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

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Sweet Heat - Bolu Babalola Cover Art

Sweet Heat

Sweet Heat A Novel by Bolu Babalola

BOLU BABALOLA IS… “A queen of romantic comedy.” – Oprah Daily • “Incisively funny.” – Entertainment Weekly • “A really great romance writer.” – Quinta Brunson, Harper's Bazaar • “Keeping the hope for true love alive and enjoyable.” –Shondaland • “A rom-com expert.” – New York Times A Rolling Stone Most Anticipated Book of Fall Two exes. One summer wedding. Zero chance of escaping the heat. Prepare to laugh, swoon, and fall head over heels with this irresistible standalone romance from Bolu Babalola, the bestselling author of Honey and Spice, a Reese’s Book Club pick. Twenty-eight-year-old Kiki Banjo hosts the popular podcast The HeartBeat, solving romantic conundrums and dishing out life advice. But behind the mic, career setbacks and a devastating breakup have left her hanging on by a thread. As she’s preparing to be the Maid of Honor in her best friend’s wedding, everything starts to unravel, and Kiki is left wondering if she ever had the answers. Then Kiki finds herself face-to-face with the Best Man, her ex-boyfriend, Malakai—the smooth-talking, absurdly handsome, annoyingly perceptive man who stole her heart and then shattered it. While Kiki’s approaching rock bottom, Malakai’s been on the rise as a filmmaker, and now they have no choice but to play nice until the wedding is over. Both are hell-bent on ignoring the smoldering chemistry between them, but as they navigate the chaos of wedding plans, career ambitions, and Kiki’s growing fears about the future, they can’t ignore the spark that’s only getting hotter. They just have to get through the summer. So why does it feel like playing with fire? “Babalola’s sharp sense of humor, slick pop culture references, and keen sense of the zeitgeist . . . offer a refreshing portrait of what modern love really looks and feels like." — Time “Babalola expertly blends sex with societal discourse in ways that echo Jane Austen and Nora Ephron.” — Vanity Fair "Babalola soars in her rich depictions of intimacy and relationships, in all their grandeur." — The New York Times Book Review 

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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.

3

Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert - Bob the Drag Queen Cover Art

Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert

Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert A Novel by Bob the Drag Queen

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Books of 2025 by Pride • Best New Books of Spring 2025 by Bustle • Most Anticipated Books of 2025 by LitHub • Biggest Books of March by Book Riot • Most Anticipated Books of March by Goodreads Featuring two new songs written for the audiobook and performed by Bob the Drag Queen! “ Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert is magnificent! I want to send to the folks who do the Nobel Prize for Literature. I don’t know them, but I want them to read this!” —Whoopi Goldberg “It’s a knockout.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “An emotional exploration of religion, external and internalized homophobia, the pressure of progressing Black liberation, and the importance of revisiting the past.” — New York magazine From RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, Traitors contestant, and host of HBO’s We’re Here comes an inventive, wondrous novel about American hero Harriet Tubman that remixes history into a fresh, dynamic novel about love, freedom, salvation, and hip-hop. In an age of miracles where our greatest heroes from history have magically, unexplainably returned to shake us out of our confusion and hate, Harriet Tubman is back, and she has a lot to say. Harriet Tubman and four of the enslaved persons she led to freedom want to tell their story in a unique way. Harriet wants to create a hip-hop album and live show about her life, and she needs a songwriter to help her. She calls upon Darnell, a once successful hip-hop producer who was topping the charts before being outed on a BET talk show. Darnell has no idea what to expect when he steps into the studio with Harriet, only that they have a short period of time to write a legendary album she can take on the road. Over the course of their time together, they not only create music that will take the country by storm, but confront the horrors of both their pasts, and learn to find a way to a better future. Original, evocative, and historic, Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert is a landmark achievement that will burrow deep into our hearts (and ears).

4

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.

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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  

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The Darkest Child - Delores Phillips & Tayari Jones Cover Art

The Darkest Child

The Darkest Child A Novel by Delores Phillips & Tayari Jones

A new edition of this award-winning modern classic, with an introduction by Tayari Jones ( An American Marriage ), an excerpt from the never before seen follow-up, and discussion guide.   Pakersfield, Georgia, 1958: Thirteen-year-old Tangy Mae Quinn is the sixth of ten fatherless siblings. She is the darkest-skinned among them and therefore the ugliest in her mother, Rozelle’s, estimation, but she’s also the brightest. Rozelle—beautiful, charismatic, and light-skinned—exercises a violent hold over her children. Fearing abandonment, she pulls them from school at the age of twelve and sends them to earn their keep for the household, whether in domestic service, in the fields, or at “the farmhouse” on the edge of town, where Rozelle beds local men for money.   But Tangy Mae has been selected to be part of the first integrated class at a nearby white high school. She has a chance to change her life, but can she break from Rozelle’s grasp without ruinous—even fatal—consequences?

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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.

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Blood Grove - Walter Mosley Cover Art

Blood Grove

Blood Grove by Walter Mosley

"Master of craft and narrative" Walter Mosley returns with this crowning achievement in the Easy Rawlins saga, in which the iconic  detective's loyalties are tested on the sun-soaked streets of Southern California (National Book Foundation)  It is 1969, and flames can be seen on the horizon, protest wafts like smoke though the thick air, and Easy Rawlins, the Black private detective whose small agency finally has its own office, gets a visit from a white Vietnam veteran. The young man comes to Easy with a story that makes little sense. He and his lover, a beautiful young woman, were attacked in a citrus grove at the city’s outskirts. He may have killed a man, and the woman and his dog are now missing. Inclined to turn down what sounds like nothing but trouble, Easy takes the case when he realizes how damaged the young vet is from his war experiences—the bond between veterans superseding all other considerations.   The veteran is not Easy’s only unlooked-for trouble. Easy’s adopted daughter Feather’s white uncle shows up uninvited, raising questions and unsettling the life Easy has long forged for the now young woman. Where Feather sees a family reunion, Easy suspects something else, something that will break his heart.   Blood Grove is a crackling, moody, and thrilling race through a California of hippies and tycoons, radicals and sociopaths, cops and grifters, both men and women. Easy will need the help of his friends—from the genius Jackson Blue to the dangerous Mouse Alexander, Fearless Jones, and Christmas Black—to make sense of a case that reveals the darkest impulses humans harbor.    Blood Grove is a novel of vast scope and intimate insight, and a soulful call for justice by any means necessary.  

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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.

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Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams Cover Art

Queenie

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

*NOW A HULU ORIGINAL SERIES* “A book that sneaks up on you...I am hooked.” —Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author This acclaimed and “welcome debut from a seriously talented author” ( New York Post ) is a disarmingly honest, unapologetically black, and undeniably witty novel that will speak to those who have gone looking for love and found something very different in its place. Queenie Jenkins is a twenty-five-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. She works at a national newspaper, where she’s constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle class peers. After a messy break up from her long-term white boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places…including several hazardous men who do a good job of occupying brain space and a bad job of affirming self-worth. As Queenie careens from one questionable decision to another, she finds herself wondering, “What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Who do you want to be?”—all of the questions today’s woman must face in a world trying to answer them for her. “A must-read novel about sex, selfhood, and the best friendships that get us through it all” (Candace Bushnell, New York Times bestselling author), Queenie is a remarkably relatable exploration of what it means to be a modern woman searching for meaning in today’s world.

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The Violin Conspiracy - Brendan Slocumb Cover Art

The Violin Conspiracy

The Violin Conspiracy A Novel (Good Morning America Book Club) 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.

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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.

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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.

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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 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.

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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.

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If Only For One Night - Victoria Christopher Murray & ReShonda Tate Billingsley Cover Art

If Only For One Night

If Only For One Night by Victoria Christopher Murray & ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Can they be soulmates if they're married to other people? From the outside, Angelique has the perfect life - a rich husband who adores her and gives her the world, except for what she craves most - his attention. A workaholic, more concerned with his family's financial situation than emotional stability, Preston doesn't understand why his wife is so unhappy. Not one to stray, Angelique seeks comfort in the online game, Words With Friends. Blu has been living a life of loneliness since his wife settled into a depression she has no desire to shake. Frustrated and fed up, he loses himself in his favorite game - and the woman that has proven to be a formidable opponent. It's not long before their online connection turns flirtatious and troubles at home lead them to a face-to-face meeting. And eventually an addictive connection that will have them questioning if they're truly soulmates or if they were destined for only one night.

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The Emperor of Ocean Park - Stephen L. Carter Cover Art

The Emperor of Ocean Park

The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • INSPIRATION FOR THE MGM+ ORIGINAL SERIES • ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE 'S 100 BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLER BOOKS OF ALL TIME • In his triumphant fictional debut, Stephen Carter combines a large-scale, riveting novel of suspense with the saga of a unique family. The Emperor of Ocean Park is set in two privileged worlds: the upper crust African American society of the Eastern seabord—families who summer at Martha’s Vineyard—and the inner circle of an Ivy League law school. “Beautifully written and cleverly plotted. A rich, complex family saga, one deftly woven through a fine legal thriller.” —John Grisham Talcott Garland is a successful law professor, devoted father, and husband of a beautiful and ambitious woman, whose future desires may threaten the family he holds so dear. When Talcott’s father, Judge Oliver Garland, a disgraced former Supreme Court nominee, is found dead under suspicioius circumstances, Talcott wonders if he may have been murdered. Guided by the elements of a mysterious puzzle that his father left, Talcott must risk his marriage, his career and even his life in his quest for justice. Superbly written and filled with memorable characters, The Emperor of Ocean Park is both a stunning literary achievement and a grand literary entertainment.

