Nineteen years ago, on 31 January 2005, Smart Bitches began. The site launched with a review for Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn and for The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann. We’ve had cover snark and cover awe, helping of bitches out, and, as a neat coincidence, Smart Podcast Trashy Books will publish its 600th episode on Friday 2 February 2024.
Celebrations everywhere!!
Thank you. The site wouldn’t still be here without you. Our community is welcoming new readers, helping people find the books they want to read, and thriving as a warm and wonderful collection of humans from all over the globe.
It’s a very hard time in the online media world, especially in the independent media world like we are, and the offline media world, for so many people. And because we are still talking to one another is an accomplishment and one that I don’t take for granted.
Thank you for hanging out with us, for telling us about all the books you’ve read and liked, and about the books you’ve read and didn’t like. Thank you for supporting our work and telling us jokes, for emailing us exquisite cover art, and for being part of our community.
As I always do, I took a look at the traditional and modern anniversary gifts for the 19th year, and this year, both modern and traditional gifts are bronze.
Well, that’s a challenge. But I am ready for it!
We’re giving away bronze bookmarks to celebrate our anniversary!
I have two of this one:
Each one reads “May we all live happily ever after – SBTB.”
That’s my wish for everyone, that we all live happily ever after, inside and outside of our books. (Inside of a book, it’s too dark to read, lolol.)
And, while we’re at it, let’s raise a toast!
I’m also giving away a Reading Glass, aka a stemless wine glass dipped in bronze (isn’t that pretty?) to accompany your next reading session.
So, want to win a prize?
Just comment below and share one of your favorite Smart Bitches memories.
A book or author you discovered here that you adore?
A cover snark that you re-read and then snort-laugh?
A conversation or review you still think about?
A HaBO you solved or a HaBO you sought?
What post or moment do you think of when you think of Smart Bitches? Tell us one of your favorite Smart Bitches memories 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 read, and possibly sip fine beverages, with panache and style and some bronze accents. Comments will close at noon ET on Sunday 4 February 2024 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: Congratulations to Libby, Hope-and-Memory, and Katie! Please check your inboxes and spam folders.
My goodness. So many good wishes to you Sarah, Amanda, and everyone who works behind the scenes and has worked behind the scenes over the years. And hi Catherine, in the non-physical! You were my favorite—your tastes coinciding with mine. You led me to so many favorites, including Celia Lake. STBT has been responsible, single-handedly, for so many of my favorite author discoveries. Innskeeper chronicles. AJ… ahh the stariel series. DDD’s harlequin reps. All the cozy recs. The babysitter’s club show rec. Ted Lasso rec. Katee Roberts. Role Playing by Cathy Yardley. Cate C Wells. Miles Vorsokigan!!! I love the Vorsokigan series SO MUCH. And I started at the start cuz everyone kept raving about the Miles in Love book and how good it is if you start at the beginning….
Even more, this is my happy place. My place to soothe myself. My place when I need a dose of peace and calm and joy. Thank you Sarah for the intention that keeps it so and for the community which makes it so.
I am so fiercely glad that this corner exists. I also absolutely LOVE that bookmark. Would be chuffed if I won it and use it all the time. There’s a sense of blessing about it that tugs at me… as whimsical as that sounds.
Lotsa love to the whole bitchery!
Bon Anniversaire, y’all!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BITCHES!!! THANK YOU FOR THIS FORUM. IT IS VERY MUCH NEEDED SINCE A LOT OF PLACES TO SHARE ABOUT BOOKS ARE FEW AND WAY FAR BETWEEN. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. MUCH AND BEAUTIFUL REGARDS. (XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Thank you so much Sarah, Candy, Amanda and the reviewers for such a wonderful website for so many years!
I still think about The Playboy Sheikh’s Virgin Stable Girl, which Sarah also talked about at the romance weekend event at Durham (NC) public library circa 2012.
I think I’ve been with y’all for about 15 or 16 of those years. I seem to recall that I was doing Google searches for the best romances because I wanted to try reading some of the genre, and an SBTB post came up in the results – maybe “desert island keeper shelf” or “what would you put in a gift basket to bring someone to the genre” type of list. SBTB has been an almost daily site check for me across the years – I look forward to all of the posts.
