Sapphic communities have thrived in a variety of spaces throughout history, from the letters preserved in the Lesbian Herstory Archives to historically lesbian bars and restaurants. Online, sapphics continue to build a virtual community through Sapph-Lit, a sapphic book club.
Nina Haines, a writer, creative, and marketer based in Brooklyn, New York City, conceived of the idea for Sapph-Lit during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her background in gender and sexuality studies and corporate brand marketing led her to combine those skills towards building a larger online sapphic community.
“I was craving the IRL queer community that I lost during lockdown,” Haines explains. “I was posting about underrepresented queer books on BookTok, and a commenter asked if we could start a book club.” A self-identified “romance girly at heart,” Haines loves queer literary fiction and happily ever afters. “When I read, I want to feel joy,” she says.
A Community Without Borders
In the first week of Sapph-Lit, 500 members signed up. Today, the Sapph-Lit Discord server has nearly 2,000 members across 4 continents. Multiple channels give the writing specialized spaces for discussion, like crafting, reading recommendations, librarians, writers, ga(y)ming, as well as regional chats for folks to connect locally. “We moved from Geneva to Discord to keep our reach international, and for all ages 16 and up. We create these spaces to ensure that people can read age-appropriate books, as well as an 18+ channel.”
Haines’s time spent crafting this platform is intentional. “Consistent and clear communication are important,” Haines advises sapphics looking to create their own community spaces locally. “In building community, you are a bridge between people, de-centering yourself in the process. Knowing I’ve made a difference, however small, in the queer community is enough for me. I love being someone’s cheerleader.”
Literary Connections
The Sapph-Lit community has since expanded to include the authors of the monthly book selections. The first author interview was Samantha Shannon, author of Priory of the Orange Tree. Since then, Haines has interviewed and befriended over 40 authors, including Samantha Allen, Emily Austin, Haley Jakobson, Jeanna Kadlec, and Erica Peplin.
When asked about interviews that particularly stand out in her memory, Haines fondly reflects on her interview with Torrey Peters, the author of Detransition, Baby. “She is so eloquent and intentional with her words, and she spoke in the interview about how Detransition, Baby is a response to The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson—my favorite nonfiction book.”
IRL Meetups
Sapph-Lit has also hosted a number of in-person events in New York City, where Haines continues to strengthen the community. “I’m secretly an introvert,” she laughs, “but the community was craving events!”
Fittingly, this began with book swaps, now a signature Sapph-Lit event. Haines recalls the generous support she received from publishers. “Once, I had to rent a U-Haul to move a thousand books across the city from my apartment to Times Square!”
These events have led to lifelong friendships, among Sapph-Litties, as Haines lovingly calls her global online community, and collaborators. A partnership with grotto, a sapphic cocktail bar concept and pop-up, began in 2023 with a collaborative event with Soho House. “The founder, Austa, has become a dear friend of mine and one of my favorite people.”
The Future is Bright
In October of 2024, Sapph-Lit became a publishing imprint through Bindery. In Spring 2026, Kim Narby’s debut novel, Saturn Returning, will be the new imprint’s first publication.
Looking ahead, Haines and the Sapph-Lit community are eager to continue growing their reach. Currently, an international pen pal program among Sapph-Litties is in the works. In August, Sapph-Lit celebrated the launch of the anthology No Ordinary Love, which also featured a conversation between Haines and contributing author Jen Winston.
On the same day, Sapph-Lit announced the acquisition of Encore by Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang, the second book to be published by the imprint.
Haines’s efforts keep the circulation of sapphic literature alive, connecting these stories to the community that needs them. “I always prioritize sapphic representation,” she says. “These stories help us see what queer lives are possible.”
For those considering joining Sapph-Lit, Haines encourages you. “Don’t be shy! Everyone is so kind and willing to chat or offer support.”