15 Immersive Sapphic Audiobooks You Need To Listen To

Recently updated on August 7th, 2024 at 03:54 pm

I am a HUGE audiobook fan. Let’s be honest, when you work a full-time job finding time to read is difficult. But audiobooks are super convenient. That’s why, I’ve decided to round up the best Sapphic Audiobooks.

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Captivating sound effects, a talented narrator and even music. In some ways an audiobook is more immersive than a physical book. Like a movie in your ears.

And some books are even better as an audiobook. But finding books that make good audiobooks is tricky.

That’s why, I’ve compiled the best Sapphic audiobooks. From LGBTQ+ Fantasy to historical fiction and ya contemporary. I’ve compiled 14 magical wlw audiobooks perfect for when you’re craving some escapism.

Read on for the best sapphic audiobooks

The Best Sapphic Audiobooks

If you’re looking for even more audiobook recommendations, you might want to check out the following posts. 

The 13 Best LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks

The 13 best urban fantasy audiobooks to lose yourself in

The 17 best fantasy audiobooks to stream right now

 23 Must-Listen LGBTQ+ Audiobooks for Your Next Road Trip

1. We Set The Dark On Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

If you’re after Sapphic audiobooks you need to check out We Set The Dark On Fire. This urban fantasy book has dark academia worldbuilding and  Latine representation.

We follow Daniela Vargas. She lives in a dystopian world where each man marries 2 wives.

A Primera and a Segunda. The Primera is intelligent, calm and analytical. The Segunda is the mother figure.

Outside the wall, the people go hungry. Dani started life outside of the wall. And she must use her wits to survive illegally in the capital.

The premise of this book is ideal for fans of A Handmaid’s Tale. Young women trained to become perfect wives. And a resistance group asking Dani to spy for them. It touches on many issues in today’s society, in particular feminism and marriage.

But the romance makes this book perfect. Two badass women marry a straight man but fall in love with each other.

The tension between the two characters in the first part is vivid. The tension is palpable and this is a true enemies to lovers. Likewise, the setup allows for a lot of character growth.

2. Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

This is an adorable Sapphic audiobook, with a cute grumpy/sunshine romance. This YA Contemporary features fake dating and Muslim/Bengali main characters. The differing voices for the Dual POVs make this audiobook an entertaining listen.

Hani is bisexual but having trouble making her friends to believe her. Ishu wants to be Head Girl.  

They decide to fake date to convince Hani’s friends that she is bisexual. And to help Ishu with her Head girl campaign.

The bisexual representation is incredible in this book. Not enough books deal with biphobia. And this explicitly deals with biphobic bullying.

The fake dating trope works superbly. And paired with the grumpy/sunshine romance,  it leads to many hilarious moments. With both characters learning from each other. The hilarious writing had me laughing out loud.

This book will never fail to cheer you up. The adorable romance and the funny banter make this an incredible wlw audiobook.

3. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

Fan of Crescent City? A Dark and Hollow Star is like a Sapphic version of Crescent City. An urban fantasy with badass female characters and a mystery to solve. Likewise, the full-cast audiobook make this an immersive listen.

A series of gruesome murders threatens to expose the faerie world to humans.  

Four queer teens – Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian – each hold a piece of the truth. And they must track down the mysterious killer.

The book has not one but two compelling romances. And the characters make this such a compelling read. Arlo and Nausicaä have amazing chemistry. Nausicaä is a grumpy, chaotic and sarcastic lesbian. Arlo and Nausicaä have a perfect grumpy/sunshine slow-burn vibe. Plus, the voice of Nausicaä is spot on.

 A great audiobook to put on  if you’re looking for some escapism while you’re cleaning or relaxing before bedtime.

One of the best Sapphic audiobooks. Read this if you’re a fan of fantasy, fae or full cast audiobooks.

4. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Lesbian necromancers in Space. What more could you want in a Sapphic sci-fi book?

It also has hilarious, sarcastic dialogue and a compelling mystery. The narrator, Moira Quirk, nails Gideon and is a huge hit with fans.

We follow Gideon.  Unfriendly nuns brought her up. And Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude. She packs up her sword and prepares to launch her daring escape.

But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.

The Emperor invites the heirs of each of his loyal Houses into a deadly trial. And in doing so, he summons Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House, into action.

 If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection. But no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier.

Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

The humour and dialogue between Gideon and Harrowhark sets this book apart. The hilarious conversations between the pair made me laugh out loud.

An addictive binge read, the pace moves quickly and keeps you hooked throughout. A great pick if you’re looking for Sapphic audiobooks.

