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Would that I, like this book’s heroine, were newly turned sixteen again, for if I were I would have absolutely swooned over The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire. I cannot overstress how madly I would have loved this story. Now I’m old and cranky so I viewed it with a more demanding eye, but anyone interested in Welsh folklore and grumpy heroines will enjoy this road trip through the land of the Tylwyth Teg (fae). … Continue reading The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Welcome back to Cover Awe! The Gentleman Spy by Georgina North Cover design by Jennifer Therieau From Kareni: For a future Cover Awe post. Claudia: Oh yes, I really like this. Incongruously it reminds me of a watercolor tattoo. Sarah: Claudia, I had the exact same thought. And the way that the watercolory splotches are partially revealing blocks of written text adds to the intrigue of the image, which I’m presuming matches the book. A … Continue reading Cover Awe: Watercolor, Flowers, & M...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
The latest bestseller list if brought you by a diet soda of your choice, porch weather, and our affiliate sales data.| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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Smart Bitches, Trashy Books| Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
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Welcome back! This week has given me the first hint of fall. I love a crispy morning. We’re also in the middle of getting a new porch since the old one had only a couple years left anyway. I can’t wait to enjoy a coffee on the new one, wrapped in a big ol’ blanket. Aside from that, I’ve been fully on the Hades II train. Anyone else with me? … Libro.fm is hosting a “read-in” … Continue reading Links: Emily Henry, Banned Books, & More→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books| Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
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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 SB-AD Quarterly Recommendation Updates!→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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 Tell Me About It?→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
The following review is for two books which are being released somewhat together. Love Bites was originally released in 2020 but was picked up by Tor and is being re-released on September 9. The sequel, Love Sucks, is also available digitally and will be re-released by Tor on October 7. … After many happy weeks in the land of a favourite author, I stuck my head above the parapet and looked for something new to … Continue reading Love Bites by Cynthia St. Aubin→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
GUESS WHAT Y’ALL! Not only are we here at the hot pink palace celebrating our 20th anniversary (and yes, you can still get a sticker!) but guess who else is? Yup, the original Twilight! It is not an exaggeration to say that this book changed the trajectory of publishing. Seriously, think of all the trends and subgenres that grew out of Twilight. Off the top of my head, Twilight influenced so many aspects of the industry, such as: YA … Continue reading Twilight is 20, and I’m Recomme...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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This HaBO is from Fin, who wants to find this romance: Once, a long long time ago, I was aspiring to be an archaeologist and spent a hot summer in Southern Illinois digging very precise holes in a cornfield with twenty other college / grad students. On our one day off each week we would pile in whomever’s car had the best AC (not mine) and run amok. One of those weekend days we drove … Continue reading HaBO: Pink Satin Gown→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Happy Tuesday! This is the last release week in September before October hits. And wow, there are so many books next month. Things will most likely quiet down a bit for November and December. Are you excited for anything this week? Let us know in the comments!| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
This After Dark post is open to everyone so folks can see what ridiculous tasks I am assigning myself. Any reviews and book shrieking will be part of the upcoming year in After Dark. … I am traveling to Denton, Texas, for the Art and Jazz Fest. Are there romance-specific quests I might undertake in Denton? Oh, hell yeah. First, Denton is the home of The Plot Twist, a romance bookshop and bar. Will I be visiting? … Continue reading A Quest: What Classic Romances Should I Find?→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Welcome back to Cover Snark! From Alea: On the one hand, the colors are lovely. On the other, wtf? Sarah: Is this My Little Pony fanfic? Also, why do shifters not have universal child care and must be finding daycare for their offspring? Amanda: Dr Nips, Unicorn Woman He just needs a big hat. Sneezy: That’s a qilin, it’s not even a unicorn. From Mabry: What’s with his ribs? What’s with his neck? Does he … Continue reading Cover Snark: Script Font Strikes Again→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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!→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Welcome back, everyone! We are so close to 100 of these! I can hardly believe it. I have two romance recommendations this time around. Plus, there’s a memoir and an upcoming non-fiction release. Do you have any book recs to share? Leave them in the comments!| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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 Tomorrow! 2pm ET on Sept. 28: A Crafty Zoom or a Zoomy Craft!→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Welcome back to Whatcha Reading! Here’s how we’re capping off this month: Sneezy: I’ve been rereading Only Hope. It’s still ongoing, and I’m VERY much not a thriller person, but something about some Will Kill You cinnamon rolls is making my brain happy right now. Lara: I’ve been so lucky with books lately. So many good ones! At the moment, I am knee deep in And Then There Was the One by Martha Waters. It’s … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? September 2025, Part Two→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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It is with a lot of listener and reader encouragement that I’m writing this out, so thank you to everyone who said, “Yes, write the thing.” You might be thinking, given that we are rather familiar with plagiarism going back to 2008 (!) with our adventures with Cassie Edwards’ books, that I would know what to do if it maybe happened to me. And, honestly, I’m used to being cited in roundabout ways. Sometimes editors … Continue reading What to Do If You Think You’ve Been Plagiari...