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Torn Between Two Lovers - Carl Weber Cover Art

Torn Between Two Lovers

Torn Between Two Lovers by Carl Weber

"Delves into the romantic conflicts of these Richmond Virginians with a robust relish and soap-opera intense insights." — Publishers Weekly One of Richmond, Virginia's, hottest, most successful women, plus-sized diva Loraine Farrow finally wants to settle down with her husband, Leon, and focus on her marriage. Trouble is, her ex-lover, Michael, isn't about to let her go so easily. But things aren't so simple with Leon either. Painful issues from his childhood are starting to surface in the bedroom. Leon's seeing a therapist, but what he's uncovering could destroy their marriage for good—unless Michael does it first. As Loraine deals with her relationship drama, her best friend, Jerome, is left alone to deal with Peter, a stalker who will stop at nothing to destroy him. Now, four indomitable people torn between love and lust, secrets and lies, will have some momentous decisions to make. "Weber fills his books with lifelike characters—flawed, confused, frustrated, and sometimes plus-sized." — Booklist

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Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang - Ashley & JaQuavis Cover Art

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang by Ashley & JaQuavis

When a set-up goes wrong and Six finds herself sleeping with the enemy, who will she choose, the man she loves, or the man she's supposed to hate? Detroit hustlers Free and Six have been together seven years, but their relationship has been nothing but drama. Free hasn't been faithful and Six has taken out her hurt by physically hurting the other women. Free ends up in jail for three years, and when he's sprung, he's not happy to learn that Six has been living the high-life on his dime and blown through $100,000! Then Six gets entangled in one of Free's schemes and finds herself in a role almost too good to be true—posing as the woman of another man who actually treats her with respect. Though you can bet there won't be a "happily ever after" for anyone involved. . ..

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The P***y Trap - NeNe Capri Cover Art

The P***y Trap

The P***y Trap by NeNe Capri

They say if you leave an enemy breathing they rise up and take revenge. Kayson, a big time dealer in New York, got his come-up early in the game by killing anybody he had to on his way to the top. Anxiously waiting for fifteen years to get revenge, an opportunity finally presents itself when his right-hand man Aldeen introduces him to KoKo. KoKo is a boss in her own right and down for whatever, so when the offer is placed on the table to work with the top man, she accepts. Kayson carefully trained KoKo to be his best angel of death. With a score needing to be settled, it will be KoKo who will not only seduce and trap Kaysons enemy, but she will also end up stumbling upon an enemy of her own. Will the trap Kayson sets for his enemy quench his thirst for revenge or will the power of the p***y prove to be his own downfall? The P***y Trap is a dramatic web full of sex, greed, power and payback.

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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.

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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.

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Take My Hand - Dolen Perkins-Valdez Cover Art

Take My Hand

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Winner of the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction “Deeply empathetic yet unflinching in its gaze…an unforgettable exploration of responsibility and redemption.”—Celeste Ng Inspired by true events that rocked the nation, a searing and compassionate new novel about a Black nurse in post-segregation Alabama who blows the whistle on a terrible injustice done to her patients, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wench Montgomery, Alabama, 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend intends to make a difference, especially in her African American community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she hopes to help women shape their destinies, to make their own choices for their lives and bodies. But when her first week on the job takes her along a dusty country road to a worn-down one-room cabin, Civil is shocked to learn that her new patients, Erica and India, are children—just eleven and thirteen years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling the family’s welfare benefits, that’s reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her role, she takes India, Erica, and their family into her heart. Until one day she arrives at their door to learn the unthinkable has happened, and nothing will ever be the same for any of them. Decades later, with her daughter grown and a long career in her wake, Dr. Civil Townsend is ready to retire, to find her peace, and to leave the past behind. But there are people and stories that refuse to be forgotten. That must not be forgotten. Because history repeats what we don’t remember. Inspired by true events and brimming with hope, Take My Hand is a stirring exploration of accountability and redemption. “Highlights the horrific discrepancies in our healthcare system and illustrates their heartbreaking consequences.”—Essence

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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.

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Between Friends & Lovers - Shirlene Obuobi Cover Art

Between Friends & Lovers

Between Friends & Lovers A Novel by Shirlene Obuobi

"Between Friends & Lovers was an absolute joy to read, with messy, realistic, and deeply lovable characters... Obuobi’s perfect balance of humor and wisdom made this one a true standout.” — Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author An influencer, an actor, and a writer navigate the messy ins and outs of friendship and romance in a world where social media demands perfection—or at least the appearance of it—in this swoon-worthy contemporary romance for readers of Kennedy Ryan and Carley Fortune. To her thousands of Instagram followers, Josephine Boateng is the brilliant, dazzling self-love expert, Dr. Jojo. But off-camera, Jo’s grappling with the intense pressures of her career and her love life is nonexistent thanks to an unrequited crush on her best friend, rom-com heartthrob Ezra Adelman, trapping her in a frustrating friends to lovers dynamic. Then Ezra shows up to his thirtieth birthday party with her childhood bully on his arm—and Jo realizes it’s finally time to take her own advice. Enter Malcom Waters, the world’s newest literary darling. An introvert by nature, he would rather be home than trying to impress execs and celebs at a swanky Hollywood party. Until he bumps into Jo, and the two of them quickly realize their chemistry is too good to ignore.          But for all three in this complicated love triangle, the line between private and public is as blurred as the one between friendship and love—especially when Ezra decides he might want something more with Jo. The question is, can any of them risk defining those lines to create something real?

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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.

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Dirty Red - Vickie M. Stringer Cover Art

Dirty Red

Dirty Red A Novel by Vickie M. Stringer

From the “queen of urban fiction” ( Publishers Weekly ), Vicki Stringer, comes a scorching crime drama of love, lies, loss, and the indomitable spirit of a woman scorned. Mischievous and manipulative, eighteen-year-old Red is an expert at deception with a provocative femininity. She employs her dirty ways—even faking a pregnancy with her boyfriend—to win a closet full of Gucci bags, a deluxe condominium full of baby accessories, a new car, and a book deal. But when one of Red’s scams backfires and she winds up truly pregnant by her inmate ex-boyfriend, Bacon, she finds herself in more trouble than she’s ever known. The drama truly unravels when Red's picture-perfect cons fall apart due to the power of—surprisingly—love.

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Butterfly 3 - Ashley Antoinette Cover Art

Butterfly 3

Butterfly 3 by Ashley Antoinette

“One of the biggest names in urban-fiction.” - Red Carpet Crash on Butterfly The hardest thing Morgan Atkins has ever done is let go of love. After losing Messiah, she never thought she’d find someone who understood her again. Until she reunited with Ahmeek Harris and their friendship quickly transformed into something deeper, but there was one problem... she was engaged to a man she didn’t love and he’s holding a deadly secret over her head. If that wasn’t enough, her long lost love Messiah returned to claim her as his own. Three men plus one woman equals inevitable heartbreak. Morgan wants to follow her heart and take the risk of a lifetime, but she risks destroying her family in the process. Will Morgan enter a loveless marriage? Or will Messiah and Ahmeek fix their brotherhood and work together to save the woman they both love?

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The Prada Plan 4 - Ashley Antoinette Cover Art

The Prada Plan 4

The Prada Plan 4 Love & War by Ashley Antoinette

The feud between YaYa and Leah has ruined the lives of everyone around them. In The Prada Plan 4, the animosity is alive, and resentments run deeper than ever. Indie has watched YaYa's past destroy the woman he once knew, and his patience has run thin. After being left at the altar, he is heartbroken and confused. His quests to save YaYa from herself have failed, and he finally decides that it's time to let the love of his life go. Her thirst for blood is unquenchable, and like a black hole she sucks the life out of everything around her. If he doesn't cut his ties, he knows that YaYa will cripple him and destroy their family in the process. Then he receives a phone call stating that YaYa is in trouble, and his entire world crumbles at his feet. Who lives and who dies? Will YaYa's addiction to Leah stop her from living her happily ever after? Will the infamous bad girl Leah ever receive her karma? The final book of the Prada Plan series will leave readers breathless as they flip the pages trying to race to the finish. Ashley Antoinette is back and better than ever with this sexy street tale.

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Loved One - Aisha Muharrar Cover Art

Loved One

Loved One A Novel by Aisha Muharrar

Named a Best Book of 2025 by NPR and Newsweek “[A] funny, heartwrenching novel.” — People “A genuine pleasure to read.” —Vogue “Full of wildly astute, delectably thorny questions about love and loss and possession.” —Maggie Shipstead, New York Times bestselling author of Great Circle From an Emmy Award–winning writer comes a funny, wise, heartbreaking story about a woman journeying into the unknown in the wake of sudden loss When her first-love-turned-close-friend, Gabe, dies unexpectedly at twenty-nine, thirty-year-old Julia is launched into an intercontinental quest to recover his lost possessions. Her journey takes her from Los Angeles to London and into the murky realm of the past. It also sets Julia on a collision course with the last woman he loved, a guarded, self-possessed florist and restaurateur named Elizabeth, who insists on withholding Gabe’s beloved guitar—one of the departed indie rock musician’s dearest belongings—for reasons Julia can’t understand. Both women, it turns out, have something to hide, and soon find themselves engaged in a complex dance of withholding and revelation.   An emotional mystery spanning years, continents, and relationship statuses,  Loved One introduces Aisha Muharrar as a novelist intimately attuned to the intricacies of love, memory, and ambiguous loss. What happens when we admit that the deepest feelings never die? How do we reconcile various—and sometimes contradictory—truths about those closest to us? An engrossing and profoundly moving coming-of-age story with a powerful love at its heart,  Loved One is poised to become an instant classic.

