12 Sapphic Novels to Read While Archive of Our Own Is Down
We may not have fan fic, but we still have lesbians.
The unthinkable has happened—Archive of Our Own has gone down.
The popular fan fiction site abruptly went dark on Thursday, with initial estimates suggesting it would return in around 12 hours. But panic set in when a later update acknowledged that a “security incident” could leave the site offline for two to four weeks while the team investigates and addresses the issue.
It’s an unprecedented downtime for the archive, better known as AO3. And while other fan fic sites exist, there’s little question that AO3 is the king, housing over 18 million works across over 80,000 fandoms and staunchly refusing to censor content, unlike some other sites.
If you’re still jonesing for a fan fic fix in the meantime, you can head over to your social media platform of choice, where people are exchanging downloads and helping other fans find saved fics to read. But the majority of the offerings tend to be m/m—the most popular category on the site by a wide margin—leaving people looking for wlw fic having to dig a little deeper.
The downtime also presents an opportunity for some folks to take a (hopefully brief) breather from AO3 and dive into other hobbies, which, in some cases, simply means swapping out fan fic for books.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of 12 sapphic books that are worth diving into. Whether you’re looking for familiar tropes, slow burn romance, or something a little more literary, these books should keep you entertained until AO3 is up and running once again.
D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding — Chencia C. Higgins
D’Vaughn and Kris are paired up on a reality show where they have six weeks to convince their families they’re getting married so they can win the $100,000 prize. We can all see where this one is going, right?
A Dark and Drowning Tide — Allison Saft
Folklorist Lorelei sets out with a group of scholars in search of a legendary magical spring. When her mentor is murdered, Lorelei has to team up with her longtime academic rival, Sylvia, to solve the crime.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club — Malinda Lo
In 1954 San Francisco, 17-year-old Lily Hu begins exploring her sexuality after befriending classmate Kathleen Miller and discovering the Telegraph Club, a lesbian bar in Chinatown.
Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon — Annie Mare
Hairstylist Tressa Fay hits it off with a stranger after receiving a text meant for somebody else. It’s too bad it turns out the two women are somehow communicating across different timelines five months apart.
Love and Sportsball — Meka James
Athletic trainer Khadijah celebrates landing her dream job with a one-night stand, only to discover the woman she slept with is Shae, one of the basketball stars she’ll now be working with.
The Jasmine Throne — Tasha Suri
Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Princess Malini forms an uneasy alliance with Priya, a maidservant hiding dangerous magical abilities.
Mistakes Were Made — Meryl Wilsner
College senior Cassie hooks up with an older woman at a bar, only to learn the next morning that she just slept with her best friend’s mother.
Everything Leads to You — Nina LaCour
Set designer Emi is spending the summer working in Hollywood when she and her best friend discover a letter connected to a recently deceased film legend. Following the clues leads them to Ava, an aspiring actress who may change the course of Emi’s life forever.
The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic & Murder — Kiri Callaghan
After spending roughly two centuries serving a supernatural punishment, changeling Avery Hemlock is released on probation and tasked with investigating a rise in magical crime across London. And oops—it isn’t long before she accidentally reveals the existence of Fey to her new neighbor, Saga Trygg, who quickly gets pulled into the mystery.
Delilah Green Doesn’t Care — Ashley Herring Blake
Photographer Delilah reluctantly returns to her hometown to shoot her estranged stepsister Astrid’s wedding, where she reconnects with Claire, one of Astrid’s longtime friends, as the two plot to save Astrid from her crappy fiancé.
The Safekeep — Yael van der Wouden
In the Netherlands in 1961, Isabel’s solitary life is disrupted when her brother’s girlfriend, Eva, comes to stay at the family home for the summer.
One Last Stop — Casey McQuiston
August develops a crush on a woman she keeps seeing on the subway, only to eventually discover the woman—Jane—has been displaced in time from the 1970s and is trapped on the train.
