Top African Amercian Fiction Ebooks

The top 100 best selling African American Ebooks at Apple's iBookstore. The chart list of the top African American ebook fiction best seller downloads is updated daily.

Chart of the most popular African American fiction ebooks was last updated:

Apple Books Top 100 African American Fiction Ebooks

1

Where the Wildflowers Grow - Terah Shelton Harris Cover Art

Where the Wildflowers Grow

Where the Wildflowers Grow A Novel by Terah Shelton Harris

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR BY Goodreads, Essence, Sunset Magazine, SheReads, BookBub, and more! From acclaimed author Terah Shelton Harris comes a poignant story of survival and redemption that questions what it means to stop existing and start living. Leigh is the last of the Wildes. She knows this because she watched them all die. Grief never truly fades and even as the tragedy haunts her, Leigh carries on, because survival is in her blood. So, when the transport bus taking her to prison careens off the road, killing everyone onboard except her, she does what’s in her nature. She survives.  While searching for a place to hide, Leigh stumbles upon an unexpected sanctuary: a flower farm in rural Alabama tucked away from the world. What Leigh doesn’t expect is the found family there who have built something from the wreckage of their own lives. Especially Jackson, the farm’s owner, who sees through Leigh’s defenses, offers her small moments of tenderness, encourages her to face her own tragedies. Slowly, Leigh finds peace with the hard pace and soft nature of the farm, taking comfort in the life blooming around her. Maybe she’s not beyond redemption, not too broken for something good. And maybe, just maybe, Leigh starts to heal. But the past isn't so easily buried. No matter how far she runs, the truth of who she is and the ghosts of the Wildes follow. And when those secrets catch up to her, threatening everything she’s come to love, Leigh will have to truly face what she can survive.

2

A Pair of Aces: Reese's Book Club - Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray Cover Art

A Pair of Aces: Reese's Book Club

A Pair of Aces: Reese's Book Club by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • A gripping novel about two trailblazing women on opposite sides of the law—a prosecutor and a madam—who team up to bring down notorious Mob boss Lucky Luciano in 1930s New York, from the New York Times bestselling authors of the million-copy bestseller The Personal Librarian. Eunice Carter, assistant district attorney for the City of New York and Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, has her sights set on the one and only Lucky Luciano, head of New York City’s five largest organized crime families. Other prosectors have tried to bring down Lucky, but they’ve all focused on the crime syndicate’s traditional businesses—bootlegging, gambling, loan sharking, and drug dealing—or tax evasion. No one has thought to approach the mob through its role in prostitution. Until Eunice. But she can’t get Luciano alone. Polly Adler has worked long and hard to build up her high-class brothel business. Her client list is filled with well-known names, both the famous and the infamous, who all know her booze is top-notch, her music first-rate, her food exquisite, and her girls the best. But Lucky has gone too far, putting her girls in danger, and Polly finally sees the chance to end his reign once and for all. Together, Eunice and Polly fashion a case utilizing a network of women. Bridging the enormous divide between them and risking their own lives, they assemble evidence bit by bit, under the nose of the man they’re trying to convict. It is this very alliance—of two women from vastly different worlds—that launches the most sensational trial New York City has ever seen.

3

Bluebird, Bluebird - Attica Locke Cover Art

Bluebird, Bluebird

Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

A thrilling novel about the explosive intersection of love, race, and justice from a writer and producer of the Emmy-winning Fox TV show Empire . "In Bluebird, Bluebird Attica Locke had both mastered the thriller and exceeded it." —Ann Patchett When it comes to law and order, East Texas plays by its own rules—a fact that Darren Mathews, a black Texas Ranger, knows all too well. Deeply ambivalent about growing up black in the lone star state, he was the first in his family to get as far away from Texas as he could. Until duty called him home. When his allegiance to his roots puts his job in jeopardy, he travels up Highway 59 to the small town of Lark, where two murders—a black lawyer from Chicago and a local white woman—have stirred up a hornet's nest of resentment. Darren must solve the crimes—and save himself in the process—before Lark's long-simmering racial fault lines erupt. From a writer and producer of the Emmy winning Fox TV show Empire , Bluebird, Bluebird is a rural noir suffused with the unique music, color, and nuance of East Texas. "Heartbreakingly resonant" — USA Today​

4

The Personal Librarian: A GMA Book Club Pick - Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray Cover Art

The Personal Librarian: A GMA Book Club Pick

The Personal Librarian: A GMA Book Club Pick A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel) by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

Over one million copies sold! The Instant New York Times Bestseller! A Good Morning America * Book Club Pick! Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR! Named a Notable Book of the Year by the Washington Post ! “Historical fiction at its best!” * A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection. But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American. The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.

5

Stand the Storm - Breena Clarke Cover Art

Stand the Storm

Stand the Storm A Novel by Breena Clarke

"Passionate, dramatic, and uplifting" ( Washington Post ), Stand the Storm is an "evocative, historically rich" novel ( Time ) from the author of River, Cross My Heart set among the free African American community of pre-Civil War Washington, DC. Even though Sewing Annie Coats and her son, Gabriel, have managed to buy their freedom, their lives are still marked by constant struggle and sacrifice. Washington's Georgetown neighborhood, where the Coatses operate a tailor's shop and laundry, is supposed to be a "promised land" for former slaves but is effectively a frontier town, gritty and dangerous, with no laws protecting black people. The remarkable emotional energy with which the Coatses wage their daily battles-as they negotiate with their former owner, as they assist escaped slaves en route to freedom, as they prepare for the encroaching war, and as they strive to love each other enough-is what propels Stand the Storm and makes the novel's tragic denouement so devastating. "A gripping novel about a family's heart-wrenching journey out of slavery." -- Baltimore Sun

6

The Coldest Winter Ever - Sister Souljah Cover Art

The Coldest Winter Ever

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

A New York Times and USA TODAY Bestseller “50 Most Impactful Black Books of the Last 50 Years.” — Essence Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read The instant classic from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Life After Death brings the streets of New York to life in a powerful and utterly unforgettable novel. I came busting into the world during one of New York’s worst snowstorms, so my mother named me Winter. Ghetto-born, Winter is the young, wealthy daughter of a prominent Brooklyn drug-dealing family. Quick-witted, sexy, and business-minded, she knows and loves the streets like the curves of her own body. But when a cold Winter wind blows her life in a direction she doesn’t want to go, her street smarts and seductive skills are put to the test of a lifetime. Unwilling to lose, this ghetto girl will do anything to stay on top. Twenty-five years and over one million copies later, The Coldest Winter Ever is a bestseller and a national treasure, a classic handed down from one reading generation to the next. Whether you are reading it for the first time or have cherished it for years , you will never forget this Winter’s tale.

7

Parable of the Sower - Octavia E. Butler Cover Art

Parable of the Sower

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

From a celebrated, award-winning author, a modern classic about a young girl fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world, perfect for fans of N.K. Jemisin and Margaret Atwood. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding social chaos and anarchy caused by climate change and economic crisis. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy—a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions. Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny. Includes a foreword by LeVar Burton and an afterword by N. K. Jemisin Lauren's story continues in The Parable of the Talents.  "In the ongoing contest over which dystopian classic is most applicable to our time, Octavia Butler's 'Parable' books may be unmatched."— The New Yorker  

8

We Don't Talk About Carol - Kristen L. Berry Cover Art

We Don't Talk About Carol

We Don't Talk About Carol A Novel by Kristen L. Berry

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A dedicated journalist unearths a generations-old family secret—and a connection to a string of missing girls that hits way too close to home—in this “nail-biting debut” ( Booklist ). “A well-written, emotionally wrenching tale.”—Associated Press A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR In the wake of her grandmother's passing, Sydney Singleton finds a hidden photograph of a little girl who looks more like Sydney than her own sister or mother. She soon discovers the mystery girl in the photograph is her aunt, Carol, who was one of six North Carolina Black girls to go missing in the 1960s. For the last several decades, not a soul has talked about Carol or what really happened to her. But now, with her grandmother gone and Sydney looking to start a family of her own, she is determined to unravel the truth behind her long-lost aunt’s disappearance, and the sinister silence that surrounds her. Unfortunately, this is familiar territory for Sydney: Years earlier, while she worked the crime beat as a journalist, her obsession with the case of another missing girl led to a psychotic break. And now, in the suffocating grip of fertility treatments and a marriage that's beginning to crumble, Sydney’s relentless pursuit for answers might just lead her down the same path of self-destruction. As she delves deeper into Carol's fate, her own troubled past reemerges, clawing its way to the surface with a vengeance. The web of secrets and lies entangling her family leaves Sydney questioning everything—her fixation on the missing girls, her future as a mom, and her trust in those she knows and loves. Delving into family, community, secrets, and motherhood, We Don’t Talk About Carol is a gripping and deeply emotional story about overcoming the rot at the roots of our family trees—and what we’ll do for those we love.

9

Run - Ann Patchett Cover Art

Run

Run A Novel by Ann Patchett

"Engaging, surprising, provocative and moving...a thoroughly intelligent book, an intimate domestic drama that nonetheless deals with big issues touching us all: religion, race, class, politics and, above all else, family." -- Washington Post From New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett comes an engrossing story of one family on one fateful night in Boston where secrets are unlocked and new bonds are formed. Since their mother's death, Tip and Teddy Doyle have been raised by their loving possessive and ambitions father. As the former mayor of Boston, Bernard Doyle wants to see is sons in politics, a dream the boys have never shared. But when an argument in a blinding New England snowstorm inadvertently causes an accident that involves a stranger and her child, all Bernard Doyle cares about is his ability to keep his children--all his children--safe. Set over a period of twenty-four hours, Run takes us from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard to a home for retired Catholic Priests in downtown Boston. It shows us how worlds of privilege and poverty can coexist only blocks apart from each other, and how family can include people you've never even met. As an in her bestselling novel, Bel Canto, Ann Patchett illustrates the humanity that connects disparate lives, weaving several stories into one surprising and endlessly moving narrative. Suspenseful and stunningly executed, Run is ultimately a novel about secrets, duty, responsibility, and the lengths we will go to protect our children.

10

Life After Death - Sister Souljah Cover Art

Life After Death

Life After Death A Novel by Sister Souljah

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER The long-anticipated sequel to Sister Souljah’s million-copy New York Times bestseller The Coldest Winter Ever , featuring unforgettable heroine Winter Santiaga . Winter Santiaga hit time served. Still stunning, still pretty, still bold, still loves her father more than any man in the world, still got her hustle and high fashion flow. She’s eager to pay back her enemies, rebuild her father’s empire, reset his crown, and ultimately to snatch Midnight back into her life no matter which bitch had him while she was locked up. But Winter is not the only one with revenge on her mind. Simone, Winter’s young business partner and friend, is locked and loaded and Winter is her target. Will she blow Winter’s head off? Can Winter dodge the bullets? Or will at least one bullet blast Winter into another world? Either way Winter is fearless. Hell is the same as any hood and certainly the Brooklyn hood she grew up in. That’s what Winter thinks. A heartwarming, heart-burning, passionate, sexual, comical, and completely original adventure is about to happen in real time—raw, shocking, soulful, and shameless. True fans won’t let Winter travel alone on this amazing journey.

11

Junie: A GMA Book Club Pick - Erin Crosby Eckstine Cover Art

Junie: A GMA Book Club Pick

Junie: A GMA Book Club Pick A Novel by Erin Crosby Eckstine

GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • As the Civil War looms, a young girl must face a life-altering decision after awakening her sister’s ghost in this “poignant story of love, family and friendship [that] celebrates the power of liberation” ( People ). “An enrapturing tale of survival . . . Eckstine has poured a ton of heart into her characters.”— The Atlanta Journal-Constitution “The richly textured prose quickly pulled me into [Junie’s] treacherous yet magical world.”—Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake Sixteen years old and enslaved since she was born, Junie has spent her life on Bellereine Plantation in Alabama, cooking and cleaning alongside her family, and tending to the white master’s daughter, Violet. Her daydreams are filled with poetry and faraway worlds, while she spends her nights secretly roaming through the forest, consumed with grief over the sudden death of her older sister, Minnie. When wealthy guests arrive from New Orleans, hinting at marriage for Violet and upending Junie’s life, she commits a desperate act—one that rouses Minnie’s spirit from the grave, tethered to this world unless Junie can free her. She enlists the aid of Caleb, the guests’ coachman, and their friendship soon becomes something more. Yet as long-held truths begin to crumble, she realizes Bellereine is harboring dark and horrifying secrets that can no longer be ignored. With time ticking down, Junie begins to push against the harsh current that has controlled her entire life. As she grapples with an increasingly unfamiliar world in which she has little control, she is forced to ask herself: When we choose love and liberation, what must we leave behind?

12

The Cartel - Ashley & JaQuavis Cover Art

The Cartel

The Cartel by Ashley & JaQuavis

The port of Miami brings in millions of dollars worth of cocaine every year, and The Cartel controls eighty percent of it. The Diamond family is a force to be reckoned with, but all hell breaks loose when they lose their leader. The most ruthless gangster Miami has ever seen, Carter Diamond leaves behind a wife, twin sons, a daughter, and a secret. The secret is his illegitimate son, Carter Jones. When Young Carter learns of his father's death, he comes to town and is introduced to the legacy of The Cartel. Miamor is a woman who uses her beauty to enhance her skill as a contract killer. She is the leader of The Murder Mamas. When her crew is hired to take down The Cartel, they get caught slipping, and Miamor loses her sister in the process. She is determined to get revenge from The Cartel. Unknowingly, she meets the son of Carter Diamond, and he immediately catches her heart. She is sleeping with the enemy, and when she finds out, she is torn between love and revenge. Young Carter and Miamor lead two different lifestyles. They are on opposing teams, and when their worlds collide, the truth will be unveiled in an unpredictable ending.