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Addicted to a Dirty South Thug 2 - Myss Shan Cover Art

Addicted to a Dirty South Thug 2

Addicted to a Dirty South Thug 2 by Myss Shan

The drama continues in Addicted to A dirty South Thug 2 picking right up where you left off... Cuba was determined more than ever to stay away from the bad guys, but after being bit by the Prince bug, she realizes that she's sick and in love. "No fear and no more running," she tells herself, but with Khi's overwhelming baby mama drama and heat from the Prince brothers, she finds every excuse she can to run from her one true love. Khi is trying everything to get a hold on his life. After getting Dae out the way, the problems seem to continue to fall into his lap. With trying to figure out if Selena is really playing for the other team and keeping an eye on Briana, his love and attention for Cuba seems to fall in last place. With the threat of losing Cuba on his shoulders, will Khi make the right the decision and choose the woman that he's been waiting his whole life for? And what happens when decisions made causes brother to be against brother? They are in the middle of a war, how will they come out on top if they're beefing with each other? KaeDee is no longer able to keep the cool demeanor that he is known for having once he realizes that it's more to Deonna's suicide. Once a pretty Detective walks into his life and turns things upside down for him, KaeDee finds out the woman he married is only one of many. It all seems to break him down and forces him to be angry at the world, even his brothers. Mistakes are made and KaeDee is unable to keep it together and is quickly falling apart, but what happens when the one person he's never noticed is the one to piece him back together? In the midst of all the madness, will KaeDee see that his true soulmate had been hiding in the shadows all along. Dae's finally forced to face his problems now that he has nowhere to turn. Realizing that the only person that he could count on is the one to put him in his predicament, will Dae finally get his life together or will it be too late for him? The newest addition to the Prince brothers saga is home. The wild hair, funny looking eyes Cassidy has touched down and back to claim the only woman he's ever loved but things won't be so easy for him. His past issues was never resolved and the secret he's been holding onto has no choice but to be revealed. He works hard to fix all the issues he's caused. Once the smoke finally clears, will Cassidy have his woman, or will end up paying for more of his mistakes in the end? Things are just heating up in this installment of Addicted To a Dirty South Thug.

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With Love from Harlem - ReShonda Tate Cover Art

With Love from Harlem

With Love from Harlem A Novel of Hazel Scott by ReShonda Tate

USA TODAY BESTSELLER "Tate blends fact and fiction with elegance...A captivating, emotionally resonant portrait of a singular woman who refused to be diminished." — LIBRARY JOURNAL "Tate has a rare gift for storytelling that strikes straight to the heart." — SADEQA JOHNSON, New York Times bestselling author of Keeper of Lost Children From The Queen of Sugar Hill author ReShonda Tate—a new novel inspired by beloved Harlem jazz performer Hazel Scott and the equal parts exhilarating and tumultuous relationship that changed the course of her life. Harlem, 1943. At just twenty-three, Hazel Scott is a woman on fire. A jazz prodigy, a glamorous film star, and a fierce advocate for civil rights, she’s breaking barriers and refusing to play by the rules. Then Adam Clayton Powell Jr. walks into her life. Harlem’s most electrifying preacher-turned-politician, Adam is as bold and unyielding as Hazel—charismatic, powerful…and married. This kicks off a decades-long relationship that propels them into the center of a political and cultural revolution. As Hazel’s star rises, Adam takes the national stage in Congress and the couple becomes the toast of the country. But when their affair turns into a marriage, behind the glamorous façade is a battlefield of ego, ambition, and sacrifice. Forced to choose between her music and her family, Hazel must decide what she’s willing to lose—and what she refuses to give up. Set against the pulsing backdrop of twentieth-century Harlem and featuring icons like Billie Holiday, Langston Hughes, and James Baldwin, With Love from Harlem is a sweeping, emotionally charged romantic drama, rich with historical detail. ReShonda Tate delivers a powerful portrait of love, art, and the price of being unforgettable. "[A] vivid and compelling picture of the life of this singular woman." — MARIE BENEDICT, New York Times bestselling author of The Queens of Crime

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Cartel 7: Illuminati - Ashley & JaQuavis & JaQuavis Coleman Cover Art

The Cartel 7: Illuminati

The Cartel 7: Illuminati Roundtable of Bosses by Ashley & JaQuavis & JaQuavis Coleman

The saga of love, loyalty, and crime continues in the next explosive book in the Cartel series from the minds of New York Times bestselling authors Ashley & JaQuavis. After the tragic and bloody end to The Cartel’s reign, Carter is forced into isolation to evade the law. With his wife, Miamor, facing federal charges and his dear brother, six feet under, Carter has never been more alone. His empire is at his feet and he has no idea how to rebuild his kingdom. The only thing that is certain is that he has to stay out the way and off the radar of the Feds until he can figure out how to get his lady out of prison. Miamor’s freedom is guaranteed—provided Carter help create and distribute a drug that will take the streets by storm. Rubbing elbows with the most notorious, ruthless leaders of the underworld will get him what he wants. But can he win at their game of murder and money?

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By Her Own Design - Piper Huguley Cover Art

By Her Own Design

By Her Own Design A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register by Piper Huguley

The incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America’s most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy. 1953, New York City Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe’s dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them in this gripping historical fiction. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it. 1918, Tampa Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann’s talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida’s society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable historical novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.

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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!

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The Good Lord Bird (National Book Award Winner) - James McBride Cover Art

The Good Lord Bird (National Book Award Winner)

The Good Lord Bird (National Book Award Winner) A Novel by James McBride

Now a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke and Daveed Diggs Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction From the bestselling author of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store , Deacon King Kong (an Oprah Book Club pick) and The Color of Water comes the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown’s antislavery crusade—and who must pass as a girl to survive. Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1856--a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces--when legendary abolitionist John Brown arrives. When an argument between Brown and Henry's master turns violent, Henry is forced to leave town--along with Brown, who believes Henry to be a girl and his good luck charm. Over the ensuing months, Henry, whom Brown nicknames Little Onion, conceals his true identity to stay alive. Eventually Brown sweeps him into the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859--one of the great catalysts for the Civil War. An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with McBride's meticulous eye for detail and character, The Good Lord Bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival.

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Rozalyn 6 - Myss Shan Cover Art

Rozalyn 6

Rozalyn 6 by Myss Shan

Rozalyn and Tamar are back for this final installment in the Rozalyn series. Rozalyn is now facing the hardest time of her life after taking the life of her once best friend Latoya. If that isn't enough, Tamar still isn't ready to be the man that Rozalyn needs him to be and after all they've been through, she's ready to give up. Tamar has been hit with some of the greatest news of his life. He's finally at a point where nothing or no one can stop him from staying on the top where he belongs. But what happens when Rozalyn, and the new woman in his life that he's grown to care deeply about, pulls him in two different directions. With the demands they are giving him, Tamar knows that he has to make a choice. But will it be the right choice or will it be too late? With everyone close to Tamar gone, he's forced to build a new team; Kevin, Black, and Neek are ready to put in work and get money with Tamar. But with Kayla on Kevin's back about a new drama-filled situation that arises, Kevin is finding it hard to keep focused on everything that's in front of him and is contemplating walking away for good. Neek, Starr's husband is doing everything possible to keep his wife happy. After catching Starr in a compromising position and breaking things off with her, they are now ready to patch things up and make their relationship work for the sake of their daughter. With this new opportunity in front of them, there is no way things couldn't go right. But will all Neek's efforts be too little too late? The couple you love are have brought back some familiar faces you've seen before and the drama has never been this intense. Will Tamar and Rozalyn get their happily ever after and if so, will it be with each other? Will Kayla ever get the chance to walk down the aisle? And will Starr and Neek's marriage be able to withstand everything that's thrown at them?

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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?

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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.

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Hold You Down - Tracy Brown Cover Art

Hold You Down

Hold You Down A Novel by Tracy Brown

Hold You Down is an edgy novel from rising star Tracy Brown about the perils of love and the ties that bind… New York City. Late 1980s to early 1990s. Mercy and Lenox Howard have always only had each other. Growing up on the mean streets of Harlem with an absentee mother meant that they had to have each other's backs. Now young, smart mothers they are determined to survive in New York City while raising their two sons, who have bright futures ahead of them. Mercy is the quiet, straight laced hospital administrator, struggling to make ends meet. At night and on weekends, she pours her heart into her cooking and her dream of owning her own restaurant. Lenox is the diva, the wild child, looking for excitement and her big come up in life and love. Their boys, Deon and Judah, have been raised more like brothers than cousins, forging a bond that is unbreakable. When Lenox heads down a path that she believes will bring success and power, it changes the entire course of her life and her family’s life forever. As a result of their mother’s choices, cousins Deon and Judah soon find themselves in uncharted territory.

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When Stars Rain Down - Angela Jackson-Brown Cover Art

When Stars Rain Down

When Stars Rain Down by Angela Jackson-Brown

Opal is an eighteen-year-old Black woman working as a housekeeper in a small Southern town in the 1930s—and then the Klan descends. A moving story that confronts America’s tragic past, When Stars Rain Down is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The summer of 1936 in Parsons, Georgia, is unseasonably hot, and Opal Pruitt senses a nameless storm brewing. She hopes this foreboding feeling won’t overshadow her upcoming 18th birthday or the annual Founder’s Day celebration in just a few weeks. She and her Grandma Birdie work as housekeepers for the white widow Miss Peggy, and Opal desperately wants some time to be young and carefree with her cousins and friends. But when the Ku Klux Klan descends on Opal’s neighborhood, the tight-knit community is shaken in every way possible. Parsons’s residents—both Black and white—are forced to acknowledge the unspoken codes of conduct in their post-Reconstruction era town. To complicate matters, Opal finds herself torn between two unexpected romantic interests—the son of her pastor, Cedric Perkins, and the white grandson of the woman she works for, Jimmy Earl Ketchums. Faced with love, loss, and a harsh awakening to an ugly world, Opal holds tight to her family and faith—and the hope for change. “When Stars Rain Down is so powerful, timely, and compelling . . . an important and beautifully written must-read of a novel.” —Silas House, author of Southernmost 2021 Langum Prize in American Historical Fiction – FinalistStand-alone novelIncludes discussion questions for book clubs

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Loving Donovan - Bernice L. McFadden Cover Art

Loving Donovan

Loving Donovan A Novel by Bernice L. McFadden

A long-awaited reissue of this deeply thoughtful novel about hope, forgiveness, and the cost of loving Donovan, a complex man with a shattered history "Bernice L. McFadden was one of the best writers to emerge in the post– Waiting to Exhale explosion that introduced at least a dozen Black female novelists. Loving Donovan has generated near-cult status among readers. After more than a decade since it appeared, Donovan is being reissued. How fitting that Terry McMillan has written a new introduction. If you've read Donovan before, you will fall in love all over again. And if this is your first time, prepare yourself for an intense romance between an enigmatic antihero and a heroine who will feel like your homegirl." — Essence Magazine " Loving Donovan firmly establishes McFadden among the ranks of those few writers of whom you constantly beg for more." — Black Issues Book Review With a new introduction by Terry McMillan. The first section of McFadden's unconventional love story belongs to Campbell. Despite being born to a brokenhearted mother and a faithless father, Campbell still believes in the power of love . . . if she can ever find it. Living in the same neighborhood, but unknown to Campbell until a chance meeting brings them together, is Donovan, the "little man" of a shattered home—a family torn apart by anger and bitterness. In the face of daunting obstacles, Donovan dreams of someday marrying, raising a family, and playing in the NBA. But deep inside, Campbell and Donovan live with the histories that have shaped their lives. What they discover—together and apart—forms the basis of this compelling, sensual, and surprising novel.

