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!Â
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!
AÂ 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.Â
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!
Only one favorite thing?
I think it’s the tremendous sense of community and acceptance. You know, we’re from all over and all different walks of life but everyone is here talking about this thing they love – romance novels – and it’s a safe place for that. And you’ve made it a safe place for many other things/in many other ways too. That means a lot right now!
I mainly love the reviews, especially when they are of books by authors new to me. I have discovered so many authors thanks to you guys.
Happy Anniversary! Here’s to many more years to come!
I love the reviews but Cover Snark is my guilty pleasure!
I come for just about everything, but must admit my favorite thing about Smart Bitches is the snark — whether it’s mocking ridiculous covers, reviewing fabulously over-the-top WTF plotlines, or the utterly delightful Bachelor recaps — I love it all. I enjoy coming for my daily visit with “my people.” Thanks for all the laughs, entertainment, and insight over the years. Here’s to 12 more!
My favorite thing about this site is the perspective. I’ve been checking SBTB pretty much daily since the “FUCKING YOUR ASS SAVING YOUR LIFE” meme, and I can honestly say that this site has made me a better person. It has changed my love of romance novels from a dirty little secret, to something I frequently discuss and have made new friends over. Reading the site and Beyond Heaving Bosoms has shown my just how much sexism I had internalized, and being able to recognize and reflect on that has changed not just how I think about the world but how I feel about myself.
Also, every once in a while comments pop up saying a review is too politicized, or a little rant against “being PC” and I’m always kind of grateful because those comments remind me of how much I’ve changed since I began reading this site. 12 years ago I definitely couldn’t have told you what a micro-aggression was, I wouldn’t have picked up on the racism of a “token black character” or the “magical negro” trope much less been able to discuss why those things are problematic, and I would have quieted my own discomfort at seeing things that were intended to be “romantic” but were actually huge boundary violations or sexual assault.
The critical, thoughtful, feminist, and dare I say, woke perspective has had a huge impact on my life, and is definitely my favorite thing about the site.
But I also love the reviews and books on sale posts and reading the comments. The review of Someone To Love and Mary Balogh showing up in the comments at first somewhat defensive, but ultimately open to learning and acknowledging that she had unintentionally done something problematic is my absolute favorite moment on the internet.
The reviews and book recommendations.
Definitely cover snark
Funny reviews (particularly Elyse’s) and Cover Snark are definitely my main motivation, though the podcast is the one that’s the highlight of my week 🙂 Thanks Sarah and team for this amazing site!!
Snark, Snark, Snark keeps me coming back. And knitting. Everything else too, but I never know the HaBOs. The reviews have turned me on to new authors. Ok, everything keeps me coming back.
Happy Anniversary !!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the community you have built. You have grown and changed over the years, but at the core you have created the ultimate “safe space” for those of us who want our “trashy books” and HEA’s.
I love the reviews. The reviewers have wonderful “voices” and I’ve gotten some great recommendations for things I normally would have passed by (was advised once to ignore the cover for Spymaster’s Lady and get it anyway – thank you!). Cover Snark is always fun, too.
Pick a favorite? Not possible. Cover Snark for LOLs, HABO for mystery and entertainment, reviews for budget-busting and sometimes LOLs, the podcast for dog-walking…so much goodness!
I love reading all the inclusive commentary!
My favorite hands down is cover snark. I usually laugh until I cry when I read these.
Cover snark makes me laugh, which is nice. But I really love the reviews–helps me decide if it will be worth the time and investment. Plus I find new authors which I adore.
I love that I can come on here and find my new obsession with like minded bitches who have the same snarky responses to cheesy covers as I do! Thank you for reminding me that I am not the only smart bitch who loves a trashy read!
Ooooh, books on sale! Forgot that one.
So many things to love! My credit card, however, doesn’t love “Books on Sale” or “Hide your Wallet” What first got me to your site years ago was a contest or special chapter you did with Lauren Willig. Then I stayed for the honest, snarky, and oh-so-funny reviews! Keep up the good work!
The reviews are the main reason I visit; there is so much romance out there and I appreciate having a leg up before I read something. But my most FAVORITEST thing is probably cover snark.
Happy Anniversary!
I love the the wonderful and welcoming community. I have discovered so many great books via this site. I lalways enjoy reading the reviews, various posts, and all the comments that follow. Also, I love listening to the podcast!
You are all fantabulous! Thank you!
I love the cover snark, the reviews, and the recommendations but mostly I love that there is zero room for shame in the bitchery. Here’s to many more years to come!
Happy Anniversary! I love the “I read past my bedtime” pillow that I just went and bought it!
