Fifteen years ago, the site began. 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, fifteen years later. The site is now old enough to get its learner’s permit in several states. This is alarming to me, as my older son Freebird was born the same year as the site, so he’ll soon be permit-eligible, too. HOW IS THIS HAPPENING.
Fifteen years is, I have learned the Crystal Anniversary. Cool! I love anniversaries with a name (the fifth, by the way, is “wood” so insert jokes here). 15 is also Quinceañera time, should we wish to have truly epic parties in truly epic fashion.
This means I get to spend a somewhat alarming amount of time looking at incredibly fun and also vaguely inappropriate gifs. Crystal gif is strange searching, y’all.
First, as always: Thank you. Thank you for being part of Smart Bitches.
The internet has changed a LOT in 15 years, and our community is still here, still growing, still discussing romance and adjacent topics, and still hilariously welcoming and wonderful. I’ve said before that each year, the site anniversary feels a little bittersweet. So many websites have shuttered, and the fact that we are still here, and still growing, is a wonderful and deeply affirming thing. That wouldn’t be true without you.
So thank you for hanging out with us, for emailing us covers for snarking, for telling us about books you loved, and for being part of our community.
Are they made of Jello? I think they are.
As is our annual tradition (FOR FIFTEEN YEARS HOLY CRAP) we have a giveaway! The traditional gifts for the 15th are Crystal, as I mentioned, and Timepieces.
Crystal and Timepieces! So many possibilities.
For the crystal, I had an idea, and the lovely folks at Designs by Dake made it real:
Reading Glasses!
These are Smart Bitches exclusives, too! I created the design (and the pun) and ordered two sets of Reading Glasses. They are stemless wine glasses, suitable for holding all your beverages, while you read. With your Reading Glasses (snrk – no I’m not going to get tired of this pun. It gives me utter delight).
Which means I have two pair of Reading Glasses to give away!
But hold on to your beverages because that’s not all!
The lovely and wonderful folks at Withings are helping us celebrate with the Timepiece part of our anniversary celebration – and the crystal, part, too:
We also have one Withings Steel HR to give away, too!
The Withings Steel HR retail price starts at $179.99, and here are some additional specs about what this tracker can do:
- Smartphone compatibility with Android and iOS.
- Receives smartphone notifications.
- Water resistant up to 50m.
- 25 days of battery life.
- Heart rate and other fitness monitoring.
- Compatible app for fitness tracking.
Our coupon is still valid, too, if you’d like to do a little timepiece shopping. The Withings hybrid smartwatch range starts at $69 and goes up to $299.95
Use Coupon Code SBTB to receive 20% off orders greater than $100 on withings.com. Coupon applies to all products except Move ECG and BPM Core. This code cannot be used in combination with existing offers. Coupon valid in the US and in Europe and is valid until February 29th, 2019.
Want to enter this giveaway? A pair of Reading Glasses (2 available) or a Withings Steel HR? OH, Yay! Let’s do this!
To enter:
Leave a comment and tell us your favorite thing about Smart Bitches. A book you read? A cover that still makes you laugh? A story you’d thought you’d imagined but no, it was real? The hilarious commenting community? We want to know! Tell us your favorite thing about 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 learn to drive in a big, ruffly, sparkly dress. Reading Glasses shall contain only nonalcoholic beverages while driving of course. You’ll also need to celebrate with us in style by (of course) reading something great. Comments will close at noon ET on Thursday 6 February 2020 and winners will be announced shortly afterward.
Thank you for being part of Smart Bitches, and thank you for celebrating with us. Happy Anniversary!!
Winner update!
Reading glasses winners: Denise Metcalf & Mad Madam M
Withings winner: Stacey
My favorite thing about SBTB? That’s reeaallly difficult. I remember being a teenager listening to NPR explain the Cassie Edwards/Black footed ferrets scandal and it opening me up to an amazing community of romance readers.
SBTB has been there for me as I’ve grown and developed. SBTB taught me about love and what a respectful, mutually satisfactory relationship looks like. All as I’ve gone from awkward teen to young woman to grown-ass woman.
I guess I’m saying that my favorite part of SBTB has been growing up with SBTB. (And I look forward to the next stage of our lives together)
Happy anniversary and thanks for hanging in there!
My favorite thing about SBTB is a three-way tie:
* The community of staff, reviewers, and commenters – Nope, I’m not saying this to kiss *ss. Who would want to hang around if it weren’t for all the smart people saying clever things without degenerating into trollish behavior?
* HaBOs – I love the crazysauce, and I especially love when something that looks like absolute crazysauce gets 3 or more different suggested titles in response…like it seems amazing enough there could be one historical where the married heroine loses her memory and works her way up in a brothel to become the madam only to be discovered by her husband the duke when he shows up on the eve of his wedding for his anachronistic bachelor party.