13

Black Girls Must Be Magic - Jayne Allen Cover Art

Black Girls Must Be Magic

Black Girls Must Be Magic A Novel by Jayne Allen

“Masterfully written and pitch perfect, Black Girls Must Be Magic is, simply, magic.”—Good Morning America In this highly anticipated second installment in the Black Girls Must Die Exhausted series, Tabitha Walker copes with more of life’s challenges and a happy surprise—a baby—with a little help and lots of love from friends old and new in this unforgettable story about modern motherhood. For Tabitha Walker, her grandmother’s old adage, “Black girls must die exhausted” is becoming all too true. Discovering she’s pregnant—after she was told she may not be able to have biological children—Tabitha throws herself headfirst into the world of “single mothers by choice.” Between her job, doctor’s appointments, and preparing for the baby, she’s worn out. And that’s before her boss at the local news station starts getting complaints from viewers about Tabitha’s natural hair, forcing her to confront unexpected workplace drama. When an unexpected turn of events draws Marc—her on and off-again ex-boyfriend—back into her world with surprising demands, and the situation at work begins to threaten her livelihood and her identity, Tabitha must make some tough decisions about her and her baby’s future. It takes a village to raise a child, and Tabitha turns to the women who have always been there for her. Bolstered by the fierce support of Ms. Gretchen, her grandmother’s best friend, the counsel of her closest friends Laila and Alexis, and the calming presence of her doula Andouele, this powerful story of found family shows how Tabitha must find a way to navigate motherhood on her own terms. Will she harness the bravery, strength, and self-love she’ll need to keep “the village” together, find her voice at work, and settle things with Marc before the baby arrives? 

14

A Deeper Love Inside - Sister Souljah Cover Art

A Deeper Love Inside

A Deeper Love Inside The Porsche Santiaga Story by Sister Souljah

THE SEQUEL MILLIONS OF READERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR . . . At last, mega-bestselling author Sister Souljah delivers the stunning sequel to The Coldest Winter Ever . Fierce, raw, and filled with adventure and emotional intensity, A Deeper Love Inside is an unforgettable coming-of-age story in the words of Porsche Santiaga, Winter’s younger sister. Sharp-tongued, quick-witted Porsche worships her sister Winter. Cut from the same cloth as her father, Ricky Santiaga, Porsche is also a natural-born hustler. Passionate and loyal to the extreme, she refuses to accept her new life in group homes, foster care, and juvenile detention after her family is torn apart. Porsche—unique, young, and beautiful—cries as much as she fights and uses whatever she has to reclaim her status. Unselfish, she pushes to get back everything that ever belonged to her wealthy, loving family. In A Deeper Love Inside, readers will encounter their favorite characters from The Coldest Winter Ever, including Winter and Midnight. Sister Souljah’s soulful writing will again move your heart and open your eyes to a shocking reality.

15

Moth to a Flame - Ashley Antoinette Cover Art

Moth to a Flame

Moth to a Flame by Ashley Antoinette

In the little city of Flint, MI, the good die young and the people left standing are the grimiest of characters. With reign over the city's drug trade, Benjamin Atkins made sure that his precious daughter, Raven, was secluded from the grit that the city had to offer. But when Raven's young heart gets claimed by Mizan, a stick-up kid in search of a come-up, there's nothing Benjamin can do about losing her to the streets. She chooses love over loyalty and runs off with Mizan, but her new role as wifey soon proves to be more than she can handle. Puppy love always feels right, but things turn stale, and she soon finds that everyone she loves has disappeared. All she has is Mizan, but when hugs and kisses turn to bloody lips and black eyes, she realizes that Mizan is not who she thought he was. Raven becomes desperate for a way out, but this time, Daddy can't save her. Every time she finds the courage to leave, fear convinces her to stay. Like a moth to a flame, Raven is drawn to Mizan, even though she knows he'll be the death of her. When the hood life she chose becomes unbearable and the only way out is in a coffin, what will she do?

16

Addicted to A Dirty South Thug - Myss Shan Cover Art

Addicted to A Dirty South Thug

Addicted to A Dirty South Thug by Myss Shan

After being so In love with a thug named Rue, Cuba Lance ends up doing 3 years in prison after he places blame on her for one tragic night that took place. Now that she's home, she's ready to move on with her life. Her cousin Tangie has a job waiting for her and gives her a place to stay. Everything is more than what she could've asked for. But when loneliness sets in, she feels like she's missing something. She vowed after her last relationship that she was done with thugs and all things hood, but when she runs into the sexy, Khi with the cocky and dirty south swag, she realizes that it's something about a bad boy that she can't get enough of. She's convinced herself that there is no need to stop what seems meant to be. But will it be another mistake and this time will she get away with her life? Khian "Khi" Prince is just one of the Prince brothers that has the ladies going crazy. He's a certified boss with what seems to be the weight of the world on his shoulders. His job is to ensure that he and his brothers maintain their status in the streets along with caring for his 2 baby mamas and the kids he shares with them. After failing at love twice, Khi's not ready to give up on finding his queen just yet and when running into Cuba, he's for certain he has finally gotten it right. But when Cuba mends his heart to only be the cause of shattering it all over again, will Khi give up on love once and for all, or will he fight to keep the woman that he feels is everything he's been looking for? Daelan "Dae" Prince is the ultimate bad boy with pretty boy looks and a no nonsense type of attitude. He's feared by many men and lusted after by plenty of women, which he can't get enough of. With the love of his life Amber by his side and their 5-year old son, Daelan seems to have his happily ever after but things are never what they seem. Daelan can't seem to stop messing up. After one bad decision after the other, his loved ones are always there to pick up the shattered pieces he constantly leaves behind. But what happens when Daelan makes a decision that puts he and the lives of everyone around him in danger, will his brothers be there to save him once again? Amber has been with Daelan for five long years. Her high school sweetheart was once sweet and charming, but the streets had a way of changing and hardening a person and that's exactly what happened to Daelan at least that's what Amber believes. With all the lies, cheating, and beatings amongst other things, Amber has always stuck by Daelan's side. She was addicted to him and always forgave him no matter how hurt it left her in the end. But when Daelan does the unthinkable, will Amber be able to walk away from the only love she's ever known or will she once again forgive him? Kaedee Prince, not only is he known in the streets along with his brothers, but also in the courtroom as one not to be messed with. With his wife Deonna by his side, they run the most sought out law firm in the city. Kaedee knew that getting his degree in law would somehow come in handy for he and his brothers, but never once did he think his wife Deonna would ever need his services. Hit with money laundering charges from business she did with her ex, Tyrin Walker, a drug kingpin out of Florida, Deonna learns that your past doesn't always stay behind you. When Tyrin shows up in her husband's office, Deonna finds herself in love with two men at the same time. Straddling both sides of the fence has never been good for anyone and Deonna finds that out the hard way. She's forced to pick the one to have her heart, but when that decision lands someone in a grave, are the Prince brothers ready for a war? Welcome to the life of the Prince Brothers and feel what it's like to be Addicted to A Dirty South Thug.

17

Sky Full of Elephants - Cebo Campbell Cover Art

Sky Full of Elephants

Sky Full of Elephants A Novel by Cebo Campbell

In this “bold and imaginative” (Tananarive Due) “truly powerful and riveting story” ( Booklist ) set in a world where white people no longer exist, college professor Charlie Brunton receives a call from his estranged daughter Sidney, setting off a chain of events as they journey across a truly “post-racial” America in search of answers. In a world without white people, what does it mean to be Black? One day, a cataclysmic event occurs: all of the white people in America walk into the nearest body of water. A year later, Charlie Brunton is a Black man living in an entirely new world. Having served his time in prison for a wrongful conviction, he’s now a professor of electric and solar power systems at Howard University when he receives a call from someone he wasn’t even sure existed: his daughter Sidney, a nineteen-year-old left behind by her white mother and step-family. Traumatized by the event, and terrified of the outside world, Sidney has spent a year in isolation in Wisconsin. Desperate for help, she turns to the father she never met, a man she has always resented. Sidney and Charlie meet for the first time as they embark on a journey across a truly “post-racial” America in search for answers. But neither of them are prepared for this new world and how they see themselves in it. Heading south toward what is now called the Kingdom of Alabama, everything Charlie and Sidney thought they knew about themselves, and the world, will be turned upside down. Brimming with heart and humor, “this stunning allegory will spark much discussion” ( Publishers Weekly , starred review) about the power of community and connection, about healing and self-actualization, and a reckoning with what it means to be Black in America, in both their world and ours.

18

Homegoing - Yaa Gyasi Cover Art

Homegoing

Homegoing A novel by Yaa Gyasi

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE'S JOHN LEONARD PRIZE • WINNER OF THE PEN / HEMINGWAY AWARD FOR DEBUT FICTION • Ghana, eighteenth century: two half sisters are born into different villages, each unaware of the other. One will marry an Englishman and lead a life of comfort in the palatial rooms of the Cape Coast Castle. The other will be captured in a raid on her village, imprisoned in the very same castle, and sold into slavery. One of Oprah’s Best Books of the Year, Homegoing follows the parallel paths of these sisters and their descendants through eight generations: from the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the American Civil War to Jazz Age Harlem. Yaa Gyasi’s extraordinary novel illuminates slavery’s troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayed—and shows how the memory of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation.

19

Sag Harbor - Colson Whitehead Cover Art

Sag Harbor

Sag Harbor A Novel by Colson Whitehead

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FINALIST • From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys : a hilarious and supremely original novel set in the Hamptons in the 1980s, "a tenderhearted coming-of-age story fused with a sharp look at the intersections of race and class” ( The New York Times ). Benji Cooper is one of the few Black students at an elite prep school in Manhattan. But every summer, Benji escapes to the Hamptons, to Sag Harbor, where a small community of Black professionals have built a world of their own. The summer of ’85 won’t be without its usual trials and tribulations, of course. There will be complicated new handshakes to fumble through and state-of-the-art profanity to master. Benji will be tested by contests big and small, by his misshapen haircut (which seems to have a will of its own), by the New Coke Tragedy, and by his secret Lite FM addiction. But maybe, just maybe, this summer might be one for the ages.

20

So Deep in My Feelings 2: A Hood Love Tale - Myss Shan Cover Art

So Deep in My Feelings 2: A Hood Love Tale

So Deep in My Feelings 2: A Hood Love Tale by Myss Shan

With the loss of her brother and then Self being killed right in front of her, Cioni is starting to feel like she might be the one under attack. With a new baby on the way, she is ready to spark things back up with Ledge, but the only problem is, things have changed drastically for him. He is deep in the game, and no one around him wants to see him make it to the top. But as long as the two of them have love, nothing or no one will stop them right?  Madden has moved on with her new boo and ready to start her new life. Things are perfect, but her old meddling ways eventually comes back to haunt her. She is no longer letting things slide and is out to get those whom she felt has gotten her. Soon, she realizes that she might be in over her head..

21

Burn Down Master's House - Clay Cane Cover Art

Burn Down Master's House

Burn Down Master's House A Novel by Clay Cane

Inspired by true, long-buried stories of enslaved people who dared to fight back, a searing portrayal of resistance for readers of Colson Whitehead, Jesmyn Ward, and Percival Everett, from Clay Cane, award-winning journalist and  New York Times  bestselling author of  The Grift . INSTANT  NEW YORK TIMES  &  USA TODAY  BESTSELLER! As turmoil simmers within a divided nation, smoke from another blaze begins to rise. Sparked by individual acts of resistance among those enslaved across the American South, their seemingly disparate rebellions fuel a singular inferno of justice, connecting them in ways quiet at times, explosive at others. As these flames rise, so will they. Luke, quick-witted and literate, and Henri, a man with a strong and defiant spirit, forge an unbreakable bond at a Virginia plantation called Magnolia Row. Both seek escape from unimaginable cruelty. And sure as the fires of hell, Luke and Henri will leave their mark, sparking resistance among the lives they touch… One is Josephine, a young, sharp, and observant girl who wields silence as her greatest weapon. A witness to Luke and Henri’s resilience, she listens, watches, waits for the moment to make her move. Then there is Charity Butler, her husband a formerly enslaved man who proved his ferocity as a young boy standing alongside Josephine. At his encouragement, Charity fights for her freedom in court and wins – only to battle a deeply unjust system designed to destroy the life they’ve built. And finally, there is Nathaniel, who ruthlessly exploits other Black people and mirrors the cruelty of the white men who, like him, are enslavers. A perversion of the system of slavery, his fragile and contradictory rule will become a catalyst of its own. Inspired by the true stories of the profoundly courageous men and women who dared to fight back,  Burn Down Master’s House  is a singular tour de force of a novel—breathtaking in scope, compassion, and a timeliness that speaks powerfully to our present era.

22

Black Girls Must Die Exhausted - Jayne Allen Cover Art

Black Girls Must Die Exhausted

Black Girls Must Die Exhausted A Novel by Jayne Allen

“It’s a good thing that this is only the first book of a trilogy, because after getting to know Tabitha, you won’t want to leave her at the end. . . . Written intimately as if you’re peering into the mind of a close friend, this book is a true testament to the stresses on women today and how great girlfriends (and grandmothers) are often the key to our sanity.”  — Good Morning America The first novel in a captivating three-book series about modern womanhood, in which a young Black woman must rely on courage, laughter, and love—and the support of her two longtime friends—to overcome an unexpected setback that threatens the most precious thing she’s ever wanted. Tabitha Walker is a black woman with a plan to “have it all.” At 33 years old, the checklist for the life of her dreams is well underway. Education? Check. Good job? Check. Down payment for a nice house? Check. Dating marriage material? Check, check, and check. With a coveted position as a local news reporter, a "paper-perfect" boyfriend, and even a standing Saturday morning appointment with a reliable hairstylist, everything seems to be falling into place. Then Tabby receives an unexpected diagnosis that brings her picture-perfect life crashing down, jeopardizing the keystone she took for granted: having children. With her dreams at risk of falling through the cracks of her checklist, suddenly she is faced with an impossible choice between her career, her dream home, and a family of her own.  With the help of her best friends, the irreverent and headstrong Laila and Alexis, the mom jeans-wearing former "Sexy Lexi," and the generational wisdom of her grandmother and the nonagenarian firebrand Ms. Gretchen, Tabby explores the reaches of modern medicine and tests the limits of her relationships, hoping to salvage the future she always dreamed of. But the fight is all consuming, demanding a steep price that forces an honest reckoning for nearly everyone in her life. As Tabby soon learns, her grandmother's age-old adage just might still be true: Black girls must die exhausted.

23

Who Asked You? - Terry McMillan Cover Art

Who Asked You?

Who Asked You? by Terry McMillan

From the #1  New York Times bestselling author…“Remember Getting to Happy , Waiting to Exhale , and How Stella Got Her Groove Back? Well, you won’t likely forget Terry McMillan’s Who Asked You?  either” ( Raleigh News & Observer ). Betty Jean already has her hands full when her grown daughter leaves her two young sons in her care. In between dealing with her other adult children, two opinionated sisters, an ill husband, and her own postponed dreams—BJ still manages to hold down a job delivering room service at a hotel. Her son Dexter is about to be paroled from prison; Quentin, the family success, can’t be bothered to lend a hand; and taking care of two lively grandsons is the last thing BJ thinks she needs. But who asked her?

