You ever notice the lack of f/f romance out there?
The yesterday, while perusing the aisles at Barnes & Noble, my friend Bria and I started talking about how m/m romances seem to be more common than f/f.
In my experience at least, these are the common scenarios:
- The book contains f/f romance but it’s not mentioned in the synopsis. It’s treated like a spoiler where as a synopsis with m/m displays it loud and proud.
- Even if the synopsis does mention the romance, book reviewers, don’t mention it in their reviews. Most bloggers/booktubers that I follow are women so again, why is it being treated like a spoiler??
- The main character is a bisexual or pansexual woman, but is only ever mentioned dating a dude.
Luckily, one of the bookkeepers at B&N overheard us and offered to help. They literally brought us about 15 books containing f/f romance! Even then, a lot of them either didn’t contain it in the synopsis or the whole relationship was super on the down low.
If you have recommendations please let me know.
Here’s what I’ve found so far.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – I’m probably going to get this one soon. Bria got the last copy at the B&N that we went to so I may have to find it online.
Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst – This was one of the books that the B&N person suggested and Bria bought it for me. I can’t wait to read it, it sounds fucking awesome!
Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli – So, Leah being bisexual is mentioned in the synopsis, however, it’s not mentioned in any of the reviews that I’ve seen. Why is that?
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour – This one doesn’t mention romance at all but it still sounds pretty damn interesting.
Odd One Out by Nic Stone – This one is also super intriguing. It’s actually a love triangle sort of thing but it looks really good.
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan – I can’t wait to read this but I need to wait for the sequel. While I’m excited about it, I know I’m going to have a hard time getting thought the beginning because of sexual assault. So if you’re interested in that one, be careful going into it.
Another thing that I’ve noticed is that there are a lot of coming out stories right now and that’s awesome. However, there’s not a whole bunch with the characters already out and being themselves. It’s always about thinking of who they want to be or becoming that person but never being that person. I think that’s something that we need more of too.
Leave me your recs!!
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YES YES YES! You’ve hit the nail on the head, there is definitely a lack of f/f books out there and its so upsetting. I think that publishers think that the books won’t sell as well?? I’ve also noticed that a lot of female YA writers tend to write m/m books over f/f — or will later write f/f — which is a bit disheartening. I mean authors can write whatever they like, but when straight women continually write m/m but don’t even touch f/f it feels incredibly fetishising. I remember one original online writer I used to follow who said that because she’s bi and can sleep with women in real life, she doesn’t have to write f/f and I was seething lmao
AND YES! why is the sexuality of queer women always treated as a spoiler???! It makes no sense and drives me up the wall alsdhgkjfg
I have plenty of recs for you! My moment has come
The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Hamilton’s Battalion (its a collection of romances by three authors, m/f, m/m, and f/f)
Black Iris by Eliot Wake
The Love Song of Sawyer Bell by Avon Gale
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole
And here’s some that I haven’t read yet / are coming out soon:
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
Ascension by Jacqueline Koyanagi
Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi
Sorry I went a bit wild haha I just get so excited when people talk about f/f books 💕
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THANK YOU!!! Yes. Like why are women only writing m/m? We need women to do it because they can do it properly. And if you’re gonna write about it,put it in the damn synopsis so we know!
Omg, thank you for the recs. I’m going to look them up on Goodreads and send them to Bria. It should not be this difficult to find these books. I don’t understand why they’re so hidden or under talked about. All the praise for Simon vs (which was great of course) but I need to see that same energy for Leah’s book
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Reblogged this on Writing Radiation.
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Thank you!
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