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!
It is hard to say one thing. I am so happy to have found a place that takes my preferred genre seriously and treats me like an adult while reading it. I enjoy the reviews and have found a number of authors that I might not have found otherwise since my favorite bookstore closed which used to help me find new authors. I appreciate the safe space to air opinions that may not be the mainstream but won’t be trolled. I like the variety of non-book articles too and I even read the articles on knitting and I don’t knit!
As with most everyone else here, it is the community that keeps me coming back. I returned to romance after a THIRTY year break and found that since I left romance had become (in the very best way) political. That every book no longer contained a spanking scene, that consent mattered, that heroes bothered with protection and women didn’t have to be virgins. Talia Hibbert, Courtney Milan—I wasn’t going to read historical!—Alyssa Cole and Alisha Rae, and so very many more. And I learned we could laugh (the bachelor, cover snark), trade book ideas, find cool things to buy on the net, and think about love in all sorts of different ways. This site is amazing; long may it survive. In dark times this has been light in the desert! Thank you Sarah, Red Headed Girl, Elyse, the Whole SB team.
I love the well-written and insightful book reviews. I have found so many good books and wonderful authors not only from the reviews but from the comments and the podcast. Thanks to everyone for all you do for SBTB!
I love the comments. I will leave things like the bachelor and outlander recaps unread for a couple of days so that I can see what the other bitches have to say about them.
Ah the things I’ve found here — Courtney Milan, Elyse’s review of “The Billionaire Dinosaur Forced Me Gay”, Tessa Dare, Carrie S’ review of “Someone to Love” that called out some troubling racism which then started an amazing respectful discussion in the comments in which both the author (Mary Balogh) and Courtney Milan participated and it was AWESOME, Cover Snark, Elyse watching The Bachelor, and just the great community, thoughtful commentariat and hilarious reviews.
My favorite things are the F+ reviews.
Happy Anniversary!!!
I have found so many loved and glommed romance authors here, too many to list.
I love that this site stands. For romance, for informed consent, for calling out the patriarchy and all manner of toxic BS. Thank you.
I love that you have created this wonderful community and give it a home. And I love that you share more than books.
The favorite discovery that has impacted me the most was a very simple knitting pattern that Elyse shared. So simple, I thought, “I could do that”. And thanks to YouTube I did. It’s now a couple of years later and I’m presently knitting market bags for Xmas (I will get distracted at some point so starting early is needed) and usually listening to the podcast whilst I do so.
I am grateful for the proud community of romance readers! (And Cover Snark!)
So many good books! My reading tastes align very closely with Sarah and Elyse, so it makes it easy to find new books I like. Also, Elyse’s Bachelor recaps are giving me life right now. Sorry, Elyse, but you’re just going to have to keep watching.
One of my best finds was the recent recommendation of the The Dreamer, the webcomic! I’m almost at the end and it’s so good and I don’t want it to end!
I learned that I can read about romance and sexytimes without having to be ashamed.
It’s a toss-up between the Cover Snark (which is always entertaining), the critiques of plot holes (Plot Moppets, PantsFeelings, etc), and the community. I almost never comment here because whatever I would have said, someone has already said in a more eloquent way. 🙂
I love, love reading the comments and the conversations that happen between people that frequent this site! I’ve found more reccomendations for movies, shows, books, and even recipes. ♡
My favorite thing I’ve discovered here is the lack of shame about reading romance! For years I hid my love for these wonderful books but now I tell anyone who will listen that I LOVE ROMANCE NOVELS!
I first found the podcast when I was just looking for generally book-themed things to listen to. What I found was a website that is thoughtful, creative, and hilarious in equal measures. What I found was romance! I’d been reading mystery and fantasy my whole life, but had never picked up romance. A year later, and…well, I’m fully converted. SBTB has given me cover snark, reviews of the bachelor I never knew I wanted (I do want!!), and the knowledge that I love a good contemporary fake marriage or friends to lovers plot. Thank you all for everything you do!!
I’m gonna be cheesy with everyone else and say my favourite discovery is the community–because it’s very true! (Even though I mostly lurk these past few years.) Equal to that was the critical approach you took towards and the issues you highlighted about romance novels. I had never thought to look at them critically and it’s really enriched not only my reading experience but how I assess my life as a whole. Thank you <3.