The Pink Palace has survived far beyond many a publisher, romance organization, romance event (RIP, RT), the shift into social media from blogging for book content, etc. I firmly believe it’s because of just how special this community is. Romance readers truly are a uniquely supportive and loving bunch. I’ll always remember meeting Sarah at a library screening of “Love Between The Covers” and her shooing me over to fangirl at Tere Michaels at RT in Atlanta, because she knew how much I love Tere’s books.
I particularly remember finding a motherlode of fuchsia while working at a former bookstore job and clearancing older romances. That Suzanne Robinson is still everything I love in a romance cover. See here: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2012/05/fuchsia-where-have-you-gone/
The mystery of the “Classics of Romance” origins endures, though:
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2023/03/habo-update-classics-of-romance-edition/
I started reading around the time of the Black Footed Ferrets scandal with Cassie Edwards (I remember donating to Defenders of Wildlife).
I have learned about so many books and authors here – two that stick to mind are the Murderbot series and Paladin’s Grace.
I’ve discovered so many wonderful authors here! I think last time this question was asked, I named Loretta Chase. This time I’m going to say Jessie Mihalik.
Happy birthday! It would take me ages to list all the things I’ve found through the site and especially by listen to the podcast, but my top three are:
– The first episode I ever listened to was the interview with Mary Balogh and when I finally picked up her books, I hyperfixated on them for like, 6 months straight
– Murderbot. After hearing about it so many times on the podcast, I started listening to the audiobooks and the next thing I knew I was properly obsessed with them.
– The Last Binding trilogy by Freya Marske. Her explanation of her magic system on the podcast was so fascinating that I picked up A Marvelous Light and fell in love with the world and the sheer queer joy.
My favorite memory: many years ago I submitted a HaBO for some Harlequin category romance from the late 70’s/early 80’s. It was of its time, and had some rapey-adjacent scenes and other problematic tropes. The HaBO was solved pretty quickly, but what I remember was one commenter who asked “Ugh–why would you WANT to reread this book?” I immediately felt embarrassed and shamed when I read the comment and then so affirmed when I read the next one, which said words to the effect of “why are you judging this lady? She remembered a book she wanted to read again and it’s not anyone’s place to comment on that.” Felt very affirmed by the community and have never forgotten it.
This is one of my favorite places to get book recommendations, so for that alone, you deserve all the praise. But my absolute favorite thing that SBTB did were the podcast episodes on re-reading the Sweet Dreams books. Those podcasts are absolute perfection. ::chef’s kiss::
HAPPY B*TCHOVERSARY! I don’t even know how many years I have been following you, but this is one of my favorite places on the web. I love Elyse’s Bachelor recaps, the cover snark, the Kick-Ass Women, the reviews, the podcasts. In particular I remember the podcasts with Emily Nagoski, which were so enlightening and supportive. Most of all I love this wonderful, inclusive, supportive, snarky, generous community you have built; it’s a rare and wonderful thing and I hope it continues for many years to come. Mazel tov!
Just a thank you – and happy anniversary!
I discovered SBTB back in 2011 when I was laid off from my job and googled something like “does anyone else read romance books?” I have mostly been a “lurker” for these past 13 years, but an appreciative one: snorting my way thru cover snark and reading reviews looking for recommendations.
Two particular memories. Pre-pandemic there was a get together at the Strand bookstore in NYC. I was wowed by the size of the crowd as well as, frankly, how much fun the event was. Can we do it again?? Second, I did emerge from my lurking to ask a HaBO – and I want to thank everyone who answered so quickly, so kindly, and so correctly.
Thank you to SB Sarah, to co-founder Candy, to all the reviewers past and present, and to all of you in the community for your creativity and your commitment to keeping SBTB such a welcoming place for all of us.
I found your site and then joined your newsletter at the beginning of COVID-19 when I was looking for books that would help me escape. You introduced me to a new genre (Historical Romance) and some of my favorite authors (Lisa Kleypas, Tessa Dare, and Julia Quinn)
My fav SBTB memory is the HaBO where I sought a romance from the 90’s and almost immediately got not only the name of the book I loved but purchase options and even some offers of starting a lending library of this book because it was out of print!
