For the majority of the twentieth century, Manhattan’s Lower East Side was an enclave of affordable housing (e.g. tenements) that housed lively immigrant cultures as well as many queer folk feeling the crunch of capitalism’s unceasing demands. Today, I’m discussing three books written by or recollecting the memories of queer Jewish women who lived andRead More
Mothers and Daughters, a Lighthouse, and a Curse: The Curse of the Cole Women by Marielle Thompson
This novel follows generations of Cole women who maintain a lighthouse on a small island off of New Hampshire. Their family line comes with a curse. There are always two Cole women on Juniper island, and every birth comes with a death: the older Cole woman will walk into the ocean, joining the ghosts ofRead More
10 Sapphic Holiday Romance Books to Cozy Up With This Winter
As the cold of winter starts to settle in and festive cheer buzzes in the air, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a romance novel to keep warm. Unexpected friendships, fake dating, and second-chance romances abound in these 10 sapphic holiday rom-coms. Make You Mine This Christmas by Lizzie Huxley-Jones This is aRead More
7 Transfeminine Sapphic Books I Read In 2025
It’s a tough time to be trans, more so with the socio-cultural complicity and transmisogyny one witnesses even within supposedly progressive queer circles these days. However, as a trans masc author myself, I want to emphasize that while it is alright to call for the boycott of bigoted authors, it is equally—if not more—important toRead More
When the Past Won’t Stay Quiet: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden Review
Living alone in her late mother’s house in Zwolle, Isabel is a quiet and fiercely guarded woman. An uncle bequeathed the house to the family with the understanding that whenever Isabel’s brother Louis married, he would inherit it. Isabel resides there now under a type of suspended claim—that of a caretaker, but not owner. LouisRead More
A TBR Shame Spiral in Six Titles
As a librarian, my TBR (to-be-read) shelf is never ending. Every time I think I am going to crack down on my whole bookshelf of unread books, something amazing comes through the returns chute, or my VERY well-meaning coworkers share something that they think I will love (most times they are right on the money)Read More
A Sentimental Romance That Takes You for a Ride: Whenever You’re Ready by Rachel Runya Katz Review
Despite not reading reviews about Whenever You’re Ready by Rachel Runya Katz, I set my expectations high for this contemporary romance. Estranged childhood friends-to-lovers, a road trip, siblings, grief and healing, a dual timeline, and third person present tense? Maybe I have some specific selling points, but consider me sold.
3 Sapphic Books I Rated 3 Stars (That You Might Rate 5 Stars)!
One of the biggest struggles I have as a reviewer for the Lesbrary is wanting to present only the sapphic stories that I believe to be the best. I am very much aware that I am a consumer, not a creator, and that if asked to create an original story, I would not fare nearlyRead More
A Disabled Jewish Lesbian Time Loop Story: Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield
I love a time loop story, so I had to pick up up this sapphic YA take on the trope—especially one with with fat and disabled characters on the cover! In the first chapter, Phoebe is living August 6th for the 26th time in a row. Every day is the same, and every day sheRead More
Queer Joy at the IBD Support Group: The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet by Jake Maia Arlow
Buy this from Bookshop.org to support local bookstores and the Lesbrary! And you think you have a lot of crap to deal with! The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet by Jake Maia Arlow is the story of twelve-year-old Al Schneider, whose life is moving at far too fast a pace—and so are her intestines.Read More