Seasonal Reading
RECOMMENDED: Fan Service by Rosie Danan is $1.99! Lara loved this one and gave it an A:
If you’re in the mood for some giddy happiness, then I humbly put forward Fan Service as a plentiful source of it.
Featured
It’s After Dark Season, Y’all!
Like spooky season but better because mantitty.
Help A Bitch Out
HaBO: Friends to Lovers on a Cruise Ship
This HaBO comes from Happy Highlights, who is looking for this contemporary romance: Contemporary Romance – Main characters are longtime friends who pretend to be a couple on a cruise featuring a show/movie fan meet, where the heroine’s favourite actor turns out to be a creep! I’m not 100% sure if all these scenes belong to the same book, but I have a pretty strong hunch that they do. So, here goes! Here’s what I … Continue reading HaBO: Friends to Lovers on a Cruise Ship
Books On Sale
Non-Fiction, Paranormal Romance, & More
RECOMMENDED: Vera Stein is Fine by Julie Murphy is $2.99! Lara read this one and gave it a B+:
If you’d like a big, full-hearted read, then I heartily recommend this book. I enjoyed Vera’s emotional growth, Eli’s steadiness, the complex family dynamics and a very satisfying HEA. But more importantly for me, I felt personally connected to the narrative and the individuals inside it, especially after reading the the acknowledgements and seeing pieces of my own life reflected in the story.
Book Review
The Santa Claus Con by Lauren Kung Jessen
This guest review comes from Lisa! A longtime romance aficionado and frequent commenter to SBTB, Lisa is a queer Latine critic with a sharp tongue and lots of opinions. She frequently reviewed at All About Romance and Women Write About Comics, where she’s on staff, and you can catch her at @thatbouviergirl on Twitter. There, she shares good reviews, bracing industry opinions and thoughtful commentary when she’s not on her grind looking for the next … Continue reading The Santa Claus Con by Lauren Kung Jessen
Cover Snark: Lifeless Eyes, Black Eyes, Like a Doll’s Eyes
Welcome back to Cover Snark! From Maeve: Honey, I think the shrimp was off… Sarah: Lower left abdomen is appendix, right? Or is that gall bladder? DID SOMEONE STEAL HIS GALL BLADDER? He’s really feeling himself. Amanda: The tattoos are giving me some weird optical illusion, like his musculature is on the outside. Sneezy: Me too. If not that, I can’t tell what tattoos are supposed to be. It also looks like he’s wearing thigh … Continue reading Cover Snark: Lifeless Eyes, Black Eyes, Like a Doll’s Eyes
SBTB Bestseller
SBTB Bestsellers: October 10 – October 23
The latest bestseller list is brought to you by crip mornings, cozy evenings, and our affiliate sales data.
Sunday Sale Digest!
This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you’d like to join, we’d love to have you! Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun! If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section … Continue reading Sunday Sale Digest!
Whatcha Reading? October 2026, Part Two
Happy Saturday! Here’s what we’re reading right now: Lara: While I’m still reading Jane Austen’s Bookshelf, I’m starting to see it more as a guide than a book to read for leisure. I’ve disappeared down internet rabbit holes and stared into space thinking about women and literature and, based on my recent rec league request, I’m plotting my summer reading. It’s exhilarating! Shana: I just picked back up a Jan Clausen’s 1999 memoir, Apples & … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? October 2026, Part Two
Books On Sale
All Contemporary Romances
RECOMMENDED: Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes is $1.99! We had a lovely guest squee for this one:
This is the perfect breezy summer read. It is also the perfect fresh spring read, the perfect crisp fall read, and the perfect cozy winter read. I hope I’ve adequately conveyed that I have so many feelings about this delightful book – and they are all good.
Friday Videos Love This Mustache Guy
I have a new favorite streaming radio on YouTube to listen to while I work. If I could tell you why this particular style of music works for my brain, I’d be delighted because I cannot figure it out and I really want to know. But it does. It soothes what I call the “Jack Russell Terrier” part of my brain and allows me to focus and mellow out. But I love the new Lofi … Continue reading Friday Videos Love This Mustache Guy
