12 Books By Black Authors

As someone who loves to read, I thought I’d highlight 12 books by black authors. I’ve read some of these and the rest are currently on my to be read list. If you missed my post yesterday, yesterday I shared my thoughts on racism and black lives matter. I also included a list of organizations you can support or donate to. Please note, I’m not limited to only those organizations, feel free to give back to any organization you feel strongly about it.

These books are a great mixture of genres. They range from rom coms to fictional storyline that focuses on people of color, racism, or black culture or they’re based on a true story. I hope you all enjoy these books!

1 The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Vignes sisters are identical twins. At 16 years old, they ran away from their community. As adults, they lived a different life. One sister lives with her black daughter in the same community she grew up in and the other sister secretly passes as white and her husband has no idea about her past. Even though the twins are separate, their lives are still intertwined.

2 The Stars And The Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus

Audre is 16 years old from Port of Spain, Trinidad. She has been sent to America to live with her father in Minneapolis because she was caught having a secret girlfriend. Her grandmother reassures her she won’t lose her roots. Mable is 16 years old from Minneapolis, MN. She’s trying to figure out the way she feels about her ex Terrell compared to her experience with a girl, Jada. All summer she has been feeling ill and finds out her father’s best friend’s daughter from Trinidad is coming to America. Mabel quickly falls for Audre and helps her navigate America. Then suddenly Mabel’s illness has the roles reversed and Audre is caring for Mabel and her uncertain future.

3 The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Starr Carter is torn by her two worlds – the poor neighborhood she lives in and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. Her best friend Kahlil was fatally shot by a police officer and he was unarmed. His death makes national headlines. People are quick to make judgements. Everyone wants to know what really happened and Starr is the only person alive who can answer that.

4 Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid

I read this book in March. Alix Chamberlain is a successful affluent white woman. She is confident and driven and is known for her brand and showing how other women can live a successful life too. One day, Alix asked her babysitter Emira, a young black women, to unexpectedly watch their toddler. Somehow Emira was mistaken for kidnapping a child at a high-end supermarket. Emira was humiliated and when Alix heard what happened, she was so shook by this news. Alix wants to make it right for Emira. When the video of the supermarket incident leaked, the dynamic between the two women changed. Alix’s past was revealed and unraveled and Emira is torn between what she needs in life.

5 The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory

I’ve read several Jasmin Guillory books – The Proposal (read in January) and The Royal Holiday (read in December and my personal favorite).

Maddie & Theo share bridal party responsibilities and it requires more interaction with each other. They are always pulling sharp jabs with one another however there is always a slight attraction to one another too. One day they sneaked off to release some tension and promised to end it as soon as the wedding was over. When the wedding date is pushed up they start to question if their attraction is purely physical.

6 The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon

Samiah Brooks been catfished by a three-timing boyfriend. Samiah and the two other “girlfriends” have gone viral online. They make a pact to invest in themselves – no men, no dating. For once, Samiah is putting herself first and is able to start her dream. Then she meets Daniel. She questions if Daniel is boyfriend material or if he is too good to be true.

7 Get A Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Chloe Brown is a computer geek with a goal, plan, and list. After almost dying, she wrote a list of things to do to help her “get a life” like enjoy a drunken night. It’s not easy for her to be bad so she hires Red – a tattooed handyman. As she gets to know Red, she starts to learn more about what lies beneath his tough exterior.

8 With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Ever since Emoni was 17 years old she has been making tough decisions. She’s been taking care of her daughter and grandmother. The one place she releases and lets everything go is in the kitchen. She aspires to be a chef but knows it is impossible. Yet when she starts cooking and gets fire on high that drive makes anything feel possible.

9 The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare

Adunni is a 14 year old Nigerian girl who wants an education. Unfortunately, her father sold her to be a 3rd wife of a local man to bear him a son and heir. Adunni runs away hoping to make a better life for herself and realizes her only option is to work for a wealthy family. She realizes she needs to stand up for herself and must also stand up for other girls. She continues to speak up until her voice is heard.

10 American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

Marie Mitchell is an intelligence officer in the FBI during the Cold War and a young black woman working in a boys club. Her career is stalled and she is constantly passed up on for high profile jobs. She took the opportunity to be an American Spy and take down the charismatic revolutionary president of Burkin Fasco. Her job is to have a hand in the coup and bring him down. However, she admires his work.

11 I Almost Forgot About You by Terry McMillan

Dr. George Young has a wonderful life, from great friends to a successful career. But she can’t help but feel stuck and restless and decided to make a drastic change. She goes on a wild journey. Her bravery is a reminder that it is never too late to become the person you want to be.

12 Behold The Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

Jende Jonga and his family came over to the U.S. for a better life. He fortunately landed a job as a chauffeur for the Edwards. Clark Edwards is wealthy and works for Lehman Brothers. When the financial world was rocked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the Jongas are desperate to keep Jende’s job. Ultimately, it led to lives dramatically changing and making impossible decisions. The world of great power and privilege fails to hide troubling secrets.

Black-Owned Bookstores

If you love to read and if any of these bookstores are close to you definitely check them out! It’s a great way to support local black business. I had no idea Semicolon in Chicago existed and it’s not too far from me. So I will check them out!