Hello lovelies! How are you? Yesterday I shared some of my favorite books written by black women and today I thought I’d share some books by black women I’m super excited to read. I got some shiny new 2019 releases and some backlist books I really want to get to on my TBR!
2019 RELEASES
I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest – June 4th
“When Chloe’s mom forbids her to apply for a spot at the dance conservatory of her dreams, she decides to drive 200 miles to the nearest audition. But she hits her first speed bump when her annoying neighbor insists on hitching a ride, with his smelly dog”
Finally we’re going to get the diverse YA roadtrip rom-com we’ve all been waiting for.
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert – August 20th
“Dove “Birdie” Randolph works hard to be the perfect daughter and follow the path her parents have laid out for her. But then she falls hard for Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past…whom her parents will never approve of.”
1. I love this cover. 2. I love Brandy Colbert. 3. I’m excited.
Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
“Jasmine and Chelsea are sick of the way women are treated even at their progressive NYC high school, so they start a Women’s Rights Club. They post everything online and soon they go viral. But with such positive support, the club is also targeted by online trolls.”
I’m always here for teen girls fighting the patriarchy!
Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite -September 3rd
“Quick-witted high school journalist Alaine Beauparlant gets booted from her elite private school after an intricate prank goes cruelly awry. She warily accepts an invitation from her aunt to spend her suspension at the family’s estate in Haiti.”
I love when contemporaries focus on family relationship, so this sounds wonderful.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole
“While her boss the prince was busy wooing his betrothed, Likotsi had her own love affair after swiping right on a dating app. But her romance had ended in heartbreak, and now, back in NYC again, she runs into the woman who broke her heart.”
It’s a second chance romance! And it’s f/f! And Alyssa Cole wrote it!
Fumbled by Alexa Martin – April 23rd
“Single-mother Poppy moved across the country when she was 16 and pregnant to find a new normal. TK Moore, dreamt his entire life about being in the NFL. Maybe at one point he thought his high school sweetheart would be by his side, but Poppy is long gone and he’s moved on.”
Another second chance romance and this one’s a sports romance too!
BACKLIST BOOKS
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
“Jade believes she must get out of her neighborhood to succeed. But some opportunities feel more demeaning than helpful. Like an invitation to join a mentorship program for “at-risk” girls. Except really, it’s for black girls. From “bad” neighborhoods.”
I love coming of age stories and this sounds like a wonderful one.
Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert
“Since she was seven Yvonne has had her trusted violin to keep her company. About to graduate she’s forced to face that she might not be good enough to attend a conservatory. But when she becomes unexpectedly pregnant, she has to an even harder decision to make.”
Did I mention I love Brandy Colbert? Cause I do. And I’ve never read a book about teen pregnancy, so I’m excited to try this one.
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
“Alice is done with dating after her girlfriend dumped her, after she told her she’s asexual. But then she meets Takumi, at her library summer job and she can’t stop thinking about him or the romance feels she did not ask for “
A YA contemporary romance with an bi-romantic, asexual protagonist? YES.
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
“An African-American woman, is suddenly wrenched through time into antebellum Maryland. During numerous such episodes, she realizes the challenge she’s been given: to protect a young slaveholder until he can father her own great-grandmother.”
I find time travel so interesting and this one’s a classic within the genre.
Mem by Bethany C. Morrow
“A scientist discovers a method allowing people to have their memories extracted. The Mems exist as mirror-images of their sources, zombie-like creatures who experience that singular memory over and over. And then there’s Dolores Extract #1, the first Mem capable of creating her own memories.”
I found the theme of memories and identity so fascinating in The Book of M, so this sounds right up my street.
Caucasia by Danzy Senna
“Birdie and Cole are the daughters of a black father and a white mother. The sisters are so close that they have a private language, yet to the outside world they can’t be sisters: Birdie appears to be white, while Cole is dark. “
I recently read New People and I loved Senna’s writing style, so I really want to try this one too.
I Wanna Be Where You Are has the BEST cover. And Kindred was great, although pretty brutal. Have fun with all of these 😀
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It’s so pretty and colorful 😍 Thank you so much!
