021)
Lois Cloarec Hart: The Calgary Chronicles—Coming Home; Broken Faith; Walking the Labyrinth
Jae: Fair Oaks series—Perfect Rhythm; Not the Marrying Kind. The Hollywood series—Departure from the Script; Damage Control; Just Physical. Shape-Shifter Series—Second Nature; True Nature; Natural Family Disasters; Manhattan Moon. Portland Police Bureau series—Conflict of Interest; Next of Kin. The Oregon series—Backwards to Oregon; Beyond the Trail; Hidden Truths.
Georgette Kaplan: Easy Nevada and the Pyramid’s Curse; Candice Cushing and the Lost Tomb of Cleopatra
Charlotte Mills: Payback; Fair Game
RJ Nolan: LA Metro series—LA Metro; In a Heartbeat; Wounded Souls
Emily O’Beirne: Future Leaders of Nowhere; All the Ways to Here. A Story of Now; The Sum of These Things.
Emma Sterner-Radley: Midnight Coffee series—Long-Distance Coffee; Coffee and Conclusions
Blythe Rippon: The Love and Law series—Barring Complications; Benched
Shaylynn Rose: The Tales of Y’Myran—Banshee’s Honor; Banshee’s Vengeance
KD Williamson: Cops and Docs series—Blurred Lines; Crossing Lines; Between the Lines; Drawing the Line
Lee Winter: On the Record series—The Red Files; Under Your Skin
The Superheroine Collection—Shattered, The Power of Mercy; A Lover’s Mercy; Never Too Late for Heroes; Chasing Stars; Shadow Hand
Main Character is a Business Owner
The protagonist owns her own business, which can be a big or small company.
Cheyenne Blue: Fenced-In Felix; A Heart This Big; Party Wall; The Number 94 Project (out in November 2021)
AL Brooks: Dare to Love
Shaya Crabtree: Tight Knit
Lois Cloarec Hart: Walking the Labyrinth
Lola Keeley: A Roll in the Hay
Jae: Not the Marrying Kind; Something in the Wine; True Nature; Hidden Truths
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You
Cindy Rizzo: Getting Back
Lee Winter: Hotel Queens; The Brutal Truth
Set in the 20th Century
A book that takes place between 1901 and 2000.
Meg Harrington: The Lavender List
Quinn Ivins: The Love Factor
Jae: Shaken to the Core
Character Isn’t “Hollywood beautiful”.
The protagonist doesn’t fit Hollywood beauty standards, e.g., they aren’t thin, toned, young, and so on.
Cheyenne Blue: Fenced-In Felix; Party Wall
Andrea Bramhall: Just My Luck
AL Brooks: Dark Horse; Up on the Roof
Quinn Ivins: Worthy of Love (Out in April 2021)
Jae: Wrong Number, Right Woman; Just for Show; Hidden Truths; Damage Control; Second Nature
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You
Jane Waterton: Times of Our Lives
Lee Winter: Shattered
Character Works in STEM
The protagonist works in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
Shaya Crabtree: You’re Fired
Wendy Hudson: Meant To Be Me; Four Steps
Quinn Ivins: The Love Factor
Jae: Second Nature
Georgette Kaplan: Scissor Link
Roslyn Sinclair: The Lily and the Crown
Forced Proximity
The two main characters are forced to spend time together, e.g., because they are stranded or snowed in or stuck together for some other reason.
Cheyenne Blue: All At Sea
AL Brooks: Up on the Roof
Shaya Crabtree: You’re Fired
Wendy Hudson: The Island Between Us (out in September 2021)
Roslyn Sinclair: The Lily and the Crown
Lee Winter: Shattered; The Red Files
Anthology, Short Story Collection, or Novella
Read a book that is not a novel. It can be an anthology (collection of short stories by different authors), a collection of short stories by one author, or a novella (a story of 17,500-40,000 words).
Anthologies (multiple authors):
After Happily Ever After: Edited by Astrid Ohletz and Alex K. Thorne
All You Can Eat: Edited by RG Emanuelle and Andi Marquette
Do You Feel What I Feel: A Holiday Anthology: Edited by Ylva
Don’t be Shy (Vol 1 & 2): Edited by Astrid Ohletz and Jae
Finding Ms. Write: Edited by Jae and Jove Belle
Laid Bare: Edited by Astrid Ohletz and Jae
Language of Love: Edited by Astrid Ohletz and Lee Winter
Order Up—A Menu of Lesbian Romance & Erotica anthology: Edited by RG Emanuelle and Andi Marquette
Tales of the Grimoire: Edited by Astrid Ohletz and Gill McKnight
Unwrap These Presents: Edited by Astrid Ohletz and RG Emanuelle
Wicked Things: Edited by Jae and Astrid Ohletz
Short story collection (1 author)
Jae: Beyond the Trail; Happily Ever After; Love Beneath the Christmas Tree; Natural Family Disasters
Jess Lea: The Taste of Her (Vol. 1 & 2)
Novellas
Cheyenne Blue: Almost-Married Moni; Never-Tied Nora
Alison Grey: Hot Line
Jae: Manhattan Moon
Catherine Lane: Tread Lightly
Fiona Zedde: The Power of Mercy
Special Unicorn Category: Butch/butch Pairing
A book about two butch women falling in love or being in an established relationship with each other.
