30 Must-Read Sapphic Books for Sapphic September - Books to Add to Your TBR

September may be almost over, but sapphic reading never ends. Whether you’re craving swoony WLW romance, queer historical fiction, sapphic fantasy, or steamy 18+ page-turners, we’ve got you covered. Lavender Library Press pulled together 30 of the top-recommended books from the community, and trust us, you’re going to want to read every single one.

1. Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey (18+)

If you’ve ever dreamed about falling for your professor, this slow burn sapphic romance delivers. Learning Curves gives you the perfect mix of academic tension, age-gap attraction, and irresistible chemistry.

You follow Audrey, who returns to campus as a new instructor, only to run into Michelle - her brilliant, intimidating former professor. Old sparks ignite, and suddenly their connection feels impossible to ignore.

With workplace rules, reputations, and plenty of sexual tension in the way, you get a romance that’s as complicated as it is passionate. If you love age-gap sapphic romance with academic settings and plenty of slow-burn heat, you’ll fall head over heels here.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback and audiobook.

2. The Price of Salt (Carol) by Patricia Highsmith

If you want to start with a sapphic classic, The Price of Salt (also known as Carol) is essential. It’s a queer literary landmark that’s just as romantic and daring today as it was in the 1950s.

You meet Therese, a young shop clerk whose life changes when she encounters Carol - glamorous, older, and unforgettable. What begins as a chance meeting turns into a love story that risks everything.

You see their connection grow against the backdrop of secrecy, societal pressure, and the danger of being queer in 1950s America. Every moment brims with risk and longing. If you want timeless sapphic literature with romance, history, and tension, this book still shines.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

3. Hearing Red by Nicole Maser (18+)

If you’re craving a sapphic dystopian romance with teeth, Hearing Red will keep you hooked. It’s dangerous, gritty, and passionate in all the right ways.

You meet Saff, a doctor trapped in her father’s violent raider group, and Maddie, a sheltered woman whose world shatters after a brutal attack. Their lives collide, and sparks fly in the ashes of survival.

Every choice tests them: loyalty, trust, and desire battle against a world falling apart. The chemistry is intense, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. If you love dystopian WLW stories with action, angst, and romance, you’ll want this one on your TBR.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, and audiobook.

4. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

From the author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes a sapphic rom-com you won’t forget. One Last Stop blends time travel, romance, and New York magic.

You follow August, a cynical 23-year-old who doesn’t believe in love… until she meets Jane, the gorgeous, mysterious woman stuck on the Q train. She’s dazzling, impossible, and out of time.

As August digs deeper, you get romance, mystery, and a search for belonging wrapped in subway rides and late-night diner trips. If you want a queer rom-com with heart, humour, and just a little bit of magic, you’ll adore this one.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

5. Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

If you’re in the mood for Hollywood sapphic romance, Something to Talk About is pure slow-burn perfection.

You get Jo, a powerful showrunner, and Emma, her assistant. When a red carpet photo sparks rumors of a romance between them, sparks of the real kind start flying.

Their professional world collides with personal attraction, and you watch tension, longing, and fear of exposure unravel in the spotlight. If you love workplace romance, celebrity drama, and a slow build toward an incredible payoff, this one is for you.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, and audiobook.

6. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

If you’re looking for a sapphic rom-com with snark, heart, and steam, Delilah Green Doesn’t Care will make you laugh, swoon, and blush.

You meet Delilah, a photographer with a tough exterior who swore she’d never return to her hometown. But when she does, she runs into Claire: her stepsister’s best friend and total good-girl.

Their reunion is filled with old grudges, undeniable attraction, and family drama. Delilah’s walls start to crumble, and Claire discovers she’s braver than she realized. If you love small-town sapphic romance with found family and sizzling chemistry, this one’s a keeper.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, and audiobook.

7. Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

This companion novel to Delilah Green Doesn’t Care offers another irresistible sapphic romance, complete with wit and charm.

You follow Astrid, a perfectionist interior designer whose career needs a boost, and Jordan, a fiery carpenter who refuses to play nice on Astrid’s renovation project. Sparks fly in more ways than one.

