The year 2026 has been an incredible year for sapphic and lesbian fiction, spanning everything from high-society Regency rom-coms to dark gothic horror.
Here are some of the standout lesbian and sapphic fiction books released in 2026, broken down by genre:
Romance & Rom-Coms
- The Duke by Anna Cowan: A highly anticipated, sweeping sapphic Regency romance set in a world of powerful female nobles. It follows a beautiful, ambitious courtesan who reunites with a powerful female Duke she has never been able to forget.
- Like in Love with You by Emma R. Alban: A charming, historical rivals-to-lovers romance set in 1817 Bath, featuring a sharp-witted queer twist on traditional Regency societal dynamics.
- Playing for Keeps by Alexandria Bellefleur: A contemporary romance focusing on the high-stakes world of public relations, following a messy, unexpected romance between two powerful women navigating paparazzi and intense media scrutiny.
- More Like Enemigas by Stephanie Hope: A heartfelt and humorous contemporary romance packed with wedding hijinks, family secrets, and a sharp enemies-to-lovers dynamic between two rivals sharing a cabin.
Fantasy & Speculative Fiction
- Immortal Game by Allison Saft: A beautifully crafted fantasy release featuring prominent sapphic leads, blending high-stakes political intrigue with deep emotional stakes.
- The Hyacinth Labyrinth by Jamie Pacton: A lush, fairycore young adult fantasy adventure through the Fae realm. It delivers a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance centered around an unmagical princess.
- The Last Soldier of Nava by Yejin Suh: A rich fantasy deeply rooted in Korean mythology. The plot follows a young woman who awakens from a thousand-year slumber only to fall for the sister of the saint she killed in her past life.
Gothic, Horror & Thrillers
- The Brides by Charlotte Cross: A feminist, gothic horror reimagining of the Dracula mythos. It follows four women—including a protagonist and her secret love—who seek healing waters in Transylvania but find themselves trapped in Castle Dracula.
- A Fate Worse Than Drowning by Sarah L. Hawthorn: A dark, atmospheric sapphic gothic horror set on a harbor, centering on a lighthouse keeper who makes a desperate devil’s bargain to save her sister.
- The Red Sacrament by Sara Hinkley: A moody, literary queer vampire novel set in 1869 Paris, blending historical detail with intense psychological depth.
Literary Fiction
- Saturn Returning by Kim Narby: A beautifully written piece of literary fiction exploring grief, transition, and deep queer relationships as a young woman attempts to finish a deceased relative’s gaming project.
