Where are all the readers?
Our site has gotten off to a great start and the first month was filled with reviews. The thing that was most surprising to us was the number of requests for reviews just in the first month! Obviously word is getting out and we couldn’t be happier!
There is a most interesting trend that I’m seeing with the requests we’re getting. As an LGBT review site, we are getting requests for all types of books, including gay male stories, a few bisexual stories, even a transgender story here and there. But what we’re getting sent in droves is reqeusts for review of lesbian stories. Lesbian stories from all different genres: romance, sci-fi, historical, western, action, mystery, short stories, novels. You name it and we’ve likely gotten a request for at least one lesbian book in that genre.
We aren’t complaining one bit, and in fact I couldn’t be happier, but since I’m the lone reviewer of lesbian fiction on the site right now, I’m trying desperately to keep up! We’ve mentioned several times our need for more reviewers, especially reviewers looking to read lesbian fiction. Hopefully soon we’ll have additional help, but until then I’m reading as fast as I can.
A lot of the authors sending requests have expressed their excitement over a review site willing to review lesbian stories. I’ve been wondering a lot lately, why aren’t there more reviewers and review sites that read and review lesbian fiction? Are there review sites that I’m just not aware of? Are there reviewers out there that I just haven’t found?
There are a plethora of sites and blogs that review gay male fiction, and many many reviewers that only like to read stories with gay men. I can think of one site other than this one that reviews lesbian fiction. Why aren’t there more sites out there that focus solely on lesbian fiction? Where are all the readers of lesbian fiction going for reviews of books?
One of my theories is connected to a reason why ebooks of lesbian stories just don’t sell as well as ebooks of gay male stories. Lesbian paperback books sell very well, and it seems that the majority of readers of lesbian fiction just aren’t as entrenched in the emerging ebook industry. The demand from readers seems to still be for paperbacks, for novels or anthologies of short stories. With the majority of readers of lesbian fiction buying paperbacks, it then would make sense to assume that those readers aren’t as active in any online communities and therefore aren’t as involved in review sites or blogs.
What are your thoughts about the fact that there aren’t very many sites that review lesbian fiction? Would you like to see more sites and reviewers focusing on lesbian fiction? Do you know of any reviewers that read lesbian fiction?
For now, I’ll just have to keep reading and reviewing lesbian fiction and hope that somewhere out there are reviewers that will eventually find our site and want to help out. If you know of any readers that like to review lesbian fiction definitely send them our way!
Posted in Ramblings
Emily, that’s a really interesting point that you make about readers of lesbian fiction either preferring print or not yet having discovered or embraced the ebook format.
I’ve wondered why there are more review sites for f/f myself, but assumed it had more to do with f/f being lost in the overwhelming popularity of m/m.
I also think – and I might get shot down for this – there is still something taboo about f/f that many readers – and, let’s face it, most of them are ‘het’ women – have yet to willingly approach. When I posted about my first experience with the f/f genre, a number of people automatically said ‘no way not going there’. Later, a few came across it and, like me with my first lesbian erotica read, were surprised by how much they had enjoyed it. I found that particularly interesting and telling that there is a barrier there that seems to either put off or scare people.
As to reviewers, I know that Leah of Madame Butterfly (http://tiny.cc/0tnSa) reviews f/f and Val of Obsidian Bookshelf has also reviewed a couple. I also use goodreads as an indicator of what people thought about particular books.
I’d heard the popularity of print over ebook discussed by authors who were commenting on sales of lesbian stories and found it very interesting. I don’t know if that will change in the near future or if the trend for lesbian fiction with remain with a stronger focus on print books. What it does mean is I need to clear off some more space on my reading shelves as most of the books that I want to read are only available in print.
I really do think you’re right that f/f often gets lost in the popularity of m/m ebooks. A large majority of reviewers are primarily reading ebooks and are primarily straight women who prefer to read only m/m erotica.
You’re not going to get shot down here as I absolutey agree with you! The majority of readers right now are straight women, so understandably they don’t have an attraction to women.
What surprises me the most though is that when either m/m or f/f is mentioned, people immediately think of erotica. There are so many books that are m/m or f/f that don’t have any erotic content and are fabulous books.
I think there is most definitely a barrier that most people have put up ~ and my twisted brain wonders if it’s related to porn and the popularity of “lesbian porn” among hetero men. I’m really glad to hear that you enjoyed the lesbian erotica you read and it’s even better if you decide to read more in the future. I think right now the more exposure lesbian fiction gets, the better. Maybe the more readers and reviewers talk about it, other readers will try it out.
Thanks for the recommendations of reviewers ~ I’ll definitely check them out!
I didn’t tell you bceause in your specific case, you’re boring and no one wants to hear about you. So there.
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I don’t read lesbian fiction nor do I read Lesbian romances and I think a lot of romance readers are the same, going by the number of M/M readers who only want to read romance books in that sub genre or het romances. Lesbian writers are having difficulty selling their books (according to the publishers) because there isn’t a lot of interest on the part of romance readers.
However, as Kris said, Leah (Madame Butterfly) might be a possibility as a reviewer for you. Rainbow-Reviews is a GBLT review site so some of its reviewers might be interested in reviewing for Three Dollar Bill Reviews – Kassa may know how to contact a few of them since she also reviews for RR.
If we talk specifically about romance readers, I understand why lesbian fiction isn’t a popular choice. Romance readers in general are straight women, so it’s not a surprise that the readers are looking mostly for het and m/m romance books. But I think it’s a disservice to limit the reader pool to only romance readers, especially when talking about LGBT books. Many readers of gay and lesbian fiction read all different genres, so I think lesbian writers are looking to appeal not just to romance readers but simply to readers in general.
As I understand it, right now the “difficulty selling” from publishers is mostly limited to ebooks. The availability of lesbian fiction as ebooks is really just at the very beginning and the market for these books is still growing. Just as at one point m/m ebooks were not as popular as they are now, I think that’s where we are with f/f ebooks and the popularity and readership will continue to grow. Lesbian print books have always sold well, as evidenced by the fact that there are several publishers dedicated solely to lesbian fiction.
I have not read Leah’s reviews so I’m definitely going to go check her site. Reviewers of lesbian fiction are extremely hard to find, even at Rainbow Reviews which I co-owned until recently. Review sites all over have problems finding enough readers and reviewers for this particular genre but hopefully more people will come join us soon.
, and not over-think so much. (If I sptoped over-thinking, would my friends even recognize me?) I’m really intrigued by this dystopian erotic alien thriller, btw.