Once upon a time, long, long ago, on an internet both similar and different from the web we browse today, Smart Bitches was born. The site launched on 31 January 2005 with a review for Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn and for The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann, and here we are.
FOURTEEN YEARS LATER.
FOURTEEN! That is a lot.
And yet we have so many books on the TBR, so many thoughts to share about the genre, and so many things to talk about. And so very much absurdly-waxed quiescent man-titty. Can’t forget that.
Thank you for being here, for keeping the site going, and for being part of the Smart Bitches community. We wouldn’t be here without you. It’s no small thing to keep a site thriving for fourteen years, and I try never to take your presence and our existence for granted. Each anniversary is bittersweet, with so many websites shuttering, and the fact that we are still here, and still growing, is a wonderful and deeply affirming thing.
Seriously. Thank you. Thank you for every HaBO email, every request for recommendations, every piece of fan email, and every moment you spend here. I can’t tell you how much it means that you’re with us each day.
So, let’s celebrate!
Each year I try to find items that you might like which fit the traditional or modern anniversary gifts. But the 14th is gold, and ivory. Ivory?! Oh, hecketh no. So I’m mixing it up a little. Literary jewelry!
I have five different bookish, wordy, or otherwise Smart-Bitchy necklaces and a pair of earrings here, and I’m so excited to give them away!
A kate spade gold plated enamel necklace with a miniature pair of glasses!
How cute is that? The chain is 16″/40.6cm, and the necklace weighs 3.61g.
A book terrarium necklace (with an owl because owls are nifty) from Bijoux Malou
A paper rose necklace made from a page of Pride and Prejudice from Artsy Heartsy Boutique
Book End earrings from JezebelCharms
A bar necklace that reads “She is too fond of books and it has turned her brain,” from Jezebel Charms. I have one of these necklaces and I love wearing it – and it receives a lot of compliments, too.
To enter:
Leave a comment and tell us your favorite discovery from here at Smart Bitches. A book? A cover? A story you’d thought you’d imagined but no, it was real? A series? An author to glom and auto-buy? We want to know! Tell us your favorite thing you discovered through SBTB in the comments and you’re entered to win.
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 help us get our learner’s permit next year. We’ll take it easy on the brakes. You’ll also need to celebrate with us in style by (of course) reading something great. Comments will close at noon ET on Monday 4 February and winners will be announced shortly afterward.
Thank you for being part of Smart Bitches, and thank you for celebrating with us. Happy Anniversary!!
Update: Before we get to the winners, all of us at SBTB just want to say thank you to all of you. Whether you comment or just lurk, we so appreciate your presence and we love being able to give back to everyone.
Now, onto the prizes!
- Kate Spade necklace: flchen1
- Book terrarium: Janiec
- Paper rose necklace: Amanda Carter
- Book End earrings: Susan
- Bar necklace: Jen McKernan
We hope to see you all again to celebrate our 15th year!
My favorite discovery is Cover Snark. It sucked me in to SBTB years ago. Two authors I’ve “discovered” with your help are Ilonia Andrews and Anne Bishop. Happy Birthday and wishes for many more.
My favorite is learning the term ‘mantitty’. It is the most awesome word. I love this! I also love the reviews, especially of the truly bad books and tv shows (thank you Elyse) that I have not had to read or watch.
I came for the cover snark, stayed for the book recs (my TBR will never recover, thank you very much), but my favourite thing is truly the community of smart, funny, engaged readers. I could have never imagined reading about the Bachelor otherwise! So happy anniversary and please keep going!
My favorite thing is you, all of you. Thank you for creating this safe, fun, generous hearted and funny as hell space.
My favorite discovery here…probably a toss up between Elyse’s Bachelor recaps and the podcast. The recaps are among the funniest things I’ve ever read, and although I can’t make myself watch the show, I look forward to them every Tuesday. It’s also something to enjoy with one of my best friends who has lived in another state for a few years. We text each other about it regularly. As for the podcast, I must have listened to the interviews with Deanna Raybourn like 5 times each, and the episodes where you all get together are hilarious.
I have had to alter reading the cover snark posts to the night time because after TWICe snorting coffe up my nose, it was too great a sacrifice.
You guys introduced me to so many new things…Yours was the first podcast I ever listened to. I found Tom Bihn product based off a review from Sarah…Hundreds of authors discovered. A crazy amount of Christmas gifts were bought based off gift guides. I went to my first ever book signing with Candy for Beyond Heaving Bosoms!
