One way to support Black authors during Black History Month is to read! The eight books below are all joyous reads with black protagonists, written by black authors!
- Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
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The first in a series, Get a Life, Chloe Brown is a steamy romance novel with great disability rep! Nothing is more joyous than a happily ever after. Check out its sequels, Take a Hint, Dani Brown and Act Your Age, Eve Brown, which follow Chloe’s sisters and their love lives!
- Along for the Ride by Mimi Grace
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Along for the Ride is your classic rom-com novel. Clocking in at a crisp 228 pages, it’s a perfect book to read in one sitting on a lazy day!
- Fumbled by Alexa Martin
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You guessed it — another romance recommendation! Alexa Martin’s Fumbled balances its sexy second-chance romance with endearing moments with the protagonist’s kid and important conversations on the health complications that come with playing high-contact sports like football.
- You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
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You Should See Me in a Crown was one of my favorite YA novels of last year! Liz Lighty is a wonderful queer protagonist, and her shot at homecoming queen was both fun and spoke to the certain discriminations young black women experience in high school. With a cute romance sub-plot and wonderful friends to boot, You Should See Me in a Crown left me smiling ear to ear.
- The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
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Looking for a novel set in college? Look no further than Dean Atta’s The Black Flamingo. When Michael begins college, he’s introduced to a new world of racial politics, queerness and drag. The ending is sublime, and left me itching to go to a drag performance!
- How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams
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One of my most recent reads, How to Fail at Flirting is a heartfelt and charming romance novel that shows that career-minded black women deserve happy endings, too. Naya is at a crossroads with both her professional and personal lives, and while her navigation is bumpy (to say the least), the destination is filled with joy and promise.
- Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
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Picture books are for adults, too! Thank You, Omu! is one of my favorite picture books, showing the importance and loving of community and soul food.
- A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole
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Here’s a well-told myth: black girls can’t be princesses. Published the same year that Meghan Markle married Prince Henry, Alyssa Cole shows that black women — in this case, her protagonist Naledi — are worthy of a crown. Naledi is confident, witty, intelligent and a princess. She just doesn’t know that last part until she meets her intended betrothed, Thabiso. Fun, flirty and an all-around wonderful time, A Princess in Theory is a staple in the romance genre!
The books above are just a handful of wonderful reads by Black authors. Celebrate Black History Month by supporting black authors and their stories!