Lee Winter: Shattered
Special Unicorn Category: Character Over 40
At least one of the book’s main characters is aged over 40.
Cheyenne Blue: Party Wall
AL Brooks: Dare to Love; Never too Late For Heroes; Write Your Own Script; The Club; The Long Shot; Miles Apart; Chasing Dreams (out in Oct 2021)
Lois Cloarec Hart: Walking the Labyrinth
Wendy Hudson: The Island Between Us (out in September 2021)
Jae: Wrong Number, Right Woman; Next of Kin
Lola Keeley: Major Surgery
Jenn Matthews: Hooked on You; The Words Shimmer
Charlotte Mills: Fair Game
Blythe Rippon: Barring Complications; Benched
Cindy Rizzo: Getting Back
Roslyn Sinclair: The Lily and the Crown; The X Ingredient
Jane Waterton: Times of Our Lives
Lee Winter: The Red Files; Under Your Skin; Shattered; Requiem for Immortals; The Brutal Truth; Hotel Queens
Special Unicorn Category: High Fantasy
High fantasy is a fantasy story set in a fictional world that is entirely different from our reality (as opposed to low fantasy, which is set in our world with some fantastic elements added).
Karen Frost: Daughter of Fire—Conspiracy of the Dark; The Darkness Rising; Destiny’s Choice; Death’s Champion (out April 2021)
Shaylynn Rose: Banshee’s Honor; Banshee’s Vengeance
Special Unicorn Category: Polyamorous relationship
The main character is in intimate, consensual relationships with more than one person.
Amber Jacobs: Nights of Silk and Sapphire
Special Unicorn Category: Thriller novel
A fast-paced novel with high stakes—if the protagonist doesn’t stop the villain, her life or even the fate of the world might be in danger.
Andrea Bramhall: The Last First Time
Wendy Hudson: Four Steps
Charlotte Mills: Payback; Fair Game
Ellen Simpson: A Heist Story
Lee Winter: Requiem for Immortals
JR Wolfe: Deliberate Harm
Special Unicorn Category: Jewish character
The protagonist is Jewish. Ideally, pick a book that was written by a Jewish author.
Own voices
Cindy Rizzo: Getting Back
Non-own voices
Lee Winter: Hotel Queens
Special Unicorn Character: Horror
A book that intends to scare you.
Lois Cloarec Hart: Beyond and Begone
Special Unicorn Category: Dystopian, apocalyptic, or post-apocalyptic
Post-apocalyptic fiction is set in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster or war that made society as we know it collapse. In an apocalyptic book, we’re in the middle of that disaster happening. Dystopian fiction is set in a future society that is oppressive.
May Dawney: Survival Instincts
Remember: Each lesbian book can only be used once, even if it could fit into multiple categories. And now… enjoy!
How come there is not one Harper Bliss book in any of these categories ? And I don’t think there are any Clare Lydon either.
Hi Denise, as it says in the intro, this is an Ylva Publishing blog for Ylva books featuring our Ylva authors. If any other publisher/author, such as Harper Bliss, wants to create their own list that fits Jae’s Sapphic Reading Challenge that would be wonderful too. The more the merrier! But here we’re talking about our own excellent books.
Silly of me, I wasn’t paying enough attention to that when I wrote my question. Sorry about that
As a frequent reader and proud dragon1-badge holder, I have already asked other authors to help us readers find the appropiate books by adding the categories to their books – thanks for Ylva and thanks to you Lee for providing a list here.
As you say: the more the merrier.
You’re very welcome. And congratulations on that dragon badge!
What a wonderful list! Thank you very much, it helps a lot.
[…] the Ylva website for a list of favorite WLW novels of Ylva Publishing authors such as Andrea Bramhall, Cheyenne Blue, AL Brooks, Sacchi Green, Wendy Hudson, Quinn Ivins, Cori […]
I’m using this list to fill out my reading challenge with the ones I’ve read and taking some ideas of books I want to read in categories I usually don’t. So thank you so much for this list! I was thinking though, isn’t “The Music And The Mirror” in the Ice queen category as well?
Never mind! LOL I just realized it’s already in the ice queen category!