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The Wedding Gift - Marlen Suyapa Bodden Cover Art

The Wedding Gift

The Wedding Gift A Novel by Marlen Suyapa Bodden

"This compelling and fierce historical novel, where the slave master gives his white daughter his black daughter as a wedding gift" is based on a true story (Henry Louis Gates, Jr.). In 1852, when prestigious Alabama plantation owner Cornelius Allen gives his daughter Clarissa's hand in marriage, she takes with her a gift: Sarah—her slave and her half-sister. Raised by an educated mother, Clarissa is not the proper Southern belle she appears to be, with ambitions of loving whom she chooses. Sarah equally hides behind the façade of being a docile house slave as she plots to escape. Both women bring these tumultuous secrets and desires with them to their new home, igniting events that spiral into a tale beyond what you ever imagined possible. Told through the alternating viewpoints of Sarah and Theodora Allen, Cornelius' wife, Marlen Suyapa Bodden's The Wedding Gift is an intimate portrait of slavery and the 19th Century South that will leave readers breathless. An inspiring read for historical-fiction fans, especially those who like strong female narrators. Bodden weaves a page-turning tangled web of misogyny, greed, scandal and violence in this powerful story about races colliding against the backdrop of America's darkest era." --PW Starred Review "You have in your hands a story of the tangled motives and self-destructive passions when whites and blacks became this close during the time of slavery—all told at a pell mell pace."—Tom Wolfe, New York Times bestselling author of Back to Blood "Fascinating, intriguing—a great story!" —Kathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of The Kitchen House

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Honey and Spice - Bolu Babalola Cover Art

Honey and Spice

Honey and Spice A Novel by Bolu Babalola

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK • A TIKTOK BOOK CLUB PICK "Sexy, messy and wry, Honey and Spice more than delivers." — New York Times Book Review "A vibrant debut novel . . . Babalola is incisively funny, capturing the kick and sweetness of her title with her words." — Entertainment Weekly Named a Best Book of the Year by Time • Esquire • Vanity Fair • Oprah Daily • Cosmopolitan • Elle • Harper's Bazaar • Southern Living • Buzzfeed • Women's Health Magazine • AudioFile • Popsugar • and more! Introducing internationally bestselling author Bolu Babalola’s dazzling debut novel, full of passion, humor, and heart, that centers on a young Black British woman who has no interest in love and unexpectedly finds herself caught up in a fake relationship with the man she warned her girls about Sweet like plantain, hot like pepper. They taste the best when together... Sharp-tongued (and secretly soft-hearted) Kiki Banjo has just made a huge mistake. As an expert in relationship-evasion and the host of the popular student radio show Brown Sugar, she’s made it her mission to make sure the women of the African-Caribbean Society at Whitewell University do not fall into the mess of “situationships”, players, and heartbreak. But when the Queen of the Unbothered kisses Malakai Korede, the guy she just publicly denounced as “The Wastemen of Whitewell,” in front of every Blackwellian on campus, she finds her show on the brink. They’re soon embroiled in a fake relationship to try and salvage their reputations and save their futures. Kiki has never surrendered her heart before, and a player like Malakai won’t be the one to change that, no matter how charming he is or how electric their connection feels. But surprisingly entertaining study sessions and intimate, late-night talks at old-fashioned diners force Kiki to look beyond her own presumptions. Is she ready to open herself up to something deeper? A gloriously funny and sparkling debut novel, Honey and Spice is full of delicious tension and romantic intrigue that will make you weak at the knees. "A smart, sexy summer read, which hits your brain and your romance buttons in one shot." — Los Angeles Times "The ultimate summer romance . . . It’s got all the juiciest, most satisfying romance tropes, but in Babalola’s capable hands, the story feels fresh and unique." — The Cut, New York magazine “Divine summer reading. Hilarious, hot, and heartfelt. ” — Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author

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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.

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The Perfect Find - Tia Williams Cover Art

The Perfect Find

The Perfect Find by Tia Williams

A forty-year-old woman risks her new career for a secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback in this "deliciously good time" of a novel (Nicola Kraus, author of The Nanny Diaries ). Now a Netflix film starring Gabrielle Union. Jenna Jones, former It-girl fashion editor, is forty, broke and desperate for a second chance. When she’s dumped by her longtime fiancé and fired from  Darling magazine, she begs for a job from her arch nemesis, the beyond-bitchy Darcy Vale, who agrees to hire her–but Jenna soon realizes she’s in over her head. What’s worse is that the twenty-two-year-old videographer assigned to shoot her web series is driving her crazy. Eric Combs is way off-limits–but almost too delicious to resist. Does Jenna have room for a new career, a new life, and a new man? Or will her not-so-secret infatuation bring everything crashing down around her?

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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?

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Love on the Low 3 - Mia Black Cover Art

Love on the Low 3

Love on the Low 3 by Mia Black

Mika knew things would get complicated when she decided to sleep with Royce, but she never realized how difficult things would become for them. Royce is used to bad situations, but he didn’t think sneaking around with Mika behind Lacresha’s back cause as much trouble as it has. Now, they have a big decision to make. Their secret relationship isn’t the only problem they’ll face if they reveal their relationship. Lacresha has a secret of her own.

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Crossroads - Skyy Cover Art

Crossroads

Crossroads by Skyy

Skyy takes readers on another wild ride with former college friends Denise, Lena, and Cooley. These women still have the heart and the drama, but now they're all grown up. Denise, the sexy star basketball player, has recovered from the injuries she suffered during the incident with crazy stalker girl Rhonda. She is off to New York to follow her basketball dreams, with her true love Lena not far behind, only to hit a bump in the road. Lena is off to New York to get hers. You have to admire that in a woman—maybe. Life with a female basketball star can bring its own set of complications, especially if you haven't been able to make up your mind. Cooley is finally far away from Memphis and all its heartache. There is nothing to remind her of her past—except for the huge scar across her face. Have all of her past transgressions finally robbed her of her swagger? Can she handle the women, or even the job for that matter, without being the Cooley we all once knew and loved? Denise, Lena, and Cooley have come to the Crossroads. Where will they lead?

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This Cursed House - Del Sandeen Cover Art

This Cursed House

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

One of Esquire 's Best Horror Books of 2024 One of Crime Reads' Best Gothic Novels of 2024 In this Southern gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth: They’re under a curse, and they think she can break it. In the fall of 1962, twenty-seven-year-old Jemma Barker is desperate to escape her life in Chicago—and the spirits she has always been able to see. When she receives an unexpected job offer from the Duchon family in New Orleans, she accepts, thinking it is her chance to start over.  But Jemma discovers that the Duchon family isn’t what it seems. Light enough to pass as white, the Black family members look down on brown-skinned Jemma. Their tenuous hold on reality extends to all the members of their eccentric clan, from haughty grandmother Honorine to beautiful yet inscrutable cousin Fosette. And soon the shocking truth comes out: The Duchons are under a curse. And they think Jemma has the power to break it. As Jemma wrestles with the gift she’s run from all her life, she unravels deeper and more disturbing secrets about the mysterious Duchons. Secrets that stretch back over a century. Secrets that bind her to their fate if she fails.

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Gathering of Waters - Bernice L. McFadden Cover Art

Gathering of Waters

Gathering of Waters A Novel by Bernice L. McFadden

Following her best-selling, award-winning novel Glorious , McFadden produces a fantastical historical novel featuring the spirit of Emmett Till. —One of Essence' s "Best Books of the Decade" —A New York Times Notable Book of 2012 — Gathering of Waters wa s a finalist for a Phillis Wheatley Fiction Book Award. "McFadden works a kind of miracle—not only do [her characters] retain their appealing humanity; their story eclipses the bonds of history to offer continuous surprises . . . Beautiful and evocative, Gathering of Waters brings three generations to life . . . The real power of the narrative lies in the richness and complexity of the characters. While they inhabit these pages they live, and they do so gloriously and messily and magically, so that we are at last sorry to see them go, and we sit with those small moments we had with them and worry over them, enchanted, until they become something like our own memories, dimmed by time, but alive with the ghosts of the past, and burning with spirits." —Jesmyn Ward, New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice "Read it aloud. Hire a chorus to chant it to you and anyone else interested in hearing about civil rights and uncivil desires, about the dark heat of hate, about the force of forgiveness." —Alan Cheuse, All Things Considered, NPR Gathering of Waters is a deeply engrossing tale narrated by the town of Money, Mississippi—a site both significant and infamous in our collective story as a nation. Money is personified in this haunting story, which chronicles its troubled history following the arrival of the Hilson and Bryant families. Tass Hilson and Emmet Till were young and in love when Emmett was brutally murdered in 1955. Anxious to escape the town, Tass marries Maximillian May and relocates to Detroit. Forty years later, after the death of her husband, Tass returns to Money and fantasy takes flesh when Emmett Till's spirit is finally released from the dank, dark waters of the Tallahatchie River. The two lovers are reunited, bringing the story to an enchanting and profound conclusion. Gathering of Waters mines the truth about Money, Mississippi, as well as the town's families, and threads their history over decades. The bare-bones realism—both disturbing and riveting—combined with a magical realm in which ghosts have the final say, is reminiscent of Toni Morrison's Beloved .