Thank you.
My discovery is the community of roamnce readers – before I found SBTB I had no idea there was such a community of (mostly) women with strong feminists beliefs reading roamnce
This is super cheesy, but my favourite discovery has been the unashamed community of fellow romance readers. The idea that I could be proud of my reading choices, and didn’t need to hide or justify my desire for a happy ending.
My favourite thing is that this is a safe space where sniping at others’ opinions is almost non-existent. There are too many communities out there full of gatekeeping or comments that run along the lines of, “You liked or didn’t like that! Then you are clearly a moron.” Here, I can say that a generally well-loved book didn’t do a thing for me and know I won’t get buried in a mountain of disdain. Thank you for providing a safe and respectful space for us.
The podcast sucked me in. I’ve listened to every one. I have come depend on the reviews, the sale notifications, Twitter comments and the Instagram account. Happy Anniversary!
Where do I start?
I love SBTB’s knitting/crochet articles and comments, Ithrough which I discovered Ravelry, and thence a use for audiobooks .
Also love SBTB’s varied views on romance books, which take an adult approach,, not just the OMG I lovegush /hatespray when “discussing” a book, but (hopefully honest) reasons are given and taken on board for consideration.
Love how strong , sensible females are recognised /appreciated by the SBTB team and readers,, the way rape, domestic violence, bullying and stupidity in female heroines are deplored in romance books discussed on this site, I do hope this will continue.
So many things! The community, especially after the Amazon discussion boards ended. I think my favorite are the “What are you Reading” threads, because I get so many recs. And thank you for Jim C. Hines. The photo shoot of him in provocative poses led to his series, and wow, I wouldn’t love fantasy if I hadn’t discovered him.
And yes, the intelligent, tolerant, friendly discussions – in today’s world, this is beyond priceless. Thank you.
I came here by accident. A controversial book was being discussed on another site and a reviewer said this site has the best discussion thread regarding the book. They were right. I thought it was only me who’s head was exploding.
Thanks to you and the commenters, I have over 1000 book on my tbr pile and I’m still hooked and so, so far behind.
On the funny side, nothing beats the start of the day with your review of and others like “Ravished By a Triceratops”.
Happy anniversary! I come to read the reviews and get more books for my never ending TBR list, but I enjoy everything about the site.
My favorite discovery is the podcast. I still listen every week . Thanks for all the book recs. My TBR is overflowing and I have discovered many great authors. Thanks to this wonderful accepting community where we can discuss the genre we love (even if others love to hate it) and for creating this safe space.
Happy Anniversary! My favorite discovery is the cover snark.
I don’t think I could name one thing that stands out. It’s all special. I don’t know if I go all the way back to the beginning, but I remember all the way back to Candy Tan.
Happy Birthday, Bitches!
Not to get too cheesy, but I discovered a community through Smart Bitches and a confidence to love what I love unashamedly. Sometimes just knowing that there are other incredibly smart and thoughtful and funny readers out there who appreciate and love what I do is an incredible feeling. Some days are really hard, given work and family and LIFE, but every time I log on to this site, I feel better! Thanks for all you do!
My favorite discoveries have been diverse characters in romance novels – Talia Hibbert is my current ‘must read everything by this person’ author. Representation matters and this site has pointed me in the direction of lovely books that do it well. Thanks and happy anniversary.
Thank you for this wonderful website. I enjoy the book reviews, and especially the podcast.
I had read romance in high school, and stopped completely in college. Burned out from an English degree’s reading lists and kinda ashamed that I ever liked romance, I wasn’t reading for fun. I had some personal things happening and wanted to enjoy reading again. I don’t remember how exactly I found your site, but I do know that after reading some of your reviews and seeing the community of smart people loving romance, and loving the humor and honesty about the books, I bought some ebooks (hadn’t been an ebook reader then either) and now reading romance is my favorite thing to do.
Congratulations! I go back to the Sarah & Candy days and I remember when Sarah’s second child was born. I love Cover Snark, Cover Awe, the Cooking/Recipe posts, and What Are You Reading? I love the intelligent, thoughtful, funny, caring community that gathers here and the wonderful posts, book recommendations, and comments that really can’t be found in any other single place on the net—well certainly not with the same all-abiding love for all things that emanate from Romancelandia. This is also a generational thing for me (I’m older than most of you)—I’ve happily introduced my daughters to romance novels (one is a huge Regency fan) and this site.
