✨ Sapphic-A-Thon Wrapup ✨
So, about halfway through SapphicAThon I lost momentum of reading wlw stories because I kept being so disappointed by what I found 😖 I have a bunch of books I didn’t get to that I still plan to read~ Now to summarize all the things I read, and links to reviews 😎
One of the books I started was GIRLS MADE OF SNOW AND GLASS by Melissa Bashardoust. I’m still in the process of reading/listening to it (I fell into the trap of The Bright Sessions podcast, so haven’t been listening to audible 😅), but I’m about 19% through and plan to finish it next.
The first book I read was EITAN’S CHORD by Shira Glassman, which fulfilled the Jewish Char bingo square. I’ve read other books by Shira Glassman and KNIT ONE, GIRL TWO is basically a happy place read for me, but this one was less than stellar to me. I wanted to like it because polyamory/triad and Hanukkah fairies! But it just fell a little flat for me. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2213933363
Next on Kindle I tried reading VILLAINS DON’T DATE HEROES by Mia Archer, which could have fulfilled Hate to Love bingo square. Unfortunately this was a huge DNF for me, at only 36%, which is a huge disappointment because I love villains and hate to love is such a good trope. This book was a mess, though; definitely needed a good editing and it was just so long-winded at times. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2162748323
Next up, we have THE PRICE OF MEAT by KJ Charles, which fulfilled Non-Coming Out bingo square. I adore KJ Charles and her writing is always so good. This was a quick, creepy read with some really interesting history. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2215862781
Next, GIRL MANS UP by M-E Girrard, which probably could’ve fulfilled Interractial bingo square, but I NOPEd outta there real quick (28 pages quick). The friendship between MC and her “best friend” was gross and toxic, the way she helped him get and then toss girls was gross, and how the best friend told MC she needed to leave his exes alone and not listen to them really bothered me. Everything about those 28 pages made me so uncomfortable. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2217413312
I read GRRRLS ON THE SIDE by Carrie Pack, which fulfilled Bisexual MC bingo square. The premise of the book was interesting and I liked the punk scene in the 90s with the zines as part of story telling style, but in the end this book didn’t completely wow me. It had a lot of issues, including: fatmisia, transmisia, racism, not listening to WOC voices, and erasing/invalidating MC’s bisexuality. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2216300341
I tried (and failed) to read EELGRASS by Tori Curtis; I only made it about 14% through before I couldn’t take it anymore. I was going to use this book to fulfill SF/F bingo square, but the attitude towards Bettan’s lost sealskin and subsequent kidnapping (she’ll be happier for it, she’ll have babies and find her place, it’ll settle her, etc) just made me TOO uncomfortable and I couldn’t finish it. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2217554958
I was reading ASH by Malinda Lo for about half of SapphicAThon, but ending DNFing it because while I enjoyed the writing style, I was bored of the story. No review.
RIPPED PAGES by M. Hollis was my next reading adventure, and it fulfilled Retelling bingo square. It was a unique, cute Rapunzel retelling, but sometimes the pacing got to me. It was a bit of a Princess Saves Herself (major positive) but also really nice example of princesses saving each other. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2140722418
I also read M. Hollis’ NIGHT AT THE MALL, which fulfills Less Than 500 Goodreads Ratings bingo square. This was another cute fluff read, but it felt more like the Meet-Cute (which I love) without the subsequent relationship and feelings that I wanted. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2220418677
MY HEART IS READY by Chace Verity was my next read, which fulfilled Established Relationship bingo square. I have also read TEAM PHISON by Chace and omg their writing is so much feelings for me. I can’t wait more of this series to come out 😍 but I adored Corsine and Tristis, and their flawed but loving relationship. Just, such fun characters and a cute story! Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2197767772
Finally I read IT’S NOT LIKE IT’S A SECRET by Misa Sugiura, which fulfilled Both WOC bingo square. I have some mixed feelings for this book, especially because cheating is such a prevalent theme (MC cheats on her gf with a boy bc she thinks gf is cheating, and friends are all “it’s not cheating if she cheated first.”). Definitely has strong themes of racism and prejudice, and examining how those views affect us and our perceptions of people. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1929858655
In total I finished 7 books, DNF’d 4, and am still reading 1. I fulfilled the following bingo squares: Both WOC, Established Relationship, Less Than 500 GR Ratings, Retelling, Bisexual MC, Non-Coming Out Story, and Jewish MC. I did not manage to get any BINGO though 😅
