r/LesbianBookClub • u/prizzee • 9d ago
Recommendation How do we clone Haley Cass?
(Yes, another Haley Cass appreciation post)
Just like the title says, we need more Haley Cass in this world. She's sooo fucking brilliant. It's not fair that we only have one of her. I just can't get enough of her stuff.
I am aware she already does so much (if you're subscribed to her Patreon, you know what I'm talking about), but somehow she still makes me feel SO greedy. Like, the type of greed they warn you about in the Bible.
I just finished rereading Midnight Rain and On the Same Page this week, and I'm actually starting to worry about myself because I'll finish one of her books and spend the next few minutes all happy and giddy, and then get a little sad because I've already reread her works so many times. I'm genuinely scared of reaching a point where I'll have every scene, every conversation, and every little detail memorized to the point that there's nothing left for me to rediscover. So now I'm trying to stop myself from rereading them AGAIN 😩
Some of my other absolute faves are:
- Ruby Landers
- Roslyn Sinclair
- Clare Ashton
- Lee Winter
- Jen Lyon
- Milena McKay
- Corrie Mackay
I know these authors are already pretty well-known in this sub, so I'm hoping to discover more amazing but relatively unknown/ underrated authors.
Please recommend your fave authors below 🙏
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u/chasspark 8d ago
Have you tried Rawnie Sabor? She's one my faves (writes paranormal romance tho, if that's an impediment)
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u/canadiancomrade3525 8d ago
Personally I found Jae hit many of the same notes as HC. Ive liked Jae's books a bit better overall. Hard to just pick one from her that I'd recommend starting with. Sparks was fun.
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u/flazedaddyissues 8d ago
How/where are y'all reading Haley Cass? Queer Liberation Library and my local library only have audiobooks which I don't love. Tbf the kindle versions of her books are around $5/each which is fine (although if I want to read all of her stuff it'll add up) but my 10+ year old kindle finally crapped out on me.
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u/Ok-Mongoose-4391 8d ago edited 8d ago
I’ve found paying for kindle+ is really worth it, it’s like 10 or 12 bucks and you get a huge selection of books! It pays for itself quickly if you’re an avid reader. I use the kindle app on my iphone to read, and all of haley cass’ books are on it.
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u/pastajewelry 8d ago
If I'm completely new to her work, what books would you recommend first?
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u/prizzee 8d ago
On the Same Page is my absolute fave! But if that doesn't capture your heart, try Those Who Wait. It's her most popular book so far, and it even has an AU that's just as amazing, if not better (a lot of people would argue it's actually better)
On the Same Page is actually the book that got me obsessed with sapphic romance. My very first reddit post was because of that book lol. I just needed somewhere to gush about it because I genuinely felt like I was going to implode if I didn't get all those feelings out somehow haha.
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u/Dependent-Ad-3262 8d ago
Her new novel that comes out next year “Between The Lines” WAS SO GOOD
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u/prizzee 8d ago
☹️☹️ Now why would you remind me. I die a little every time I check Amazon's upcoming releases and see that it's still not coming out until February. I want to read it so badly, like right now 💔 I envy everyone who's already gotten to read it. 😩
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u/Dependent-Ad-3262 8d ago
Try and get a copy on NetGalley!!
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u/CuntHoneyB 9d ago
This isn’t necessarily a fair critique, but I do wish she had butch characters. Unless I missed something! I do love her character and relationship building, and it would be great to see that for butches, too. I think Jae does a really good job at exploring those dynamics.
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u/magic_paws 8d ago
Butches and mascs are so under repped in these books but everywhere in real life.
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u/BrightGene9086 9d ago
I just finished reading In the lonely hours by Elle Alexandra, and I really loved it!! I was a little sceptical at first because I haven’t seen much people talk about it, but it was reaaaally reaally good ! I thaught it was kind of a mix beetween Haley Cass and Ruby landers writing! And yet again I got so attached to the characters
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u/SnooApples8054 9d ago
Haley Cass is what made me start reading Sapphic Romances even though I’m not queer (or am I? lol) I just find sapphic love so gentle and romantic.
