penwalla | Every WLW Book I Read in 2023

Presented in order of reading!

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill: Put it on my worst list this year. Our protagonist and multiple other characters are queer, but the book is so bad that it's not worth it.
Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk: Fun fantasy novella, fun couple, personally I thought it felt like it needed to be longer. Definitely recommend if you're looking for something with a noir vibe.
For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding: A fun sapphic romcom! Not my favorite of this year, but definitely a fun read and worth picking up.
The Orc and Her Bride by Lila Gwynn: I was disappointed by this arranged marriage fantasy romance -- personally I really hate spoiled princesses and don't really want to read stories about them. Writing was also not to my taste.
The Faithless by C. L. Clark: I feel weird about this one, because I hate the main couple but think the series overall is really strong. If you're looking for some anti-imperial fantasy with sapphic rep, this is for you. Perfect for fans of The Burning Kingdoms series by Tasha Suri.
Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjeh-Brenyah: This is a hard-hitting dystopian about the US prison-industrial complex. I debated whether to include it here at all, because it's not a romance, but Thurwar and Staxxx's relationship is as vital to the story as every other character's. I would recommend this highly, just be warned it's an intense and graphic read.
The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce: This is one of my favorite books of all time. I love The Circle of Magic series, and this is the first book I ever read with WLW representation. A milestone for baby me and it holds up very well.
The Accidental Bride by Jane Walsh: This is a historical romance. Personally I think it's serviceable but not great -- every character talks like they all have seen the exact same therapist, and there's a lot of talking about feelings and not enough drama.
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield: This is a weird literary horror novel, where our protagonist's wife goes on a deep sea mission and comes back wrong. This is one of those books that felt half-baked to me: lots of pretty passages, hints towards mysteries and themes, but it never comes together in a satisfying way.
Crier's War by Nina Varela: Extremely tedious YA fantasy, only notable because it contains a sapphic romance. Honestly, unless you're really into the popular YA formula right now, I wouldn't recommend it.
I Keep My Exoskeletons To Myself by Marisa Crane: Another great dystopian, about a world with constant surveillance and extra shadows used as punishment. Not a romance, but the sapphic relationship, even though it's over, carries weight throughout the story.
The Fiancee Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur: Another fun romcom, this one with a fake engagement.
The Love That Dares by Rachel Smith: This is a collection of historical letters from queer couples. I really enjoyed it.
Lesbian Lumberjack by Kitty Jones: Forced proximity butch/femme romance. It's short and hot, and it does what it needs to do reasonably well.
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older: Sci-fi mystery featuring a detective and her ex, who asks as her investigative partner as they try to solve a murder while rekindling their romance. I thought the sweet romance balanced the bittersweet resolution of the mystery pretty well.
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle: Chuck really uses the horror elements of this novel to highlight the horror of conversion therapy and Christian homophobia, to great effect. The romance is very sweet, too.
Dykette by Jenny Fran Davis: I hated this book, for its intolerable, neurotic protagonist, and its focus on very tedious interpersonal drama, but I think it's definitely got an audience that will love it for its portrayal of gender performance in queer women.
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh: An absolute banger of a sci-fi novel. Not a lot of romance, but nevertheless very queer.
Just As You Are by Camille Kellogg: Modern Pride and Prejudice retelling, but now Darcy is a hot butch and she's Elizabeth's boss as they clash over a failing magazine. I think the third act conflict is stupid, but I was really into Darcy, so it evened out.
The Girlfriend Arrangement by Anna Stone & Hildred Billings: A fake dating romance, it's again fine but didn't really stick out to me.
A Restless Truth by Freya Marske: The second installment in The Last Binding series, this one features Violet and Maud, trying to find the last contract on a ship while they fall in love. I really enjoyed this one and thought the romance was well-developed, the sex scenes fun to read, and the actual plot engaging.
Lesbian Love Story by Amelia Possanza: Part memoir, part compilation of famous sapphic love stories, this one brought me to tears more than once.
The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz: Another worst list pick, this supposedly sapphic romance has a boring romance, two boring protagonists, boring writing, and a boring plot. Just skip this one.
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun: The holiday sapphic romance of my dreams. Fake dating! Forced proximity! Drama! Go pick this one up.
How To Get a Girlfriend When You're a Terrifying Monster by Marie Cardno: Great premise, boring execution. Barely a monster romance -- barely a romance at all.
Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan: Another great sapphic romcom, and this one has a very well executed conflict between the love interests. This very narrowly avoided making my best of list this year.
The Blood-Born Dragon by J.C. Rycroft: I didn't enjoy this one, but if you're looking for sapphic fantasy and like rogues and dragons, this may be more to your liking.
Tangled Vows by Anna Stone: A BDSM rich/poor romance between two women that is fine. Nothing exceptional, nothing particularly bad. I'm not so into these particular tropes, if you are this is for you.
Creepy Court: A Monster Mall Anthology edited by Eva Priest: Only contains one wlw story (only contains like three queer stories, period) and it's not very good. Honestly, I didn't think this anthology was very good, either. But hey, if you want rat-woman x human woman, I got you.
Those Who Break Chains (5 book series) by Maria Ying: One of the best things I read this year. This is a paranormal romance series about the Hua family, which consists entirely of hot gay magic-users who consort with demons, commit murders, and fight extradimensional monsters. Every woman in this world is gay and ready to fight, fuck, or both at any given moment. Please read this. (Also contains poly couples and transfem characters!)
Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Boddard: A novella that uses the romance between two princesses as a way of illustrating the dangers of imperialism. The protagonist's dynamic with her other love interest is much less compelling. Good world-building.
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling: Queer horror, fucked up toxic sapphic relationship, marred only by the fact that the revelations make the story weaker.
Spear by Nicola Griffith: Arthurian retelling featuring a female knight and her romance with Nimue. There's wrong with this one, but it didn't make much of an impact on me. If you're interested in Arthurian retellings, I think it'll land a lot better.