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Once Ghosted Twice Shy!! I love this list
I really want to read the new Brandy Colbert and I Wanna Be Where You Are just because of the cover. They both have the perfect summer romance aesthetic.
I’m also hesitantly hopeful about Dear Haiti, Love Alaine: I haven’t heard anyone talk about it if not for the cover reveal (maybe it’s too soon since it will be out in September? I hope I will know more about it by then) but it looks like it’s an ownvoices book that will take place outside the US and I always want to support those.
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I’m so excited to read Once Ghosted Twice Shy! I’m in love with a lot of these covers, they’re so bright and colorful.
Hopefully we’ll be hearing good things closer to the release date, I think the synopsis sounds really promising though! It kind of vaguely reminds me of The Way You Make Me Feel? I’m always here for books set outside the US!
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I can see the TWYMMF comparison now that you’ve pointed it out! I’d love to read something similar.
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I read Piecing Me Together last week and I loved it! It was my first Renée Watson book and now I can’t wait to pick out her other novels. Let’s Talk about Love is another one I really enjoyed and that I have recommended to so many people. I hope you enjoy both as much as I did! 💛
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I’m so happy to hear that, now I’m even more excited to pick it up 😊 Thank you so much!
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I haven’t read any of them- but Mem is on my list. I hope we both like it! The premise sounds very unique. Also- I really should read something by Octavia Butler soon.
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Mem sounds so interesting and unique! I hope we’ll both enjoy it too! 😊
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this list is brilliant. i’m trying to read more diversely this year and this helps so much!! also can we talk about how adorable all these graphic covers are. im in love with ‘i want to be where you are’ and ‘fumbled’ so cuuuute
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Aw, thank you so much! I’m so happy you found it helpful! I’m totally in love with all of them, illustrated covers are everything 😍
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I love your list! There are so many too wait for and readily to read! I am looking forward to I Wanna Be Where You Are. I had seen the author around Twitter about this. Makes me more excited! Have fun reading 💕
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Thank you so much! I’m so excited to read it too! I hope we’ll both love it 😊
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Such a good list! I have so many of these on my TBR – they all look so amazing!
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Thank you! I’m so glad you think so! 😊
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Okay, Once Ghosted, Twice Shy looks SO good! And I love that cover so much ❤ I must confess I have several books by Asian and Middle-Eastern women on my TBR, but none by black women. I'll have to look more deeply into some of these!
Eleanor | On the Other Side of Reality
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I just read another book by Alyssa Cole and I really enjoyed it, so I’m super excited to get to Once Ghosted, Twice shy! I hope you’ll find something you want to add to your TBR! 😊
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I really want to read Let’s Talk About Love! Also I still haven’t gotten to any of Octavia Butler’s books. I should be ashamed. Maybe I’ll manage both this year 🤔
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I haven’t read any of Octavia Butler’s books yet either, so hopefully we’ll both manages it this year! 😊
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Let’s Talk About Love is amazing! I read it last week and loved the biromantic, ace representation. I hadn’t thought about reading Dear Haiti, Love Alaine, but now my curiosity has been peaked… Great post! 💕
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I’m so happy to hear that, now I’m even more excited to pick that one up! Thank you so much ❤️
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So many of these are on my TBR! Love this post, thank you for the recommendations 🙂
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Thank you so much I hope you’ll love them! 😊
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Once Ghosted, Twice Shy looks really good! I’m gonna add it right now. 🙂
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I’m so excited to read it! I hope you’ll love it! 😊
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Mem sounds amazing! Adding that to my tbr too! Thanks
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I think so too! I hope you’ll love it! 😊
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Ahhh I love this list of books SO much! I can’t wait to read I Wanna Be Where You Are, this book LOOKS (that cover, I’m in love) and sounds incredible. Also very, very excited for Dear Haiti, Love Alaine, it sounds so great! 🙂
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I loved Let’s Talk about Love!! And Piecing me together and Kindred are in my tbr! Awesome post 😀
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That’s lovely to hear, now I’m even more excited to pick it up! Thank you so much 😊
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