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Alexandra Vasti is back, because her new historical romance Ladies in Hating is out this week! We are going to talk about: Good angsty yearning When a character is their love interest’s bitch eating crackers Lesbians in history! Erotic Victorian fiction Side trips include historical publishing houses, how nothing in romance is new, and how a lot of our current erotica, including that book where someone schtupps a door, is connected to books with the … Continue reading 686. Ladies in Hatin...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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We wanted to thank you all for another summer of bingo! We had over 150 submissions this year, with many of you getting five bingos. That’s a hell of a lot of reading. Everyone who achieved a bingo will be receiving a 2025 SBTB Summer Romance Bingo sticker in the mail. We also are giving away three boxes of books. The winners are: Felicity Jillian B. Amy R. We have plans to do an “unhinged” … Continue reading Thanks for Playing the 2025 SBTB Summer Romance Bingo!→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Hey, everyone! How the heck is it Wednesday? I just got back from vacation and of course, I’m swamped in work and other obligations. It sucks. Definitely not the “ease back into real life” that I wanted. Over the weekend, I attended a big Disney pin trading evening (my first one!). I had a lot of fun, but I think the highlight was attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. It was really exciting to … Continue reading Links: Murderbot, Fat Bears, & More→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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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 After Dark at the Movies: Drive-Away Dolls→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
This post is sponsored by Rakuten Kobo, and contains affiliate links which bring a portion of your purchase to us at no extra charge to you. If you use them, thanks, and if not, no worries. Thanks, y’all! … This news was announced in early September, but this week, the Kobo Clara Colour is now available in white by customer demand – I admit I’m fascinated by the new colour eInk screens. Kobo makes two … Continue reading Kobo Plus and Colour Devices – Oh, The Temptation→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
It’s time for another edition of Stuff We Like! This month: some updates on past purchases, some tips on shopping, and some neat and useful stuff we’re loving. Take a look: Want to see? Just click that image above or click right here, and come shop with us! And if you’d like to browse some more, we have a complete Stuff We Like archive, including past Gift Guides and other posts of our favorite items.| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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, Sept. 28: A Crafty Zoom, With Zoomy Crafts!→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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This HaBO comes from Rita, who wants to find this romance: I’m trying to track down a Harlequin romance and here’s what I remember: Male lead (ML) is a widowed rancher with a son (possibly named Jason). The book opens with the ML at a bar on the anniversary of his wife’s death. He meets the female lead (FL), Susan, a teacher. They have a one-night stand, and she becomes pregnant. Later, the ML’s son … Continue reading HaBO: Surprise Baby between a Widowed Rancher and a Teacher→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Happy Tuesday! September is winding down with some big releases. There’s a new Brynne Weaver, a couple road trip romances of different flavors, and Gothic horror. What are you looking forward to this week? Let us know in the comments!| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Y’all, Twilight is upon us. Born the same year as this here website, Twilight is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary October 7. (Note: I still have SBTB 20th Anniversary stickers, if you’d like one! They’re free!) The celebrations will be in various quarters: The movie is back in theaters for a limited engagement, after teasing the re-release on Instagram. A limited number of theaters will be screening the five Twilight movies, one film per night for five nights, … Continue reading ...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
The latest bestseller list is brought to you by comfortable shoes, snack breaks, and our affiliate sales data.| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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!→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Buckle up, because I’m doing the books on sale post today, and it’s always chaotic when my scattered brain tries to remember things in order the way Amanda’s does.| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
It’s the 90s so the Ads and Features from the August 1996 issue of Romantic Times are a treasure trove of confusion. We’ve got: A tour of Jude Deveraux’s Grade II Listed Home in Suffolk Barbara Cartland perfumes How should emoji faces be written? Nose or no nose? What is the appeal of “nursing him back to health” plots? And RT is going to answer the eternal question that has plagued womankind throughout the ages. … Continue reading 685. RT Rewind: August 1996 Ads & Features→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Libro.fm’s buy-one-get-one sale is happening from Sept 16-19, and you can get two audiobooks for one credit. And if you’ve been thinking of joining Libro.fm, you can get three audiobooks for the price of one if you’re a new member buying a one credit per month plan. This means if you use code SWITCH, you could end up with six audiobooks for three credits you receive on sign up.| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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 reviews 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 good … Continue reading The Love Ly...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