24

Love After Midnight - Sister Souljah Cover Art

Love After Midnight

Love After Midnight A Novel by Sister Souljah

Sister Souljah returns to her beloved character Winter Santiaga in the captivating and heart-pounding sequel to instant #1 New York Times bestseller Life After Death . After suffering a horrifying, yet soul stirring death experience, worldwide top bitch Winter Santiaga, of The Coldest Winter Ever , is alive and facing a dilemma that every living person faces: how to respond to the Fear of God, awareness of heaven and hell, while pursuing and satisfying deep desires for sex, fun, love, money, revenge, and fame. In her new novel, Love After Midnight , Sister Souljah delivers a powerful hip-hop hood style, global romantic comedy.

25

Love On The Low 8 - Mia Black Cover Art

Love On The Low 8

Love On The Low 8 by Mia Black

Mika’s new relationship has just begun and already there’s a problem, but this problem could cost lives, including her own. Royce may not have been able to keep the girl, but he’s not about to let any man bring her harm. When he discovers who Mika’s new man is, he seeks her out to reveal what he knows, but Mika’s guard is up and she’s not sure he can be trusted. Will Mika heed Royce’s warnings or will their relationship history make her doubt him? Find out what happens in part eight of Love on the Low!

26

Hell of a Book: National Book Award Winner - Jason Mott Cover Art

Hell of a Book: National Book Award Winner

Hell of a Book: National Book Award Winner A Novel by Jason Mott

***2021 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER*** ***THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER*** Winner of the 2021 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction, Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize Finalist, 2022 Chautauqua Prize Finalist, Willie Morris Award for Southern Writing Shortlist, 2021 Aspen Words Literary Prize Shortlist, 2022 Maya Angelou Book Award Shortlist, 2022 Carnegie Medal Longlist A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick! An Ebony Magazine Publishing Book Club Pick!  One of Washington Post 's 50 Notable Works of Fiction | One of Philadelphia Inquirer 's Best Books of 2021 | One of Shelf Awareness's Top Ten Fiction Titles of the Year | One of TIME Magazine’s 100 Must-Read Books | One of NPR.org's "Books We Love" | EW ’s "Guide to the Biggest and Buzziest Books of 2021" | One of the New York Public Library's Best Books for Adults | San Diego Union Tribune —My Favorite Things from 2021 | Writer's Bone's Best Books of 2021 | Atlanta Journal Constitution—Top 10 Southern Books of the Year | One of the Guardian 's (UK) Best Ten 21st Century Comic Novels | One of Entertainment Weekly 's 15 Books You Need to Read This June | On Entertainment Weekly 's "Must List" | One of the New York Post 's Best Summer Reading books | One of GMA's 27 Books for June | One of USA Today 's 5 Books Not to Miss | One of Fortune 's 21 Most Anticipated Books Coming Out in the Second Half of 2021 | One of The Root 's PageTurners: It’s Getting Hot in Here | One of Real Simple 's Best New Books to Read in 2021 An astounding work of fiction from New York Times bestselling author Jason Mott, always deeply honest, at times electrically funny, that goes to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon Black Americans and America as a whole In Jason Mott’s Hell of a Book , a Black author sets out on a cross-country publicity tour to promote his bestselling novel. That storyline drives Hell of a Book and is the scaffolding of something much larger and more urgent: Mott’s novel also tells the story of Soot, a young Black boy living in a rural town in the recent past, and The Kid, a possibly imaginary child who appears to the author on his tour. As these characters’ stories build and converge, they astonish. For while this heartbreaking and magical book entertains and is at once about family, love of parents and children, art and money, it’s also about the nation’s reckoning with a tragic police shooting playing over and over again on the news. And with what it can mean to be Black in America. Who has been killed? Who is The Kid? Will the author finish his book tour, and what kind of world will he leave behind?  Unforgettably told, with characters who burn into your mind and an electrifying plot ideal for book club discussion, Hell of a Book is the novel Mott has been writing in his head for the last ten years. And in its final twists, it truly becomes its title.

27

Black Girls Must Have It All - Jayne Allen Cover Art

Black Girls Must Have It All

Black Girls Must Have It All A Novel by Jayne Allen

In this final installment in the acclaimed Black Girls Must Die Exhausted trilogy, Tabitha is juggling work, relationships, and a newborn baby in this heartfelt fiction about choosing yourself—but will she find the happy ending she’s always wanted? After a whirlwind year, Tabitha Walker’s carefully organized plan to achieve the life she wanted—perfect job, dream husband, and stylish home—has gone off the rails. Her checklist now consists of diapers changed (infinite), showers taken (zero), tears cried (buckets), and hours of sleep (what’s that?). Don't get her wrong, Tabby loves her new bundle of joy and motherhood is perhaps the only thing that's consistent for her these days. When the news station announces that they will be hiring outside competitors for the new anchor position, Tabby throws herself into her work. But it’s not just maintaining her position as the station’s weekend anchor that has this Black woman protagonist worried. All of her relationships seem to be shifting out of their regular orbits. Best friend Alexis can’t manage to strike the right balance in her “refurbished” marriage with Rob, and Laila’s gone from being a consistent ride-or-die to a newly minted entrepreneur trying to raise capital for her growing business. And when Marc presents her with an ultimatum about their relationship, coupled with an extended “visit” from his mother, Tabby is forced to take stock of her life and make a new plan for the future. Consumed by juggling the demands of being a new mom, work, and love, Tabby finds herself isolated from her friends and family just when she needs them most. But help is always there when you ask for it, and Tabby’s found family will once again rally around her as she comes to terms with her new life and faces her biggest challenge yet—choosing herself.

28

The Revelation of Dionne Daphne - Mara Brock Akil Cover Art

The Revelation of Dionne Daphne

The Revelation of Dionne Daphne A Novel by Mara Brock Akil

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Mara Brock Akil, the award-winning creator of Girlfriends, Being Mary Jane, Love Is, and Forever , pens an emotionally enthralling debut novel about enduring love, world-shattering secrets, and self-awakening. What happens when one knock at your door sends your entire world into chaos? When a stranger becomes a lifeline? When the reality you’ve meticulously curated seems to be a mirage? From the outside looking in, one might say that Dionne Daphne had it all: being the beauty editor at a prestigious New York magazine, a boyfriend who could have been plucked out of its model pages, the social life of the upper echelon, and a girlhood steeped in debutant balls. But that is from the outside. When the now ex-boyfriend arrives at her Brooklyn doorstep Dionne imagines reconciliation, going back to the good life brimming with the possibility of marriage; the life her mother always wanted for her. Instead, he delivers life-threatening news that creates a crack in her picture-perfect world. A crack that grows legs and runs her right into her past, unearthing a secret that she has hidden since childhood. In an effort to run toward the truth and away from a lie, Dionne sets out on a spur-of-the-moment road trip with an unlikely stranger to confront the long-buried darkness of her past and the family who made it so. As Dionne comes to a final reckoning, she begins to unravel new layers of herself and fresh possibilities for her life, her family, and even her love. The Revelation of Dionne Daphne is at once a deeply moving and provocatively gripping novel that shows when you dig deep enough into the shadows of your life, light can be revealed. It’s a novel of broken lovers, a fractured family, and distant friendships all making their way back to one another.

29

Passing - Nella Larsen Cover Art

Passing

Passing by Nella Larsen

One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years Irene Redfield is a Black woman living an affluent, comfortable life with her husband and children in the thriving neighborhood of Harlem in the 1920s. When she reconnects with her childhood friend Clare Kendry, who is similarly light-skinned, Irene discovers that Clare has been passing for a white woman after severing ties to her past—even hiding the truth from her racist husband.

30

The First Ladies - Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray Cover Art

The First Ladies

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

The Instant  New York Times  Bestseller!  A novel about the extraordinary partnership between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune—an unlikely friendship that changed the world, from the New York Times bestselling authors of the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian . The daughter of formerly enslaved parents, Mary McLeod Bethune refuses to back down as white supremacists attempt to thwart her work. She marches on as an activist and an educator, and as her reputation grows she becomes a celebrity, revered by titans of business and recognized by U.S. Presidents. Eleanor Roosevelt herself is awestruck and eager to make her acquaintance. Initially drawn together because of their shared belief in women’s rights and the power of education, Mary and Eleanor become fast friends confiding their secrets, hopes and dreams—and holding each other’s hands through tragedy and triumph.   When Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected president, the two women begin to collaborate more closely, particularly as Eleanor moves toward her own agenda separate from FDR, a consequence of the devastating discovery of her husband’s secret love affair. Eleanor becomes a controversial First Lady for her outspokenness, particularly on civil rights. And when she receives threats because of her strong ties to Mary, it only fuels the women’s desire to fight together for justice and equality.   This is the story of two different, yet equally formidable, passionate, and committed women, and the way in which their singular friendship helped form the foundation for the modern civil rights movement.

31

Falling for the Wrong One 2 - Mia Black Cover Art

Falling for the Wrong One 2

Falling for the Wrong One 2 by Mia Black

Months have passed since Charlise and Darryl called off their affair, but Darryl can’t help but think about her from time to time. As he and his wife work to save their marriage, he hopes the time that the time that’s passed will help create distance in his heart too, but a surprise proposal and a devious game will bring all the feelings he’s resisted back to the forefront. Charlise and Darryl have already crossed the line between business and pleasure, but their one sinful decision will have many consequences. Find out what happens in part two of Falling For The Wrong One!

32

Pimp - Iceberg Slim Cover Art

Pimp

Pimp The Story of My Life by Iceberg Slim

“[In Pimp ], Iceberg Slim breaks down some of the coldest, capitalist concepts I’ve ever heard in my life.” —Dave Chappelle, from his Nextflix special The Bird Revelation Pimp sent shockwaves throughout the literary world when it published in 1969. Iceberg Slim’s autobiographical novel offered readers a never-before-seen account of the sex trade, and an unforgettable look at the mores of Chicago’s street life during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. In the preface, Slim says it best, “In this book, I will take you, the reader, with me into the secret inner world of the pimp.” An immersive experience unlike anything before it, Pimp would go on to sell millions of copies, with translations throughout the world. And it would have a profound impact upon generations of writers, entertainers, and filmmakers, making it the classic hustler’s tale that never seems to go out of style.

33

Caught in a Hot Boy's Flame - Teshera Cooper Cover Art

Caught in a Hot Boy's Flame

Caught in a Hot Boy's Flame The Baptist Brothers by Teshera Cooper

The Baptist brothers are every woman’s dream and their enemies’ most terrifying nightmare. Known in their hood for owning Smokin’ Kutz, the most popular shop in town, their successful business only represents a small part of who Iggy, Smoke, Kiyan and Flame really are. As the leader and the oldest, Ignitus “Iggy” Baptist is the most dangerous of the Baptist clan. He moves stealthy and goes under the radar as the quiet one, valuing his time as priceless and keeping his focus on his money. He has no interest in love until one day leads to a reunion with a stranger from his past… the one girl that he always wanted but could never have. The coolest and collected of them all, Shameer “Smoke” Baptist, struggles with his demons in private. When a beautiful woman waltzes into his life with her own baggage, Smoke feels that she’s exactly who he needs in his life. What he doesn’t know is that she has a past of her own and the secrets that she’s holding may lead to the end of his life. Kiyan Baptist is on his way to becoming a successful surgeon, but while his career is flourishing, his marriage seems to be plummeting. After finding solace outside of his marriage, Kiyan’s life quickly spirals out of control. By the time he realizes the mistake he’s made, it may be too late, and he is left to pick up the pieces of his once perfect life on his own. Like moths to a flame, women are drawn to Kindal ‘Flame’ Baptist, the most sought-after brother, in the same way. He’s the cockiest of them all but also the most skilled when using his ‘talents’. With one nagging baby mother in his ear and another who pays him no mind, Pia seems to be the breath of fresh air that he needs in his life. When Flame realizes that she’s the female version of him—wanting no parts of a relationship, just relations—it becomes clear that he’s finally met his match. In this steaming tale of brotherhood and love, four women must decide whether they have what it takes to hold a Baptist brother down. The question is, can they handle the fast and furious lifestyle or will the secrets of the past that were meant to be forever buried, leave them all burned?

34

All the Men I've Loved Again - Christine Pride Cover Art

All the Men I've Loved Again

All the Men I've Loved Again A Novel by Christine Pride

“A second-chance romance to devour in one gulp. More satisfying than I thought possible.” —Annabel Monaghan, New York Times bestselling author From Christine Pride, the beloved coauthor of the Good Morning America Book Club Pick We Are Not Like Them , comes a dazzling solo debut novel about a woman who finds herself in the impossible situation of being in love with the same two men who won her heart in her early twenties again as she nears forty. When Cora Belle first arrives at college, she’s determined to grow out of the shy, sheltered girl who attended an all-white prep school and finally find her community. What she’s totally unprepared for is Lincoln because how can you ever prepare for the roller coaster of first love? Just when Cora thinks she’s got things figured out, a shocking tragedy sends her reeling, and a new man, Aaron, enters her life. There’s just one problem: How can she fall in love with one man when her heart still belongs to another? Nearly two decades later, Cora is all grown up and has closed her heart to romantic love. But an unexpected reconnection and a chance encounter puts her right back where she started, having to choose between her two great loves, Lincoln and Aaron. Finding herself in this position—again—will test everything Cora thought she knew about fate, love, and, most important, herself. All the Men I’ve Loved Again is a bighearted coming-of-age story for anyone who’s ever thought what if about a past love.

35

Hood Rat - K'wan Cover Art

Hood Rat

Hood Rat A Novel by K'wan

In the heart of Harlem, four women fight to survive the gritty streets and find love in a world that threatens to tear them apart. Yoshi is young, fine, and larcenous. She lives her life playing on men's hearts as well as their pockets, but learns the hard way that all that glitters isn't gold. Billy, a former high school basketball star, has been looking for love. Then she meets someone new and her whole world is turned upside down, leaving her forever changed. Reese is an around-the-way chick, trying to keep up with the Joneses. Her promiscuity leads to an unexpected pregnancy from a one-night stand, forcing her to break an age-old family cycle and stand on her own. Rhonda is twenty-something with three kids by three different men, riding the system all the way to the bank. Her games soon turn ugly when one of her "sponsors" decides to seek revenge. In this gritty urban fiction novel, national bestselling author K'wan weaves a dramatic tale of four friends as they navigate the perils of street life, love, and betrayal in Hood Rat , a scandalous story that will leave Harlem forever changed.