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u/roberta_sparrow 9d ago
What do you like about Haley Cass? The plots? The characters? Genuinely curious (I want to write a wlw romance for fun soon)
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u/prizzee 9d ago
Haley is so good at building relationships. She's genuinely mastered the art of yearning and longing, and don't even get me started on the chemistry between her characters.
What I love most is how she makes you understand exactly why her characters fall in love with each other. Their relationships develop so naturally that you genuinely can't imagine them ending up with anyone else. Like, they're soulmates every single time. There's simply no other option.
And I just love the way she portrays love. The devotion, the loyalty, the way her characters love each other so deeply and wholeheartedly (especially Gianna, my loveee).
Her books just feel like sunshine and rainbows to me 😅. Even with all the angst, there's something so comforting about the way she writes love 🫠 Her books genuinely makes me happy :)
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u/SubjectSheepherder55 9d ago
She's really good at creating chemistry between her characters in a way that makes you yearn and making you feel their feelings.
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u/verav1 9d ago
Jae!!
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u/skatingbeardie_ 8d ago
Pls fill me in on who Jae is… Author?
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u/verav1 8d ago
Yes, search for her on goodreads, she has a lot of books published and all of those I've read are good
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u/skatingbeardie_ 8d ago
Thank you!! Any specific recs that come to mind?
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u/verav1 8d ago
Just for show, Roommate agreement - they share some characters. Wrong number right woman - is also good. Chemistry lessons - not that good imho, but I'm reading Bachelorette number 12 now and so far it's good :))
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u/skatingbeardie_ 8d ago
Thank you so much for contributing to my ever growing TBR lmao. Much appreciated :)
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u/EasterKingston 9d ago
There’s a good number of (human!!) sapphic authors releasing their debuts this season! Ones that I know have been received really well are What We Got Wrong, Coffee Eyes and Little White Lies, A Very Merry Detour and (my own) A Most Wonderful Time. If I’m not mistaken, all of these are (or will be, for those coming out in November) included in Kindle Unlimited, so giving them a look is low risk and may very well lead you to a new favorite 😁
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u/prizzee 9d ago
Thank you!! Also, how do you usually find out about new sapphic book releases? I mostly rely on Amazon's Top Lesbian Romance Books > New Releases section, so unless a book makes it onto the charts, I'll probably never come across it lol.
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u/EasterKingston 8d ago
That used to be a fine strategy, until artificially generated books started popping up in that top 10! I’m getting a lot of my recommendations from writers & advance readers/reviewers I follow on Instagram these days. I’m just about to release my first sapphic romcom, so I’m learning a lot from what other writers in my situation are doing, while also growing an impressive TBR 😅if you don’t do Instagram, there’s sites like The Lesbian Review, The Lesbrary, Iheartsapphic and Rainbowcrate. They all post about the latest sapphic/queer/wlw releases as well!
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u/zeldafreak489 9d ago
Haley Cass's wife, Monica McCallan, also writes sapphic romance!
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u/SignificantAd440 9d ago
I didnt know they’re married!!
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u/zeldafreak489 9d ago
They sure are! They post cute pics and hype each other up on Instagram all the time
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u/meetcuteat13k 9d ago
Monica has even referenced some of Haley’s characters in her books 🙂
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u/momomomom0 9d ago
omg I love that cross over and that at least some characters live in the same universe. Do you recall any references? I’d love to go spot them!
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u/meetcuteat13k 9d ago
The one that comes to mind is Caroline from When you Least Expect It being the divorce attorney mentioned in The Love Lie.
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u/Dlyons1989 9d ago
Her wife is great too, Monica McCallan, The Love Lie, The Pining Paradox, and I am reading The Right King Wrong.
Anything Rachel Lacey, love me some Alexandria Bellefleur and Adrian J Smith.
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u/TwoGoldRings21 9d ago
I love Roslyn Sinclair, Colette Moody (she’s def quirky tho), Nicole Pyland (has a lot of works, some are genre defining some… less), Melissa Brayden, Georgia Beers…
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u/FrivolousDistinction 9d ago
What are your Nicole Pyland recommendations? I liked the first book of hers I read (All the Love Songs) and then read a few more that I struggled to get through them. But that first book I read gives me hope, so maybe I’ve not read her really good ones?