This Rec League was sent in by Kim. Thanks, Kim! I’d love to see a Rec League about celebrity crush romances—where one MC is the celeb crush of the other MC, who is just a regular person. Strongly prefer MM, but I know that may be too niche. I’m really interested specifically in preexisting celeb crushes, not just “one character is a celebrity” plots. Open to actor crushes, sports, music, etc. This request is brought … Continue reading The Rec League: Celebrity Crush Romances→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Libro.fm’s buy-one-get-one sale is happening from Sept 16-19, and you can get two audiobooks for one credit. And if you’ve been thinking of joining Libro.fm, you can get three audiobooks for the price of one if you’re a new member buying a one credit per month plan. This means if you use code SWITCH, you could end up with six audiobooks for three credits you receive on sign up.| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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 What’s the Most Bonkers Old Skool Plot You’ve Ever Read?→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Welcome back! You’re getting some hot and fresh links this morning. Vacation kicks off today and all I can say is hell yeah. It’s been desperately needed the past few weeks. I’ve downloaded a bunch of short Chinese dramas for the plane. I usually stock up on videos and books, but then I just fall asleep. Are you a plane sleeper? The white noise just puts me right out. … Word on the street is … Continue reading Links: Llamas, Celine Dion, & More→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Today, Amanda shared with me a post from writer and illustrator Odette Locke, who recently shared information about her upcoming romance in progress, A Corps of Health and Safety, with some Instagram graphics that lit my brain on fire. Important note: absolutely no part of this post is a knock against the author, their idea, their work in progress, any of it. This is about the larger implications of what is part of the aspirational … Continue reading Regulation and Oversight Now Part of the...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Libro.fm’s buy-one-get-one sale is happening from Sept 16-19, and you can get two audiobooks for one credit. And if you’ve been thinking of joining Libro.fm, you can get three audiobooks for the price of one if you’re a new member buying a one credit per month plan. This means if you use code SWITCH, you could end up with six audiobooks for three credits you receive on sign up.| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
This HaBO is from Tarli, who wants to find this book: Ok honestly I feel like I remember so much I could just rewrite the book myself, but I’ve honestly been looking for it for over 10 years. It was a Mills and Boon type book that I read in the early 2000s (but it was probably published earlier—maybe 1980s or 1990s). The heroine had red hair and was on an anthropological expedition (maybe archaeology-related). … Continue reading HaBO: Anthropological Expedition Leads to Shifters→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Welcome back to Hide Your Wallet! This week, we’re looking forward to some time travel, a vampire romance, and there’s a new Naomi Novik novella. Which releases are on your TBR pile this week? Let us know in the comments!| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
It’s Comics, but it’s not Comic Sans! Recently Cat Sebastian revealed on Instagram the cover for her new book, Star Shipped, coming out in March 2026: Vintage comic style! I dig it. It conveys an era without being exactly specific, and it’s a style that’s nostalgically familiar. I’ve noticed this style as a growing trend in romance. Now, usually when I notice a trend, it’s after two similar occurrences. That’s a coincidence, I know. This … Continue reading Comic Style Covers K...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
I have to be upfront about some personal pet peeves first. I hate cosy witch stories. I don’t like twee and I don’t like cutesy. This book has touches of that initially and a lot towards the end, which has definitely coloured my experience of this book. So if cutesy, twee, and cosy are things that bring you joy, then bump this grade up a level or two. Lara, it’s already a B, I hear … Continue reading Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Welcome back, everyone! This round has a romance and a thriller, plus more nonfiction (as always). I just can’t help myself. Out of the nonfiction, one is more biography and the other is definitely a bummer. Do you have any recommendations to share? Let us know in the comments!| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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!→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Welcome back to Whatcha Reading! Here’s how we’re kicking off the month of September: Lara: I’ve totally given in to the impulse to read the rest of the Guild Hunter novels. I’m currently reading Archangel’s Light. This series is big and comforting and cathartic. I’m so thankful to have another quiver to my bow of therapy reads. Good people doing good things, defeating evil and loving each other while they do it. Balm for the … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? September 2025, P...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
The second book in Holly Black’s Night duology, Thief of Night, is out now, and I was so excited to talk with her about it. We start right off by talking about creepy places – like, what kind of magic comes out of Jersey? Then we talk about world building, starting with atmosphere instead of plot, and the intricacies of shadow magic in her duology. Plus, we squee about books we’ve loved, magic powers we … Continue reading 684. Thief of Night with Holly Black→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible is a great gift book for a very specific reader. They must be sufficiently interested in Jane Austen’s work to want a book which combines excerpts from Austen with Regency era fashion plates from La Belle Assemblee, a periodical that published its first issue in 1806. But they also have just the right level of interest – too much, and this book will leave them feeling cheated of more information. This … Continue reading Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible by Ros ...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
Hello and happy Wednesday! What a week! I’ll be bopping around Disney next week to attend a giant pin trading event and partake in the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. I’m so stoked. I feel like my last vacation was to South Korea over a year ago. Doesn’t it feel great to have a big thing to look forward to? (Even if it means the time crawls by.) Any exciting plans on the horizon for … Continue reading Links: Crochet Patterns, Soap Operas, & More→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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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 Tarot After Dark: Goddess Tarot and The Burning Question→| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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 reviews 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 good freelance … Continue reading...| Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books
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Smart Bitches, Trashy Books| Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
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Smart Bitches, Trashy Books| Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
