Sapphic literature is on the rise – and it’s about time

Sapphic fiction has a lot to offer. Source: Maia Aramakutu. 

In an age of increased diversity in media, it isn’t surprising that we are seeing a significant rise in queer female characters. But with sapphic shows continuously being cancelled after one season, and a limited amount of lesbian characters on our screens, there is still a need for authentic and genuine lesbian representation. 

A form of media, which has become significantly less popular over the years, is becoming one of the biggest mediums for sapphic representation. That medium being books. 

And I’m not just talking romance novels.  

The representation of sapphic characters and relationships is spread across all genres of fiction. Out of the 15 thriller novels I have read so far this year, five novels featured sapphic protagonists and relationships.  

And that’s just the thriller genre. 

According to an ongoing list created on the popular website Goodreads, there are around 165 books set to come out in 2024 with sapphic protagonists or central relationships – and these are only the novels that have been announced. 

But why books?  

I asked author and content creator M.C. Hutson about their take on this, and they said that although they think that the traditional industry “isn’t all that interested in sapphic books,” there are still ways authors can get there sapphic content out there. 

Hutson said that the “#1 reason is Amazon KDP and more resources that make indie publishing more feasible”. Amazon KDP stands for Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, and is a feature on the Kindle where people can self-publish print and digital books, which makes self-publishing more accessible. 

Unlike film, television, or even web series, novels normally take one person to write, and the actual writing of the novel is done at a minimal cost. Therefore, resources like these make it more accessible for authors to publish their novels as well as those who read them. 

Furthermore, Hutson identified that “authors who write sapphic books fiction now have better channels to get their stories out there and find their audiences”. This is mostly due to the internet. 

With social media, authors don’t necessarily need to rely on a publishing company for promotion, as they can promote their books on their own platforms. This means that are more likely to find an audience for their stories. With communities online such as “BookTok”, authors have the chance for their books to go viral, which can be a life-changing opportunity. 

The need for representation, particularly authentic representation of sapphic characters and relationships, is fulfilled through increased accessibility to publish and gain an audience. Through self-publishing, authors can have complete creative control over their pieces of work and represent their characters in any way they wish. 

I personally have found the representation of sapphic characters in novels to be refreshing, due to authors straying away from oversexualisation of lesbian characters for the male gaze, and from stereotyping the characters.  

And on a side note, books can’t get cancelled after one season. 

As Hutson said, “I think writers have options now. We don’t have to go the traditional route, so our stories aren’t dying on our laptops.” 

Here are some sapphic book recommendations from Hutson and I. I know a lot of people don’t like reading, but honestly, you should pick up one of these books. I promise you will not regret it. 

• You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron: A classic American summer camp thriller with a twist. 

• Only She Came Back by Margot Harrison: A young woman and her influencer boyfriend go camping, and only the woman comes back. Her acquaintance from high school tries desperately to figure out what happened. 

• When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass: A romance between the most sought-after divorce attorney in Boston and one of her clients. 

• She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick: Two girls embark on a five-step plan to get their respective crushes to fall for them, but they both begin to wonder if the’re the ones falling for each other.  

• Born of Blood and Magic by M.C. Hutson: A blend of adventure, magic, and romance between an assassin and a cursed vampire. 

• The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan: Girlfriends Sloan and Cherry survive a horrific event, but is it really over? 

• The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska: A fantasy book where every year, a life is to be sacrificed on the full moon to keep their island home from sinking. What happens when the queen falls in love with a sacrifice?