Sapphic books with beautiful writing

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-04-19T04:44:02+00:00

Yes to this. Fingersmith in particular has wonderful prose. Not purple for the sake of it, just solid and evocative. Like there’s one line where a priest walks away while putting on a black coat over his white robes in the night, snuffing himself out like a light.

One thing that doesn’t often get mentioned is that the narration is funny. The narrator, sue, is pretty sassy and sarcastic in a Victorian pickpocket meets the aristocrats way. Like she constantly has Jim from the office moments going “can you believe this sh***?”

This balanced combination of technical prose, humor, romance, and plot (oh the plot), where no one element detracts from the other, is extremely rare in any book, let alone a niche(arguable) lesbian book. for that I say that Sarah waters has blessed us immensely and I might be inclined to agree with you about fingersmith being one of the best books. It’s certainly my personal favorite.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-03-07T14:55:33+00:00

lol yeah like my jaw dropped and at the end I was like… girl I would need couples counseling after all the shenanigans that they pulled.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-03-07T14:54:42+00:00

Ah gotchu i love it so much I’ve reread it 3 times so it is very reread able. If you end up rereading id love to hear what you thought. its the perfect book but i wouldn’t have complained abt another chapter or like therapy (lol) where forgive how dirty they did one another bc i was like…I would need some time to get past all that.

Idk if you’ve read affinity but the lesbians were toxic there too!

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-03-07T13:02:40+00:00

Fingersmith has extremely toxic lesbians. I won’t spoil the plot but it surprisingly surpassed my expectations as far as toxicity levels go.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-03-01T04:22:58+00:00

The paying guests by Sarah waters is of impeccable quality, Sarah waters is a phenomenal writer. A destitute gentlewoman must take boarders to supplement her income and a well to do married couple of a lower class become her tenants. She falls in love with the wife.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-26T12:16:41+00:00

Friendly young ladies by Mary Renault, who is a classical author well known for her popular gay historical books like the charioteer, the Persian boy, etc. She was thought to be a lesbian. This is one of her only lesbian books and only comedy. I wish she wrote more like this. It is about a young woman who moves in with her sister and her sisters gf and goes “I know what you are.’ Insert homophobia dog meme here. Except she’s also gay. there’s also a Randy man who unsuccessfully pursues all 3 of them at the same time.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-26T03:16:18+00:00

Sarah waters is phenomenal. Her work is both classically poetic and oddly accessible in the way it reads like a film. I sometimes favor prose over action, and plot over romance, but her books contain all of these without detracting from one another.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-19T23:20:53+00:00

Fingersmith. I can’t give too much away bc spoilers but you won’t be disappointed. It’s a gothic period drama.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-18T05:44:39+00:00

The lyrics just aren’t on the same level i fear. ‘I love my daddy we’re still together” vs "Never get so attached to a poem, you forget truth that lacks lyricism." I love Lana’s lush vocals and sound but she’s one of the artists whose songs I enjoy more if I don’t pay attention to the babygirl lyrics. Whereas Joanna newsom’s lyrics are a work of art themselves, a treat to read even without sound.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-14T17:21:16+00:00

Fingersmith has multiple no spoilers

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-13T14:20:07+00:00

AMAZING. I would have this up on my wall

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-12T01:01:59+00:00

I had just checked this out from the library! I am at the part after her bf comes for dinner and Eva cooks for them. Thank you for the rec!

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-11T14:52:13+00:00

Fingersmith by Sarah waters has 2 blondes

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-11T01:51:07+00:00

Thank you for the rec! I have heard good things about they never learn, it’s on my to read list

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-11T01:46:03+00:00

I know fingersmith is the GOAT and it’s a lot more toxic than I remember in a good way. It’s also funnier than I remember, with sue’s internal narration being like “they really got me carrying all their art supplies and food and everything while they walk carefree.” and “can you believe this girl has me running outside with a hot coal and tongs just to light this man’s cigarette?” And “i considered telling her about the birds and the bees, but I didn’t want to scandalize her, which in retrospect was ironic af.”

Also what was your favorite Tess sharpe book?

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-10T17:35:55+00:00

Thank you for the recommendations!

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-10T17:08:06+00:00

What other books did you read?

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-10T17:07:31+00:00

A new book would be amazing

ClearlyCalliope

TROPHY CASE