* Whatcha Readin’ – as much as I appreciate the staff reviews, it’s the spontaneity of everyone’s quick semimonthly check-in that gets me really enthusiastic about new-to-me authors.
I enjoy the reviews and the posts helping people find books they’ve forgotten the titles of. Love the descriptions!
What first brought me to this site was a link to one of Elyse´s F reviews that made me laugh until I cried. I stayed for the community of unabashed romance lovers who are still unafraid to call out problematic themes in romance, the snark, the humor and the lack of trolls! And although I blame you for the mountain of unread books on my kindle app, I still love SBTB to bits!
Happy Anniversary! (to us all)
there are lots of things I love about the site and the group; helpful and sometimes hilarious reviews and recommendations, fun things like Cover Snarks and HaBO, the product reviews for things like candles and gifts, and mostly the odd community that’s formed here.
thank you so much for giving everyone a place to congregate,and talk about stuff that’s important
(if my name is drawn, the fabulous glasses, please. I don’t wear watches/trackers)
Happy Anniversary! Here’s to the next 15!
My favorite would be HaBO because who doesn’t love a good mystery? I love the book sales to feed my tower tbr book hoard. Also Elyse’s Bachelor recap is THE BEST!! I always have to make sure I go pee before reading because I know I am going to laugh hard.
I’ve said it before, but my favourite thing here is that we have a supportive and safe space to talk about the books we love. I can say that a well-loved book or author doesn’t appeal to me without a storm of replies calling me a moron. I can say that I liked a poorly-received book without having the hounds descend on me. I love the lack of gatekeeping and acceptance of all readers, no matter their preferences.
Thank you Sarah, for fifteen years of laughs, reflection and a community that allows us to share our love of these books.
Happy anniversary! I love Coversnark
The community and the podcast
Congratulations—and here’s to another 15 great years! I’ve been reading the site since almost the beginning (I know I was a regular reader by the time Sarah’s second child was born) and one of the great things (amongst many great things) about SBTB is the intelligence and inclusivity of the community here. I hardly miss a day checking in with the Bitchery—and I usually read all the posts and comments, even if I don’t comment myself. Also, in the past couple of years, I’ve become a real fan of the podcast (can’t wait to listen to all the RWA-implosion-related podcasts over the next few days). I usually listen on Saturday mornings while cooking and doing laundry.
My favorite thing about this site is being exposed to new (and new-to-me) books and authors. There’s been a number of books that I wouldn’t have read (because their cover/blurb//concept/description/etc didn’t appeal to me) but for a review here.
My favorite thing (other than cover snark cause that makes my day) is that you guys are so thoughtful with your reviews. You don’t hold back info if a book is an F or DNF. Not that there are a lot of books that receive this grade, but considering that other sites have “no negative review” policies, it’s so nice to see someone be real about it.
Congratulations! I’m not sure if I’ve been here since the very beginning, but I’m pretty sure I’ve been following you 10+ years. I will also vote for the community and how Sarah et al do their best to tackle cultural changeand difficult discussions head on. That’s really appreciated and is something that has helped me grow and learn as a reader.
The community and book recommendations are great, but what’s been most valuable to me is being made to question my assumptions and view of the world. I think I’m a better person for having followed this site.
The reason that SBTB continues (congrats for a fabulous 15! years) is its (our?!) thoughtful, heart-felt consideration of hard things going on in the world that comes with ways to deal those hard things, through discussions, through laughter and tears, through books (the weirder the better), and through a recognition that there are others out there struggling with the same issues. So. SBST gang, including reviewers, readers, lurkers and the like are THE BEST.
Sigh. I bought a Withings, full price, last week. Sigh. I love it!
Happy anniversary! And because I suck at following directions (but am great at giving them, by the way), AND with many, many apologies to the Sound of Music, I present:
Women on romance and drinking and laughter
Bachelor recaps the afternoon after.
Lightning reviews and the sharp comment’ry
These are the best of the Smart Bitchery!
When the boss yells,
When the phone rings,
When I’m feeling mad.
I simply click onto the Smart Bitchery,
And then I don’t feel so bad.
My favorite part is discovering new books that I wouldn’t otherwise come across——from the reviews, Whatcha Reading, the podcast, and general reader comments. Thank you so much for the site 🙂
My favorite part of Smart Bitches is the community of readers you have developed. I follow the site through a newsfeed so I can read every post. If I have to choose one part of the site, I would go with the podcasts since they get me through a lot of walking. Here’s to many more years of enjoyment. Thank you.
Happy Anniversary! 🙂 I love seeing what everyone is reading in the Whatcha Reading posts.
Happy Anniversary!! I don’t know if I can really narrow it down to a single favorite thing, but I’ll pick something….one of my favorite things is HABOs. I can so relate to the fever dream of being SURE I read a book that was totally like THIS but WHAT WAS IT??? But then there are people who can actually interpret my incoherent ramblings! I love it. <3 Here's to another 15+ years!!
