Happy 12th Anniversary to everyone! The site started on 31 January 2005 with a review for Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn and for The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann, and what a long strange hot pink journey it has been over the past twelve years.
WOW. I’m sort of stunned by that, and I’ve been working on this post for a few weeks now. Twelve years! That’s a long, long time. Thank you for hanging out with us for so many years!
As has become tradition, I went and had a look at the traditional gifts for a 12th anniversary, and behold! Linen! So I played online and shopped for several hours (SUCH A HARDSHIP MY GOSH), and came up with some fun prizes to celebrate our anniversary with a giveaway.
This year, my goal is to accessorize your favorite reading location with adorable pillows that include linen or a blend thereof, and that celebrate reading the books we love.
Ready? We’ve got six to give away!
Have a look!
A typewriter pillow! How cute is that?
But wait, more pillows!
This one has embroidery to make it look like looseleaf paper – I love it.
When my house was staged and it looked like stylish chevron-obsessed aliens lived there with us, this pillow was added to a small grey sofa, and I loved this pillow like mad. I am so excited I found it online and can give one away! The alphabet is embroidered on the front, and it’s just adorable.
Do you read past your bedtime? Of course you probably do. We’re all members of The Bad Decisions Book Club.
It’s always Book O’Clock, right? No question.
And of course, one more pillow:
Can’t leave out The Ladies, right? The front of this pillow has The Ladies – Original Recipe, and on the back it says, “You should be reading.” Because obviously.
To enter to win, leave a comment and tell us your favorite thing about hanging out here at SBTB. HaBOs? Cover Snark? Reviews? What’s your favoritest thing?
Standard disclaimers apply: We are not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Open to international residents where permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18 and ready to lounge and read. Pants are always optional. To keep with the theme of twelve, we recommend reading in two twelve-hour blocks to most efficiently fill your time. All blankets and all readers welcome. Keep books and read on. Comments will close Monday February 6, 2017 around noon ET, and winners will be announced shortly thereafter.
Whatever it is that keeps you coming back to Smart Bitches, thank you. It’s an honor to hang out with all of you from each part of the globe each day, and I’m so glad you’re here. Happy anniversary to us!
Update: Here are our winners in order!
Thank you all so much for being a reader of Smart Bitches! You’re what makes this community great!
I love the Habos and the book sales, but mostly I love the tone and voice of the site. Everyone seems ready and willing to have fun and it shows in the reviews and comments. We take our books seriously but not too seriously
The community you’ve built.
My favorite part of the SB team are the blog post and comments. I’ve found sooooo many good books over the years by reading through the comments.
with my newsfeed full of doom and gloom, I am happy to hang out with others who yearn for and demand a happy ending!
I came here originally for the snark, looking for a diversion after my mom died the previous spring. I stay for everything now, particularly the community of readers you have fostered and encouraged.
Watching the growth of SBTB–from Sarah and Candy then, to the fabulous pink powerhouse now–I am reminded daily of what women can do together. Twelve shades of awesome. Thank you for every one of them.
I love reading reviews and discovering new favorites. I also like cover snark 😉
It’s hard to choose because I love everything about this site, but I would have to say HABO’s, followed closely by reading the comments on posts snd cover snark. Thank you for all you do!
I can’t pick a favorite thing! Can I just say everything?
My favorite thing about hanging out here is how fast money disappears out of my bank account afterwards! It’s magic!
But in reality I love reading in depth reviews about books that I might not normally try and falling in love with them. (Y’all are responsible for my Courtney Milan addiction)
My favorite? Hmm…the complete lack of bullshit. From the reviews to the podcasts, up to and including your relationships with authors. There’s a genuineness that is rare and appreciated. Happy Happy Anniversary. I wish you many more.
Gotta love the book discount updates and reviews. But love the comment section most–snarky, intelligent, funny and joyful discussions!
My favorite thing is reading the reviews, especially when I’m having a bad day and need cheering up.
I love the smart conversation, the wide range of interests of the contributors and the commenters, the Cover Snark, the reviews, the non-book posts. I love pretty much everything.
I love the HaBO and when you let us know about all the great ebook deals.
I am always drawn in by cover snark, and then taken down the rabbit hole of reviews and end up making myself quite happy and comfortable much longer than I should… usually during “work” hours. Thank you for helping me look busy at my desk!
The wit, the joy, the utter delight of being part of a community that loves reading romance.
Originally I was here for the snark (I think Pregnesia got me here)…but I stayed for the community, and for the book reviews that took Romance seriously as well as being critical when it was needed. Thank you guys for what you do! Happy 12th!
