Sixteen years ago, the site began.
Smart Bitches launched on 31 January 2005 with a review for Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn and for The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann. We’re still here, discussing romance and everything around it, sixteen years later.
In many states, the site is eligible for a driver’s license. (We won’t discuss how my older child, born the same year as the site, may also be eligible for the same. Shhhh. SHHHH.)
This year, as always: Thank you. Thank you for being part of Smart Bitches.
Our community is still growing, still talking about everything, and still hilarious, welcoming, and warm and wonderful. None of that would be possible without you.
So thank you for hanging out with us each day, for sending us so many great covers for snarking, for telling me bad jokes, for telling us about books you loved, and for being part of our community.
As usual, I took a peek at the traditional and modern anniversary gifts for the 16th year, and what did I find? Wax and silver holloware!
At first glance, I thought the page said “silver halloween,” to which I thought, GAME ON.
No, holloware is something else entirely. But wax?
Oh, YEAH. I knew just what I wanted to do.
We all need a little light in the darkness, right?
There’s nothing like cozy smells and twinkling lights on a dark evening, right?
So to celebrate sixteen years of Smart Bitches, I’m giving away…yup, sixteen candles. The reviewing crew and I put our heads together to find some lovely bookish candles and beautiful scents and colors.
Ready? It’s candle prettiness time! I’m giving one of each of the following candles away!
Want to win a candle? I hope so! I’ve got so many links over here ready to shop!
Just comment below and share one of your favorite Smart Bitches memories.
A book you discovered here?
A cover snark that made you snort laugh?
A HaBO you solved?
The high incidences of random silliness?
Tell us one of your favorite Smart Bitches moments 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. If a specific candle is sold out when the giveaway ends, another from this set will be substituted. Must be over 18 and ready to spread light as far as possible. Reading while enjoying the warmth and light also recommended. Comments will close at noon ET on Saturday 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!!
Update: Comments are closed and winners will be emailed shortly. Thank you all for your kind words, comments, and nostalgia!
I’m indebted to SBTB for years of superb recommendations! You are a great resource.
Thanks for introducing me to (in no particular order,) K.J. Charles, Beverly Jenkins, Alexis Hall, Courtney Milan, Xan West, Talia Hibbert, Alyssa Cole, Charlotte Stein, Mina V. Esguerra, Adriana Herrera, & Rose Lerner.
Keep those reviews coming!
I’ve discovered so many fantastic books here over the years, but the most significant was the Kingmaker series from Amanda Bouchet. The first book came to me at the exact time I needed it and reading it over and over helped me get through a tough time in my life.
Over the years I’ve seen a couple of articles about some of the weirder descriptions of sexy times and body parts in romance novels. I think one of them was by Elyse. The earlier one may have been by Candy. Ruched nipples and weeping va-jay-jays tend to stay with you over the years even if you forget the article’s author and the amazing comments. Why, just the other day, I came across an actual tongue lathing a nipple in the wild. LMAO every time.
Aside from the many books I get to read and add to my TBR, and the money I save by snagging Kindle deals on books I’ve been waiting for, I love getting to read the play by play of the Bachelor without having to actually watch the show!
I wandered in sometime around 2014 after I went to RT14 and y’all were mentioned in more than one conversation about a good place to find reviews & recs. I don’t comment much but I love what goes on here. The cover snark is one of my favorite things and I have an Amazon wish list dedicated to all the pretties I covet thanks to you all!
Holy moly 16 years! Congratulations. My favorite memory was meeting Sarah at the last RT and watching the live romance family feud taping. It’s closely tied to discovering Nalini Singh through a rec here though. I discovered this site in college at the beginning of my romance journey and it’s been my faithful companions every step of the way. Thank you SBTB team for all you do!
Discovering Laura Florand. Plus all the cove snarks. I love you gals!
I discovered I have a trope that I love! MOC/Fake relationships are my catnip. I’ve also learned not to be embarrassed about my love of HEAs and people dismissing romance as “fluff”, this group makes me proud to be a part of it!
I owe STBT infinite gratitude for introducing me to so many authors and books I hold near and dear to my heart, but especially Loretta Chase and my all-time favorite romance novel, Scandal Wears Satin. It’s a comfort read that has lifted me up time and time again, and always will.
Favorite moments, however definitely have to go to the bachelor/bachelorette recaps. I’ve laugh-cried at them so many times I couldn’t even tell you, and I still have not seen a single episode of the actual show.
Happy Anniversary!
I could talk about the books and authors I have discovered here, I can mention the thoughtful reviews, the fun cover snark, the rec leagues and HABOs, I can speak of the deep, wide-ranging, sometimes-uncomfortable-but-necessary discussions, but what brings me here and keeps me coming back is the community. Beware! Here there be romance readers!
I have found so many favorite authors here – you have truly reshaped my reading life for the better. I would say my favorites are The Game Plan by Kristen Callihan, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, and Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert. I wish you many more happy anniversaries. Thank you for everything!
Thanks to reviews and discussions from all the smart bitches here, I discovered what I actually like in a romance, and now I have a bunch of happy-making, comforting books that get me through.