I love the camaraderie you can find at SBTB and am so glad I’ve found my people. <3
IN UR ROMANCE, SAVING UR LIFE! (Nuff said.)
I remember reading the reviews for the first two books of Lois McMaster Bujold’s THE SHARING KNIFE, wanting to read the whole story asap… but deciding to wait until all four parts of the story were out in mmpb for a full glom. In the meanwhile, I introduced Cordelia and Aral into my life… I’ve been hooked on Bujold ever since. (And parts three and four of TSK eventually released and I had my glom.)
Thank you for all the years of fun and foolishness, as well as the srs bsns and having my thoughts provoked. Thank you for all the introductions to new books and authors, to fellow readers whose recs I automatically pay attention to, and to all kinds of weird and wonderful products across the internet.
Thank you for the safe space to squee about romance.
Here’s to another nineteen years! L’chaim! *toasting you with my tea* (Hey, let’s be real, it’s the middle of the week! Tea is where it’s at.)
I will always be grateful that very early on, my HABO was solved. And quickly too. since then, I have enjoyed so many aspects of this site, and even include it in my Readers’ Advisory Workshop I teach.
Happy Anniversary!
This site introduced me to Sarina Bowen’s books and I am ever so grateful 🙂
Forever the Pregnesia conversations
But honestly, it’s been my go-to for romance recs for over many of those 19 years, and still one of the only places online where the comment section is a fun place to be. Thank you for everything you do
Thank your Bitches! I don’t remember when I found you, at least 10 years, it was love at first read. You have introduced me to Lucy Parker, Ilona Andrews, Lauren Dane, Theodora Goss, Patricia Briggs, Andrea Penrose, Alice Clayton and many more. This is a community of intelligent and compassionate humans. A safe harbor in a nutso world. Too many more years! Thank you again.
Wow, happy 19th!!! I’ve been here on and off for a lot of those years, and the site has truly brought me so much joy and so many book recommendations.
Here are not one but TWO of my favorite memories!
1. Giving my coworker a copy of Beyond Heaving Bosoms as a present… at work. I’m sure that was HR-appropriate!
2. I think I’ve referenced this before, but a kdrama review here helped me spiral headlong into kpop fandom, which is my super happy place (and it got me through the pandemic), so thank you for that.
Everything about SBTB is a gift to readers, the one truly open and welcoming place on the internet. You’ve built a community that is smart, safe, funny and unapologetic about the books we love.
I remember 2016, when some of us were so shattered after the election. SB Sarah, I will always be grateful for how you stood up when a few comments were less than understanding. Your response was clear and unequivocal in support of our collective need to grieve. For me, that is SBTB.
So many things to love and be grateful for! I think this year I’ll give a shout out to the Kick-Ass Women in History feature. I always learn something new.
Wow 19 years!! So impressive! I haven’t been reading y’all the entire time, but it has been many years. When I first discovered you, I spent a good long time reading the backlog of reviews. I’ve lost track of the number of authors and books I discovered thanks to reviews and hide your wallet posts!
Happy Anniversary! Y’all have introduced me to so many new authors and great books. And to think I discovered the site via a knitting pattern search! I must admit that I am wildly amused by every Bachelor/Bachelorette recap. I watch almost no television (too busy reading!) and it is fun to read these recaps of what seems to be the most ridiculous show ever.
Your site is the only one I check daily. I await each Friday’s podcast eagerly to see what books you will be highlighting and who do I get to listen to this weekend. You have expanded my horizons with audiobook listening and cozy videogaming to dinosaur and monster sex. You have educated me on privilege and racism, showed us all an example of how to make a website and podcast accessible and continue to share reviews and cover snark and all the other great stuff on romance and genre fiction we came here for to begin with. THNAK YOU, thank you, thank you to Sarah, Amanda, and all of the SBTB team. I am happy I am able to support your work and website with my Patreon funds. Long may SBTB reign supreme!
