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!
Congratulations on 14 wonderful years of Books and Bitchery! Amazingly, I seem to have been following you for 12 of them. The most special discovery gifted to me by SBTB is the rediscovery of romance that dozen years ago. I also have to say that this community has been a major perk of following youse guys. Other than that, there’s just a “few” authors–not all of them romance writers–so thank you, thank you, thank you. Here’s to at least 14 more!
My favorite thing is the rich vein of book reviews and recommendations!
My favorite thing you helped me discover was author Tessa Dare. My second favorite is LitWicks – my new favorite way to give gifts – a book and a candle!
Happy Anniversary, Smart Bitches! I found you in 2008, when a colleague pointed me to the blog after I read my first two romance novels. I’ve been a daily visitor ever since, so I can’t even list all the books and authors I discovered here. The community of smart, thoughtful romance readers is what keeps me coming back.
This website was my first venture into the romance community since RRA-L closed. I was a member of that list back in the late 1990s, and discovered that I crave the chance to be a part of Romancelandia. Since then, I have discovered countless new authors, starting writing romance myself, and began a romance book club at my library. Thank you for shining a light on the romance genre!
I lover cover snark and Habo but my new fave is when you recommend knitting patterns. It is my one year knitting anniversary also!
By FAR my favorite thing that I’ve discovered here is this community. When I found this site, I was overwhelmed with joy to find this community of smart, interesting humans who enjoy the same kinds of books that I love, and it continues to bring me joy on the regular. Happy 14th anniversary! And thank you for everything you do. Big love.
I most love the many new authors I’ve found through reviews and recommendations. My favorites are Anne Bishop and Patricia Briggs. And I love that there is so much fun stuff on this site. I thoroughly enjoy it. I’m usually a lurker, but I still get so much enjoyment. Congratulations and keep on with the great content!
Greatesr discovery is Tessa Dare. She is an auto-buy for me. I also loved when y’all talked about her on the pod!
One of my favorite things about SBTB was the book club. Those were so much fun.
Cover Snark always is a hit that can get me laughing, as well as HABO.
Thank you for all the years of good times. It always makes my day when I read your blog.
Happy 14th anniversary to you all! I look forward to the next fourteen years….
I’m another who enjoys the sense of community. I’m pretty sure I first saw mention here of Dragon Bound and The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. I’m a big fan of the monthly What Are You Reading column.
I don’t quite remember what search led me to this site, but I am forever grateful. I love ‘Hide Your Wallet’ because it has made my TBR pile a TBR mountain. I love the reviews from the romance community and the unapologetic love of everything romance. This site made me appreciate the genre so much more. 🙂
You introduced me to KJ Charles’ books! She’s one of my favorite authors now, so thank you for that and happy 14th anniversary!
You were the first site I found that spoke positively, humorously and so enthusiastically about Romance. I had been looking to expand my reading into new (to me) genres and your site was such a great resource. I’ve been regularly visiting ever since.
Thank you for creating such a smart, fun space for all things Romance!
So many things to choose from!
Lots of my favorite authors
Insightful, thoughtful discussion
Book Squees
Your Podcast
Elyse’s Bachelor recaps
Sooo many books on sale!
The RT Booklovers convention
The NPR best romance list (to which I contributed thanks to you)
The Pregnesia review. (I laughed til I cried. Just thinking about it still makes me smile!)
But #1 fave discovery is all of you and this community. Thank you!
Happy Anniversary!!❤️
I love HABO and Cover Snark but the books on sale list first brought me to the site.
I have big love for the culture you’ve created here–full of fun, smarts, and unabashed love for the romance genre. Long live SBTB!
I have discovered so many new authors and books through Smart Bitches,that there are too many to name. I always look forward to Hide Your Wallet every month, and although I do not watch the Bachelor, I always read Elyse’s episode recaps. This website also introduced me to the world of podcasts, and for that alone, I will be forever grateful. Happy 14th, Smart Bitches and to many more years to come.
This might be repetitive but I also discovered this community of snark and love of romantic cheese. Also, a whole crop of new authors. This site has been damaging (or encouraging depending on the time of the month) to my bank account. And yet, I can’t quit you. LOL.