Every clash is filled with banter, tension, and the slow realization that their chemistry is undeniable. If you love enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance with humour, heart, and just the right amount of steam, this one will be your new favourite.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, and audiobook.

8. The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

If you love YA sapphic romance with cultural depth and sweet first love, The Henna Wars is for you.

You meet Nishat, a Muslim teen who comes out as lesbian and feels crushed under her family’s disapproval. When her school hosts a business competition, she chooses henna as her project; only to discover her crush, Flávia, has picked the same idea.

What begins as rivalry quickly turns into something tender, but not without complications of family, culture, and identity. If you want a YA sapphic love story with heart, humour, and rich cultural themes, you’ll adore this one.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

9. Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating  by Adiba Jaigirdar

Fake dating? Check. Queer joy? Check. Two very different girls falling in love? Double check.

You get Hani, who comes out as bisexual but her friends don’t believe her, and Ishu, who agrees to be her “fake girlfriend” to help them both get what they want.

But as their scheme plays out, you see real sparks, real feelings, and the messy beauty of queer teen romance. If you love YA sapphic romance with fake dating and plenty of heartfelt laughs, this one’s a gem.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

10. Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner (18+)

If you’re craving a bold, steamy age-gap sapphic romance, Mistakes Were Made will sweep you away.

You meet Cassie, a college student out for a fun night, and Erin, an older woman who turns out to be… Cassie’s best friend’s mom. Awkward? Yes. Hot? Absolutely.

What starts as a one-night fling spirals into an addictive connection filled with heat, risk, and surprising tenderness. If you love taboo age-gap WLW romance with plenty of steam and heart, you’ll want this one at the top of your TBR.

Available on Amazon in paperback and audiobook.

11. Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan

If you want a heartfelt sapphic YA romance about identity, sports, and love, Some Girls Do is a beautiful pick.

You meet Morgan, a track star who lives her queerness out loud, and Ruby, a pageant queen who has to hide her truth.

As their worlds collide, you get a romance that’s tender, complicated, and unforgettable. If you want sapphic YA romance with opposites-attract energy and emotional depth, this one’s for you.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

12. She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

Enemies-to-lovers meets high school hijinks in this delightful sapphic YA romance.

You follow Scottie, a basketball player nursing a breakup, and Irene, her cheerleader nemesis. When circumstances force them to carpool, chaos (and sparks) follow.

Their banter turns into unexpected tenderness, and suddenly the line between enemy and love interest blurs. If you love sapphic YA with humour, rivalry, and plenty of heart, this book will make you smile.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

13. Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

If you’re a sucker for royalty romance, this sapphic YA novel is pure wish fulfillment.

You meet Millie, an American scholarship student at a Scottish boarding school, who finds herself rooming with none other than Princess Flora.

What starts as mutual annoyance turns into something sweet, swoony, and surprisingly real. If you love sapphic royalty romance with boarding school charm, you’ll adore this book.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

14. Out of Character by Jenna Miller

If you’re looking for sapphic YA with nerdy charm and heart, Out of Character is perfect.

You follow Cass, a teen who loves LARPing but hides it from her new friends. When she reconnects with her ex-best friend, she has to face her fears, and her feelings.

It’s about second chances, geeky joy, and sapphic romance blooming in unexpected ways. If you want queer YA romance with cosplay, friendship, and heart, this one will make you smile.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, hardcover, and audiobook.

15. This Is How You Lose the Time War  by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

If you love queer sci-fi and lyrical writing, This Is How You Lose the Time War is unlike anything you’ve read.

You meet Red and Blue, rival agents on opposite sides of a time-traveling war, who start leaving letters for each other. What begins as taunts turns into love.

Their romance unfolds across centuries, universes, and impossible futures. If you want sapphic science fiction that’s poetic, emotional, and unforgettable, this book is a must-read.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

16. Crier’s War by Nina Varela

If sapphic fantasy is your jam, Crier’s War will sweep you into another world.

You get Ayla, a human servant seeking revenge against the Automae, and Crier, the automa she’s sworn to destroy… except feelings get in the way.

It’s rebellion, betrayal, and forbidden romance with high stakes at every turn. If you love sapphic fantasy romance with political intrigue and enemies-to-lovers tension, you need this duology starter.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

17. Iron Heart by Nina Varela (18+)

The sequel to Crier’s War takes everything you loved (the romance, the danger, the worldbuilding) and raises the stakes sky-high.