There are SO many things I like about SBTB! Reviews, and finding new books & authors, obviously, but the single thing that just slays me is the HaBO. Even when I don’t know the book, I enjoy reading the comments… and sometimes *have* to get the book. 🙂
I came here for the feminism (which is still what I love most about this site) and I stayed for the hilarity (F+ reviewed, Bachelor recaps, cover snark – adore them all)!
I love the podcast. And Cover Snark. And the Batchelor and Bachelorette coverage. And the reviews.
Basically, everything.
On a day-to-day basis, my favorite thing on here is the HaBOs. The things remembered are always intriguing, and the Bitchery is so very good at figuring out what the book is. It’s a great way to find interesting things.
But irregularly, my favorite thing is your no-holds barred, in-depth explanation of bleep that is going on. From Cassie Edwards to the RWA sh*storm, you are my go-to stop for the news behind the sudden flurries of tweets. Thank you for the excellent journalism that you provide in this area.
Also, in general, I really, really love that y’all have made a commitment to make this an open, welcoming place for readers of all backgrounds. And your understanding that being open to love in all forms means that Nazis, segregationists, and other deplorable folks aren’t welcome. Y’all have a firm hand on your comment threads, and that makes it a safer and more fun place for the rest of us. Thank you for setting the ground rules and enforcing them, because you have some of the best, most interesting comment threads on the Internet.
I love all of you so much. Thank you for all you have done in the last fifteen years to make the Internet and Romancelandia a better place. Here’s to many more! L’chaim!
Happy Anniversary!!! I love, love, love coversnark—I have to read all the comments, too. And I also love HaBO. (And finding some good book recommendations is the gravy on top.)
I think my favorite thing about SBTB is the community. While the site’s reviews and articles are always great – can’t tell you how many books I’ve one-clicked on straight after reading a review here – it’s really the other readers here who make this place wonderful for me. It’s also the ONLY site on the Internet where I always, always read the comments – and never walk away wanting to burn it all down.
Thanks for being a resource and a haven these past 15 years, Smart Bitches.
I’ve been a lurker for many years on the site and just recently started regularly posting. If I had to choose, my favorite parts are Cover Snark and the Podcasts. ^_^
My favorite things are Elyse watching the Bachelor/Bachelorette and the HaBO! I always get so many good reads from HaBO!
I like the daily sales and new release posts the best. And the book reviews (I’m not such a fan of the tc recaps and recipes). And I love to follow the comments on a HABO post, even though I never ever know the answer.
It’s hard to pick one. I love the daily deals, the cover snark, and the commenters. The group of people gathered at this site always makes me smile.
I love your willingness to post about books that score below a C — most blogs don’t do this. Also, you were the first podcast I found when looking to reconnect with the romance world
I started reading not long after you guys started up and have been here ever since. You all convinced me that reading romance was a good thing–I used to be one of these “romance is trashy” snobs and now I know better. Thanks for widening my horizons! Your reviews are great and have helped me discover many new reads. I have never watched the Bachelor because I can’t imagine how it could be as entertaining as Elyse’s summaries.
Cover. Snark. Need I say more???
Happy anniversary! I love so many things about SBTB. Sarah, your tastes tend to align with mine, so it’s always nice to know I can trust a review. You keep my TBR list long! And in recent years, Elyse’s Bachelor(ette) commentaries leave me on the floor laughing. I don’t even watch the Bachelor, but it’s my favorite time of year. (Sorry, Elyse, you’re stuck doing them forever.)
There are so many things I love about the SBTB community, but I look forward to the HABOs. I got one right once (AND it was a question posted by Nalini Singh!!!) and I live for the day when I am the first person to get one right again.
Happy 15th! I love the reviews. I have read so many great books based on the reviews here. And the Books on Sale! I’m buying books every week because of this feature.
I love the intelligence of everyone here, the sincere progressive critiques (issues like consent, characters who are just plain jerks, etc.), and the site’s “we love romance & we ain’t apologizin’ for it” tone. I also find the HABOs to be superfun.
My favorite thing about this web site? That’s easy. Thoughtfulness. The thoughtfulness that goes into every article and podcast and review. And the thoughtfulness of the people who both create and participate in SBTB, for all things Romance and for each other. A lovely rarity these days.
Of course, to be honest, I also have to give the nod to all the things here that have ever made me snort hot tea all over my keyboard. Which happens frequently. I’ve never appreciated scorched sinuses so much!
Thank you.
My favourite thing about Smart Bitches are how many amazing books I’ve found though the site! Because of the reviews I have been able to find so many new authors that I love and I’ve spent less time trying books that ultimately are just not for me. I only have so much time for reading so it is awesome to have someone I trust review books and help me decide if they are for me.
Happy anniversary!
With the safe space and the community topping my list of many, many entries about what I love about SBTB, I do love that the podcast keeps my bitches with me even when I can’t be eyes to screen.