Courtney Milan! And the sale posts that have destroyed all my budgets. And Elyse watches the Bachelor! And Talia Hibbert! And knowing my daughter won’t have to struggle to find romance novels with mixed race protagonists. And as everyone has said, the community here.
There is so much greatness, this site has been so helpful in my search for books that I click with. I especially love the sales post. I discovered Julie Garwood historicals because of a sales post on here.
A book I have been searching for years was solved on HABO. I am so grateful!
I have found so many books here that my TBR pile is actually a TBR Mountain Range threatening to avalanche on top of me!!
Happy Anniversary! I can’t remember when I first discovered Smart Bitches but it was close to the very beginning back in 2005. There’s so many things I love about this site and I’ve never been good at picking favorites. But I do remember my first favorite discovery – Lisa Kleypas. It was the Lightning Reviews – Lisa Kleypas posts. I found a new favorite author and several new favorite books from that post. And now many, many years later, Smart Bitches is one of the only websites I visit pretty much every day. I love this community and thank you all for this delightful space.
Congratulations on such a beloved and fun site!
Finding this great community of readers. Before finding this site and then the podcast I did not realize there were so many others who enjoyed the romance genre.
I came looking for a collection development tool when I was working for a library more than 6 years ago. Then I discovered cover snark, truly useful reviews (leading to soo many authors for me that are now auto-read), and historical kitchen awesomeness. I don’t work for the library anymore, but the content and fabulous community have kept me coming back. Here’s to many more! *cheers*
It would have to be Elyse’s Bachhelor recaps. 😉 But I’ve also loved finding new romance to read. Happy 14th Anniversary, SBTB!
This Feb is my 14th wedding anniversary,and I had similar struggles with a gift.
That being said, the thing I learned from Smart Bitches is just that there are others who love the genre as much as I do. That it IS a genre, and can be discussed intelligently and critically, same as any other genre. I always thought so, but finding a whole community? So wonderful.
Thank you, so, so much.
I love HABO and all the comments. Cover snark is always amusing too!
My favorite is everything? I love all of the recommendations and reviews, the cover snark, the cooking and baking and drinking segments, and I read every one of Elyse’s Bachelor/ette reviews, even though I’ve never seen a single episode of the show!
Thank you for being here and introducing me to the wide world of romance, and giving me the tools and language to express (and defend) my love for it!
I love that there are more than 200 people as enamored as I am – thank you for building a community based on something that most of us thought was a dirty little secret (reading romance). and the cover snark . . . laugh out loud funny!
happy anniversary!
I discovered Julie Anne Long’s Pennyroyal Green series here, I believe. Then, I consumed it all in one big gulp.
Happy Anniversary Smart Bitches! You all and this community make me smile online. Thank you.
I used to read mainly mysteries and when a family member was murdered I found them triggering for several years. I started to read comedies which lead to romance. I have found soo many new to me authors. I can now read mysteries again I read about eighty percent romance and the rest of my reading is split with other genres
I discovered my favourite book review EVER! The Playboy Sheikh’s Virgin Stable Girl.
Happy anniversary!
My favorite discovery is my writing partner, Lily Danes! We met at a Smart Bitches meet-up in 2014 and have co-written a six-book series since then. Also, we’re great friends! Thank you, SB, for making that happen. Happy anniversary!
My favourite discovery has been the community of funny, snarky, open hearted people. The articles and the comments, oh the comments,make me laugh. I’m not ashamed of my trashy book tendencies anymore. Thank you!
Probably coversnark. But my favorite book you helped me discover was “The Bear and the Nightingale”
I think my favorite is the podcast. I’ve learned so much in general, but especially about new authors that were outside my bubble, gained a better understanding my various catnip, and just as important what doesn’t work for me now.
My favorite discovery was Cover Snark. I was on desk at my library and scrolling through emails when I happened upon my first sighting. I almost fell off my chair I was laughing so hard, I remember it having to do with mountain men and babies, it was priceless. xoxo