You dive back in with Ayla and Crier as their bond deepens, even while every choice they make risks war, betrayal, and the fragile hope of a future together.

It’s a story full of explosive action, emotional intensity, and the kind of enemies-to-lovers tension you can’t stop thinking about. If you want sapphic fantasy with razor-sharp worldbuilding, forbidden romance, and unstoppable momentum, Iron Heart will absolutely deliver.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

18. Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

If you love sapphic fairy tale retellings, Girls Made of Snow and Glass will absolutely enchant you.

This is a feminist reimagining of Snow White, set in a frozen kingdom where a young woman with a glass heart and a queen who can control snow are bound by fate and forbidden love. The story dives deep into the power of love, the pull of destiny, and the complicated ties between mothers and daughters.

It’s lush, emotional, and brimming with queer magic, balancing icy settings with tender romance. If you want sapphic YA fantasy with dark fairy tale vibes and unforgettable characters, this is a must for your shelf.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

19. Malice by Heather Walter (18+)

If dark sapphic fantasy is your thing, Malice will be your next obsession.

You meet Alyce, a dark sorceress marked as the villain by a kingdom that fears her power, and Princess Aurora, cursed to die without true love’s kiss. But what if true love isn’t a prince at all? What if it’s something far more dangerous_, and far more beautiful?

This is a story that flips the fairy tale on its head, weaving together gothic atmosphere, deadly curses, and a romance that dares to challenge everything. The more Alyce leans into her power, the more intoxicating, and dangerous, her bond with Aurora becomes.

It’s queer, gothic, and deliciously romantic in ways you don’t see coming. If you want a sapphic villain love story brimming with magic, betrayal, and forbidden passion, Malice is a must-read. 18+

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

20. Misrule by Heather Walter (18+)

If you loved Malice, the sequel Misrule takes everything you adored and turns the dial all the way up. This sapphic dark fantasy is sharper, bolder, and even more devastating.

You continue following Alyce and Aurora as their hard-won love faces the impossible: war, betrayal, and the ruthless demands of ruling a kingdom together.

Every page brims with gothic atmosphere, tangled loyalties, and a romance tested by power and sacrifice. If you’re craving sapphic villain romance with high stakes, gothic flair, and a breathtaking conclusion, Misrule delivers in spades.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

21. The Jasmine Throne  by Tasha Suri (18+)

If you’re craving epic sapphic fantasy, The Jasmine Throne is lush, sweeping, and unforgettable.

You follow Malini, a princess imprisoned for defying her brother, and Priya, a maidservant hiding her own magical secrets. Their fates intertwine in rebellion and desire.

It’s a slow burn romance wrapped in political intrigue, empire, and fire. If you want sapphic epic fantasy with high stakes and breathtaking writing, you’ll love this book.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

22. The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri (18+)

If The Jasmine Throne swept you away, the sequel The Oleander Sword will leave you breathless. This sapphic epic fantasy cranks up the tension, the politics, and the romance in every chapter.

You follow Malini and Priya as their bond deepens, even while war looms, betrayal cuts deep, and the weight of love and duty pulls them in opposite directions.

The story is lush, devastating, and absolutely addictive; full of fire, ambition, and impossible choices. If you want sapphic epic fantasy that will shatter your heart and carefully piece it back together, this series is one you can’t miss

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, library binding, and audiobook.

23. When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

If you’re craving sapphic historical fantasy with feminist fire, When Women Were Dragons is unlike anything else on your shelf.

You step into an alternate 1950s America where thousands of women spontaneously transform into dragons, and society does everything it can to deny it ever happened.

What unfolds is magical realism at its finest: queer history, family secrets, and bold feminist storytelling woven together with lyrical power. If you want sapphic speculative fiction that roars with rage, beauty, and poetry, this novel will leave you spellbound.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

24. I Kissed Shara Wheeler  by Casey McQuiston

From the bestselling author of One Last Stop comes another queer gem — this time a sapphic YA rom-com with a mystery that keeps you hooked.