36

Parable of the Talents - Octavia E. Butler Cover Art

Parable of the Talents

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

From a celebrated author, the thrilling sequel to  The Parable of the Sower —a cautionary novel ahead of its time, perfect for fans of The Broken Earth trilogy. In 2032, Lauren Olamina has survived the destruction and ruin of everything she knew. Her peaceful community based on her newly founded faith, Earthseed, provides refuge for outcasts facing persecution after the election of an ultra-conservative president. Under his rule, Lauren's colony—a minority religious faction led by a young Black woman—becomes a target for the president’s reign of terror and oppression. Years later, Asha Vere reads the journals of a mother she never knew. As she searches for answers, she struggles to reconcile with the legacy of a mother caught between her duty to her chosen family and her calling to lead humankind into a better future. "In the ongoing contest over which dystopian classic is most applicable to our time, Octavia Butler's 'Parable' books may be unmatched."— The New Yorker

37

Taken by a Real Gangsta Romance 2 - Kelly Marie Cover Art

Taken by a Real Gangsta Romance 2

Taken by a Real Gangsta Romance 2 by Kelly Marie

Part one left us with our mouths hanging, and in this finale, some heads are gonna roll! But whose? Akeela used her father to get Konvict right where she wanted him, but he had no idea her plans included Joelle! Messiah is back, and poor Joelle was blinded by a friendship that may cost her life. Will Di’Aundrie be able to save her in time when he has no idea that she’s even missing? Or will Akeela finally win? Secret and Romello’s romance was one for the books! The night they met went terribly wrong, but it changed their lives forever. Secret’s baby is Romello’s, and that put them back onto each other’s path, which eventually led to their romance blossoming once again. However, Sheena isn’t quite ready to let Romello go, even though her past is not as clean as she played. Now she’s set her sights on using Malik, and you won’t believe what she makes him do! Will that be the end of Romello and Secret, or is their love strong enough to withstand? Find out in this emotional finale. These brothers have drama coming from every angle, but with their women taken by a real gangsta romance, the brothers find that they just can’t walk away.

38

The Real Hoodwives of Detroit 2 - India Cover Art

The Real Hoodwives of Detroit 2

The Real Hoodwives of Detroit 2 Motor City Mayhem by India

What up, doe! Welcome back to the mean streets of Detroit. With all the drama going down in Motown, I knew your nosey self couldn’t stay away. Don’t worry, you haven’t missed a thing. We pick up the story right where we left off in The Real Hoodwives of Detroit part one. If you thought your first visit to the Motor City was crazy, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Nikki, Gucci, and Chloe have been waiting for you, and boy do they have some fire! Lies have been told, relationships have been tested, and these women are out for blood. The heat amongst this group is real. This ain’t no television show. No one sits in a director’s chair and yells, “cut!” This drama is official. This is how the real, raw, and certified hoodwives from the Dirty Glove get down. We don’t bump our gums; instead, we let our pistols do the talking. The way we live ain’t for the weak-hearted. Where we come from, it’s survival of the fittest, and only the strong survive.   Scared? You should be. Welcome back to Detroit for round two!    

39

Hustlin' Divas - De'nesha Diamond Cover Art

Hustlin' Divas

Hustlin' Divas by De'nesha Diamond

In the first book of a fierce new series, meet Memphis's hardest ride-or-die chicks as they fight along with their infamous men to lock down the Dirty South. Memphis is the crime capital of America, and no one knows that better than the women born and raised on its mean streets. It's put sisters Ta'Shara and LeShelle on opposite sides of the street game, where blood means nothing and loyalty doesn't last long. It's also got Yolanda, an ambitious drug mule, and Melanie, a police detective, caught up with the same man--the notorious hustler Python. These four women think they've got the game figured out, but the one man they have in common will have them living double lives and wondering who will come out on top. Forget what you heard about East Coast/West Coast, 'cause real vendettas are born in the Dirty South. "Diamond's ear for street talk comes across loud and clear. . .a violent and profane tale, which launches a gritty new series. The divas here are realistic characters, and the pacing zooms. . .one of the best constructed street lit stories of 2010." -- Library Journal "A nonstop, hard-hitting page-turner." --Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker

40

The Dangers of Love 2 - Toya Banks Cover Art

The Dangers of Love 2

The Dangers of Love 2 by Toya Banks

Denise has discovered the woman Daryn's never told her about, a woman who will do anything to get him back. Now Denise find herself tangled in a dangerous game, fighting for the man she can’t resist against a woman who can make her life a living hell. As much as she tries to walk away, he keeps pulling her back, but is this love worth losing it all?  Find out what happens in part two of The Dangers of Love.

41

Deacon King Kong (Oprah's Book Club) - James McBride Cover Art

Deacon King Kong (Oprah's Book Club)

Deacon King Kong (Oprah's Book Club) A Novel by James McBride

Winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Fiction   Winner of the Gotham Book Prize One of Barack Obama's "Favorite Books of the Year" Oprah's Book Club Pick New York Times Readers Pick: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Named one of the Top Ten Books of the Year by the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and TIME Magazine A Washington Post Notable Novel From the author of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store , the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, and the bestselling modern classic The Color of Water , comes one of the most celebrated novels of the year. In September 1969, a fumbling, cranky old church deacon known as Sportcoat shuffles into the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn, pulls a .38 from his pocket, and, in front of everybody, shoots the project’s drug dealer at point-blank range. The reasons for this desperate burst of violence and the consequences that spring from it lie at the heart of Deacon King Kong , James McBride’s funny, moving novel and his first since his National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird . In Deacon King Kong , McBride brings to vivid life the people affected by the shooting: the victim, the African-American and Latinx residents who witnessed it, the white neighbors, the local cops assigned to investigate, the members of the Five Ends Baptist Church where Sportcoat was deacon, the neighborhood’s Italian mobsters, and Sportcoat himself. As the story deepens, it becomes clear that the lives of the characters—caught in the tumultuous swirl of 1960s New York—overlap in unexpected ways. When the truth does emerge, McBride shows us that not all secrets are meant to be hidden, that the best way to grow is to face change without fear, and that the seeds of love lie in hope and compassion. Bringing to these pages both his masterly storytelling skills and his abiding faith in humanity, James McBride has written a novel every bit as involving as The Good Lord Bird and as emotionally honest as The Color of Water . Told with insight and wit, Deacon King Kong demonstrates that love and faith live in all of us.

42

A Savage's Pretty Little Thing 2 - Kai'or Elle Cover Art

A Savage's Pretty Little Thing 2

A Savage's Pretty Little Thing 2 by Kai'or Elle

Being a savage’s pretty little thing has its cons and pros, and Malia is quickly figuring that out. Markell came into her life like no one ever had before, changing everything. Now that she has found herself head over heels for him, she must take on everything that comes with him. The streets aren’t anything new to Malia, but dating someone who’s in them is, and sometimes even those on the sidelines can be affected. Will Malia find that to be true and allow it to sway her running the other way? Or will she stand by Markell’s side no matter what, vowing to never leave? Markell has always lived life in the fast lane. Nothing or no one has ever slowed him down, but with love creeping up on him, will he have to make a change? He’s used to controlling every situation, but when he and Santez both find themselves with their hands tied things become more complicated. Will he be able to see his way out of this situation like he always does? Or will this situation get the best of him, leading him down a whole different path of destruction?

43

Nookie - Anieshea Dansby Cover Art

Nookie

Nookie by Anieshea Dansby

Eighteen-year-old Joy was a naive girl who found something else to fill the void in her life left by a broken heart and her parents death.  Going purely off of instinct, she survives using what she discovers is the key to getting what she wants: the power of Nookie. She becomes far removed from the downside of her life that left her stranded when things start to look up. Suddenly, she's able to live her life like a queen, with no worries.  But will life in the fast lane leave her set for life, or will it all end before her nineteenth birthday?

44

Midnight - Sister Souljah Cover Art

Midnight

Midnight A Gangster Love Story by Sister Souljah

New York Times bestselling author Life After Death , the hip-hop generation's beloved and most compelling storyteller, delivers a powerful story about love and loyalty, strength and family. In her bestselling novel, The Coldest Winter Ever , Sister Souljah introduced the world to Midnight, a brave but humble lieutenant to a prominent underworld businessman. Now, in a highly anticipated follow-up to her million-selling masterpiece, she brings readers into the life and dangerously close to the heart of this silent, fearless young man. Raised in a wealthy, influential, Islamic African family, Midnight enjoys a life of comfort, confidence, and protection. Midnight's father provides him with a veil of privilege and deep, devoted love, but he never hides the truth about the fierce challenges of the world outside of his estate. So when Midnight's father's empire is attacked, he sends Midnight with his mother to the United States. In the streets of Brooklyn, a young Midnight uses his Islamic mind-set and African intelligence to protect the ones he loves, build a business, reclaim his wealth and status, and remain true to his beliefs. Midnight, a handsome and passionate young man, attracts many women. How he interacts and deals with them is a unique adventure. This is a highly sensual and tremendous love story about what a man is willing to risk and give to the women he loves most. Midnight will remain in your mind and beat in your heart for a lifetime. Her "raw and true voice" ( Publishers Weekly ) will both soothe and arouse you. In a beautifully written and masterfully woven story, Sister Souljah has given us Midnight , and solidified her presence as the mother of all contemporary urban literature.

45

The Sweetness of Water (Oprah's Book Club) - Nathan Harris Cover Art

The Sweetness of Water (Oprah's Book Club)

The Sweetness of Water (Oprah's Book Club) A Novel by Nathan Harris

An Instant New York Times bestseller / An Oprah’s Book Club Pick In the spirit of The Known World and The Underground Railroad , an award-winning “miraculous debut” ( Washington Post ) about the unlikely bond between two freedmen who are brothers and the Georgia farmer whose alliance will alter their lives, and his, forever In the waning days of the Civil War, brothers Prentiss and Landry—freed by the Emancipation Proclamation—seek refuge on the homestead of George Walker and his wife, Isabelle. The Walkers, wracked by the loss of their only son to the war, hire the brothers to work their farm, hoping through an unexpected friendship to stanch their grief. Prentiss and Landry, meanwhile, plan to save money for the journey north and a chance to reunite with their mother, who was sold away when they were boys. Parallel to their story runs a forbidden romance between two Confederate soldiers. The young men, recently returned from the war to the town of Old Ox, hold their trysts in the woods. But when their secret is discovered, the resulting chaos, including a murder, unleashes convulsive repercussions on the entire community. In the aftermath of so much turmoil, it is Isabelle who emerges as an unlikely leader, proffering a healing vision for the land and for the newly free citizens of Old Ox. With candor and sympathy, debut novelist Nathan Harris creates an unforgettable cast of characters, depicting Georgia in the violent crucible of Reconstruction. Equal parts beauty and terror, as gripping as it is moving, The Sweetness of Water is an epic whose grandeur locates humanity and love amid the most harrowing circumstances. One of President Obama's Favorite Books of 2021 Winner of the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence Winner of the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction Winner of the Writers’ League of Texas Book Award for Fiction Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize Shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize Shortlisted for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award Longlisted for the 2022 Carnegie Medal for Excellence Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize Longlisted for the Crook’s Corner Book Prize A Best Book of the Year: Oprah Daily, NPR, Washington Post, Time, Boston Globe , Smithsonian, Chicago Public Library, BookBrowse, and the Oregonian A N ew York Times Book Review Editors' Choice A July 2021 Indie Next Pick

46

Getting to Happy - Terry McMillan Cover Art

Getting to Happy

Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan

#1 New York Times bestselling author Terry McMillan's exuberant return to the four unforgettable heroines of  Waiting to Exhale . Waiting to Exhale  was more than just a bestselling novel—its publication was a watershed moment in literary history. McMillan's sassy and vibrant story about four black women struggling to find love and their place in the world touched a cultural nerve, inspired a blockbuster film, and generated a devoted audience. Now, McMillan revisits Savannah, Gloria, Bernadine, and Robin fifteen years later. Each is at her own midlife crossroads: Savannah has awakened to the fact that she's made too many concessions in her marriage, and decides to face life single again—at fifty-one. Bernadine has watched her megadivorce settlement dwindle, been swindled by her husband number two, and conned herself into thinking that a few pills will help distract her from her pain. Robin has an all-American case of shopaholism, while the big dream of her life—to wear a wedding dress—has gone unrealized. And for years, Gloria has taken happiness and security for granted. But being at the wrong place at the wrong time can change everything. All four are learning to heal past hurts and to reclaim their joy and their dreams; but they return to us full of spirit, sass, and faith in one another. They've exhaled: now they are learning to breathe.

47

A Savage's Pretty Little Thing - Kai'or Elle Cover Art

A Savage's Pretty Little Thing

A Savage's Pretty Little Thing by Kai'or Elle

The prettiest faces tell the saddest stories. When Malia’s mother unexpectedly dies, she’s left to feel like she has nothing or no one. As the outcast of the family, she quickly finds herself homeless with nowhere to go. In her world, fairytales don’t exist, and she knows that there will be no Prince Charming coming to save her, or at least that’s what she believes. The definition of a savage is something wild, untamed, and not under human control. When it comes to Markell, that couldn’t be any truer. His whole life it’s been one thing after another, until he eventually turned into the savage that he is. When unfortunate circumstances bring him face to face with Malia, he’s plagued with curiosity. He knows she’s not only a pretty face, but she’s not so open to letting him into her world. Can Markell pull Malia out of her sorrow? Can Malia open herself up to him and show him where it hurts? Or will the tables turn, leaving him to need her more than she ever needed him?

48

Secrets Of A Sugar Baby 5 - Mia Black Cover Art

Secrets Of A Sugar Baby 5

Secrets Of A Sugar Baby 5 by Mia Black

Jae’s opportunity for a happily ever after has finally arrived, but not everyone is as excited as she is.  Darryl can’t wait for the day he will make Jae his wife, but he worries that his secrets will be exposed before that happens. Blake wants to do the right thing and let Jae go, but his heart and his wounded ego won’t let him. No matter how hard he tries to stay out of her happy life with Darryl, he can’t, and neither can Darryl’s ex. With so many complicated entanglements and far too many secrets, will Jae and Darryl’s relationship survive? Find out what happens in part five of Secrets Of A Sugar Baby!

