Her Type on Paper: a sapphic forced proximity story

by Alicia Vane

Genres: Contemporary

75 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2026

Reviews

[Siddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia is an author and also a professor of creative writing who is facing severe writers block. To try to help, she books herself on a writers retreat in the wilds of the Yorkshire Moors in England.
Mel is a successful author and internet celebrity. After she catches her girlfriend cheating, she escapes to the writers retreat the same day. There, she meets Julia again after many years - they knew one another at college.
This is a longer short story, the backstories seem to be a vehicle for some wonderfully steamy sex, but little emotion. It’s fun, if you like that sort of thing.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick fun read

[Verity Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second time reading Alicia Vane, and I honestly cannot get enough!

I’m not even usually a big spicy book reader, but something about her writing just feels right, and clicks with my brain.

I find that the spicy scenes feel more realistic, and there’s no mention of cringey words that are shamelessly paraded around in some other stories I’ve read.

Another fab story! I also now want to take myself away on a writing retreat…

[kelisliveshere˚₊⋆ ʚɞ ⋆₊˚]

I read this yesterday and I already forgot everything

[Jamylle Sampaio · Rating 4 out of 5]

short and spicy!

[sapphicliteratureirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick, steamy read told through the dual perspectives of Julia and Mel, who are both attending a writers' retreat on the Yorkshire Moors. They're hoping to overcome their writer's block and escape the routines of everyday life for a while.

Both characters are likeable, albeit in very different ways. Mel's lighter, more playful inner voice and outward confidence contrast beautifully with Julia's prickly nature, and both have completely understandable reasons for feeling grumpy or a little off-centre. Julia comes across as so highly strung that I couldn't help but love her. From the very first pages, it's obvious she needs a way to release some of that tension...

One of my favourite parts was discovering that Mel & Julia are old acquaintances who find each other irritating... and annoyingly attractive 🔥 The mutual, unspoken crush and shared history had my queer heart soaring. And the rapport between them develops through their forced proximity in a way that feels both natural and intimate.

And both of these writers find far more than they expected at this retreat. The way they work through their writer's block is 🔥🌶🫠!

Add this to your TBR if you enjoy sapphic romance, forced proximity, and two writers rediscovering their creativity—and each other—on the Yorkshire Moors ✨️

[Solely Sapphic Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
Duel 1st Person POV. 4.5🌟 2🌶️. 56 pages
2 Spicy Scenes

You’re telling me that Alicia Vane managed to fit so much information, backstory, emotion and spice into 56 pages? This little novelette was an absolute shock and treat to read.

There was a tension between the MCs, that one sided “I hate you, but at the same time I want to bang you” that I absolutely adore in books. Alicia brought a rawness and vulnerability to her characters by having an underlying theme of loneliness and the feeling of not being truly seen and it added so much depth to such a short story that you’ll be wanting more by the end.

I also loved the fact that both of these characters have a shared history and a historical crush that never was, that now has pace to grow into something more. Honestly I could have been doing with 100 more pages of these 2 and I will definitely be picking up more of Alicia’s work in the future.

Her Type on Paper will be released June 30th, add it to your TBR for that quick and steamy read we all know you love.

Things to LOVE:
📚Spicy Short Story
✍️Writing Retreat
😠1 Sided Rivalry
⛓️Forced Proximity
😤Grumpy FMC
💔Jaded FMC
🔥Old Uni Crushes

[Kay West · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, spicy, Sapphic romance that will have you wishing for thunderstorms.

I love stories about writers or creative people trying to find their spark and if you do too this novelette will scratch that itch.

Our FMC Julia, is too scared to write queer/Sapphic romances because that may reveal too much about herself. So she sticks with writing straight romances with 'bland cis' men, until writer's block leads her to a writing retreat where she connects with our FMC Mel.

Now Mel is my type on paper and IRL, all androgyny and a 'who cares' attitude. Of course our two FMC's have a past that each remembers differently and the tension is TIGHT!

Pick this up if you love
🛁 Sapphic romance
🛁 Rival writers
🛁 She dommes
🛁 Androgyny 🔥
🛁 A bathtub scene I may never recover from

This book is best read in a bathtub during during a storm.

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second book by Alicia Vane, and it’s safe to say I’ll be reading more! Her Type on Paper is a quick, steamy romance that delivers plenty of chemistry between Mel and Julia. What starts as two women misunderstanding each other’s personalities gradually transforms into undeniable tension, and I loved watching their relationship evolve. The forced proximity trope was executed so well, making every interaction feel charged with anticipation!

If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced sapphic romance with forced proximity, emotional tension, and plenty of steam, this one is definitely worth picking up!

[ayla lilith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read Alicia’s first book yet, but I’ve added it to my tbr now.

