Behind the Books

Black History Month Book Recs

February 23, 2022

In honoring Black History Month, today on my blog I wanted to highlight, recommend, and let you know which books are on my TBR stack this year of books written by Black authors.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson“Black Cake is a character-driven, multigenerational story that’s meant to be savored. . . . thought-provoking and poignant.” —Time

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Graybeasts of prey“Rich and powerful.” —O, The Oprah Magazine

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
such a fun age kiley reid“[A] hilarious, uncomfortable and compulsively readable story about race and class.” TIME

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
take my hand“Deeply empathetic yet unflinching in its gaze…an unforgettable exploration of responsibility and redemption.”—Celeste Ng

Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
yinka, where is your huzband? by lizzie damilola blackburn“So modern and fresh. Like Bridget Jones, Yinka is a lovable and relatable disaster—which is to say, she isn’t actually a disaster at all…I adore her.”
—Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of People We Meet on Vacation

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
real-men-knit-1“Jackson crafts a cute friends-to-lovers romance with a diverse cast of characters that emphasizes the importance of community and found family.”Booklist

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellowmemphis“This vivid debut novel examines the tragedies, joys, and deep connections of one extraordinary Memphis family. . . . A story populated with unforgettable characters. Stringfellow’s prose is evocative. . . . A powerful family saga from a promising writer.”Booklist

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
the vanishing half
“Bennett’s gorgeously written second novel, an ambitious meditation on race and identity, considers the divergent fates of twin sisters, born in the Jim Crow South, after one decides to pass for white. Bennett balances the literary demands of dynamic characterization with the historical and social realities of her subject matter.”The New York Times

While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
while we were dating“Jasmine Guillory is the undisputed queen of the modern-day romance, and this novel—in which a budding movie star and the ad guy tasked with making her famous fall hard for one another before encountering life’s many complications—is yet another jewel in her crown.”—Vogue

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
seven days in june

“[Seven Days in June is] filled with important observations and tidbits about Black life, giving the reader something that goes a step beyond the basic rom-com format.” USA Today

What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harris
what the fireflies knew
“Harris rewrites the coming-of-age story with Black girlhood at the center.”
New York Times Book Review

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