49

The P***y Trap 3: Death by Temptation - NeNe Capri Cover Art

The P***y Trap 3: Death by Temptation

The P***y Trap 3: Death by Temptation by NeNe Capri

Fear, Grief and pain . . . the perfect mixture for the deadly cocktail that drives KoKo head first into danger as she tries to hold onto her throne. Betrayal, distrust and a struggle for power almost destroys all that she has built. Kayson is back on the scene and refuses to bow to anyone. The power is up for grabs and there are many hands in the pot. There s a boss that will live to the end, but who will succumb to The P***y Trap's Death by Temptation?

50

So You Call Yourself A Man - Carl Weber Cover Art

So You Call Yourself A Man

So You Call Yourself A Man by Carl Weber

Carl Weber, the New York Times bestselling author of Up to No Good, will keep you on edge with this tale of three lifelong friends. . . James Robinson and his wife have had their rough patches. But seven years into their marriage, things are better than ever. . .until James's past comes back to haunt him--with a baby in tow. James's best friend, Brent Williams, has always had women throwing themselves at him, but it's taken Brent a while to find someone who wants him for the man he is on the inside. His plus-sized fiancée isn't his usual type, but they seem like a match made in heaven--until a sexy third party comes along. . . When Sonny Harrison's wife sends him packing, he's lonely until he reunites with his high school sweetheart. But as his feelings for her get a little too intense, Brent and James may be the only ones who can intervene. But will that mean losing their friend forever? "Captivating and heartfelt. . .a satisfying read." --The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers "Major revelations and an eye-raising twist will make even seen-it-all fans gasp." -- Publishers Weekly Includes an excerpt from Carl Weber's new novel.

51

The Gilded Years - Karin Tanabe Cover Art

The Gilded Years

The Gilded Years A Novel by Karin Tanabe

Passing meets The House of Mirth in this “must-read” ( PopSugar ) historical novel based on the true story of Anita Hemmings, the first black student to attend Vassar, who successfully passed as white—until she let herself grow too attached to the wrong person. Since childhood, Anita Hemmings has longed to attend the country’s most exclusive school for women, Vassar College. Now, a bright, beautiful senior in the class of 1897, she is hiding a secret that would have banned her from admission: Anita is the only Black student ever to attend Vassar. With her olive complexion and dark hair, this daughter of a janitor and descendant of slaves has successfully passed as white, but now finds herself rooming with Louise “Lottie” Taylor, the scion of one of New York’s most prominent families. Though Anita has kept herself at a distance from her classmates, Lottie’s sphere of influence is inescapable, her energy irresistible, and the two become fast friends. Pulled into her elite world, Anita learns what it’s like to be treated as a wealthy, educated white woman—the person everyone believes her to be—and even finds herself in a heady romance with a moneyed Harvard student. It’s only when Lottie becomes infatuated with Anita’s brother, Frederick, whose skin is almost as light as his sister’s, that the situation becomes particularly perilous. And as Anita’s college graduation looms, those closest to her will be the ones to dangerously threaten her secret. Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Gilded Age, an era when old money traditions collided with modern ideas, this is an “elegant and extremely gratifying imagining of one remarkable woman’s life” ( USA TODAY ).

52

Luxe - Ashley Antoinette Cover Art

Luxe

Luxe A Novel by Ashley Antoinette

From the New York Times bestseller Ashley Antoinette, author of the Prada Plan series comes a boldly fierce and strikingly dramatic novel, Luxe. Bleu Montclair knew as a young girl that she would one day escape the hard, unrelenting streets of Flint, Michigan, and when her desperate prayers are answered in the form of a scholarship to UCLA, Bleu knows she's struck gold. But soon after arriving, all her beautiful, bright dreams begin to fall apart. Endless temptations abound in the form of cars, clothes, booze, drugs, and Bleu cannot keep up. When her roommate gives her the opportunity to make a lot of money fast, Bleu goes all in-and heads straight down a path of violence and addiction that only her newest protector, Iman, can save her from.

53

The Prada Plan 5 - Ashley Antoinette Cover Art

The Prada Plan 5

The Prada Plan 5 by Ashley Antoinette

In this explosive addition to the New York Times bestselling series, Ashley Antoinette brings you pain, pleasure, love, hate, as YaYa struggles to hold it all together before life blows up in her face, in The Prada Plan 5 . Disaya finally has it all. The man she fought for is hers at last. Her name is Mrs. Indie Perkins and their daughter is safe. Leah is gone. Life is supposed to be good. So why isn’t she satisfied? Why does life suddenly seem so bitter? YaYa’s Prada Plan had worked but with the riches comes pain. She and Indie have grown apart, and with Parker now a permanent fixture in their lives, Indie is pressured to juggle it all. But YaYa’s patience is running thin. Indie is loving her wrong. Her life isn’t what she wants. Her Prada Plan has changed…and now, it’s time to pursue a plan B in order to get what she really wants…

54

Luxe Two: A LaLa Land Addiction - Ashley Antoinette Cover Art

Luxe Two: A LaLa Land Addiction

Luxe Two: A LaLa Land Addiction A Novel by Ashley Antoinette

Bleu is addicted...addicted to the luxe life and it has led her down a road of self-destruction. She knows what it feels like to be turned out by the game. With a crack cocaine addiction that she can’t seem to escape, she is desperate for a savior. Her problem is she has two great loves that want to come to her rescue. When her best friend, Noah comes searching for her she is faced with a dilemma. Will she let him save her? Or will she stick with the kingpin, Iman, who has loved her since their first encounter? Or will both men lose her to a love she can’t get rid of...one that abuses her...and one that will be the death of her...the love of the high, in Luxe Two: A La La Land Addiction by New York Times bestselling author Ashley Antoinette.

55

Homebodies - Tembe Denton-Hurst Cover Art

Homebodies

Homebodies A Novel by Tembe Denton-Hurst

"[A] sharp, charming and passionate debut." — New York Times Book Review A Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by Elle , USA Today , Bustle , Ebony , Harper’s Bazaar, PopSugar , New York Post,   The Skimm , and The Millions. A Best Book of 2023 by Marie Claire , Esquire , Vogue , them , Autostraddle, Betches, Gay Times , and Cosmopolitan. An insightful, propulsive, and deeply sexy debut women's fiction novel about a young Black writer whose world is turned upside down when she loses her coveted job in media and pens a searing manifesto about racism in the industry. Mickey Hayward dreams of writing stories that matter, but, for now, her days are filled with listicles about lip gloss and click-bait articles about celebrity haircare. Still, the job is flashy and her girlfriend is steady and supportive. The path may be long, but Mickey’s well on her way, and it’s far from the messy life she left behind in Maryland. Everything finally seems to be falling into place—until she finds out she’s being replaced. Distraught and enraged, Mickey fires back with a detailed letter outlining the racism she’s endured as a Black woman in media, certain it will change the world for the better. But when her letter is met with overwhelming silence, even from her usually-encouraging girlfriend, Mickey is sent into a tailspin of self-doubt. Forced to reckon with just how fragile her life is, she flees to the last place she ever dreamed she would run: her hometown. Back home, Mickey is seduced by the simplicity of her hometown—and the flirtation of a former flame in a powerful second chance romance—but she soon learns that you can’t outrun your past. In the newfound quiet, she is forced to reflect on the sacrifices she’d made for an industry that never loved her back and pick up the pieces of the life she thought she’d left behind for good, beginning a powerful coming of age journey. After all, when the walls of success you’ve carefully built around yourself come crumbling down, what—and who—are you left with? A moving portrait of modern Black womanhood and an unforgettable sapphic romance, Homebodies is a meditation on identity, self-worth, and the toll of corporate racism with a protagonist you won’t soon forget.

56

Secrets Of A Sugar Baby 3 - Mia Black Cover Art

Secrets Of A Sugar Baby 3

Secrets Of A Sugar Baby 3 by Mia Black

Jae’s life is turned upside down when her secret relationship with Blake is exposed in the most devastating way.  Jae doesn’t know if she will ever be able to make up for what happened, but the one thing she can do is find out who revealed her shocking secret.  Find out what happens in part three of Secrets Of A Sugar Baby!

57

The Sunset Limited - Cormac McCarthy Cover Art

The Sunset Limited

The Sunset Limited by Cormac McCarthy

From the bestselling author of The Passenger and the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel The Road • A startling encounter on a New York subway platform leads two strangers to a run-down tenement where a life or death decision must be made. In that small apartment, “Black” and “White,” as the two men are known, begin a conversation that leads each back through his own history, mining the origins of two fundamentally opposing world views. White is a professor whose seemingly enviable existence of relative ease has left him nonetheless in despair. Black, an ex-con and ex-addict, is the more hopeful of the men–though he is just as desperate to convince White of the power of faith as White is desperate to deny it. Their aim is no less than this: to discover the meaning of life. Deft, spare, and full of artful tension, The Sunset Limited is a beautifully crafted, consistently thought-provoking, and deceptively intimate work by one of the most insightful writers of our time.

58

Secrets Of A Sugar Baby 4 - Mia Black Cover Art

Secrets Of A Sugar Baby 4

Secrets Of A Sugar Baby 4 by Mia Black

The worst should be over for Jae after the tape scandal and the pain that followed, but unfortunately for her, she’s not out of the woods yet. The aftereffects just may be worse than the sin. She’s done with the chaotic life of a sugar baby but figuring out how to regain control of her life, and fixing her relationships with those who suffered because of her choices, will prove to be much more difficult than anything she’s ever endured. With Darryl by her side, it should be easy. That is, if she could get Blake out of her head. Will she ever get her life back or have things gone too far?  Find out what happens in part four of Secrets Of A Sugar Baby!

59

Cashin' Out - Jai Nicole Cover Art

Cashin' Out

Cashin' Out by Jai Nicole

Chanelle is no stranger to being broke. Growing up in one of the worst projects in Raleigh, she came up with nothing while praying for a come up. When she hooks up with JaQuez, a dopeboy with deep pockets, she's finally able to leave the hood and live the life she always felt she deserved. However, when JaQuez does the unthinkable, Chanelle hatches a plan to ensure her financial security and escape her old life. Now in a new city, Chanelle hopes for a fresh start. Meeting a hustler by the name of Trap, she believes she's found a new come up. But when her heart starts to get involved, she begins second-guessing her initial plans for him. Still, Chanelle's not the only one with a trick up her sleeve and those that she s crossed are determined to bring her down. In this cautionary tale set in the dirty south, characters are Cashin' Out for every move made. No one can be trusted, love and lies are closely related, loyalty is a term used loosely, and secrets have the potential to destroy lives.

60

Rozalyn 7 - Myss Shan Cover Art

Rozalyn 7

Rozalyn 7 by Myss Shan

For the last 5 years, Tamar has been running the United Nations Cartel with an iron fist. Nothing moved in the dope-game unless he said so. With the connections, power, and notoriety he had, Tamar quickly becomes the richest, most feared, and most wanted man the world has ever seen. He controlled his operation with so much organization while forcing the biggest bosses around the world to get in line and join forces with him. Things were going so well that the government was unable to figure out a way to disassemble the United Nations Cartel and bring down the head of it all…that was until things on the home-front started to spiral out of control…. Rozalyn and Tamar forever, and ever was what it seemed like it would always be. No matter what the two had been through, they always seemed to find their way back to each other. Rozalyn has always been a boss chick and independent no matter how much Tamar refuted it. This time was no different. Taking the route to become a lawyer like she's always wanted, not only put a strain on her relationship with Tamar but with their kids, as well. Tamarion is all grown up and is determined to garner the attention of his father. A young savage like his father once was, Marion is determined to mark his stamp in the dope game.  His selfish antics blows up in his face when he finds out his first love played him. Khian Khi Prince is fresh out the Feds and his main goal was to run it up, and kill the person that set him up.  In true thug matrimony, his wife Cuba did him a solid and held him down his entire bid while caring for their kids. To Khi, he owed Cuba everything, but unable to resist the evil temptations of the world, he finds himself in a situation that destroys everything he built. Dox and Lani are enjoying their new life in Miami. With a newborn baby, new house, in a new location, things couldn't go wrong, but they did. Finding themselves in almost the same exact situation as they did before leaving Dallas, both Dox and Lani question if the game is really for them. Rozalyn 7 is fast paced, and the introduction into the UNC that will have you on the edge of your seat with every turn of the page.

61

Wahala - Nikki May Cover Art

Wahala

Wahala A Novel by Nikki May

"Contemporary female friendship goes glam in this lively debut novel with remarkable depth." -- Washington Post "Great fun and extremely smart." -- npr.org NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2022 BY Vogue * Marie Claire * Glamour * Essence * Oprah Daily * Entertainment Weekly * Bustle * PopSugar * CrimeReads * and more! An incisive and exhilarating debut novel following three Anglo-Nigerian best friends and the lethally glamorous fourth woman who infiltrates their group—the most unforgettable girls since Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha. Ronke wants happily ever after and 2.2. kids. She’s dating Kayode and wants him to be “the one” (perfect, like her dead father). Her friends think he’s just another in a long line of dodgy Nigerian boyfriends. Boo has everything Ronke wants—a kind husband, gorgeous child. But she’s frustrated, unfulfilled, plagued by guilt, and desperate to remember who she used to be. Simi is the golden one with the perfect lifestyle. No one knows she’s crippled by impostor syndrome and tempted to pack it all in each time her boss mentions her “urban vibe.” Her husband thinks they’re trying for a baby. She’s not. When the high-flying, charismatic Isobel explodes into the group, it seems at first she’s bringing out the best in each woman. (She gets Simi an interview in Shanghai! Goes jogging with Boo!) But the more Isobel intervenes, the more chaos she sows, and Ronke, Simi, and Boo’s close friendship begins to crack. A sharp, modern take on friendship, ambition, culture, and betrayal, Wahala (trouble) is an unforgettable novel from a brilliant new voice.

62

Kingpin Wifeys Season 2 Part 6 Wages of Sin - K. Elliott Cover Art

Kingpin Wifeys Season 2 Part 6 Wages of Sin

Kingpin Wifeys Season 2 Part 6 Wages of Sin by K. Elliott

The men of Atlanta have no idea who they are dealing with. The women in Kingpin Wifeys are on a rampage. TeTe is determined to annihilate all threats towards her and Black. Will she get to them before they get to her? And Jada needs to make a decision about her future. While one wifey makes a discovery that will change her life forever.