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Butterfly - Ashley Antoinette Cover Art

Butterfly

Butterfly by Ashley Antoinette

Butterfly is the first novel in an all new series by New York Times bestselling author Ashley Antoinette and an instant USA Today bestseller! “Run away from the boy that gives you butterflies, he's going to break your heart.” Morgan Atkins had been told that phrase ever since she was a little girl and still she allowed herself to fall for the boy that made her heart flutter. After losing her first love, Morgan is terrified to love again. She's settled for a comfortable life with a respectable man. She has everything. She's living in the lap of luxury and although she's comfortable, she's bored out of her mind. When a ghost from her past blows into town, she finds herself entangled in an illicit affair. It's wrong, but she can't fight the butterflies he gives her and honestly, she doesn't want to. She can't hide the natural attraction she feels and soon, she's so deep involved that she can no longer tell where the boundary between right and wrong lies. Her heart is telling her one thing, but her head is saying another. Morgan Atkins has always been a spoiled girl and she tries to have it all, but when she's forced to choose between a good man and a bad boy, someone will end up hurt. Someone just may end up dead. Morgan Atkins has been through more tragedy than one girl can bear. Will she weather this storm? Or will the ultimate heartbreak ruin her for good?

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Happy Land - Dolen Perkins-Valdez Cover Art

Happy Land

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

A 2026 NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction A woman learns the incredible story of a real-life American Kingdom—and her family’s ties to it—in this enthralling novel from the New York Times bestselling, NAACP Image Award-winning author of Take My Hand . As featured in The Washington Post ∙ People ∙ Harper's Bazaar ∙ NPR ∙ TODAY ∙ ELLE ∙ PopSugar ∙ Reader's Digest ∙ SheReads ∙ Woman’s World ∙ Real Simple ∙ BookBrowse ∙ and more! Nikki hasn’t seen her grandmother in years. So when the elder calls out of the blue with an urgent request for Nikki to visit her in the hills of western North Carolina, Nikki hesitates only for a moment. After years of silence in her family, due to a mysterious estrangement between her mother and grandmother, she’s determined to learn the truth while she still can. But instead of answers about the recent past, Mother Rita tells Nikki an incredible story of a kingdom on this very mountain, and of her great-great-great grandmother, Luella, who would become its queen. It sounds like the makings of a fairy tale—royalty among a community of freed people. But the more Nikki learns about the Kingdom of the Happy Land, and the lives of those who dwelled in the ruins she discovers in the woods, the more she realizes how much of her identity and her family’s secrets are wrapped up in these hills. Because this land is their legacy, and it will be up to her to protect it before it, like so much else, is stolen away. Inspired by true events, Happy Land is a transporting multi-generational novel about the stories that shape us and the dazzling courage it takes to dream.

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God Ain't Blind - Mary Monroe Cover Art

God Ain't Blind

God Ain't Blind by Mary Monroe

"Monroe is a masterful storyteller." -- Philadelphia Inquirer  There are some things even forever friends can't fix. . . Annette Goode Davis is a survivor. Life has often knocked her down, but she's never stayed there for long. To Annette, it's all about family and old friends like Rhoda O'Toole. And right now, Annette needs all the friends she can get. Because lately, her husband, Pee Wee, barely has the time of day for her. And she has no idea why. . . Desperate to regain Pee Wee's affections, Annette goes on a crash diet, gets a makeover, and looks hotter than she has in a long time. Everyone notices--except Pee Wee. So when handsome Louis Baines showers her with attention, Annette finds herself having an affair and spending money on Louis like there's no tomorrow. But when she learns a terrible secret about her new lover, she realizes she's in way over her head. Soon Annette must face the fact that she may have destroyed the life she loved--and this time, not even Rhoda can help her make things right. . . "A fast-paced, sexy, tense story that will make readers think twice before getting tangled up in an affair." -- Booklist "Monroe's never better than when she's writing about Annette and Rhoda. . .who are always getting in trouble." -- Publishers Weekly

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Lovesick Over You - Vaneecia Vaneecia Cover Art

Lovesick Over You

Lovesick Over You Omari & Selen's Love Story by Vaneecia Vaneecia

Selen is a woman that is trying to make her own way. As the owner of her own PI company things are going her way. Her focus is on work and her son. There is only one other thing on her radar; trying to win back the only man she ever loved and the father of her son, Omari. Omari is a simple man of very few words. He doesn't speak unless it is absolutely necessary and he doesn't speak to Selen. Their child is the bond keeping them together but even then that's not enough. Selen has allowed one too many lies to pass her lips when it comes to the things between them and Omari isn't sure he can forgive her. His stubbornness is being battled by the unconditional love he has for her. And all that is up against drama that is brought into his world through Selen and her work. Will Omari and Selen finally be able to make it work after nine years and many lies? Or will they just remain lovesick for each other?

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Exposing His Secrets 4 - Kia Summers Cover Art

Exposing His Secrets 4

Exposing His Secrets 4 by Kia Summers

A startling revelation that will challenge Ramon accomplishments, it could destroy what he’s built, and leave him without the one thing he needs most in life – someone who will be truthful and love him unconditionally without SECRETS, for the rest of his life. The road has been long, but the journey was worth it for Ramon. He’s fulfilling his destiny by answering the call of God, to be a Pastor. Now, After all the work, all the pain, all the heartache, find out how Ramon’s harrowing journey ends and rejoice in all the good that determination, tenacity, blessings and a return to the Church brought to his life.  See what will happen in the ending of the Series Exposing His Secrets: The Ramon Lucas Scandal Part 4!

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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

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.

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Allow Me to Introduce Myself - Onyi Nwabineli Cover Art

Allow Me to Introduce Myself

Allow Me to Introduce Myself A Novel by Onyi Nwabineli

Her life. Her rules. Finally. Anuri Chinasa has had enough. And really, who can blame her? She was the unwilling star of her stepmother’s social media empire before “momfluencers” were even a thing. For years, Ophelia documented every birthday, every skinned knee, every milestone and meltdown for millions of strangers to fawn over and pick apart. Now, at twenty-five, Anuri is desperate to put her way-too-public past behind her and start living on her own terms. But it’s not going so great. She can barely walk down the street without someone recognizing her, and the fraught relationship with her father has fallen apart. Then there’s her PhD application (still unfinished) and her drinking problem (still going strong). When every detail of her childhood was so intensely scrutinized, how can she tell what she really wants? Still, Ophelia is never far away and has made it clear she won’t go down without a fight. With Noelle, Anuri’s five-year-old half sister now being forced down the same path, Anuri discovers she has a new mission in life… To take back control of the family narrative. Through biting wit and heartfelt introspection, this darkly humorous story dives deep into the deceptive allure of a picture-perfect existence, the overexposure of children in social media and the excitement of self-discovery.  

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The Million Dollar Divorce - RM Johnson Cover Art

The Million Dollar Divorce

The Million Dollar Divorce A Novel by RM Johnson

RM Johnson, the Essence bestselling author of Dating Games and The Harris Family , delivers an absorbing and provocative novel about the lowdown schemes and broken dreams that follow a fractured marriage. Successful business entrepreneur Nate Kenny is thrilled to marry the beautiful and intelligent Monica, chiefly because it means he can at last fulfill his lifelong dream of having a family. They wait to try for three years and when they finally do, the couple discovers that she is unable to bear children. Any love he once felt for Monica is gone and Nate wants out of the marriage. But he’s worried about losing half of his sixty-million-dollar fortune in a divorce settlement. Desperate for an out, he searches for a way to exploit the infidelity clause in the couple’s prenuptial agreement. Enter Lewis Waters. With his baby's mother addicted to drugs, Lewis is already seriously down on his luck when he accidentally smashes his car into Nate’s Bentley. Without auto insurance or any way to pay for the repairs, Lewis is at the end of his financial rope. But the scheming Nate sees another way for the attractive young man to repay his debt: as sexual bait for Monica. Nate sets up Lewis with all of the accessories he believes Lewis will need to earn Monica's love, or at the very least, her lust: a big house, a fancy car, expensive clothes, and a full bank account. But as is often the case when it comes to matters of the heart, things don’t unfold according to plan. When Monica falls hard for Lewis, Nate panics—was protecting his fortune more important than trying to save his marriage? As he finds himself overwhelmed by second thoughts, Nate is willing to do anything to get Monica back. An inspired fusion of realism and romance, The Million Dollar Divorce is an unpredictable caper of lust, betrayal, and family ties.

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Butterfly 2 - Ashley Antoinette Cover Art

Butterfly 2

Butterfly 2 by Ashley Antoinette

“One of the biggest names in Urban-fiction, Ashley Antoinette, is back … An intense start to this new series with characters that are real and genuine. It’s a story about love, trying to put the past behind and moving on with your life” - Red Carpet Crash on Butterfly Morgan Atkins is used to losing, but losing Messiah Williams was the most tragic of them all. Surely, after Messiah, no other man could compare. Settling with Sebastian Fredrick didn't seem like such an impossible task. He treated her well enough, he accepted her children, and he offered her entrance into a well-connected world. There was only one problem: he wanted to change her into someone else. The rules that went along with his lifestyle suffocated her and when Morgan reconnected with Messiah's crew, she no longer wanted to play by Bash’s rules. When she falls in love with Messiah's best friend, Ahmeek Harris, she knows she's headed for trouble. His presence heals her in a way that no man has ever been able to do before. Their love affair is electric. Morgan is uncertain about many thing but one thing she's sure of is that she can't let this feeling go. She goes out on a limb and risks it all just to be with Meek, but when Messiah reveals that he's still alive, the battle for one girl's heart just may lead to the demise of them all. She can only be queen to one man. Which one has the true key to her heart? Can Messiah make up for his mistakes or is it too late to save what they once had? Is Ahmeek a rebound or does he offer her something more? Does Bash even stand a chance? This second installment of the Butterfly series will leave you breathless.

