Wanderland Reads | What to expect (I hope) in 2026

What to expect (I hope) in 2026

Welcome to 2026.

You are most likely here because you care about books, community, and reading with intention. You are also here because sapphic stories deserve space, time, and serious attention. This year focuses on building that space together.

Here is what you can expect on my bindery this year (when the depress and the overwhelm of full caretaking for my dad with dementia and being a FT trauma therapist don't burn me out) - we have to have realistic expectations lol.

I'm going to attempt regular posts about the sapphic books on my reading list, the sapphic reading challenge and "if you liked this, read that" posts. Reviews will center craft, themes, and emotional impact. You will also see a stronger focus on queer speculative fiction (thank you E.A. Noble - if you're here for the reminder that my voice matters), heavy emphasis on sapphic speculative fiction. Last year brought several books that challenged my thinking in lasting ways. This year aims for more stories that stretch perspective, question norms, and ask readers to sit with discomfort and curiosity.

The paid tier will offer deeper access. You will get sneak peeks into The Tenth Muse anthology, including author spotlights, excerpts, and behind the scenes notes. You will also see posts tied to therapy work, including reflections, frameworks, and reading through a trauma informed lens. Paid content stays intentional and grounded.

This bindery exists to grow community. My goal stays simple, read diversely, read inclusively, and talk about books with care. I really want the Discord space to exist for discussion, shared excitement, and thoughtful conversation, I'm sooooo thirsty borderline desperate for community, tbh I'm really lonely and this online space provides for 90% of my non-work based human interaction and connection. You belong here if you want to read widely and listen closely.

The sapphic reading challenge and The Tenth Muse started last year out of frustration. Sapphic stories remain pushed aside while MM or Achillean books dominate conversation and visibility. Nothing is wrong with those stories, I mean look at what Heated Rivalry did for our community. The problem lives in a culture that treats sapphic books as scarce, niche, or hard to find. Requests for sapphic recommendations continue to frame quality through heteronormative sex scripts and racial hierarchy. Those patterns deserve naming. I want this space to push back through action and consistency.

This year I really want to get a sapphic book club. At the beginning of each quarter I'm going to post a poll here and in discord with 6-7 sapphic books as options for the book clubs and the books with the highest amount of votes will be our choice each month. This will give you all an opportunity to get the books ahead of time. Each month will include a Sapphic Sunday book club discussion. Readers choose the books. Readers shape the conversation. We'll do a live in the discord, or possibly zoom if I can get my life together.

If you want thoughtful reviews, intentional community, and stories that expand how you think about love, power, bodies, and futures, hi, that's what I intend to do in this space. Join the Discord. Vote in the polls. Read alongside others who care.

Thank you for being part of this space. I'm soooooo glad you're here and I can't wait to get to know you!

Also tell a friend, and tell a friend to tell a friend because this year I REALLY want to grow this community with the intention of working toward an imprint with Bindery. I want to get intersectional sapphic and speculative sapphic books into the hands of readers! We deserve to be seen and celebrated!

What books do you most want to read for book club in Q!?

• Holy Wrath by Victoria Meir
• The Flowers I deserve by Tamara Jeree
• When Blood Meets Earth by E.A. Noble
• The River has Roots by Amal El-Motar
• The Salvage by Anbara Salam
• Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto

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Poll:

Can you join us for book club this month?
I am so happy to announce our first three months of books for book club, which gives you plenty of time to get access to and read them!

• January book is The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar meeting January 18th at 7pm EST
• February book is When Blood Meets Earth by E.A. Noble meeting February 22nd at 7pm EST
• March book is The Flowers I Deserve by Tamara Jeree meeting March 29th at 7pm EST
  If you have any recommendations for the summer suggestions I'd love to hear them!
  Let me know if you'll be joining us this month?!

Common tropes in sapphic speculative fiction

Speculative fiction combines romance with adventure and conflict. Certain narrative patterns recur.

• A princess guarded by a loyal warrior or knight who begins to question her duty.
• Rival soldiers from opposing factions are forced to work together.
• A scholar and a fighter navigating a dangerous quest.
• Political enemies form uneasy alliances during a rebellion.
• Explorers encounter unfamiliar worlds and build trust through survival.

These tropes create tension, intimacy, and emotional growth while the larger story unfolds.

An invitation to explore

If you have not spent time with sapphic speculative fiction, consider this an invitation.
Explore fantasy worlds where magic reshapes power.
Read science fiction that questions identity in future societies.
Look for stories where love grows alongside resistance, exploration, and discovery.
These books stretch the imagination in ways that linger long after the final page.