63

Soulmates Dissipate - Mary B. Morrison Cover Art

Soulmates Dissipate

Soulmates Dissipate by Mary B. Morrison

A soulful, sexy tale of true love tested, this bestselling debut novel began an exciting series that continues to explore life's most intense relationships. . . Fashion photographer Jada Diamond Tanner may have her pick of fine men, but no one has captured her heart like gorgeous financial advisor Wellington Jones. From their first embrace, Jada knows he is the soulmate she has waited for. But while the love she shares with Wellington is exhilarating, Jada faces challenges she never imagined--from a beautiful rival, hungry for love, and from Wellington's overbearing socialite mother, who believes Jada will never fit into her circle. Forced to make difficult choices, Jada learns painful lessons about trust and commitment. . .and discovers the courage to celebrate each day, with or without the man she loves.

64

A Lady & Her Sire 3 - Charmanie Saquea Cover Art

A Lady & Her Sire 3

A Lady & Her Sire 3 A Royal Love Affair by Charmanie Saquea

In this segment of A Lady & Her Sire, Lala and Toine may have more secrets that are about to be exposed. Will Lala stick by her man's side through thick and thin? Or will she fold and leave him hanging? Sire is dealing with more issues than one. Will Lady hold him down when he needs her the most? Or will too many obstacles get in the way of the relationship they fought so hard to build? With Drill still on the loose, will the royal family be able to hold it together or will the empire fall? Take one final ride with the royal family as they take you on a ride of a lifetime.

65

Rozalyn 8 - Myss Shan Cover Art

Rozalyn 8

Rozalyn 8 by Myss Shan

Rozalyn and Tamar are back.. Tamar is faced with issues continuing to surround his home. With his boys growing up, they're more than desperate to prove to their father that they are ready to enter the family business. However crucial mistakes put them in harm's way and has Tamar scouring to find out who is responsible. Rozalyn is finding that her new budding career as a lawyer is everything that it should be and more. Things are looking up for as a lawyer and in her home until blast from the past threatens to yet again ruin the union she has with Tamar.  Cuba is still back and forth between whether she wants to stay with Khi after the infidelity he displayed. Falling in love with Rozalyn's security had never been in the plans. She finds herself stuck between doing what's right and doing what feels right when her secrets are forcefully brought to the light. 

66

Guide Me Home - Attica Locke Cover Art

Guide Me Home

Guide Me Home by Attica Locke

In this stunning culmination of the award-winning Highway 59 trilogy, Detective Darren Mathews is pulled out of an early retirement to investigate the case of a missing black college student from an all-white sorority—and soon finds a town that will stop at nothing to keep its secrets hidden​. Texas Ranger Darren Mathews isn’t sure he’s been a good cop, but believes he’s got a shot at being a good man—if he manages to dodge the potential indictment hanging over his head and if he, from here on out, pledges allegiance to the truth. It’s a virtue the country appears to have wholly lost its grip on, but one Darren sees as his salvation. He is in the midst of remaking his life with the woman he loves, hoping for the peace of country living at his beloved farmhouse, when he is visited by someone who couldn’t hold the truth on her tongue if it was dipped in sugar, a woman who’s always been bent of tearing his life apart. His mother. Armed with a tall tale about a missing Black college student, Sera (whose white sorority sisters insist she isn’t missing at all). Darren must decide if his can trust his mother is telling the truth—and what her ulterior motive may be, and what if that motive has to do with a grand jury deciding his fate. Darren gets his hooks into the investigation, along the way discovering things about Sera’s family and her hometown that are odd at best, vaguely sinister at worst. Hamstrung by local law enforcement and the Texas Rangers who likewise doubt the account of a missing girl, if Darren wants answers, he’ll need help from the person whom he swore to never trust again—his mother. In this emotionally stirring conclusion to the singular Highway 59 series, set three years after the events of Heaven, My Home , Darren reckons with his life’s purpose as he’s forced to choose between his own peace and the higher call to do good. One of the best books of the year: The Washington Post, NPR , Amazon Books , Kirkus Reviews , The Guardian , and Crime Reads

67

Imagine This - Vickie M. Stringer Cover Art

Imagine This

Imagine This by Vickie M. Stringer

Imagine This is the sequel to Vickie Stringer's bestselling Let That Be the Reason, her stunning debut novel based on life as she knew it in the shocking underworld of the sex and drug trade. Vickie Stringer has gained a legion of fans for her portrayal of Pamela, a.k.a. Carmen, a woman who had it all but lost out when the love of her life left her penniless and alone to raise their son. Pamela refuses to remain powerless, though. She pulls herself up, becomes a major hustler in the street game, gains independence, and makes big money -- but the consequences are more dreadful than she ever imagined. Imagine This continues the saga of Pamela as she does jail time and has to decide who she really is: Pamela, a woman who, more than anything, loves her son and wants to be there to raise him; or Carmen, the ruthless baller, who does the crime, serves the time, and honors, at any expense, the code of the street.

68

A Little Bit of Karma - ReShonda Tate Billingsley Cover Art

A Little Bit of Karma

A Little Bit of Karma by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

The secrets and lies that exist within a seemingly perfect marriage are explored in this “second-chance tale of romantic suspense” ( Booklist ) from the nationally bestselling and award-winning author of The Stolen Daughter . Meet Shannon and Jay Lovejoy—the rich and successful power couple who, to the millions of fans of their call-in radio show, seem like they’ve got it all. But after three years, their once passionate and loving romance has fizzled and the couple’s divorce becomes embroiled in not only a mess of infidelity and deceit, but the untimely and shocking death of Jay’s mistress, as well. This “taut, expressive page-turner” ( Publishers Weekly , starred review) boldly goes where ReShonda Tate Billingsley has never gone before with her fiction, delivering the perfect combination of romance and suspense in one thrilling novel.

69

The People Vs. Cashmere - Karen Williams Cover Art

The People Vs. Cashmere

The People Vs. Cashmere by Karen Williams

Meet the Pierce family. Desmond Pierce, a hard-working man from the South is determined to give his and wife and daughters a good life in Compton, California. Pearla Pierce is a sexy and seductive mother who plays wifey and devoted mother only when her husband is home. Then there's Carmen, a promiscuous seventeen-year-old on a self-destructive path and jealous of her younger sister. Cashmere, a thirteen-year-old, struggles to hold her family together out of love for her father. When tragedy hits home, Carmen and Cashmere find themselves orphans living with their hateful aunt and having to resort to stripping and selling drugs to survive. Carmen drags Cashmere into a world of drugs, violence and sex when she allows a ruthless pimp named Black to turn her out. Against her will, Cashmere is also forced to work for Black by prostituting herself for high-class ballers. Carmen's jealousy toward her younger sister continues when she sees Black falling in love with Cashmere. Carmen's need to destroy her sister sets off a chain of events that lands Cashmere in jail. Cashmere is left alone and broken, but with the hope that some way, somehow, she can be fixed.

70

My Ratchet Secret 3 - Midnite Love Cover Art

My Ratchet Secret 3

My Ratchet Secret 3 by Midnite Love

Same book new look! It’s me Pebbles and I’m back just as ratchet as ever! I’m still slaying the scene and these raggedy bitches have to deal with it. Me and my boo Adrian were just about to get our happily after on till Ms Fallyn showed up on the scene and tried it. I had deal with that heffa in my true diva fashion. And truth be told, once that bitch drops that load I got something epic planned for her ass. A real woman always stands her ground for her family like a true G. Let this be a lesson to any of you jump-offs out there that think they can come between the love of a man and his wife. I got three words for you bitches: Get Yo Life!

71

The Queen of Sugar Hill - ReShonda Tate Cover Art

The Queen of Sugar Hill

The Queen of Sugar Hill A Novel of Hattie McDaniel by ReShonda Tate

As seen on The TODAY Show! Bestselling author ReShonda Tate presents a fascinating work of biographical fiction, a portrait of Hattie McDaniel, one of Hollywood’s most prolific but woefully underappreciated stars—and the first Black person ever to win an Oscar for her role as Mammy in the critically acclaimed classic film Gone With the Wind . It was supposed to be the highlight of her career, the pinnacle for which she’d worked all her life. And as Hattie McDaniel took the stage in 1940 to claim an honor in the midst of Hollywood's Golden Age that would make her the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award, she tearfully took her place in history. Between personal triumphs and tragedies, heartbreaking losses, and severe setbacks, this historic night of winning best supporting actress for her role as the sassy Mammy in the controversial movie Gone With the Wind was going to be life-changing. Or so she thought. Months after winning the award, not only did the Oscar curse set in where Hattie couldn’t find work, but in this compelling work of African American historical fiction, she found herself thrust in the middle of two worlds—Black and White—and not being welcomed in either. Whites only saw her as Mammy and Blacks detested the demeaning portrayal. As the NAACP waged an all-out war against Hattie and actors like her, the emotionally conflicted actor found herself struggling daily. Through it all, Hattie continued her fight to pave a path for other Negro actors, while focusing on war efforts, fighting housing discrimination, and navigating four failed marriages. Luckily, she had a core group of friends to help her out—from Clark Gable to Louise Beavers to Ruby Berkley Goodwin and Dorothy Dandridge. The Queen of Sugar Hill brings to life the powerful story of one woman who was driven by many passions—ambition, love, sex, family, friendship, and equality. In re-creating Hattie’s story, ReShonda Tate delivers an unforgettable novel of resilience, dedication, and determination perfect for book clubs—about what it takes to achieve your dreams—even when everything—and everyone—is against you.

72

The Dangers of Love 3 - Toya Banks Cover Art

The Dangers of Love 3

The Dangers of Love 3 by Toya Banks

Everything takes a sudden turn in Denise’s life after making one horrible choice. She followed her heart and it turned fatal, so now she is determined to keep danger out of her life. But danger isn’t quite done with her yet.  Find out what happens in part three of The Dangers of Love.

73

That Night with the Alpha Billionaire 2: Broken Love - Hattie Black Cover Art

That Night with the Alpha Billionaire 2: Broken Love

That Night with the Alpha Billionaire 2: Broken Love by Hattie Black

After the incident with the Carolina Herrera text message that was actually from Clarice Henry, Tyrone and I ended our relationship. Well I ended it. I walked out on him and went back to my old apartment. Marlene just hugged me tight when I got there with my tear-stained face dragging my suitcases.

74

A Savage With a Heart of Gold - Chante’ Miller Cover Art

A Savage With a Heart of Gold

A Savage With a Heart of Gold by Chante’ Miller

There’s no such thing as a fairytale ending, or is that far from the truth? Girl boss, Peyton Johnson, also known as Pey, is the youngest celebrity hairstylist in Washington, DC, and she is killing the game. Focused on her career and being the best mom she can be, nothing else matters until a blast from the past finds his way into her busy life. He slowly but surely becomes a good presence in her life and her daughter’s as well. Zaytoven has dreams of his own, retiring from the streets and exchanging a pistol for a tattoo gun, he and Peyton are the perfect power couple. Everything is too good to be true, and as always, trouble is lurking and soon lands smack dab in the middle of their almost perfect relationship. Is Zaytoven worth the headache, or will Peyton give up on their love to focus on building her brand? Will he fight for her or watch her walk away? In this riveting series, love will be put to the test and lines will be crossed.

75

Love On The Low 3: Season 2 - Mia Black Cover Art

Love On The Low 3: Season 2

Love On The Low 3: Season 2 by Mia Black

After pushing Kyra out of her home, Mika is caught between wanting to fix their relationship and desperately wanting to keep her family safe but figuring out how to pull that off without inviting drama into their lives proves to be difficult. Royce is ready to bring an end to their problems once and for all. To do that, he’ll have to confront Cameron head on. When Mika learns what her husband’s up to, she does something she never thought she’d do. Have they reached the end of this living nightmare or is there more to come?

76

That Night with the Alpha Billionaire 3: One Night Stand - Hattie Black Cover Art

That Night with the Alpha Billionaire 3: One Night Stand

That Night with the Alpha Billionaire 3: One Night Stand by Hattie Black

They say that life is like a road trip; you can either travel alone or you can get a few others to travel with you. You need to be really careful whom you let into your vehicle, though, because these people are going to be sitting very close to you and you’re going to be influenced by their attitudes and their choices. I don’t know for how long I sit on the bathroom floor and cry. I faintly remember hearing Tyrone knocking and asking me to open up the door. Then he went away and I must have fallen asleep because when I come to my senses it’s after midnight. I’m in a daze for a while as I try to remember why I’m lying on the cold bathroom floor. Then it all comes rushing back like an avalanche of shit.

77

A Savage With a Heart of Gold 2 - Chante’ Miller Cover Art

A Savage With a Heart of Gold 2

A Savage With a Heart of Gold 2 by Chante’ Miller

A Savage is no match for a beast; those are words that Andre is about to prove true to Paradise. Paradise and Angel’s illicit affair comes to an end sooner than they wish when Andre is back in town. Paradise isn’t ready to give up on what she has shared between Angel for the last couple months. But she has no choice when Andre lets her know she and Angel will be killed if he ever finds out she has cheated on him. Carlon is stressed beyond words, being the expectant father of two babies by two different women, both of whom know nothing about each other. Carlon’s world comes crashing down when it’s finally revealed that he has two women in his life—one he actually wants, and one he wants to get rid of. However, shocking family secrets continue to unravel in this finale, proving that every family has some sort of dysfunctionality. See if the Fuentes family tree will be still standing in the finale of this drama filled story!

78

Gangstress 2 - India Cover Art

Gangstress 2

Gangstress 2 by India

Sit back and witness the rise and fall of Detroit’s most wanted queen pin! The odds have been stacked against Janelle Doesher, aka Jane Doe, ever since her parents were murdered in cold blood. She’s been stripped of the money, power, and respect associated with the family’s name. Turning her losses into lessons, Jane takes destiny into her own hands. She does whatever is necessary to rise to the top, and that includes stepping on toes and making more enemies than she already had. Once her spot in the game is solidified, or so she thinks, one of her affiliates blows the whistle on her operation, and an indictment comes down on the entire organization.