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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.

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The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey - Walter Mosley Cover Art

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey A Novel by Walter Mosley

NOW AN APPLE TV+ SERIES STARRING SAMUEL L. JACKSON The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey is a masterful, moving novel about age, memory, and family from one of the true literary icons of our time. Marooned in an apartment that overflows with mementos from the past, 91-year-old Ptolemy Grey is all but forgotten by his family and the world. But when an unexpected opportunity arrives, everything changes for Ptolemy in ways as shocking and unanticipated as they are poignant and profound.

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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!

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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!

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It Was the Way She Said It - Terry McMillan, Ishmael Reed & Kristine Bell Cover Art

It Was the Way She Said It

It Was the Way She Said It Short Stories, Essays, and Wisdom by Terry McMillan, Ishmael Reed & Kristine Bell

“This stunning collection from one of the great writers on Black culture covers the gamut: aging, love, poverty, trauma and plenty of lightness in between.”— People From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Waiting to Exhale comes a remarkable, career-spanning collection of previously published short fiction and nonfiction pieces, as well as never-before-seen works. Before Terry McMillan found success as a novelist in the early 1990s, she published provocative, boundary-pushing short stories, capturing the struggles and triumphs of Black life in America with vitality and honesty, from the workaday factory man’s malaise in “The End” to the cast-aside lover’s resolve in “Touching” to the elderly woman’s wiles in “Ma’Dear.” McMillan’s inimitable voice bravely explores the dark corners of human relationships with compassion, humor, and nuance. This collection also features five unpublished stories that reveal how she wrestled with controversial topics rarely addressed in short fiction, from domestic abuse in “Mama, Take Another Step” to extreme poverty in “Can’t Close My Eyes to It.” Whether she’s revealing life lessons, pontificating about aging, recalling her sources of inspiration, or laying bare the beginnings of her life as a writer, McMillan approaches every piece with enduring candor, wit, and fearlessness. Devoted fans and new readers alike will be delighted to discover these treasures spanning McMillan’s long, groundbreaking career. Indeed, it wasn’t only what Terry McMillan has said that made her so beloved . . . it was the way she said it.

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Death of the Author - Nnedi Okorafor Cover Art

Death of the Author

Death of the Author A Novel by Nnedi Okorafor

2026 NAACP IMAGE AWARD WINNER THE INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER Recommended by New York Times Book Review • People • NPR • Rolling Stone • Los Angeles Times • Reader's Digest • and more! “This one has it all.” — George R.R. Martin • “As delicious as it is disorienting.” — Zakiya Dalila Harris • “Suspenseful, timely, and heartfelt.” — People • “Mind-bending.” — New York Times Book Review In this exhilarating tale by New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor, a disabled Nigerian American woman pens a wildly successful Sci-Fi novel, but as her fame rises, she loses control of the narrative—a surprisingly cutting, yet heartfelt drama about art and love, identity and connection, and, ultimately, what makes us human. This is a story unlike anything you’ve read before. The future of storytelling is here. Disabled, disinclined to marry, and more interested in writing than a lucrative career in medicine or law, Zelu has always felt like the outcast of her large Nigerian family. Then her life is upended when, in the middle of her sister’s lavish Caribbean wedding, she’s unceremoniously fired from her university job and, to add insult to injury, her novel is rejected by yet another publisher. With her career and dreams crushed in one fell swoop, she decides to write something just for herself. What comes out is nothing like the quiet, literary novels that have so far peppered her unremarkable career. It’s a far-future epic where androids and AI wage war in the grown-over ruins of human civilization. She calls it Rusted Robots. When Zelu finds the courage to share her strange novel, she does not realize she is about to embark on a life-altering journey—one that will catapult her into literary stardom, but also perhaps obliterate everything her book was meant to be. From Chicago to Lagos to the far reaches of space, Zelu’s novel will change the future not only for humanity, but for the robots who come next. A book-within-a-book that blends the line between writing and being written, Death of the Author is a masterpiece of metafiction that manages to combine the razor-sharp commentary of Yellowface with the heartfelt humanity of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow . Surprisingly funny, deeply poignant, and endlessly discussable, this is at once the tale of a woman on the margins risking everything to be heard and a testament to the power of storytelling to shape the world as we know it. “An ambitious, inventive tribute to the power of storytelling itself.” — Nikki Erlick, New York Times bestselling author of The Measure “A deeply felt dazzle. A blaze. It is true deep to the bones.” — Luis Alberto Urrea, Pulitzer Prize finalist and bestselling author of The House of Broken Angels "There’s more vivid imagination in a page of Nnedi Okorafor’s work than in whole volumes." — Ursula K. Le Guin

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A Hustler's Wife - Nikki Turner Cover Art

A Hustler's Wife

A Hustler's Wife by Nikki Turner

Yarni, a sweet and innocent girl from a well-to-do family, by chance meets Richmond's notorious drug kingpin, Des. The spark between them immediately blossoms into an astronomical love, which separates Yarni from her family and friends. But when Des is sentenced to life in prison, Yarni will learn that being a hustler's wife isn't all that easy with her sole provider behind bars. A decade after its original release Nikki Turner’s debut novel, A Hustler’s Wife, is back and in digital form for the very first time. Nikki Turner takes readers along for the ride as Yarni struggles to survive. At times she plays the game, at other times the game plays her. It is a journey filled with laughter and tears, failures and triumphs.

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Torn Between A Thug & A Boss 2 - Mia Black Cover Art

Torn Between A Thug & A Boss 2

Torn Between A Thug & A Boss 2 by Mia Black

Alivia never imagined she’d be a kept woman. It’s a lot to get used to and so out of her element. Following Dylan’s strict rules and behaving by a code of conduct isn’t something she’s ever had to do, but it just might be worth it to have the life she’s always wanted. Yet, a vacation to the Bahamas might make their agreement null and void when a meeting with a mysterious man threatens Alivia's new-found lifestyle. Will she choose to remain true to her word or has she found a new path to follow?

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Girl, Woman, Other - Bernardine Evaristo Cover Art

Girl, Woman, Other

Girl, Woman, Other A Novel (Booker Prize Winner) by Bernardine Evaristo

NATIONAL BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE “A must-read about modern Britain and womanhood . . . An impressive, fierce novel about the lives of black British families, their struggles, pains, laughter, longings and loves . . . Her style is passionate, razor-sharp, brimming with energy and humor. There is never a single moment of dullness in this book and the pace does not allow you to turn away from its momentum.” —Booker Prize Judges Bernardine Evaristo is the winner of the 2019 Booker Prize and the first black woman to receive this highest literary honor in the English language. Girl, Woman, Other is a magnificent portrayal of the intersections of identity and a moving and hopeful story of an interconnected group of Black British women that paints a vivid portrait of the state of contemporary Britain and looks back to the legacy of Britain’s colonial history in Africa and the Caribbean. The twelve central characters of this multi-voiced novel lead vastly different lives: Amma is a newly acclaimed playwright whose work often explores her Black lesbian identity; her old friend Shirley is a teacher, jaded after decades of work in London’s funding-deprived schools; Carole, one of Shirley’s former students, is a successful investment banker; Carole’s mother Bummi works as a cleaner and worries about her daughter’s lack of rootedness despite her obvious achievements. From a nonbinary social media influencer to a 93-year-old woman living on a farm in Northern England, these unforgettable characters also intersect in shared aspects of their identities, from age to race to sexuality to class. Sparklingly witty and filled with emotion, centering voices we often see othered, and written in an innovative fast-moving form that borrows technique from poetry, Girl, Woman, Other is a polyphonic and richly textured social novel that shows a side of Britain we rarely see, one that reminds us of all that connects us to our neighbors, even in times when we are encouraged to be split apart.

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The Cartel 5 - Ashley & JaQuavis Cover Art

The Cartel 5

The Cartel 5 La Bella Mafia by Ashley & JaQuavis

When a Boeing 747 drops out of the sky with the men of the Cartel aboard, the women of the family have to step into their own. With the federal government on their heels and the family on the brink of destruction, a female dynasty is born. After the government's case is thwarted, the ladies plan to take the family legit. They head west to establish a new endeavor, but with new territory comes new problems. The Carter family name doesn't ring as loud as it did in Miami. It's a new set of gangsters, a new set of rules, as the Cartel finds problems with an Arabic millionaire. Even as the new Cartel struggles to go legit, trouble always finds a way into the family's circle. Larceny, deceit, and murder are all in the cards. The Cartel 5 is a page-turning thriller that promises to deliver. This mafia family tries to go corporate, but the streets won't let them. This is the rise of the female Cartel . . . La Bella Mafia.

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The Cartel Deluxe Edition - Ashley & JaQuavis Cover Art

The Cartel Deluxe Edition

The Cartel Deluxe Edition Books 1-3 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. 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.  Thus begins the saga of the Cartel, the  New York Times  bestselling series by street lit superstars  Ashley & Jaquavis . Every book in the series is full of their trademark fast-paced drama, deceit, and plot twists that will leave you shocked. Now fans can relive the story of the Diamond family in this deluxe edition, with books one through three all under one cover.

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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!

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Lot - Bryan Washington Cover Art

Lot

Lot Stories by Bryan Washington

One of Barack Obama’s “Favorite Books of the Year” "Phenomenal" --Justin Torres, author of We the Animals "Brilliant" --Nicole Dennis-Benn, author of Here Comes the Sun “A profound exploration of the true meaning of borders.” —The New York Times Book Review NAMED ONE OF THE 10 BEST BOOKS OF 2019 in the New York Times by Dwight Garner A New York Times Notable Book of 2019 The revelatory debut collection from the National Book Award finalist and bestselling author of Memorial and Family Meal In the city of Houston - a sprawling, diverse microcosm of America - the son of a black mother and a Latino father is coming of age. He's working at his family's restaurant, weathering his brother's blows, resenting his older sister's absence. And discovering he likes boys. Around him, others live and thrive and die in Houston's myriad neighborhoods: a young woman whose affair detonates across an apartment complex, a ragtag baseball team, a group of young hustlers, hurricane survivors, a local drug dealer who takes a Guatemalan teen under his wing, a reluctant chupacabra. Bryan Washington's brilliant, viscerally drawn world vibrates with energy, wit, raw power, and the infinite longing of people searching for home. With soulful insight into what makes a community, a family, and a life, Lot explores trust and love in all its unsparing and unsteady forms.