5. The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl

This underrated retelling features a mystery paired with fairytale references. Likewise, the dark academia world-building sets this book apart from other fantasy retellings.

The Grimrose Girls is a modern take on classic fairytales such as The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

This book reimagines the heroines of classic fairytales as friends at an elite boarding school. After their friend dies, the police rule the death as suicide. But they decide to investigate to discover the truth.

Grimrose Girls is a unique concept and fantasy retelling. The mystery was gripping and well-paced. And the story keeps mentioning tantalizing details that keep you engaged.

The story also uses the darker versions of the fairy tales. And this added to the dark academia, mysterious tone of the book. Some reviews do mention the lack of world-building, but I preferred this because it kept the plot fast-paced.

6. One Last Stop by Casey Mcquiston

One Last Stop is a firm favourite of many readers. It features a cute romance, a sci-fi twist, a mystery and a cast of incredible queer characters.

We follow cynical bisexual August, a 23 year old trying to survive in New York. But then she meets this gorgeous girl on the train.

Jane.

Jane is dazzling, mysterious and insanely charismatic. But the problem is,  she’s literally displaced in time from the 1970s.

This is an unputdownable read with lots to love. Chaotic room-mates, a cast of incredible queer characters and a charismatic love-interest.

 The writing is also hilarious with great banter. Plus the food imagery is droolworthy. ( If you enjoyed One Last Stop then read my article  full of recommendations for books like One Last Stop)

7. Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner

Searching for a spicy rom-com? This Sapphic romance contains spice and a fun setup. The perfect steamy romance to listen to on a sunlounger.

Mistakes were made follows Cassie Klein. She goes to an off-campus bar to escape her school’s Family Weekend. She isn’t looking for a hookup. But it happens.

Buying a drink for a stranger turns into a one-night-stand. But the next morning rolls around. And her friend drags her along to meet her mum.

The hot, older woman Cassie slept with.

What should have been a one-time fling quickly proves impossible to ignore, and soon Cassie and Erin are sneaking around. Worst of all, they start to realize they have something real. But is being honest about the love between them worth the cost?

I’m a huge fan of a Sapphic rom-com. Check out my article on feel-good Sapphic rom-com books  here

8. Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

Our Wives Under The Sea won’t be for everyone. But if you like literary fiction, haunting horror stories or  books about the Sea then you’ll love this. Plus Florence Welch recommended it.

It follows Miri. Her wife Leah finally returns after a deep-sea mission ends in catastrophe. And Miri thinks she’s got her wife book.

But it soon becomes clear that Leah isn’t the same.

 Whatever happened in that vessel. Whatever it was they were supposed to be studying before they were stranded on the ocean floor. Leah has brought part of it back with her, onto dry land and into their home. 

This book is so much more than just a litfic horror.  It deals with grief, love and loss. With compelling and beautiful writing about the sea. But if you go into this expecting a horror, you might be disappointed. 

If you’re looking for atmospheric sapphic audiobooks you’ll absolutely love this enchanting literary fiction.

9. She Get’s The Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

She gets the girl is an incredible Sapphic audiobook. This dual pov balances romance with issues such an alcoholism. Plus, the character growth is excellent.

We follow Alex and Molly. Alex is a headstrong flirt. She knows how to get the the girl. Keeping her on the other hand… not so much.

Molly has everything in control. Except for her complete awkwardness with anyone other than her mum. She’s in love with the impossibly cool Cora Myers. But she just hasn’t talked to her yet.

Alex and Molly don’t belong on the same planet. But when they cross paths, they realize they might have a common interest after all. 

 Because maybe if Alex volunteers to help Molly learn how to get her dream girl to fall for her, she can prove to her ex that she’s not a selfish flirt. That she’s ready for an actual commitment.

The hate to love trope is executed brilliantly in this book. Both characters have excellent character development and come to understand each other better through the course of the book.

The discussions around alcoholism were incredibly well done and balanced perfectly with heartwarming romance.

If you’re after wlw audiobooks, then I recommend reading She Gets The Girl.

10. Crier’s War by Nina Varela

Crier’s War is an epic urban fantasy novel with a slow burn romance. Quick warning, I mean it when I say slow burn romance. But the payoff is worth the wait.

Set in the Kingdom of Rabu, we follow Ayla. A War has ravaged the kingdom of Rabu. The Automae took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will.

Ayla is a human servant rising the ranks at the House of Soverign.

She dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter – the beautiful Lady Crier.

Now, Ayla, a human servant rising the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier. Crier was Made to be beautiful. Flawless. And to take over her father’s work.

Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her father’s legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isn’t the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla.

This is a page-turner. And the plot if unique compared to any other fantasy books. Likewise, the compelling mysteries keep you reading to learn more.

11. Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Girls of Paper and Fire is an incredible fantasy set in a dystopian world. And Asian worldbuilding is woven throughout crafting a beautiful world. A quick warning, this is dark so make sure you read the trigger warnings.

Girls of Paper and Fire follows Lei. She is a member of the Paper Caste. And the people of Ikhara persecute her.

 She sees the royal guards take her mother. Afterwards, Lei suffers with trauma.When  the guards return and try to take Lei. She has to learn skills fitting of a King’s Consort. But she falls in love.

The worldbuilding in this book is seriously beautiful. Natasha Ngan was inspired by her own experiences growing up in Malaysia – a country with a mix of cultures. And Ikhara was heavily inspired by this. 

The character development is excellent. I loved the wlw romance in the book. The grumpy/sunshine trope was executed perfectly. The plot of the book is quite dark but it was handled sensitively

The pacing did lapse a bit in the middle for me. But the character development was amazing and kept me reading. If you’re looking for Sapphic Audiobooks then you need to read Girls Of Paper And Fire.

12. She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker Chan

She Who Became The Sun is an incredible historical  LGBTQIA+ fantasy about a rise to power, destiny and war. Set in 14th Century China, this well written epic features complex characters and an emotionally charged plot. 

It opens in a famine-stricken village. Two children are given two fates. The boy – greatness. The girl – nothingness.

In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. And for the peasants in the Central plains – greatness is only on stories.  So when Zhu Chongba is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass.

 The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected.

But then a bandit attack orphans the children. And Zhu Chongba succumbs to despair and dies. 

The girl uses her brother’s identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. And Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes to stay hidden from her fate. 

When I first picked this book up, I was expecting a fantasy. But while it has some fantasy elements, this reads more as historical fiction. It discusses profound topics such as queer desire and gender dysphoria. 

If you’re looking for historical sapphic books, then you need to read this book.  Well written, with inspiring characters and epic worldbuilding.

13. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

The Bright Falls trilogy is one of my favourites. And the favourite of many readers. These small-town romances feature hilarious banter and compelling romances.

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care is an adorable romantic comedy featuring a bisexual main character and a lesbian. 

A dual POV following Delilah Green and Claire Sutherland. 

Delilah Green swore she would never return to Bright Falls. Only memories of a lonely childhood with a distant stepfamily remain in Bright Falls. Her life is in New York with her photography career. 

But then Delilah’s estranged stepsister pressures her into photographing her wedding. And Delilah finds herself back in the town. She plans to breeze in and out. 

Claire Sutherland has raised her eleven year old daughter mostly on her own while also running a bookstore. With an unreliable ex, Claire Sutherland depends on a life without surprises. 

And Delilah Green is an unwelcome surprise…at first.

This is also such a quick read.  I binge read this in one sitting!

The writing is funny and easy to read with a fast-paced plot. Everything you want in a Sapphic romance – funny, steamy and heartfelt. If you’re after Sapphic audiobooks you’ll love this

14. The Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

Searching for an Autumnal audiobook? The vibes in Sawkill Girls make this ideal for Fall. And this atmospheric audiobook makes perfect autumn reading while it’s raining outside.

Sawkill Girls Sawkill girls is perfect if you’re looking for an atmospheric, spooky read.

Full of badass, morally grey characters and an intriguing plot.

A great choice if you’re looking for subtle lgbt books with discreet covers. Nothing on the cover that suggests it has LGbTQ+  representation.

Sawkill island has never been safe for young girls. According to local legend a paranormal beast hunts young girls.

We are introduced to three girls: Zoey, Val and Marion. They have the power to save the island. If they are willing to come together and try.

Sawkill Girls is a dark fantasy audiobook that’s not for everyone. The world-building is dark, moody and atmospheric. I love the idea of sapphic girls coming together and using magical powers to conquer evil.

Conclusion

These Sapphic Audiobooks are incredible and I hope you add some to your TBR list.

Audiobooks can get a bit pricey. But you can listen to audiobooks on a budget.

I recommend checking out the Libby app. You can use this app to rent audiobooks from your local library for free! Check out Libby here.

Scribd is also amazing. The app allows you to listen to an unlimited amount of audiobooks. Plus the even have a free 30 day trial. Check out Scribd here.

Finally, if you have Spotify Premium, they’ve now added audiobooks.

What are your favourite Sapphic audiobooks? I’d love to hear your recommendations!