While this story was (sadly) short I enjoyed reading every bit of it. I’ve gotten so used to reading the same, almost at times cringy smut filled with overused words that this one actually surprised me. I wasn’t expecting for it to be written so thoughtfully and beautifully.

The dual POV gave me an opportunity to get into both Mel’s and Julia’s heads, and it was great to find out that they both have been crushing on each other for some time.

Also thank you power outage, we appreciate you.😇

10/10!

[Lautrioshka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was short, sapphic, spicy, and exactly what I needed.

I really enjoyed the writing. It felt natural, and I got invested in Julia and Mel almost immediately.

I loved getting inside both of their heads and seeing that they’d been dancing around their attraction for ages.

The chemistry was there from the start, and the dual POV made me root for them even more.

I don’t write, but this book almost had me looking up writers’ retreats ☺️

Also, the power outage deserves a special mention for being the best supporting character in this book ❤️‍🔥

[Lilith Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was swooned by Alicia's writing style quite a lot, if felt very smooth, and it simply offered an extra layer to the story, with some magic happening between the lines.

The story is fast paced, moving from secret crush, disguised as annoyance, to torrid night together, where imagination goes wild and fantasies come to life.

Despite the short story it was, there's a connection underneath that did not feel forced and draws you in.

The only thing I could have asked for, would be some more!

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed In Your Head so I was super excited to receive this ARC. It’s a short story but you still get so much insight into the MCs Julia and Mel. I don’t know how she fit so much information in such a short time but I could not put it down! The spice is so well written and their intimacy feels natural. I wish there was more because I love these characters. Alicia’s stories are so intriguing and always perfectly paced. Thank you for this ARC I really cannot wait for more!

[formerbookclubpresident · Rating 5 out of 5]

this novella is sooooo sexy and fun like thank GOD WE ARE SO BACK!!!!

a short and sweet (sabrina don't sue) story about two college rivals who reconnect while on a writing retreat. things move pretty fast and get sexy as fuck and steamy pretty quickly. need this to get optioned for a show and a movie and a musical and a play and and and

i think i read this book in a good mood but it was just such a nice fun read. BUY IT AND READ IT SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Michela Santoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

iconicometer: 💅🏼💅🏼💅🏼💅🏼.25
spiceometer: 🥵🥵🥵🥵


✨ I wish I could get over my own blocks the same way they did 💀

✨ who needs to burn more logs during a power outage when sesbian lex is all the fire you need

✨ inappropriate thoughts about the woman across the hall? YUM

✨ why worry about making a mess when a lesbian would 100% clean it up for you 😜

✨ the setting?? COZY AS FUCK

✨ they wanted to love/hate f*ck so bad lmao I love lesbians

[Katie Cleek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this short story. I wanted to believe the connection between the two MCs but it just didn’t feel genuine. I think it’s because I wanted more. I wanted more backstory. It felt more like two strangers hopping into the tub together vs two women with a complicated history. The spice was spicy but I think I expected more of a relationship. Overall, I just wanted more depth.

[Sapphic After Hours · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, spicy and fun read!

Erotic. Insta-lust (but also there’s history). A little kinky. Serious Professor x free-spirited motorcycle influencer. Walls so thin that you can hear everything. Lots of “good girl” moments. Read in one sitting. A little hate but mostly lust 😉. Cozy vintage house, crackling fire and rainstorm.

It’s a cozy erotic read from start to finish. If that’s the vibe you’re looking for, this one is a hit!

[Cathán · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25⭐️
2🔥

Thanks to the author this ARC novella !

As far as romance novellas go - fast burn, immediate chemistry - this one was ok. Had a decent amount of backstory and structure for 60 pgs and good amount of spice.
Wasn’t terrible, but wasn’t anything special either.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impeccable as always. Alicia Vane should be at the top of your reading list if you value character-driven, deliciously-written sapphic fiction. This one, as always, was a delight - and with a VERY juicy few final scenes. Give me ten more!!

[En · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fast and spicy. I had not expected a whole history behind Julia and Melissa when I picked this up. Now I wished there had been more build up to their rapport, and maybe more to their situationship…

That said, considering its length, Her Type on Paper delivers a decent read for folks looking for a quick escape.

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

✍️Julia and Mel are two writers in need of an escape and a little inspiration. They both end up at the same writing retreat, and they have history…👀

🛁Overall, I really enjoyed this one! At a little over 50 pages, I absolutely wanted more, but getting a glimpse into their past makes this story feel complete. The details in the writing made the setting so easy to picture, and this was the perfect rainy-day read (it was, in fact raining when I read this). There's tension, spice🥵, and the setting is just so cozy!

⛈️I don't think I ever knew writing retreats were a thing before coming across Alicia's account, so it was cool to see that as part of the backdrop in the story. Definitely check this one out!


💛Thank you so much for the ARC!