My discovery was the actual site in 2009 and to this day it’s probably the only site I’m stll accessing on a daily level. Thank you for all the awesome book recommendations, the movie reviews, the knitting patterns and just generally the feeling that you are my far away american friends.
I like HaBO! It was so satisfying to have my query answered. The podcast every week definitely brightens my commute- thank you!
Happy anniversary! I’ve only just discovered y’all so have not been around for most of the first 14 years. May the next 14 be glorious!
SBTB is the one site where I actually look forward to reading the comments section! Happy anniversary!
SBTB is fabulous. My favorite is Elyse Watches the Bachelor.
Courtney Milan and Rosamund Hodge and Naomi Novik all came into my life as a reader through you, and I am grateful.
You were my first podcast and still are one of my favorites.
I’m crap at remembering where I heard of authors, but you’re definitely responsible for me owning most of Susanna Kearsley’s books and actually giving the Hamster Princess series a try.
That’s all I can think of right now. (Sorry. It’s early and I’m cold.)
Anyway, Happy Anniversary! *clinks mug of tea*
I can’t remember how I found this site, but now I can’t imagine not checking it at least once a day. I love cover snark, but mostly it’s all these wonderful recommendations – I’ll never get to all of them, but you’ve given me a whole world of wonderful books & authors to indulge in!
Also – oh, wow, that paper rose is amazing!
It seems funny, but I don’t remember how I found this site–but it’s one of the first I make sure to include in my browser bookmarks when I have to get a new computer. I check here every day to see what’s new–whether it’s a new-to-me author (I don’t think I could list all the authors I’ve discovered thanks to you guys) or cover snark–ohhh, the cover snark! Thanks for everything you do!! *hearts*
Happy Anniversary! You’re my moment of fun grown-up reading in the middle of my workday full of teenagers. My favorite discoveries from SBTB over the years are Tessa Dare’s books. They’ve become auto-buys for me. I love that you’re a site full of readers who love supporting each other’s joys. Soggy Bottoms, Elyse Watches the Bachelor, and book reviews are my favorites.
I love, love your podcasts. But most importantly, I love the community you have built. We live in interesting times and SBTB is a safe harbor full of warm, welcoming people whose love of reading keeps us together. Thank you.
It’s all about the SBs AND TBs. I think that it was the review of “Pregnesia” that brought me to SBTB, but it was the thoughtful discussions of the structure of TBs and their relationship to contemporary society that has kept me here, each and every day. As an older SB (@discodolly: I hear you!), it has kept me in touch with issues of interest to my daughter (40) and grandkids (oldest 21) who live far, far away. Many of those issues are ones that I dealt with (usually silently) and without the benefit of an outstanding cadre of TBs from the past couple of decades that help one negotiate this confusing, crazy world. Bless you all, SBs and especially Sarah, Queen SB!
My favorite thing is finding community that celebrates romance novels and totally freed me to admit I love them. I love the comments from readers, the recommendations, the “What We Are Reading”…….I love the whole site. Everything. Everything is my favorite.
I also love the community. I love that at the end of a thoughtful review, I will find equally thoughtful comments from posters. And of course, I love how many authors I discovered here, either in reviews or in the comments.
My favorite discovery here is the comments section where I can get answers to my weird questions about books – can I read this as a stand-alone? Are any innocents harmed in the book? Am I going to get hooked on a series only to have to deal with CW issues in a later book? Those things can make a difference to me about picking up a title and they are really hard to find elsewhere.
Honestly I’ve discovered that I love romance and I’m not ashamed! Also, thanks to a rec on the podcast – Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie has become a comfort read. Thanks for all you do and happy anniversary!
I’m a newbie, discovered this wonderland of snark only a couple of months ago when someone mentioned it on tor.com “because cross-polination is good for everyone”.
So many favorite things! Elyse’s bachelor recaps, look forward to them every week. Podcast – working my way through the archives, Bitches Assemble episodes are so awesome. Author discovered – Tessa Dare. Thank you thank you!
That I’m not the only one who understands the singular joy of reading a really bad book, and than ranting about it.
Probably some absurd percentage of the authors I’ve read in the last several years have been ones I’ve found through this site (like easily 80-90%). Pretty sure you got me using hoopla, too, and heavily using the library for e-books. I love that there’s a place on the internet with an ever going list of books to read and with reviewers with distinct enough tastes that I even know who I share similar tastes with. How would I even figure out what to read without you all?