I know that this is fiction, but it reads like a history textbook or a collection of essays on these figures. There didn’t seem to be a very cohesive storyline to follow, and I wish there had been more diversity to make this a story about all women. I also listened to the audiobook version and had to play it at 1.5x speed because the narrator spoke so slowly.

Thank you Netgally, RB Media, Publisher and Author for the free ALC in exchange for honest review. I don't read synopsis I fully admit to judging a book by the Cover and definitely not at all what I was expecting/wanting to read. Although very informative nothing much kept my attention.

Going into this book/audiobook, I really was excited to read something with this form of concept (especially since I've recently read Anne Carson's 'If Not, Winter' and loved it) but it just wasn't for me. Each story seemed like they were paraphrased versions of a Google or Wikipedia information page thrown together into a short novel. Despite this not being my favorite, I can still really appreciate the creative nonfiction aspect of these stories, I just wish the execution was better since it all felt very thrown together. I did love the audiobook narrator as well!

‘After Sappho’ came onto my radar when it was long listed for the Women’s Prize in 2022. I loved the concept, and the exploration of women who were condemned for their work (internally, privately, and publicly) to, as women, be seen as human beings, with rights and freedoms and minds of their own. Women who worked so hard, against such odd, made it possible for future generations to push even further, and the work continues.

While many of the women mentioned in this work are fairly well known, and a person with knowledge of feminist history will already know much of what is mentioned — it serves as a terrific jumping off point for people who are invested in feminism and want to broaden their education on the roots. Women of color are noticeable missing from this narrative, which was a shame. However, I think — in keeping with my first point — this euro-centric perspective may make further research more accessible. Not every work can center everyone, but for me, that missing element was felt and frustrating. It just didn’t dive deep enough. Perhaps this just wasn’t the book for me. I have read such wonderful non-fiction and fiction, both historical and modern, that centers a more intersectional swath of experiences. For me, that works better, and I always come away having learned something powerful. I wish this hadn’t been so limited

Also, it reads like non-fiction, moreso than fiction. Because of this I didn’t feel a connection to the emotional impact. It’s in a style that reads like a fact sheet or vignettes as opposed to typical narrative structure. I think, actually, this works for the subject matter, and it made for a quick read. Selby Wynn Schwartz does a terrific job of relaying important historical events and maintains strong tone, throughout. I think, maybe I would have preferred this as purely non-fiction. But I am glad I picked this up. Being able to be a part of the conversation around the Women’s Prize as well as new feminist titles is always a plus. This one will be so accessible for so many people and we LOVE to see it!

This feels like an academic lecture about the history of lgbtq-+ women rather than a cohesive story.

The stories are dry and unengaging at that. There’s no emotion or really much of anything to make me interested to know more about these people.

I didn’t mean to request this book—My fingers acted ahead of my brain and I don’t have time for it now. I plan to read it in the future soon.

Thank you for granting the request anyway.

What a piece of art this book is. Unlike any structure I have ever seen before. After Sappho is less plot driven and focuses more on the characters whose vivid portrays feel so authentic. Told in vignettes and featuring women, some well-known and some lesser so, who were groundbreaking in their own ways. This book is a celebration of female power, female intelligence, female strength, female friendship, and female love.

Now, did I like it? I think so. The empowerment and history of women trailblazers was beautiful to behold and powerfully presented. The writing is perfect, Selby Wynn Schwartz chose every word with care. However, I think the experience was lessened by listening to the audio version. It was difficult to follow all of the names and shifts in narrative, and I found myself drifting. I think I lost something vital by not having the words pass my eyes. However, the stories that stood out will be with me for a long time.

After Sappho creates a narrative weaving the stories of sapphic and queer feminists of history in a way that is both informative and engaging. I loved this read and highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in queer history, especially those who may prefer reading fiction.

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

First of all, I am so thankful to HighBridge Audio, Selby Wynn Schwartz, and Liveright Books for granting me audiobook access to this wonderfully poignant and empowering novel about the history of women and their battle for love and freedom. Sappho is set to hit shelves on February 28, 2023, and I'm so excited for my feminist babes to get ahold of this elegantly narrated tale because After Sappho needs to be heard and read.

I really loved learning more about queer artists, mostly lesbian. I liked the vignettes and the longer pieces, it felt a bit disjointed but overall very poetic.