79

Um defeito de cor  - Ana Maria Gonçalves Cover Art

Um defeito de cor

Um defeito de cor by Ana Maria Gonçalves

Nova edição do clássico contemporâneo, Um defeito de cor marca o encontro de duas das mais aclamadas mulheres negras do mundo das artes: a escritora Ana Maria Gonçalves e a artista visual Rosana Paulino Vencedor do prestigioso Prêmio Casa de las Américas e incluído na lista da Folha de S.Paulo como o sétimo entre 200 livros mais importantes para entender o Brasil em seus 200 anos de independência, Um defeito de cor conta a saga de Kehinde, mulher negra que, aos oito anos, é sequestrada no Reino do Daomé, atual Benin, e trazida para ser escravizada na Ilha de Itaparica, na Bahia. No livro, Kehinde narra em detalhes a sua captura, a vida como escravizada, os seus amores, as desilusões, os sofrimentos, as viagens em busca de um de seus filhos e de sua religiosidade. Além disso, mostra como conseguiu a sua carta de alforria e, na volta para a África, tornou-se uma empresária bem-sucedida, apesar de todos os percalços e aventuras pelos quais passou. A personagem foi inspirada em Luísa Mahin, que teria sido mãe do poeta Luís Gama e participado da célebre Revolta dos Malês, movimento liderado por escravizados muçulmanos a favor da Abolição. Esta edição especial, em novo projeto gráfico, inclui obras de Rosana Paulino – artista visual que participou da Bienal de Veneza e tem obras expostas nos principais museus do mundo, como o Metropolitan, de Nova York, e a Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, de Lisboa – e o conto afrofuturista inédito "Ancestars", a primeira narrativa de Ana Maria Gonçalves publicada desde o lançamento de Um defeito de cor. O texto de orelha é assinado pela premiada escritora Cidinha da Silva. Pautado em intensa pesquisa documental, Um defeito de cor é um retrato original e pungente da exploração e da luta de africanos na diáspora e de seus descendentes, durante oito décadas da formação da sociedade brasileira. O livro inspirou, em 2022, uma exposição homônima no Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR), com curadoria de Amanda Bonan, Marcelo Campos e da própria Ana Maria Gonçalves. "Um defeito de cor, da Ana Maria Gonçalves, é um [livro] que precisa ser colocado nas escolas. Ele me transformou." - Fábio Porchat "Escrito pela mineira Ana Maria Gonçalves, a obra, de leitura voraz, prende a atenção do leitor da primeira à última página." - Glamurama "Nesse livro, Ana Maria Gonçalves produz um corte plurissignificativo nos protocolos de representação do negro e da negrura na sociedade e na literatura brasileiras.." - Leda Maria Martins, pesquisadora, ensaísta e professora aposentada da UFMG "Romance histórico da diáspora negra do Brasil. Apresenta-se como contraponto ao apagamento da história do povo negro. Primeiro épico antiescravagista da literatura brasileira." - Luiz Fernando Carvalho, diretor de cinema e TV "Com uma perspectiva feminina e moderna sobre um fenômeno que determina a vida brasileira até os dias de hoje, é um livro essencial para a compreensão do país." - Noemi Jaffe, escritora, professora e crítica literária

80

His Perfect Storm - Vaneecia Vaneecia Cover Art

His Perfect Storm

His Perfect Storm Storm and Naseem by Vaneecia Vaneecia

***A STANDALONE NOVEL*** Storm is twenty-three years old and what most would considered full figured. Storm, however, prefers to be thought of as curvy. No matter what you call her, one thing could never be denied, Storm is the baddest stripper The Lounge has ever seen. Smart, confident, and about her money, Storm doesn't let the constant snide remarks from the other girls about her weight stop her, and love isn't on her radar… until she meets Naseem. Naseem is a street n***a with a heart of gold, trying to make it work with his baby mama until an on chance encounter draws him into Storm. Through all the ups and downs, will the storms they face ever clear?

81

Never Go Home Again - Shannon Holmes Cover Art

Never Go Home Again

Never Go Home Again A Novel by Shannon Holmes

Shannon Holmes -- Essence bestselling author of B-More Careful and Bad Girlz, and one of the brightest stars in urban fiction -- returns with a dramatic must-read novel inspired by his own life. Never Go Home Again is the story of Corey Dixon, a young man whose father tries as best he can to steer him away from the lure of the streets. And yet, like so many others in Corey's neighborhood, he finds the temptations of the lucrative drug trade too great to resist. While he makes fast money for a while, it is inevitable that it is he who has to pay, with his time and maybe even his life: by the age of sixteen Corey is locked up. Incarcerated in Riker's Island and then in prisons upstate, Corey lives through experiences that threaten to destroy his body, his mind, and eventually his spirit. But in the midst of his horrific imprisonment he discovers new strength to keep himself together and survive. Corey meets a few kind souls who mean him well, including a teacher who encourages him to get out of prison and make something of himself. The teacher also advises Corey to "never go home again." Though the homesick Corey does not immediately understand, he ultimately realizes the wisdom of his mentor's words. Unflinching and riveting, this story is the firsthand account of the brutal, unforgiving inner-city streets and prison life, as well as a difficult lesson in accepting responsibility and moving on.

82

Bed of Lies - Shelly Ellis Cover Art

Bed of Lies

Bed of Lies by Shelly Ellis

“Shelly Ellis is a new favorite to our list.” —Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling authors   With his drama-filled marriage behind him, Evan Murdoch has finally found happiness with his longtime friend turned fiancée, Leila Hawkins. But when his party boy brother, Terrence, is seriously injured in a car accident, a gossiping press puts the family back in the spotlight. Soon Terrence could face a lawsuit—and much worse, if his vengeful half-brother, Dante, has his way. Terrence’s only bright spot is journalist C.J. Aston—but is she really on his side, or does she have another motive?. . .   While Terrence struggles to recover from his injuries, Paulette, the little sister of the family, is struggling with a secret: she’s pregnant, and unsure whether the father is her blackmailing ex or her husband. Amid the turmoil, Evan does his best to stay above the fray, but a shocking revelation makes that impossible—he’s a Murdoch after all, and trouble seems to be their business . . .   “Secrets abound in this full-bodied tale.” —USAToday.com   “This fantastic novel is replete with scandal, entitlement, treachery and passion up to the surprising end.”  —RT Book Reviews   “Drama, hot sex, and betrayals are all wrapped up in this addictive yet well-written story.” —AAMBC Book Club on  Best Kept Secrets

83

The Five Widows Club - Dr. Tina Fornwald Cover Art

The Five Widows Club

The Five Widows Club by Dr. Tina Fornwald

What if the moment your world shattered became the one that taught you to live again? Five women didn't plan to meet. They don't want to share their grief. But one unexpected night around the flames would alter their lives forever. Monique hides behind control. Carmen faces truths she never saw coming. Trish's hard shell begins to crack. Ava's just barely holding everything together. And Joyce—quiet, steady Joyce—carries the unspoken weight of them all. Brought together by loss and bound by courage, these women discover that even from ashes, something beautiful can rise. The Five Widows Club is a heart-aching, hope-filled novel about grief, grace, and the fierce power of beginning again.

84

Daughters of the Wind - Sheila Williams Cover Art

Daughters of the Wind

Daughters of the Wind A Mythic Fantasy by Sheila Williams

Book club favorite and acclaimed author of No Better Time and The Secret Women makes her first foray into the mythical fantasy genre with this epic tale of legacy, power, sacrifice, and family bonds that is a call to action wrapped in elemental magic. Aeola St. James is no ordinary CEO. While navigating boardroom politics and the chaos of motherhood, she harbors a secret: she is Keeper of the Winds, an elemental being who can read the landscape and harness the wind. The planet is warming faster than it should and Aeola senses catastrophe. To ward off disaster, Aeola must gather “Daughters of the Wind” from every epoch and corner of the globe, including her own daughters whom she has hidden for their protection: Buran, mammoth hunter in Ice Age North America, Burga, her Eurasian counterpart, a skilled falconer, Siree, midwife to the Kushite royal house, Zonda of the Cloud People, masters of the Andean peaks, and Mistral, mercurial and fierce, survivor of a medieval witch hunt. As Aeola time-travels the globe, an enemy waits. Tech billionaire Wills Holloway has devised a plan to monetize climate correction by launching a missile into the stratosphere, seeding it with a cooling compound. His corporate intelligence reveals that Aeola’s company has a mechanism that will facilitate the dispersal of his creation and he initiates a hostile takeover. But Wills has no idea that the “mechanism” he seeks to acquire is Aeola herself. As the climate clock ticks, Aeola uses her gifts to outsmart the uber-introverted Holloway and persuade him to partner with her and the Daughters to give the blue planet a fighting chance.

85

The Other Side Of Lovin' A Hustler 2 - Kai'or Elle Cover Art

The Other Side Of Lovin' A Hustler 2

The Other Side Of Lovin' A Hustler 2 by Kai'or Elle

Trouble getting involved with Kryme hasn’t done anything but make things worse. Now she and the other girls won’t have a choice but to face their ugly reality. A storm is brewing and there will be no easy way out. They may all think that they can get through this alone, but with what’s to come next, they won’t have a choice but to stick together. Their deceased husbands may have gotten them into this mess, but they’re going to have to get themselves out. Kryme had one job to do and one job only. Meeting Trouble and falling for her was the biggest mistake he could have ever made. In reality, there is no redo button, and the only option left is for him to fix the mess that he has caused. Will he turn his back on Trouble to regain his father’s trust? Or will taking a chance on love be worth it in the end? The other side of loving a hustler may be deadly, but can Kryme prove there’s more than just one side to loving a hustler?

86

Harlem Rhapsody - Victoria Christopher Murray Cover Art

Harlem Rhapsody

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR! “A gripping narrative, don't miss this historical fiction about the woman who kicked off the Harlem Renaissance.”— People Magazine “A page turner and history lesson at once, Harlem Rhapsody reminds us that our stories are our generational wealth.”—Tayari Jones, New York Times bestselling author of An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club Pick) She found the literary voices that would inspire the world…. The extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance, written by Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Personal Librarian . In 1919, a high school teacher from Washington, D.C arrives in Harlem excited to realize her lifelong dream. Jessie Redmon Fauset has been named the literary editor of The Crisi s. The first Black woman to hold this position at a preeminent Negro magazine, Jessie is poised to achieve literary greatness. But she holds a secret that jeopardizes it all. W. E. B. Du Bois, the founder of The Crisis , is not only Jessie’s boss, he’s her lover. And neither his wife, nor their fourteen-year-age difference can keep the two apart. Amidst rumors of their tumultuous affair, Jessie is determined to prove herself. She attacks the challenge of discovering young writers with fervor, finding sixteen-year-old Countee Cullen, seventeen-year-old Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen, who becomes one of her best friends. Under Jessie’s leadership, The Crisis thrives…every African American writer in the country wants their work published there. When her first novel is released to great acclaim, it’s clear that Jessie is at the heart of a renaissance in Black music, theater, and the arts. She has shaped a generation of literary legends, but as she strives to preserve her legacy, she’ll discover the high cost of her unparalleled success.

87

Push - Sapphire Cover Art

Push

Push by Sapphire

A new 25th anniversary edition of the instant classic that inspired the major motion picture and Sundance Film Festival winner Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire, whose power and ferocity influenced a generation of writers. Precious Jones, an illiterate sixteen-year-old, has up until now been invisible to the father who rapes her and the mother who batters her and to the authorities who dismiss her as just one more of Harlem's casualties. But when Precious, pregnant with a second child by her father, meets a determined and radical teacher, we follow her on a journey of education and enlightenment as she learns not only how to write about her life, but how to make it truly her own for the first time.

88

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? - Crystal Smith Paul Cover Art

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? A Novel by Crystal Smith Paul

REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK BOOK OF THE MONTH PICK "An intoxicating and seductive debut..." — Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Lives of Evelyn Hugo A multigenerational saga that traverses the glamour of old Hollywood and the seductive draw of modern-day showbiz When Kitty Karr Tate, a White icon of the silver screen, dies and bequeaths her multimillion-dollar estate to the St. John sisters, three young, wealthy Black women, it prompts questions. Lots of questions. A celebrity in her own right, Elise St. John would rather focus on sorting out Kitty’s affairs than deal with the press. But what she discovers in one of Kitty’s journals rocks her world harder than any other brewing scandal could—and between a cheating fiancé and the fallout from a controversial social media post, there are plenty. The truth behind Kitty's ascent to stardom from her beginnings in the segregated South threatens to expose a web of unexpected family ties, debts owed, and debatable crimes that could, with one pull, unravel the all-American fabric of the St. John sisters and those closest to them. As Elise digs deeper into Kitty's past, she must also turn the lens upon herself, confronting the gifts and burdens of her own choices and the power that the secrets of the dead hold over the living. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is a sprawling page-turner set against the backdrop of the Hollywood machine, an insightful and nuanced look at the inheritances of family, race, and gender—and the choices some women make to break free of them.

89

Kindred - Octavia Butler Cover Art

Kindred

Kindred by Octavia Butler

NEW FOREWORD BY JANELLE MONÁE Experience the time travel science fiction classic from the New York Times bestselling author of Parable of the Sower and winner of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, Nebula, and Hugo Awards. A modern Black woman is pulled through time to face the horrors of slavery in this “Great American Novel” about racism, sexism, and white supremacy—then and now ( The Atlantic ). “I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm.” Dana’s torment begins when she suddenly vanishes on her 26th birthday from California, 1976, and is dragged through time to antebellum Maryland to rescue a boy named Rufus, heir to a slaveowner’s plantation. She soon realizes the purpose of her summons to the past: protect Rufus to ensure his assault of her Black ancestor so that she may one day be born. As she endures the traumas of slavery and the soul-crushing normalization of savagery, Dana fights to keep her autonomy and return to the present. Blazing the trail for neo-slavery narratives like Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad and Ta-Nehisi Coates’s The Water Dancer , Butler takes one of speculative fiction’s oldest tropes and infuses it with lasting depth and power. Dana not only experiences the cruelties of slavery on her skin but also grimly learns to accept it as a condition of her own existence in the present. “Where stories about American slavery are often gratuitous, reducing its horror to explicit violence and brutality, Kindred is controlled and precise” ( New York Times ). “Reading Octavia Butler taught me to dream big, and I think it’s absolutely necessary that everybody have that freedom and that willingness to dream.” —N. K. Jemisin

90

Love on the Low 2 - Mia Black Cover Art

Love on the Low 2

Love on the Low 2 by Mia Black

Mika knows making her feelings for Royce known will change everything. All she has to do is focus on her new job and creating a new life for herself, but that’s easier said than done when the man she loves is right in front of her face…with another woman. There’s no denying that Royce wants Mika, but his life is complicated, and now that he’s added Lacresha to it, it’s even more complicated than he could have imagined. If he gives into his desires, he fears what will happen. If he ignores his feelings, he fears what he’ll do without Mika. Find out what happens in part two of Love On The Low!

91

Love on the Low 4 - Mia Black Cover Art

Love on the Low 4

Love on the Low 4 by Mia Black

Now that Lacresha has thrown a wrench in his plan, Royce has to own up to his responsibilities, even if that means he has lose the woman he really loves. Mika can’t believe this is happening, but isn’t the type of woman to put her life on hold for a man. Royce made his choice and now he has to live with it. Lacresha got exactly what she wanted, but for how long? Find out what happens in part four of Love On The Low!

