Earlier this month, the Lesbrary reviewers shared our picks for the best sapphic books of 2025. But we also discovered plenty of new-to-us favorites that weren’t published this year. So, here are eight of our top sapphic reads of the year that didn’t come out in 2025—though they are all relatively recently published. (And one doesn’t come out until 2026!)
I Shall Never Fall In Love by Hari Conner
Generally speaking, I’m used to queer historical fiction falling into two categories: depressing and trying to be historically accurate, or joyful and set in an imaginary version of history without bigotry. When I picked up I Shall Never Fall in Love, I was expecting the latter. After all, this is a book that draws heavily on Jane Austen novels and also has queer, nonbinary, and Black characters living in “high society”. I was pleasantly surprised to find this is a joyful queer story that also is well-researched and faces the racism, queerphobia, sexism, classism, and other bigotries of the time head on. There are absolutely goofy moments with over-the-top cartoon expressions, but the story also doesn’t erase the everyday bigotry of this setting, and there’s even an FAQ section and historical notes at the end of the book. (Check out my full Lesbrary review for more.) —Danika
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The Palace of Eros by Caro de Robertis
This is a genderbent sapphic litfic retelling of the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche, with Eros being depicted as a genderfluid, butch lesbian. The writing in this book is so beautiful, intimate and lyrical, with a focus on lesbian love and sexuality, as well as butch masculinity, gender queerness and reclaiming erotic pleasure, free of society’s disapproval. Also stellar trans representation: the author’s description of trans bodies in intimate scenes is lovely. —Sritama Sen
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This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
I know I’m the last sapphic on Earth to pick up This is How You Lose the Time War, but I’m so glad I finally did this year. This is a beautifully written novella that weaves together an epistolary romance with a time-travelling, surreal, sci-fi setting. As Blue and Red fight on opposite sides of the war, they leave each other notes—first taunting, then sincere. The imagery is vivid and psychedelic, but it’s the poetic love story that really elevates it. I think some people get caught up on trying to figure out the specifics of the time war, but I recommend letting the sci-fi setting wash over you and focusing on the characters instead. I also read Amal El-Mohtar’s new book, The River Has Roots, this year, which was also one of my favourite reads of the year, so I look forward to whatever she writes next! —Danika
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The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
I picked this up in February, and honestly, the rest of my reading year was a bit anti-climactic, because this was so good, it was hard for anything else to compare! It’s fast-paced and twisty—as soon as I felt like I had regained my footing, there’d be another reveal that changed everything. It was fascinating to see these alternate universes, especially meeting the slightly (or dramatically) different versions of each of the characters. And then there’s the slow burn romance between Cara and Dell, which was heart-wrenching.
One of the reasons I’m glad I read this in 2025 is that Cara has a somewhat arbitrary line in the sand. She lives in a fucked up world where she’s just been trying to survive her whole life. And now she’s found the place she’s willing to dig in her heels and fight. She keeps getting asked why she can’t let this go when she’s been willing to overlook so many other morally reprehensible acts. But maybe it’s more about her becoming the kind of person to stand for something. She’s not morally pure, but she’s fighting for something better—in whatever imperfect, messy way she can.
In our world right now, it feels like we’re facing a barrage of cruelty. It’s easy to feel helpless, overwhelmed, and numb. It can feel like fighting on any one front is useless, especially if it feels like we’ve already let so much happen. That’s something inspirational in Cara’s stance because it doesn’t come from a place of righteousness. She’s fighting back in the way that makes sense for her in this moment, and that’s the best (and the least) we can all do. (Check out my full Lesbrary review for more.) —Danika
Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie
Skye Falling is one of the funniest novels I’ve ever read. Skye is an endearing mess of a main character whose narration is packed with jokes that had me snorting.
It also felt so realistic to me. Skye is messy, and even when she’s trying to improve, she makes mistakes. The supporting characters all feel fully realized. And every relationship she’s trying to cultivate is complicated in some way—but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying to make connections anyway.
Between this and The Summer We Got Free, I can confidently say Mia McKenzie is one of my all-time favourite authors. (Check out my full Lesbrary review for more.) —Danika
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Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
This historical fantasy noir novella packs a punch for such a short read. It’s a battle of good and evil, with a protagonist you’re always rooting for, even though you know her fate is inevitable. The mystery is compelling and keeps you on your toes all through the end. —Meagan Kimberly
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Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl by Brianna R. Schrum and Sara Waxelbaum
In this YA novel, a baby lesbian struggles with endless questions about sapphic culture, labels and self-discovery, while falling for her suave, tomboyish bisexual classmate, and queer mentor. Now I don’t really read YA anymore, but something about this book was so charming and refreshingly sincere to me. The humor lands, the chemistry is genuine, and the representation–autistic femme lesbian and ADHD masc bisexual–was really well done. This was my green yuri in terms of being a silly, flirty, and sweet sapphic romance! —Sritama Sen
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A Slow and Secret Poison by Carmella Lowkis (February 10, 2026)
This is an adult, gothic horror/thriller set in 1920s England, where a young gardener arrives at a manor in countryside England and becomes increasingly infatuated with her mysterious new mistress—the sole survivor of a supposedly generational curse. Super atmospheric, wildly deceptive, and the psychologically twisted, even the darkly amusing power dynamics between the two women felt reminiscent of the best classic sapphic Gothic thrillers, with a distinct Sarah Waters/Shirley Jackson vibe. Also, I love the protagonist and how ever-unreliable she is. (Check out my full Lesbrary review for more.) —Sritama Sen
