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Hi, everyone! 

Happy March - I have some fun stuff prepared for this month because - drum roll, please - it's my birthday month! So, in that nature, a handful of bonus content here is going to be birthday-themed. 

That's actually unrelated to the point of this post, so let me get to the topic at hand: a few people have commented on posts and asked for my favorite sapphic romances. So I've taken the last couple of days to prepare a rec list!

These are (seriously) in no particular order:

You might notice that almost all of of these novels are several years old (or older). But the thing is that my favorites are the books that I have found comfort in over the last few years. Covid and career changes and health problems and parental health problems... these are the reads I find comfort in. There are a ton of newer romances that I've enjoyed as well, but it's hard to claw into my top ten and replace an old favorite, you know?

... you might also notice that the most prevalent trope on my list is ice queens, which is kind of funny to me, because I don't really write ice queens. I love reading about that colder/icy person who melts for that one, special person. In a way, I think it does mesh well with what I love to write (friends to lovers) because that's also about knowing one special person and letting that person in.

Anyway! Welcome to March! 

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Comments

Alex L

I’m not sure how I be never seen behind the green curtain recommended anywhere before but since the rest are some of my top as well, I’m jumping on it! Thank you 😊

Haley Cass

Behind the Green Curtain is *extremely* underrated, which is why (if I make a rec list) it is always at the top!

kassandra gravel

Me running to Goodreads adding some of those to my already very very long TBR list. Also Back in your arms is definitely my Number one favorite of Monica's book ls

Jenn Stephens

Omg! Yay. Happy Birth Month, Haley! I'm so excited to read through these. I read One Day You'll Leave Me because you mentioned it in your CassAsks and I loved it! And I agree with you about it feeling like a romance, even though there's no on-page sex. I still loved all the feels in this book!

Lisa Tillery

Happy birthday month to us!!

Mary Ann Bosworth

Happy Birthday month! I love this list. Many are also my comfort reads. I would be hard pressed to pick a fav but near the top would be “Alone. “

Shelley S.

I’m excited to dive into these! Thank you for sharing these with your personal thoughts about them. You had mentioned that these are some of your comfort books. On a personal note, last week was a rough one for me and the first thing I did was restart When You Least Expect It. It was my fourth time reading it and it was the first place I wanted to escape to. Thanks for creating that space for me and many others.

Grace

I liked Green Curtain a lot the very first time I read it but I love it way more after many re-read.

Dani

Happy birthday month & can’t wait to read many of these!! Also, your comment about “One Day You’ll Leave Me” and how it just…lives with you? That’s what your writing does for me. I find myself thinking about your books and your characters’ stories REGULARLY. You make it so easy to stay invested in the worlds you’ve created. ♥️

Sonia

Thanks for the list! Some I’m very familiar with - some are completely new to me. Green Curtain was probably one of the earliest books I read that got me into the genre. Riley LaShea’s other book “Club Storyville” I highly recommend as well.

Dani

Back in your arms is also my MM fav!!

Kim Bond

Alone - yes! The concept, the characters, the development, even the horror and the hope of it all is so compelling. And difficult. But brilliant. This is one that's stuck for me too.

Chris

Thank you so much for sharing this list, and Happy Birthday. I will be reading your selections ASAP. When I’m having a crummy day I listen to TWW on my ride to work. I’m not embarrassed to say I’ve listened several times and the other day I came to a part I think your fans would appreciate. How about sharing with us a handwritten copy of “The Rules” with Charlotte and Suttons’ signatures? I always assumed it was framed hanging in their walk in closet anyway Lol.

fr0st

Top tier recs, I read these at least once a year just because they are delightful and satisfying!

Melanie Reber

Thank you for the recommendations. I'm always stalking Reddit for new reads. So it's always nice to see recommendations from my favorite author. I've read "The Brutal Truth" by Lee Winter and really enjoyed that one because it gave me The Devil Wears Prada vibes. Will be checking all these out. Than you!!

Veronica P

I was just hit by a “I’ve ran out of good books to read” moment- thanks for this! I enjoyed “Behind the Green Curtain” - a great erotic romance, but not as great as “the x ingredient” by R Sinclair, which I prefer to “Truth and Measure” by same author. Super fun. Amazing how some of these books have really terrible covers.

rb

I hesitate to say that you have great taste as I have read 9 of these books and they all feature in my top 20. I have not read, for some insane reason, Alone even though it's been on my TBR for years. Also, my absolute fave Monica book is The Flaw In Our Design, but Back In Your Arms is a very close 2nd! May I ask if you can recommend any new authors? There are so many debut authors out there.

Jen Fernandez

Back in Your Arms was the first MM book I read and as much as I've enjoyed the other's, it's still my favorite! I just started re-listening to Truth and Measure, mostly because I got Roslyn as my writing academy mentor but also because who can resist Vivian Carlisle? Will definitely have to check out the ones on your list that I haven't read yet.

kimberlys323

Ha! So I’m not the only one with Charlotte/Sutton head canons?

Haley Cass

I definitely believe they still have their original rules as well - my handwriting, however, couldn't possibly mimic either Sutton or Charlotte's, as mine is too messy... but I do love this idea!

Haley Cass

I believed TBT was a DWP fanfic in its origin!

Haley Cass

I have had this debate before, so I can't help but comment - I actually do not classify Behind the Green Curtain is an erotic romance! The sex isn't as graphic as erotica, and all of the sex scenes are more symbolic of the changing dynamic between Caton and Amelia, rather than simply... sex scenes. I do agree that The X Ingredient is an erotic romance, though, and that it's great!

Melanie Reber

Well. That's makes a lot of sense. Lol.

Haley Cass

There are many debut authors out there and I'm sure many of them are wonderful. But, I'll be very honest - in the last couple of years, I very rarely have been reading debut novels. Mostly because I've very rarely been reading romance (gasp). I've generally been mystery/thrillers while I've tried to settle into writing full-time (as to not get distracted and fall down a reading hole). And then I get stuck in a loop of just rereading my favorites lol

Stella Johnson

Thank you for sharing :) going to read the ones I haven’t yet. I hope you enjoy your birthday. 🥳

rb

Thanks for your answer, which spookily mirrors my current reading habits!

Leah

This is an amazing list! One Day You’ll Leave Me was actually a book club book. We chose it because you tweeted about it right after we read TWW lol. Absolutely fell in love with that book and Debra Flores. Have you read The Library by the River? It destroyed me.

Angelica

Thank you for sharing! My TBR just expanded 🧡 “Those who wait” and Monica’s “The Flaw in Our Design” are in my top 5. I request play by plays from all those who I recommend (demand??) these to, just to experience a sliver of what it felt like reading them for the first time.

Renni

Thank you for your top 10 books. I've just started reading "One way you will leave me" and I love the writing style and the raw beginning! Also, "Alone" is one of those books that I won't forget. I love it when a book hooks me from page one, when you feel like you're immediately inside the character's head and, oh my god, "Alone" absolutely did that.