Happy anniversary! What an accomplishment! I have discovered more books (and movies and tv shows) than I can even remember thanks to all of your hard work! The one I am most grateful for is your reviews of Downton Abbey which led me to this amazing series. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I’ve learned so much from this site but probably the most influential is how great Courtney Milan is and how I need to read all her books!
Happy Anniversary! This is such a wonderful site and community that has truly changed how I read and think about what I’m reading. I think for me the greatest discovery is how much I enjoy romance and thinking about genres and subgenres.
Can I say the entire site? ☺️ Finding this community of fellow romance lovers has been incredible! If forced to choose, I would say HABO. I love smart bitches coming together to help find amazing books for fellow smart bitches! Here’s to another 14 years!
I love Cover Snark, and you introduced me to Lord of Scoundrels!
The RT book lovers con. You guys were nice enough to answer my letter about RT Vegas a few years ago and I haven’t missed one since. I’ve met so many friends each year and converted some of my friends as well. Thank you!
My absolute favorite discovery is Elyse’s Bachelor recaps! She cracks me up so much! I also love all the fantastic snark from everyone! And Happy 14th Anniversary!! That is such an accomplishment!!
Happy anniversary! Thank you all so much for all the hats work you put into keeping this site up and thriving.
My favorite thing has been the community. It was so incredible to find a group of intelligent people who enjoy the same things I do and who can have all the necessary discussions, both serious and not so serious. Visiting your site is one of the things I most look forward to everyday.
My favorite isn’t one particular “thing.” What I have loved about the site is that it gradually taught me that I do not have to feel ashamed about reading and liking romance novels. What I once would sheepishly call a “guilty pleasure” I now proudly endorse. Thank you SBTB!
My favorite thing, which brought me here and I love to revisit, the review of the sheik stablemaster? book. That was awesome and epic.
Also book suggestions, definitely broadened my book universe.
I discovered a community. Thanks for 14 years.
Also, I never miss a podcast. Podcasts are my catnip.
Specific book? “Lord of Scoundrels.”
Lots of others also. I sort of fell away from romance in my 20s–when I came up, contemporaries were all millionaires (this is when a million dollars went a lot farther) who were mean to their secretaries while secretly hot for them, and historicals were full of dubious (or non-existent) consent. SBTB led me to the vast variety of publishing nowadays, especially books that are only published as specific platform e-books and thus not accessible through the library.
Also movie reviews. I’ve found some great stuff that way.
My favorite thing I’ve discovered here are the HaBO posts. It’s so fun seeing those mysteries get solved and adding to my TBR in the process! I visit this site daily and always look forward to your posts and reviews. Here’s to many more years of the Bitchery!
If I had to pick, I’d say introducing me to Jennifer Crusie would be the best thing I ever got from the site. First time I picked up one of her books, I was hooked and there was no going back.
So many things to choose from! How about the list of Hanukkah romances. Makes me happy to know there are some out there. And the HEAVING BOSOMS book. Too many other recommendations to mention. So glad you exist! Happy 14th anniversary, Smart Bitches!!
I came for the title; stayed for the book reviews.
My favorite discovery had been Lucy Parker, my now-favorite author.
Love the site!
the biggest thing I discovered here was fun – interesting reviews, cover snark, cool products to buy, authors/books to investigate in a bunch of different genres; but if I have to name just one – Sarina Bowen. your reviews led me to reading her stuff (solo and coauthored) and I’ve loved just about everything.
My favorite discovery is this wonderful community of smart, bookish people here who love romance just as much as I do!
I came for the cover snark, but stayed for the recs. For real, I have found so many great authors over the years and become much more deliberate in my romance reading since following your site.
I love your book recommendations on Instagram, I’ve discovered great books that way. Also, love the F grade book reviews, they give me infinite laughs.
My favorite part of the last 14 years was earning my HaBO title, “Duchess Twitterpants”. You may address me as “Your Grace”.
Mazel Tov on 14 years of SBTB awesome, all in the name of romance!
HABO. It is the best thing ever. Not only are people helping other people find books but the descriptions are generally crazysauce and just fun to read. I also love the ‘not the right book but also might like’ comments that get added so in case you don’t find the book there are others in a similar vein that you could enjoy.
My favourite discovery on this site is the Outlander series – the pure crazy sauce of the series is insane!