Must-Read Books by Black Authors Coming Out This SpringLike this list

22 items

• This Could Be Us

  Ryan, Kennedy

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  If you read Ryan's previous hit 'Before I Let Go', you know her writing is delightful. In this one, Soledad is going through it after her husband betrays her in a way that puts her entire life at stake. Now she’s forced to pick up the pieces of her…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Pride and Joy

  a Novel

  Onomé, Louisa

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  This is a heartwarming and hilarious story about three generations of a Nigerian Canadian family grappling with a sudden death. Onomé cleverly balances out the serious topic with absurd plots and laugh-out-loud writing.

• The House of Hidden Meanings

  a Memoir

  RuPaul, 1960-

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  Behind the glitz and glam of RuPaul’s drag is an icon of humble beginnings. In his most revealing work yet, RuPaul peels back the curtains on his childhood as a young, queer boy in San Diego to his life in the punk and drag scenes of Atlanta and New…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Where Sleeping Girls Lie

  Àbíké-Íyímídé, Faridah

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  In Where Sleeping Girls Lie a girl new to boarding school, discovers dark secrets and coverups after her roommate disappears. This book was so layered and filled with imagery and symbolism galore. The writing is beautiful, the plot is gripping and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Village Weavers

  a Novel

  Chancy, Myriam J. A., 1970-

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  Village Weavers is the story of Gertie and Sisi, who as young girls in the 1940s form a close friendship at school, even though neither of their families support or encourage the bond. But one day tragedy strikes and a major secret is revealed,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Love Song for Ricki Wilde

  a Novel

  Williams, Tia, 1975-

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  Seven Days in June author Tia Williams transports readers to the Harlem Renaissance in her latest novel. Ricki Wilde leaves behind her Atlanta socialite family for the dreamy escape of New York. Living in a basement apartment, she has aspirations…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Library Thief

  a Novel

  Shenjé, Kuchenga

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  After bringing her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence’s father took action to protect her, to ensure she didn’t stick out, hot-combed her hair ,and safeguarded her to avoid unwanted attention so she could enjoy a life like every other girl. Yet,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Children of Anguish and Anarchy

  Adeyemi, Tomi

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  Back in 2018, Tomi Adeyemi published her debut YA fantasy novel, and Children of Blood and Bone became an instant sensation. This is book three, the finale, in the series. Readers will get to see the growth of the characters as Zélie faces her final…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• And Then There Was Us

  Carter, Kern

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  This book is a thought-provoking novel with an engaging protagonist and deep introspection. When her mother's death forces her to reevaluate their tumultuous relationship, Coi our main character, begins a journey of healing and self-discovery. This…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Allow Me to Introduce Myself

  a Novel

  Nwabineli, Onyi

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  This is a unique coming-of-age story about a child turned social media star, brought up in the spotlight by her influencer stepmother. If complicated family dynamics and thought-provoking reads about social media are something you enjoy, this book…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Skin & Bones

  a Novel

  Watson, Renée

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  At 40, Lena Baker has a pretty good life. She's got a good job, a wonderful daughter, supportive friends, and a loving fiance. Then on the day of her wedding, a confession is made and it turns her world upside down. Lena is forced to pick up the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Little Rot

  a Novel

  Emezi, Akwaeke

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  In Little Rot, Emezi’s exploration of power, sex, and corruption in New Lagos will leave you intentionally uncomfortable. Little Rot is a whirling journey through the city’s dark side, told through the eyes of five people, each determined to run…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• One of Our Kind

  a Novel

  Yoon, Nicola

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  A haunting speculative domestic thriller! Jasmyn and King Williams make a big move to a planned town. Liberty, California is entirely Black-owned. The pair hope to bring their children up safely and meet more like-minded individuals. This is a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Sleep Like Death

  Bayron, Kalynn

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  Sleep Like Death is a YA fairytale reimagining filled with twists, turns, and some horror. A magic princess, a cursed queen, an enchanted castle, and an evil knight! Bayron hooks us from page one. An emotionally fractured fairytale that turns…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• It Waits in the Forest

  Dass, Sarah

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  A YA supernatural thriller inspired by Caribbean folklore?! Selina DeSilva, a young woman ostracized by her community due to rumors of her family's supposed ties to the supernatural, finds herself thrust into a tangled web of murder and dark secrets…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• One of Us Knows

  a Thriller

  Cole, Alyssa

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  In the mood for a dark and twisting thriller? In One of Us Knows, Kenetria Nash has had to take the role of a historic home caretaker after a diagnosis derailed her career as a historic preservationist. A visit from the home’s conservation trust…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Blessings

  a Novel

  Ibeh, Chukwuebuka

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  Told through alternating perspectives, Blessings details the story of mother and son as Nigeria approaches criminalizing same-sex relationships. This moving story is about truths that can’t be hidden and finding a way to live freely when it’s…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• James

  a Novel

  Everett, Percival

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  This is a a reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, that is gripping. After hearing word he’s being separated from his wife and daughter and sold to a man in New Orleans, enslaved Jim plots his escape. Hiding out on Jackson Island, Jim meets…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Gamble at Sunset

  Riley, Vanessa

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  Award-winning author Vanessa Riley turns all convention on its head for the first in an enchanting, dazzlingly diverse new Regency romance trilogy featuring a duke, three sisters, and a tantalizing bet with a most desirable reward...

• Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad

  Stories

  Kuku, Damilare

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  This is a collection of 12 versatile stories converging to draw the reader into a fictional world. These stories find their settings in Lagos and describe the bitter journey of heartbreak, deceit ,and betrayal. A hilariously funny and easy read.