You follow Chloe Green, a sharp, ambitious teen dead set on beating her perfect rival, Shara Wheeler. But when Shara suddenly vanishes, she leaves behind cryptic notes that send Chloe (and a few unlikely allies) on a whirlwind chase.

What starts as rivalry unravels into love, friendship, and self-discovery, all wrapped in McQuiston’s trademark wit and charm. If you want queer YA romance with sass, heart, and a twisty mystery, I Kissed Shara Wheeler is the one you’ll stay up all night reading.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

25. Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie

If you’re craving heartfelt YA sapphic coming-of-age, Ophelia After All will grab you by the heart and never let go.

You meet Ophelia, a Cuban-American teen who’s always been “the girl with boyfriends”… until she starts catching feelings for girls too. Suddenly, everything she thought she knew about herself gets beautifully messy.

It’s a story about identity, friendship, and the messy, wonderful journey of figuring out who you are; with all the laughs, heartbreak, and joy along the way. If you want sapphic YA that’s emotional, honest, and unapologetically affirming, this is a must-read for your shelf.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

26. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

If you’re ready for queer historical YA that hits all the right notes, Last Night at the Telegraph Club will sweep you into 1950s San Francisco.

You meet Lily Hu, a Chinese American teen whose world is forever changed when she discovers the Telegraph Club: a lesbian bar where she can finally see herself reflected.

It’s romance, identity, and history intertwined with stunning detail, capturing both the thrill and the danger of coming out in a conservative era. If you want sapphic historical fiction that’s powerful, moving, and unforgettable, this is a must-read for your shelf.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

27. A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo

This companion to Last Night at the Telegraph Club is just as beautiful, but set decades later, giving you a fresh perspective on love and self-discovery.

You follow Aria, whose summer takes an unexpected turn when she’s sent to her grandmother’s house, and meets Steph, a girl who challenges everything she thought she knew about herself.

It’s a story of love, art, and identity, full of emotional depth and personal growth. If you want sapphic YA romance that’s heartfelt, inspiring, and perfect for fans of queer coming-of-age stories, this one belongs on your shelf.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

28. Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

If you’re craving sapphic millennial romance with humour, heart, and a little chaos, Honey Girl is your next obsession.

You follow Grace Porter, an overachieving astronomer who accidentally marries a woman she just met in Vegas. Cue self-discovery, messy emotions, and the kind of unexpected love that changes everything.

It’s a story that’s real, heartfelt, and full of found family, perfect for anyone navigating adulthood, identity, and the joys of falling in love. If you want sapphic romance that’s funny, soulful, and completely relatable, Honey Girl will speak to you.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, library binding, and audiobook.

29. Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour (18+)

If you’re in the mood for literary sapphic romance with exquisite, lyrical writing, Yerba Buena will stay with you long after the last page.

You follow Sara, fleeing her past, and Emilie, still searching for her place in the world. Their lives intertwine in a story about love, loss, and the complicated beauty of human connection.

It’s raw, tender, and emotionally resonant; perfect for readers who crave depth and subtle heartbreak alongside their romance. If you want sapphic literary fiction that’s poetic, moving, and intensely romantic, this one is unforgettable.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

30. Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

If you love gothic sapphic fiction with haunting beauty, Our Wives Under the Sea will grip you from start to finish.

You meet Leah, a marine biologist returning from a deep-sea mission profoundly changed, and her wife Miri, who struggles to understand what happened while holding onto love.

It’s eerie, romantic, and unsettling in the best way; a story about loss, longing, and the endurance of connection. If you want sapphic gothic literature with mystery, emotional intensity, and unforgettable romance, this one will linger in your mind long after you close the book.

Available on Amazon in Kindle format, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Why recommend these books?

Because sapphic stories matter; in every genre, every setting, every voice. These 30 books prove that WLW romance, queer fantasy, sapphic historical fiction, and 18+ page-turners aren’t just niche; they’re powerful, vital, and deeply needed. They remind us that love between women has always existed, that queer joy deserves to be celebrated, and that sapphic characters belong at the centre of every story, not just the sidelines. Whether you’re here for swoony romance, haunting gothic drama, or epic queer fantasy, these books give us representation, validation, and connection. And that’s why sapphic September reading doesn’t end in September; it’s an all-year celebration.