Answer: Smart Bitches and Trashy Books. Says it all.
I feel as though I’ve taken advantage of most aspects of the site. HABO’s, all the different kinds of review, and giveaways to name a few. But honestly I love the podcast maybe the best. I just adore the community and the team of bitches. Sarah you really are the best!
My favorite thing is the joy! You have created a community that is so important. I am doing a holistic cancer protocol and am working it really hard. Listening to you and reading all of you has made it all less isolating….especially since I know Elyse gets it. My husband will hear your voices and asks me what my new friends are up to…and that is what you have become. A safe place, a friendly voice…even if we never meet…but I would really love it someday! I have wonderful girlfriends who love me dearly AND this has been a huge boost to my protocol…laughter and joy!
I love the comments, which tend to give me a pretty clear idea of what I might love and what I most definitely will not. And the book deals alerts. This place is terrible for my wallet, but wonderful for everything else.
I like it all, but especially the reviews. I have found some wonderful books that I never would have picked up otherwise, and also some great TV and movies…thanks for Agent Carter!
I love the reviews and the book deals, but the cover snark always provide needed comic relief.
I love how much laughter this site has brought me. From cover snark, to the Bitches assemble podcasts, and I can never say no to a book rant or ten. It’s always wonderful to know there are other ladies out there willing to read awful stuff so I don’t have to. Especially when I can go back to all my friends later and tell them “omg listen to the latest review I just read!” And I can’t thank you good folks enough for leading me to the “wwtfbadromwtfbadroancecovers” tumblr! Happy objectifed Scottsmen for us all!!!
Happy Anniversary! For the last ten years I’ve been visiting SBTB, first to get a handle on what this genre I’d stumbled upon was all about, and then for the smarts and snark. Nothing beats a great SB podcast on a slow Friday at work.
I love the podcast, especially when it’s the Bitches all together! I always finish those episodes jealous that I was not there! You all feel like friends!
The podcast is my fave– I don’t have many romance friends in real life, so listening to the podcast fills that void! Thanks so much!!
My favorite thing? The all-inclusiveness of the site. I learn so much by stopping by once a day. Or more.
What I love is knowing that I can come here and find something to make me smile, make me cry, make me think, make me snort coffee out my nose. I am so thankful for the Bitchery. You can never say enough about a group who will tear a book to shreds, but by god defend your right to love it.
I’ve loved SBTB for years! I came for the reviews, then stayed for the HABO and cover snark and the generally humorous tone of most posts.
I love the podcasts. I find so many books that way. Congrats on 12 years!
Happy birthday SBTB!
SBTB has helped and continues to help me navigating through the great sea of romance publishing. I love the podcast (my favourite podcast about romance novels and books in general) and the reviews. Even when I don’t agree with them, there’s always to learn about other people’s perspective about things. Also, not being an American, I’ve learnt a lot about US current trends – in genres, tropes, and also criticism – here. Thank you.
I love pretty much everything here (though the Books on Sale is bad for my budget), but mostly I love the Bitchery. I love hearing from so many smart women who are reading the same things I am and who are so engaged with what they read. Thanks for giving us all a space to meet!
Happy Anniversary! I love your podcast, Covers & Cocktails and the RITA Reader Challenge
Aw, you’re twelve, still a pre-teen! 🙂
My favorite parts of the website are the podcast, recs, and “Whatcha Reading” posts because I love seeing what other people are obsessing over.
Hands down my favourite things are the reviews and daily deals. You guys cover a gamut of books I never would have found and I appreciate the insight immensely!
The attitude. Whether it’s reviews, news, cover snark or something else the attitude is always there and I keep coming back because of it.
reviews! love the reviews (for good AND especially bad books).
The reviews and recommendations, plus the community of smart, engaged, opinionated readers. Obviously I had a hard time picking one thing! Happy birthday, SBTB.
I would have a hard time picking just one thing I love about the site, or even what my favourite thing is. I think I visit almost daily to check for updates, certainly multiple times a week. I love the reviews (both for books and movies), the knitting/crafting patterns, the drink recipes (even though I don’t drink alcohol, I love reading a good recipe), the cover snark, the “Hide Your Wallet” posts (which frequently helps me remember what’s out in any given month), the HABOs and the “On Sale” posts, that I can pretend helps me save money, but in fact just makes me discover more books to try.
As several others have said, I think it’s just the community and you writers, you make this a cool place to hang out. Happy Anniversary!