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Native Son - Richard Wright Cover Art

Native Son

Native Son by Richard Wright

Right from the start, Bigger Thomas had been headed for jail. It could have been for assault or petty larceny; by chance, it was for murder and rape. Native Son tells the story of this young black man caught in a downward spiral after he kills a young white woman in a brief moment of panic. Set in Chicago in the 1930s, Wright's powerful novel is an unsparing reflection on the poverty and feelings of hopelessness experienced by people in inner cities across the country and of what it means to be black in America.

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Chasing Destiny - Eric Jerome Dickey Cover Art

Chasing Destiny

Chasing Destiny by Eric Jerome Dickey

With prose “hot enough to scorch fingers,”* Eric Jerome Dickey has electrified readers with his New York Times bestsellers. In Chasing Destiny , he edges into dangerously sexy territory.... Billie is as notorious for her beauty as she is for the hot yellow Ducati motorcycle she rides down L.A.'s meanest streets. Tough and talented, she does things her way. Until an unplanned pregnancy spins her life out of control. Her problem: Her lover Keith's divorce decree has been revoked, forcing him to choose between Billie and his dangerously manipulative wife, Carmen, along with their troubled and deceptive daughter, Destiny, a fifteen-year-old dancing on the edge of womanhood. Horrific things happen when Keith's daughter disappears in the company of low friends in dark places. And in chasing Destiny, Billie, Keith, and Carmen find their lives inextricably linked by a dangerous and seductive pursuit-at any speed—at any cost.

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Criminal Minded - Tracy Brown Cover Art

Criminal Minded

Criminal Minded A Novel by Tracy Brown

A gripping tale of ambition, love, and the high stakes of the drug game. Lamin Michaels learned at his mother's knee the importance of chasing paper, so it's no surprise he gets into the drug game when he's just a teenager. When he meets Zion, a product of the New York City foster care and prison system, Lamin knows that he has met the perfect partner in crime. Together, they build a huge narcotics empire. Then, Lamin falls hard for a beautiful girl named Lucky. Lucky makes Lamin realize that there is more to life than cash and more cash. When Lamin goes legit with a career in the entertainment industry, Zion tries to keep their business going on both the street and the boardroom. It's not long before Zion becomes the target of a corruption scandal involving murder, extortion and money laundering. Once the dirt is exposed, will Lamin and Zion be able to remain one step ahead, or will their paper chasing days haunt them forever? Criminal Minded is a gripping urban fiction novel by African American author Tracy Brown. This riveting story delves into themes of ambition, love, and the high stakes consequences of the drug trade. Perfect for fans of African American urban fiction and street lit.

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Wild Sweet Love - Beverly Jenkins Cover Art

Wild Sweet Love

Wild Sweet Love by Beverly Jenkins

Teresa July has led a hard life, but now she has a chance to put her train robbing past behind her. Armed with a new job as a cook to one of Philadelphia's elite families, Teresa is determined to start her life anew, and nothing––not even her boss's stuck–up (and far too handsome) son––is going to stand in her way. Madison Nance is sick of his mother taking in women from the wrong side of the tracks, just to see them turn on her generosity. That's why it's up to him to keep a close eye on Teresa's every move. At least, that's the only logical explanation for why he can't get the young woman out of his mind. But when a woman from Madison's past threatens Teresa's future, the two reluctant lovers must join forces is they're ever going to have a chance at happiness.

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His Dirty Secret 8 - Mia Black Cover Art

His Dirty Secret 8

His Dirty Secret 8 by Mia Black

Jayla finally meets what one would call the perfect man. He’s loving, sweet, and kind… but what looks like the perfect relationship has one hitch: his baby’s mama. Damiah knows what she wants and thinks she knows what stands in her way – a new woman her ex has his eye on. Will Jayla’s hopes for a brighter future come true or will she find new drama in a new town?

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Strange Fruit - Lillian Smith Cover Art

Strange Fruit

Strange Fruit by Lillian Smith

The eighty-year anniversary edition of the once-banned, #1 New York Times –bestselling novel of interracial romance and discrimination in Georgia. Alice Walker said it best: "The South can hardly be said to recognize itself without this book." Igniting controversy upon its publication in 1944, Strange Fruit was banned in Boston and Detroit and the US Postal Service refused to send it through the mail until Eleanor Roosevelt intervened—all because of its portrayal of a town divided along racial lines and the forbidden love that dared to cross them . . . Despite having left Maxwell, Georgia, to attend college, Nonnie Anderson returned to her hometown to work for a prominent white family—and to rejoin the man she had always loved, Tracy Deen. Tracy, the directionless son of the town's doctor, has come back from war and is being pressured to finally get his life in order. Across the street, his high school sweetheart desperately waits for a marriage proposal. On the other side of town, Nonnie offers him a safe place to land, asking nothing in return. But now, she's pregnant. As a Christian revival inspires the locals to cease their sinful ways, a heady and dangerous mix of passion, religion, and racism takes hold. And when a white man is killed in a Black part of town, the event exposes the evil simmering just below the town's placid surface—an inferno waiting to erupt . . . "A very moving book and an extraordinary one." —Eleanor Roosevelt " Strange Fruit is so wide in its human understanding . . . [its] tragedy becomes the tragedy of anyone who lives in a world in which minorities suffer." — The Nation "An absorbing novel, of high literary merit, terrific and tender." — The Boston Globe

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Brown Girl, Brownstones - Paule Marshall Cover Art

Brown Girl, Brownstones

Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall

Set in Brooklyn during the Depression and World War II, Brown Girl, Brownstones is the enduring story of a most extraordinary young woman. Selina Boyce, the daughter of Barbadian immigrants, is caught between the struggles of her hard-working, ambitious mother, who wants to "buy house" and educate her daughters, and her father, who longs to return to the land in Barbados. Selina seeks to define her own identity and values as she struggles to surmount the racism and poverty that surround her. Moving and powerful, Brown Girl, Brownstones is both a classic coming-of-age tale and a vivid portrait of one family's struggle to achieve the American Dream.

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Deus X - Stephen Mack Jones Cover Art

Deus X

Deus X by Stephen Mack Jones

Detroit ex-cop August Snow puts his life on the line to protect a friend from modern-day Templars sworn to protect the name of the Catholic church at all costs. Father Michael Grabowski, a Franciscan priest who has tended the spiritual needs of Detroit’s Mexicantown for forty years, has suddenly retired. August Snow, who has known the priest his whole life, finds the circumstances troubling—especially in light of the recent suspicious suicide of another local priest. What dark history is Father Grabowski hiding? The situation takes a turn for the deadly with the appearance at the Detroit diocese of a mysterious priest and combat vet calling himself Francis Dominioni Petra. The man comes from the Vatican, and as his armored guard circles closer and closer to Father Grabowski and his friends, August wants to know why. A terrible crime has been committed in the name of faith—but who is seeking justice, and who is trying to bury the truth and any of its witnesses? August grapples with his own ideas about his faith and his chosen family in this action-packed fourth installment in the Hammett Prize–winning series.

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The Souls of Clayhatchee - Anthony Carlisle Cover Art

The Souls of Clayhatchee

The Souls of Clayhatchee by Anthony Carlisle

James Kingsman hated the South. Raised by parents who had migrated north from Alabama years before his birth, he had heard their personal stories of racism, injustice, fear. At best, he carried a certain disdain for those who stayed behind, no matter how much the South had changed. When James reluctantly agrees to his mother's last wish to be buried in hometown of Clayhatchee, Alabama, his notions about southern relatives are turned upside down as he makes long-hidden discoveries about his parents. His father did not migrate north, he escaped. His mother kept an even deeper secret, one of rage and beauty. Some ghosts cannot stay buried.

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Shetani's Sister - Iceberg Slim Cover Art

Shetani's Sister

Shetani's Sister by Iceberg Slim

From the multi-million copy master of vernacular black literature and pioneeer of hip hop culture, a masterpiece of crime fiction set in Los Angeles' meanest, toughest streets. Here is the newly discovered novel by Iceberg Slim, the creator and undisputed master of African-American "street literature," a man who profoundly influenced hip hop and rap culture and probably has sold more books than any other black American author of the twentieth century (not that he saw the royalties from those sales). In many ways Iceberg Slim's most mature fictional work,  Shetani's Sister  relates, in taut, evocative vernacular torn straight from the street corner, the deadly duel between two complex anitheroes: Sergeant Russell Rucker, an LAPD vice detective attempting to clean up street prostitution and police corruption, and Shetani (Swahili for Satan), a veteran master pimp who controls his stable of whores with violence and daily doses of heroin.

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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?