I love everything you all do, although the things that come to mind the most are the wonderfully written book reviews, the way you all develop wonderful new words that pack a LOT of information (plot moppet is still a favorite) that I’ve embraced into my book lexicon, the HABOs are great, the giveaways and “Hey, here’s this cool thing you can buy” which are always up my alley … and the community. This is the only site where I think reading the comments section is almost as fun as reading your original posts. Everyone comes together to help and support each other. It’s beyond rare to not have to worry about trolls. I feel comfortable here and I love it. Thank you to everyone at SBTB (hugs)
If I have to pick I’d say reviews. I’ve found so many books I love from this site. But cover snark is a close second.
Congratulations on getting to 12 years!
My favorite bits tend to be the HABOs, but I also just love seeing what shows up. Whether it’s movie reviews, reviews of books I might not look at otherwise (and how low reviews and DNFs are dissected), cover snark, or the books on sale, I just very much enjoy the site. Oh, and I’ve also been enjoying the bits on knitting, since I’m a learning knitter myself!
Congrats again!
Happy Birthday, Bitches!
I came for the reviews and sale books and have stayed for everything else, especially the sense of pink community.
That typewriter pillow looks like it would fit perfectly in my rocking chair.
My favourite thing? That’s a mean decision to ask for. I deeply appreciate the reviews, especially multiple reviews of the same book. Reading is so subjective that it’s nice to have a couple of different views.
I also appreciate how the reviews and sale notices aren’t restricted to romance.
Mostly I love that as well as the snark there’s a deep sense of community both here on this blog and in the greater romance world.
The tone. Romans is really the fourth or fifth genre that I enjoy but I love the feel of this site and the attitudes of the contributors.
I love it all eBook deals, cover snark, reviews. Thank you ladies, many, many more years.
HaBOs! They brought me here, well that and the Arabian stable review (love sharing that). But have also been sucked in by the book sales, totally stuff on my Kindle I do NOT remember buying, lol, and the amazing cover snark.
p.s. I just tried to find the review of the Arabian prince/stable, anybody know what it is categorized under? I looked at the DNF and Rants but couldn’t find it.
It’s a tie between reviews and romance/culture posts. I still haven’t forgotten the interview with the man who painted classic Harlequin covers.
I love the books on sale.
Oh, and there’s the podcast.
And then there’s cooking by Red Headed Girl.
And don’t forget Elyse’s commentary on The Bachelor which I don’t even watch. I just like reading about her feelings.
Well, dang. I guess I just like the whole site!
Happy Anniversary!
The shared love of books is what got me here but the snark is why I stay 🙂
Thank you so much and happy anniversary!
I love the reviews and the sales alerts! happy 12th anniversary.
What I love best about SBTB is the community gathered here. Everyone is supportive, intelligent, and interesting, with a sense of humor and a sense of camaraderie. There is never any shaming for any insecurities, disabilities, gender identities, or choices, and we can have in-depth discussions and disagreements without any trolling or insults. You are all always welcoming and accepting, which makes this a very rare haven on the internet. Thanks for all you do to make this such a special community.
Happy Anniversary, Smart Bitches! Here’s to many more!
Happy 12th!!
I love the reviews. They help me discover new romance genres and books/authors I probably wouldn’t have read otherwise.
And the cover snark. So.damn.hilarious. I can’t read those posts at work because I laugh out loud.
I Live for the Reviews and I love the funny Talks about the crazy Bookcovers. And I love it that I can find inspiration for new Authors that I want to read. I love your website it makes my day brighter.
Ack! I can’t choose just one thing!
#1 is definitely that this is a community where people love romance novels & are proud of it.
Additional perks:
Elyse’s Bachelor recaps
cover snark
HaBOs
discounts
reviews/recommendations
Happy anniversary, SBTB!
I have been lurking around the edges of your tribe for some time, but registered about a year and half ago. I have a high-stress job ( who doesn’t?) and your column is a huge help toward refining my searches for entertainment. I trust y’all and I love a sale. Through your recommendations I have become addicted to Tessa Dare, Theresa Romain etc.
I have just discovered how to access podcasts, so that is a delightful way to make my commuting more pleasant!
I also like the varied and thoughtful responses to the reviews. I am a pretty eclectic reader, so I really enjoy hearing about different styles and even tastes than my own.
BUT, the real gift that keeps on giving is the hope for humanity you give me with a feminist, multi-cultural perspective that just won’t quit. Y’all are the bees knees.
I love the snarky reviews that make me laugh and also finding books that are new to me.
Wow! Congratulations! Not sure I can pick just one…the top three are:
1) Reviews
2) Deals
3) Viewpoints in the comments