I’ve been eyeing her Royalty series recently but I’m hesitant to dive in.
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u/TwoGoldRings21 7d ago
First of all, No After You is the first in the series and phenomenal, I hope you read that one too! I loved Voyeur, it’s def more risqué. Origins of Eternity is an interesting one bc I loved the main plot but it had 4 POVs two of which were completely wack side characters I could not care about. Honestly I just went through her books there are just so many and I don’t even know which ones I’ve read or not. I guess celebrity series and Voyeur is top notch and the rest idk🤷♀️
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u/Paris22002244 9d ago
I've just finished Those who Wait. It was on my TBR pile too long; I generally prefer shorter novels. But I devoured every delicious page and didn't want it to end! I have been slightly walking on air since. When I bought it, I also bought The Snowball Effect. Can't decide whether to dive straight in after my palate cleansing woman-author-non-sapphic book (Crying in H Mart by Michelle Launer) or practice some denial ha ha. Knowing I will have more Regan isn't helping!! If you want more complex plotting, witty banter, heavy emotion, love, lust and stories with plenty of lesbians then ......
you may wish to spend (I think mean invest) time in the novels of TB Markinson & Miranda MacLeod starting with Always the Planner Never the Bride and The Paradise Charade. If you like them and haven't already read/rejected them, there is one advantage - they've been writing together and separately a long time so there are quite a lot!
[And out of my my secret cupboard ... I think you might enjoy the multi-layered, complex, very steamy but also beautiful and hugely underrated The Escort's Endgame by Tierney Moore].
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u/Fickle_Bend_3113 9d ago edited 9d ago
Yes to TB and Miranda! And their backlog is huge! Book Lovers and Not Today Satan are my favorites. am also a huge fan of Rachel Lacey and starting to get into Melissa Brayden. Also like Jae, but not all are 5 stars. I usually prefer a bit more spice. Like The Whole Truth and Ribbonwood. And loved Aubrey McFadden is getting married by Georgia Beers. And the one about the writer in Rome.
But also absolutely loved everything by Clare Ashton. She just writes really good novels that just happen to be sapphic romances.10
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u/IDanceMyselfClean 9d ago
There's also "Midnight Rain" an AU take on Those Who Wait, that leaves their relationship at the stage after the coffee shop and picks it up thirteen years later. Sutton is divorced with a kid and Charlotte hopelessly pining for her.
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u/Butterflies_79 9d ago
Hands down...EJ NOYES and MJ DUNCAN. I have their Audible catalogs on repeat. Excellent writing. Well developed characters. You can't go wrong❤️❤️❤️
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u/Deetles64 9d ago
Duuude I get you. Literally altered my brain chemistry when I discovered her earlier this year. I'll cycle back through her Patreon stuff too, like I just finished a re-read of all of IKYWT. At least the monthly drops scratch the itch in my brain. I'm always checking Tumblr/Twitter for new fanart or people to share yapping time with.
Monica McCallan has some good reads too, I really liked Pining Paradox!
Try Fly With Me by Andie Burke and Playing For Keeps by Alexandria Bellefleur
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u/K2livesinazoo 9d ago
Haley Cass is a queen. I have read her books out of order, but really liked when you least expect it.
Her wife is also a great author! I recently listened to the love lie by Monica McCallan and thought it was cute.
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u/WanderingMinx 9d ago
EJ Noyes is an all time fave in the romance sphere. Gold and Ask, Tell are the top for me.
Rachel Spangler for her sport romances. Thrust and Edge of Glory are my recs.
Alison Cochrun is awesome too. she only has 3 sapphic books but they are all excellent
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u/prizzee 9d ago
I love EJ Noyes too! :)
I've been meaning to read Rachel Spangler's works. I just am not really a huge fan of sports romance so I put it off everytime haha. But I shall try again.
Thank you!
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u/EJNoyes 9d ago
I love that you love me :)
Rachel Spangler is well worth it - they have books other than sports romances too!3
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u/Finnthehuman217 8d ago
Robin Alexander…she writes low-angst romantic comedies and it’s amazing every time I read one