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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

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The Works of William Wells Brown - William Wells Brown Cover Art

The Works of William Wells Brown

The Works of William Wells Brown by William Wells Brown

William Wells Brown was a prominent abolitionist lecturer, novelist, playwright, and historian. Born into slavery in the Southern United States, Brown escaped to the North, where he worked for abolitionist causes and was a prolific writer. Brown was a pioneer in several different literary genres, including travel writing, fiction, and drama, and wrote what is considered to be the first novel by an African American. An almost exact contemporary of Frederick Douglass, Wells Brown was overshadowed by Douglass and the two feuded publicly. Collected here are Browns' most well known works with active table of contents. Works include: Clotel, or The President's Daughter Clotelle, or The Colored Heroine The Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave Three Years in Europe

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The Score - Kiki Swinson Cover Art

The Score

The Score by Kiki Swinson

GOING ONCE . . . Identity theft mastermind Lauren Kelly has always had a taste for the finer things. With her lover and accomplice, Matt Connors, by her side, there’s nothing she can’t buy or steal. But she’s not the only one…   GOING TWICE . . . When their partner, Yancy, stumbles onto a tycoon’s multi-million dollar bank account, Lauren expects the latest scam will go smoothly—until she discovers Matt and Yancy are planning the ultimate betrayal…   SOMEONE’S GOING TO DIE . . . Fortunately, Lauren is one step ahead of Matt. Once she disappears with every last dollar, they’ll have no doubt they chose the wrong woman to deceive. But all three of them chose the wrong target...   “Treachery, betrayal and revenge add to the twists and turns. . . . Loved it!”   — RT Book Reviews , 4 Stars   “Reads like a block-buster movie.” —AAMBC Reviewer

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What's Real - Daaimah S. Poole Cover Art

What's Real

What's Real by Daaimah S. Poole

Daaimah S. Poole follows up her hot, hilarious hit novels Yo Yo Love and Got a Man with the adventures of three sistahs from Philly who are about to take Miami by storm . . . Philadelphia twentysomethings Janelle, Natalie, and Tanya are gonna lose it if they don't get a break from their dull daily routines. Janelle has had it with her boring job as assistant manager at a clothing store. As for Natalie, with a baby to take care of and a husband who won't even change a diaper, she needs a time-out. Tanya is just looking for a good time and a man with a big, thick . . . wallet. Given the chance, these girls like to play, and their playground of choice is Miami. Almost as soon as they hit the beach they find themselves drawn into a fast-moving, flashy world of rappers, ballers, celebrities, and VIPs with cash to burn. But before this wild ride is over, they just may find that all that glitters ain't gold, and a good reality is worth way more than a fleeting fantasy . . . .

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The Tre Pound Trilogy - Jordan Belcher Cover Art

The Tre Pound Trilogy

The Tre Pound Trilogy by Jordan Belcher

Tre Pound 1 The murder of an esteemed drug dealer has Levour "Tre Pound" King fighting for his life; not just in court, where he’s facing life without parole, but in the unforgiving streets, where his enemies prefer to give him the death penalty. Tre Pound 2 With enemies piling up, Tre Pound needs help. And there’s only one person that’s qualified—his big cousin and legendary gangster, Shelton King. Tre Pound 3 In this final installment of the Tre Pound Trilogy, Tre Pound has to choose between family and reputation, freedom and street status. Even he isn’t prepared for the choices he ends up making …

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Pride and Joy - Louisa Onome Cover Art

Pride and Joy

Pride and Joy A Novel by Louisa Onome

Perfect for “fans of dark, laugh-out-loud family dramas” ( Bust magazine), this is a heartwarming and hilarious novel about three generations of a Nigerian Canadian family grappling with their matriarch’s sudden passing while their auntie insists that her sister is coming back. Joy Okafor is overwhelmed. Recently divorced, a life coach whose phone won’t stop ringing, and ever the dutiful Nigerian daughter, Joy has planned every aspect of her mother’s seventieth birthday weekend on her own. As the Okafors slowly begin to arrive, Mama Mary goes to take a nap. But when the grandkids go to wake her, they find that she isn’t sleeping after all. Refusing to believe that her sister is gone-gone, Auntie Nancy declares that she had a premonition that Mama Mary will rise again like Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Desperate to believe that they’re about to witness a miracle, the family overhauls their birthday plans to welcome the Nigerian Canadian community, effectively spreading the word that Mama Mary is coming back. But skeptical Joy is struggling with the loss of her mother and not allowing herself to mourn just yet while going through the motions of planning a funeral that her aunt refuses to allow. Filled with humor and flawed, deeply relatable characters “so rich in heritage and complexity that I can’t believe these characters do not really exist” (Jesse Q. Sutanto, national bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties ), Pride and Joy will draw you in as the Okafors prepare for a miracle while coming apart at the seams, praying that they haven’t actually lost Mama Mary for good, and grappling with what losing her truly means for each of them.

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Kilos Cocaine - Lola Bandz Cover Art

Kilos Cocaine

Kilos Cocaine by Lola Bandz

"when did you first realize that you were addicted? .... When I first pushed him in my veins"  Every Princess must kiss a thousand frogs until she gets her Prince and that's exactly what Amora had to do to meet Kilo her king.  Going through hell and trying to find herself was hard but the love of her life made things easy for her. Loving her whole and accepting her child as her own she is so happy to have her fairytale ending.  But not all fairy tales ends well. Dealing with Kilo isn't a fair ride. He owns a billionaire company, is always on the road and he has a crazy baby momma that won't let go, but this is nothing to her and she vows to over look it all that is until a secret that kilo is hiding makes him question her loyalty.  Kilo is so addicted to Amora that she is all he sees and I I'll do whatever it takes to make her happy, but life is hard for him trying to transition from a street king to a family man.  Will Kilo and Amora withstand it all, will she be his drug of choice? Or will she run away from a love that has been there through it all? Find out in Kilos Cocaine a Lola Bandz original.

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Fool’s Gold - Sir JonTonio Cover Art

Fool’s Gold

Fool’s Gold by Sir JonTonio

Fool's Gold is an enthralling series that delves into the intricacies of intertwined lives, showcasing relationships tested to their limits and friendships facing the ultimate trials. This captivating narrative will keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, and eagerly craving more. As the story unfolds, you will witness whether love truly conquers all or if it is merely a word thrown around. WARNING: Everything is not always what it appears to be. In the vibrant Hampton Roads area, a respected young man and local icon, known for his charm and strict stance on respect, finds his world turned upside down after meeting a captivating woman at his best friend's bachelor party. As his feelings for his seemingly perfect girlfriend wane, he rediscovers his lost sense of self-worth and value, leading him to a pivotal choice that will either elevate or shatter his carefully crafted life.

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These Boots Too Big - Faheem Cover Art

These Boots Too Big

These Boots Too Big by Faheem

Casualties in Newark, New Jersey are soaring at an alarming rate. As a result, everyone is a suspect including the innocent. Unexpectantly, Robbie a bright kid with a positive future ahead of him becomes a victim of mistaken identity. He doesn't deserve his fate. However, shit happens.  Robbie's situation is far from a new problem. Low-income communities throughout America are commonly infested with hard luck and best that never was stories. Robbie is the leading character in my VICIOUS Series. His story is a realistic reminder of injustice in an ongoing seemingly neverending struggle.

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Night’s a Shadow; Day’s a Shine - Karen Dove Barr Cover Art

Night’s a Shadow; Day’s a Shine

Night’s a Shadow; Day’s a Shine A Geechee Tale by Karen Dove Barr

"The drums boomed unceasingly, beating the rhythm of change bounding across Skidaway Island--change to the lives of every poor soul rooted in sand on the fragile, wind-swept island." Geechees Lizzie and her daughter Dicie suffer as enslaved cotton field workers on the sub-tropical island. Dicie's beloved father is sold to a rice planter, ripping the family apart. The Geechees rejoice in 1865 when General Sherman captures Savannah and sets them free, but his Field Order No. 15 (40 acres and a mule) confiscates the land mother and daughter farm. One thousand black men rush to Skidaway Island to claim Lizzie and Dicie's home and crops. Her father returns, but relations between her parents break down, even before he embarks on a wild scheme to make money. Will Lizzie's clandestine ability to understand numbers get her killed? Will family secrets foil Dicie's chances with the handsome young drummer on the next plantation? To survive, Dicie must master the ancient African magic practiced by her mother. Geechees call the rituals "rooting," but others call them witchcraft. Against the turmoil of Civil War and Reconstruction, a young girl struggles to preserve her family and to find love.

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Solitaria - Eliana Alves Cruz & Benjamin Brooks Cover Art

Solitaria

Solitaria A Novel by Eliana Alves Cruz & Benjamin Brooks

" Solitaria is a gem.” —Saidiya Hartman, author of Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments For fans of Fernanda Melchor and Tove Ditlevsen, a raw, propulsive novel by an award-winning Afro-Brazillian novelist about a Black mother and daughter who work as live-in maids for a rich family in an unnamed Brazilian city, and the tragedy to which they unwittingly bear witness. Mabel has been staying in the Golden Plate—the most expensive building on the block, in an unnamed city in Brazil—for almost her entire life. Yet her presence there is merely tolerated: she inhabits a miniscule room with her mother, Eunice, who alongside Mabel provides round-the-clock attention and care for the wealthy family who lives there. As Mabel grows up, her dissatisfaction with the forced smallness of her life becomes difficult to bear, and she is driven to work toward new possibilities for herself. Eunice does the best that she can—uneducated, and with a daughter and ailing mother both depending solely on her, her life is a series of limitations. She moves through the rooms of the penthouse suite in silent servitude, and though Mabel is ashamed of this invisibility act they've both perfected, the era of slavery is still fresh in the country's consciousness, and Eunice thinks it best not to dwell too hard on such things. But when tragedy strikes, and a little boy dies, Eunice must decide if she can face the indifference and injustices of the ruling class she has spent so long orbiting. Told through direct, agile and evocative prose, Solitaria is a liberation novel of the most rousing order. Through the book's awareness of space and whose presence is permissible, the world of the Golden Plate unfurls, and an unflinching portrait emerges of modern-day Brazil, its legacies of colonial violence haunting rooms across the country, both big and small.

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The Known World - Edward P. Jones Cover Art

The Known World

The Known World by Edward P. Jones

From Edward P. Jones comes one of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory—winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction. The Known World tells the story of Henry Townsend, a black farmer and former slave who falls under the tutelage of William Robbins, the most powerful man in Manchester County, Virginia. Making certain he never circumvents the law, Townsend runs his affairs with unusual discipline. But when death takes him unexpectedly, his widow, Caldonia, can't uphold the estate's order, and chaos ensues. Edward P. Jones has woven a footnote of history into an epic that takes an unflinching look at slavery in all its moral complexities. “A masterpiece that deserves a place in the American literary canon.”—Time

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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 . 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.