I was very new to Romance when I read a random HaBO asking if anyone remembered a book where the mother-in-law hung pictures of Judith Holding the Head of Holofernes in every room. Since my name is Judith (and I love those paintings), I was instantly intrigued. Answer – Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James. I tried one and was instantly hooked. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Happy 19th birthday, Smart Bitches! I am so glad I found this website back in the before times (I can’t even remember how long I’ve been coming here). I’ve gotten so many good recommendations from here. I discovered Lucy Parker, CJ Charles, Simona Ahrnstedt (I’m half Norwegian, half Swedish – yet I discovered really great Swedish fantasy on here) and Cathy Yardley. Those are just the ones I remember now.
Happy birthday! I can’t pick just one thing… I love the interviews you guys do, also, reading the HABOs and trying to solve them, and also sometimes finding books to read from them. Thanks for all the work you do!
Happy 19th! I recommend this site fairly frequently and am so glad it’s here. I was introduced to the term ‘throuple’ here several years ago, which always sticks in my brain for whatever reason!
Happy 19th Anniversary!
I love the HaBO, Cover Awe, and Cover Snark, and everything else. Every week, I think you can’t top the Cover Snark, but them you do.
And, you brought back so many memories with your podcasts of the teen romances I read in the early 80s.
Thank you for always being a supporter of Romance Books!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Y’ALL!!!
I’ve been stopping by every day for many, many years. I think I found it when I was looking for Fabio pictures and Candy was still around, in law school, and Sarah’s oldest was pretty new (how can he possibly be college age?!?). I did go back and read all of the posts from the beginning over the course of several days/a few weeks so I feel like I’ve been around from the very beginning.
So again, Happy Anniversary, Best Wishes, and I wish for many, many more (because I enjoy reading everything and I’m selfish)!
I do not, however, need the prize so if my post comes up, award it to someone else with my best wishes.
Happy Anniversary!!
I discovered Murderbot after years of bitchery reading and it go me thru the early pandemic and back into scifi again. AND it revived stories at bedtimes with our teen (we read aloud at night). So thank you!!
Happy 19th, Smart Bitches! I’ve been a daily reader and sometime commenter since 2008, when I was a fledgling romance reader.
I’ll always be grateful to Amanda for starting the HEA Romance Book Club. It originally met in person, but in the spring of 2020, like so many things, switched to Zoom. It helped me keep my sanity that year. We’re still reading and still Zooming.
My favorite SBTB memory is my discovery of the site, back in the summer of 2008, as a result of a blurb in the local Metro paper. I bought so so many books after doing a deep dive and reading all the reviews, etc. Few things have made me happier. And I’ve been a regular visitor (mostly a lurker) ever since.
Happy 19th SB’s! Look forward to your email every day! I have found so many books here that it’s hard to choose but my all time favorite re-read many times is still Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypass that I found recommended on this site. So glad you exist! Keep up the great work!
Happy birthday!!!!! I wish you many many more.
This site is the best place online, I’ve recced it to every woman I know.
And a regular phrase when I’m talking to the Mr: “the SmartB’s recommend…”
I discovered Talia Hibbert here. And Tessa Dare. And many other happy reads.
Thank you!!
This podcast is the only one I automatically listen to each week. Between that and this website I’ve found countless books and authors. Thank you!
There are too many great things to remember here, but my absolute favorite was the F-rated guest review that started out with:
“Reviewing this book was hard, harder than any erection you’ve ever encountered in fiction or in real life.”
I still laugh about that every time I read a book that likens one to wood, steel, granite, etc. Thank you!
I don’t think I can list all the authors I discovered thanks to SBTB, but a short list would be Courtney Milan, Cat Sebastian, KJ Charles, and Celia Lake. Very different books, but all delightful in their own ways.
Happy Burthday Bitchery! I SBTB has been so influential for me, and it was one of the very first places I started following when I first found the wonder that was the romance genre! I’ve been a mostly lurker and occasional commenter for about 15 years now, which is wild! I’m a huge fan of the podcast because it’s so refreshing and lovely to hear people actually squee over books in the same way I do! Thanks for keeping this fantastic place for romance lovers to congregate alive and healthy and welcoming for so many