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.
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→
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→
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!→
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→
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.
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→
It’s time machine time! We’re going back to June 2007 to look at the Ads & Features in Romantic Times magazine. This one’s got some gawdawful letters to the editor and some equally heinous responses, and we are prepped for battle. First, we talk about cereal. As you do. And I have a Content Warning! At about 20 minutes into our conversation, we start talking about this awful letter to the editor. Please be advised … Continue reading 741. RT Rewind: June 2007 Ads & Features→
Body Check by Elle Kennedy is $1.99! This was Kennedy’s first hockey romance and released in 2009 under Harlequin Blaze. It’s since had a re-release for obvious reasons and I don’t love the new cover.
Sometimes, you get a romance that crosses your desk and it’s cute as a button and you want to shout it from the mountaintops. As I write this review, we’re within inches of starting World Series season, so why not take a look at a bat-swinging romance with a very cute central conceit and a whole lot of ballgame-related shenanigans. It did have a couple of weak points, but overall I really enjoyed this little … Continue reading Batter Up! by Kristy Mallory→