92

Black Buck - Mateo Askaripour Cover Art

Black Buck

Black Buck A Novel by Mateo Askaripour

“Askaripour closes the deal on the first page of this mesmerizing novel, executing a high-wire act full of verve and dark, comic energy.”—Colson Whitehead, author of The Nickel Boys “A hilarious, gleaming satire as radiant as its author. Askaripour has announced himself as a major talent of the school of Ralph Ellison, Paul Beatty, Fran Ross, and Ishmael Reed. Full of quick pacing, frenetic energy, absurd—yet spot on—twists and turns, and some of the funniest similes I’ve ever read, this novel is both balm and bomb.”—Nafissa Thompson-Spires, author of Heads of the Colored People There’s nothing like a Black salesman on a mission. An unambitious twenty-two-year-old, Darren lives in a Bed-Stuy brownstone with his mother, who wants nothing more than to see him live up to his potential as the valedictorian of Bronx Science. But Darren is content working at Starbucks in the lobby of a Midtown office building, hanging out with his girlfriend, Soraya, and eating his mother’s home-cooked meals. All that changes when a chance encounter with Rhett Daniels, the silver-tongued CEO of Sumwun, NYC’s hottest tech startup, results in an exclusive invitation for Darren to join an elite sales team on the thirty-sixth floor. After enduring a “hell week” of training, Darren, the only Black person in the company, reimagines himself as “Buck,” a ruthless salesman unrecognizable to his friends and family. But when things turn tragic at home and Buck feels he’s hit rock bottom, he begins to hatch a plan to help young people of color infiltrate America’s sales force, setting off a chain of events that forever changes the game. Black Buck is a hilarious, razor-sharp skewering of America’s workforce; it is a propulsive, crackling debut that explores ambition and race, and makes way for a necessary new vision of the American dream.

93

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies - Deesha Philyaw Cover Art

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

*FINALIST for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction* *WINNER of the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award* *WINNER of the 2020 Story Prize * *WINNER of the 2020 L.A. Times Book Prize, Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction* “Beguiling.” — The   New Yorker “Tender, fierce, proudly black and beautiful, these stories will sneak inside you and take root.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Triumphant.” —Publishers Weekly “Cheeky, insightful, and irresistible.” —​​​​​​​ Ms. Magazine “This collection marks the emergence of a bona fide literary treasure.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune “Full of lived-in humanity, warmth, and compassion.” — Pittsburgh Current The Secret Lives of Church Ladies explores the raw and tender places where Black women and girls dare to follow their desires and pursue a momentary reprieve from being good. The nine stories in this collection feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church’s double standards and their own needs and passions. There is fourteen-year-old Jael, who has a crush on the preacher’s wife. At forty-two, Lyra realizes that her discomfort with her own body stands between her and a new love. As Y2K looms, Caroletta’s “same time next year” arrangement with her childhood best friend is tenuous. A serial mistress lays down the ground rules for her married lovers. In the dark shadows of a hospice parking lot, grieving strangers find comfort in each other. With their secret longings, new love, and forbidden affairs, these church ladies are as seductive as they want to be, as vulnerable as they need to be, as unfaithful and unrepentant as they care to be, and as free as they deserve to be.

94

Good Dirt - Charmaine Wilkerson Cover Art

Good Dirt

Good Dirt A Novel by Charmaine Wilkerson

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The daughter of an affluent Black family pieces together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom in this moving novel from the bestselling author of Black Cake, a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick “Engrossing . . . Wilkerson masterfully weaves these threads of love, loss and legacy [into] a thoroughly researched and beautifully imagined family saga.”— The New York Times LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME , NPR, Marie Claire, People, Chicago Public Library, Christian Science Monitor, Denver Public Library When ten-year-old Ebby Freeman heard the gunshot, time stopped. And when she saw her brother, Baz, lying on the floor surrounded by the shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar, life as Ebby knew it shattered as well. The crime was never solved—and because the Freemans were one of the only Black families in a particularly well-to-do enclave of New England—the case has had an enduring, voyeuristic pull for the public. The last thing the Freemans want is another media frenzy splashing their family across the papers, but when Ebby's high profile romance falls apart without any explanation, that's exactly what they get. So Ebby flees to France, only for her past to follow her there. And as she tries to process what's happened, she begins to think about the other loss her family suffered on that day eighteen years ago—the stoneware jar that had been in their family for generations, brought North by an enslaved ancestor. But little does she know that the handcrafted piece of pottery held more than just her family's history—it might also hold the key to unlocking her own future. In this sweeping, evocative novel, Charmaine Wilkerson brings to life a multi-generational epic that examines how the past informs our present.

95

The Great Wherever - Shannon Sanders Cover Art

The Great Wherever

The Great Wherever A Novel by Shannon Sanders

Named a Most Anticipated Book of Summer 2026 by NPR, People , Oprah Daily , Harper's Bazaar, Town and Country , Esquire , The New York Post , The Boston Globe , WGBH, Real Simple, The Root, Our Culture , Woman's World , Publishers Weekly , Literary Hub, Modern Mrs. Darcy, BiblioLifestyle, and Bookpage A July 2026 Book of the Month Club Pick The dead are relentless gossips, or at least these dead are. An impulsive and heartbroken woman inherits her father’s share of a Tennessee farm that is rich in family secrets and occupied with busybody ghosts in this sweeping family portrait. At thirty-two, Aubrey Lamb is stumbling through adulthood. An underpaid gig worker in Washington, DC, she’s grieving the end of a serious relationship and the recent loss of her father. When Aubrey learns she has inherited his stake in a sizable Tennessee farm she sees an opportunity to get out of the city—and to erase a mounting pile of debt. Watching her arrival with great interest are four ghosts—Aubrey’s ancestors, who’ve staked their own claims to the farm and who never hesitate to pass judgment on the mistakes made by the living, whether romantic, financial, or sartorial. As Aubrey reconnects with her living family, another story unfolds in parallel: the history of the land, beginning with its purchase by Thomas, Aubrey’s great-grandfather and one of the first Black landowners in his community. Though Thomas hopes to give his children a homestead on which they could flourish, the land proves to be a burdensome inheritance. Over the years, it turns the Lambs against one another, culminating in a catastrophic tragedy that splinters the family and echoes through the decades. Now, as the clock ticks on a potential sale of the farm, the ghosts fear expulsion from the home they’ve made, and Aubrey must weigh the hopes and burdens of her forebears with the very real needs of her future. An expansive family saga told with a wry and distinctly modern voice, The Great Wherever is at once grand and intimate; it explores the ways we learn to define ourselves through and against our families, how we carry on after loss, and how the past lives on in all of us.

96

The Violin Conspiracy: A GMA Book Club Pick - Brendan Slocumb Cover Art

The Violin Conspiracy: A GMA Book Club Pick

The Violin Conspiracy: A GMA Book Club Pick A Novel by Brendan Slocumb

GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK! • Ray McMillian is a Black classical musician on the rise—undeterred by the pressure and prejudice of the classical music world — when a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his great-great-grandfather’s heirloom violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world. “I loved The Violin Conspiracy for exactly the same reasons I loved The Queen’s Gambit : a surprising, beautifully rendered underdog hero I cared about deeply and a fascinating, cutthroat world I knew nothing about—in this case, classical music.” —Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and Hour of the Witch Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is already mapped out. But Ray has a gift and a dream—he’s determined to become a world-class professional violinist, and nothing will stand in his way. Not his mother, who wants him to stop making such a racket; not the fact that he can’t afford a violin suitable to his talents; not even the racism inherent in the world of classical music.    When he discovers that his beat-up, family fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach, and together, Ray and his violin take the world by storm. But on the eve of the renowned and cutthroat Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—the violin is stolen, a ransom note for five million dollars left in its place. Without it, Ray feels like he's lost a piece of himself. As the competition approaches, Ray must not only reclaim his precious violin, but prove to himself—and the world—that no matter the outcome, there has always been a truly great musician within him.

97

Colored Television (A GMA Book Club Pick) - Danzy Senna Cover Art

Colored Television (A GMA Book Club Pick)

Colored Television (A GMA Book Club Pick) A Novel by Danzy Senna

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK A WASHINGTON POST TOP 10 BOOK OF THE YEAR A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2024 FINALIST FOR THE 2026 JOYCE CAROL OATES PRIZE “A laugh-out-loud cultural comedy… This is the New Great American Novel, and Danzy Senna has set the standard.” – LA Times “Funny, foxy and fleet…The jokes are good, the punches land, the dialogue is tart.” –Dwight Garner, The New York Times A brilliant take on love and ambition, failure and reinvention, and the racial-identity-industrial complex from the bestselling author of Caucasia Jane has high hopes that her life is about to turn around. After a long, precarious stretch bouncing among sketchy rentals and sublets, she and her family are living in luxury for a year, house-sitting in the hills above Los Angeles. The gig magically coincides with Jane’s sabbatical, giving her the time and space she needs to finish her second novel—a centuries-spanning epic her artist husband, Lenny, dubs her “mulatto War and Peace. ” Finally, some semblance of stability and success seems to be within her grasp. But things don’t work out quite as hoped. Desperate for a plan B, like countless writers before her Jane turns her gaze to Hollywood. When she finagles a meeting with Hampton Ford, a hot producer with a major development deal at a streaming network, he seems excited to work with a “real writer,” and together they begin to develop “the Jackie Robinson of biracial comedies.” Things finally seem to be going right for Jane—until they go terribly wrong. Funny, piercing, and page turning, Colored Television is Senna’s most on-the-pulse, ambitious, and rewarding novel yet.

98

The Water Dancer - Ta-Nehisi Coates Cover Art

The Water Dancer

The Water Dancer A Novel by Ta-Nehisi Coates

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • From the National Book Award–winning author of Between the World and Me, a boldly conjured debut novel about a magical gift, a devastating loss, and an underground war for freedom. “This potent book about America’s most disgraceful sin establishes [Ta-Nehisi Coates] as a first-rate novelist.”— San Francisco Chronicle IN DEVELOPMENT AS A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • Adapted by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Kamilah Forbes, directed by Nia DaCosta, and produced by MGM, Plan B, and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films NOMINATED FOR THE NAACP IMAGE AWARD • NAMED ONE OF PASTE ’S BEST NOVELS OF THE DECADE • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Time • NPR • The Washington Post • Chicago Tribune • Vanity Fair • Esquire • Good Housekeeping • Paste • Town & Country • The New York Public Library • Kirkus Reviews • Library Journal Young Hiram Walker was born into bondage. When his mother was sold away, Hiram was robbed of all memory of her—but was gifted with a mysterious power. Years later, when Hiram almost drowns in a river, that same power saves his life. This brush with death births an urgency in Hiram and a daring scheme: to escape from the only home he’s ever known. So begins an unexpected journey that takes Hiram from the corrupt grandeur of Virginia’s proud plantations to desperate guerrilla cells in the wilderness, from the coffin of the Deep South to dangerously idealistic movements in the North. Even as he’s enlisted in the underground war between slavers and the enslaved, Hiram’s resolve to rescue the family he left behind endures. This is the dramatic story of an atrocity inflicted on generations of women, men, and children—the violent and capricious separation of families—and the war they waged to simply make lives with the people they loved. Written by one of today’s most exciting thinkers and writers, The Water Dancer is a propulsive, transcendent work that restores the humanity of those from whom everything was stolen. Praise for The Water Dancer “Ta-Nehisi Coates is the most important essayist in a generation and a writer who changed the national political conversation about race with his 2015 memoir, Between the World and Me . So naturally his debut novel comes with slightly unrealistic expectations—and then proceeds to exceed them. The Water Dancer . . . is a work of both staggering imagination and rich historical significance. . . . What’s most powerful is the way Coates enlists his notions of the fantastic, as well as his fluid prose, to probe a wound that never seems to heal. . . . Timeless and instantly canon-worthy.” — Rolling Stone

99

Addicted to a Dirty South Thug 4 - Myss Shan Cover Art

Addicted to a Dirty South Thug 4

Addicted to a Dirty South Thug 4 by Myss Shan

After Cuba and Emon are kidnapped by the brother that Emon had never knew he had, the two of them come home to try and start their lives as if everything is normal. With a secret dangling over their heads, Cuba leaves her marriage to Khi and decides that she's better off on her own. Khi refuses to let his wife go and does everything in his power to get his wife back with him where she belongs especially when something comes up that may have Khi fighting for all the time he has left. Tangie and Cass are back together and Tangie finds herself being a mother to a child that she never wanted to accept. After Cass brings his daughter home to live with them, Tangie finds out that Cass is still up to his same old ways and has the both of them questioning if their relationship is even meant to be. KaeDee's police girlfriend's intentions are finally revealed and just when KaeDee thinks he has her out of the way, she comes back harder than ever showing him how better they were together as a team than apart. Dae finds that it's easier to move on and start over when it's revealed that Amber is dating other men. No longer the one to fight fire with fire when it comes to the ones he love, Dae is ready to put in work while in his search for love. The finale is fast and filled with drama from the very first page. Be sure to read along in full and stay tuned to see why everyone is Still Addicted to a Dirty South Thug.

100

Gangster's Daughter 3 - Leo Sullivan Cover Art

Gangster's Daughter 3

Gangster's Daughter 3 by Leo Sullivan

“Damn you’re a bad bitch.” “What?!” She sat up on her elbow. I put the condom on; it was a Magnum and it still looked too small on my dick. Kadisha must have noticed it, too. “You sure that condom ain’t going to break?” She asked. “Nawl shawty,” I said in a husky voice as I eased between her thighs, spreading her legs wide. “Go slow,” she muttered and placed her face in the crook of my neck. As I tried to ease the head in, she whimpered in pain. I tried to put one of her legs on my shoulder; she resisted. “Huh, uh, I ain’t ready for all the free style stuff. Let’s just focus on getting it in first.” I nodded my head; I didn’t want to talk. I eased the head in and Kadisha flinched like she had been burned with a hot iron as she lassoed her legs around my back. “Ouch! It hurts. Can we use some type of lubricant?” She whined with her face pressed tight against my neck as she breathed hard quavering underneath me. “Gurl, as wet as your p***y is, we definitely don’t need lubricant,” I said while caressing her ass in preparation for deep strokes. “But it hurts,” She said, pouting in a sexy voice that turned me on even more. I pulled out, spit on my hand, and wiped it across my dick. “Ugh!” Kadisha wiggled.