24 Must-Read Books by Black Authors That Will Change Your Life
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Weightless-by-Evette-Dionne-7964c01361e941469c4d4c54112de742.jpg?w=780&resize=780,470&ssl=1 "24 Must-Read Books by Black Authors That Will Change Your Life")
As a Black bookseller at one of the largest bookstores in the world, I’m in charge of displaying a selection of books to read to celebrate Black History Month every February. While I love incorporating the classics, it can get tiring seeing the same four titles everywhere in the store. For this collection of Black History Month books, I wanted to include books that touch on more than slavery—the Oscars nominations already do enough of that.
I wanted readers to find new favorites during Black History Month. There’s nothing that I love more than finding out that a customer bought a book that I recommended, and they absolutely loved it. Books can be used as a form of escapism, and discovering a good book that you can lose yourself in is the best feeling. As a bookseller, I tend to love memoirs, because it can be hard to make your own life sound interesting to someone who doesn’t know you from Michelle Obama. Whether you’re also a fan of memoirs, romance, or thrillers, I hope you choose one of the below books by Black authors to celebrate Black History Month. Our stories deserve to be listened to. So grab a cup of your favorite beverage and prepare to dive into a new title.
Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford
Macmillan
While I was reading Somebody’s Daughter, I had to actively take breaks because some details of her story hit a little too close to home for me. I’ve been a fan of Ashley C. Ford’s work for years now, and I eagerly anticipated this memoir. It didn’t disappoint—no wonder this title made our spring books list. What Ford has written is a beautiful and devastating memoir about her fraught relationship with her mother during her childhood, her rape that occurred at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, and what it meant to find out that her father had been imprisoned for a similar act as well. I hold this book close to my heart. I hope that after reading it, you will do the same.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Bookshop.org
Toni Morrison died at the age of 88 in 2020, and her loss was felt as soon as she left this earth. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye, tells the heart wrenching story of Pecola Breedlove, a dark-skinned child who desperately wants blonde hair and blue eyes so she can fit in. Raising questions about race, gender, colorism, and more, debut novel is a masterpiece.
Weightless by Evette Dionne
HarperCollins
Much like Hunger by Roxane Gay (which is another great memoir by a Black woman that details what it’s like to be fat in a country like the United States) Weightless seeks to expand our society’s conversation about how bodies that aren’t white are viewed when they’re bigger than what is deemed “acceptable”. What I really enjoyed about this book is that Evette Dionne doesn’t shy away from analyzing her own behavior. For example, she talks about the harmful aspects of the TLC series My 600-Lb. Life, while also being a big fan of the show. She also recounts a story about dating as a fat Black woman and how she was embarrassed to date another fat person when she was younger. Dionne doesn’t portray herself as a perfect body positivity activist, and that gives her an introspective that is worth reading about.
The House of Eve
COURTESY OF PUBLISHER
Get a glimpse of life in the 1950s in this novel, featuring the tales of two women whose fates unexpectedly intertwine—15-year-old Ruby, determined to be the first in her family to graduate from college, and Eleanor, already on a path toward success, as a Howard University student.
The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams
COURTESY OF PUBLISHER
A small get-together goes horribly wrong in this sharply written, Rashamon-like tale told from the perspectives of the three participants—a husband, a wife, and her best friend.
Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz
Bookshop.org
I don’t read nearly as many short story collections as I should, but any collection that focuses on the experiences of young Black girls is one that I gravitate towards. Milk Blood Heat is Dantiel W. Moniz’s debut, which is so good that I almost want her to take me under her wing and teach me her ways—and I don’t even write fiction. Each of these stories depict a violent personal awakening, but they’re all so unique that I don’t even know where to begin to explain them. If you like stories that focus on race, connection, motherhood, grief, and so many more complex human emotions—all against the backdrop of Florida—then this book is for you.
One Blood by Denene Millner
Courtesy of Publisher
Author Denene Millner weaves an elegant, decades-long tale about three women forever linked by adoption, set against the backdrop of the Great Migration and the Civil Rights movement.
Maame: A Novel by Jessica George
COURTESY OF PUBLISHER
One of REAL SIMPLE’s 2023 picks for best books of the year, Jessica George’s novel follows 20-something Maddie, who is struggling under the weight of caring for her father and dealing with a dead-end job, while trying to find ways to bring a little joy into her life.
The Fraud by Zadie Smith
Courtesy of Publisher
The White Teeth author’s latest will have you trying to guess who’s actually telling the truth, as an Australia butcher tries to lay claim to a grand English estate, and several other witnesses come forward to share their own perspectives on who’s the rightful heir. (It’s based on a real 19th-century court case.
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Bookshop.org
I picked this one up after seeing a fellow Bookstagrammer (shout out to @_pagesandleaves) rave about this book repeatedly. It was billed as Get Out meets Gossip Girl, and much to my delight, that’s exactly what it is. Ace of Spades made me gasp out loud while reading it in a bar, much to the chagrin of the people next to me. What can I say? That ending startled me! Even though this is Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s first book, I already know that I will get my hands on anything and everything that she publishes going forward. This book was just that good. Don’t let the “young adult” tag fool you: Ace of Spades will leave you feeling all sorts of…unsettled.
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
Bookshop.org
If you’ve come into the bookstore where I work within the last three years and have asked for a recommendation, I have probably either suggested or hand-sold you a copy of this incredible short story collection. It’s Deesha Philyaw’s debut and every piece of work in this book spoke to me. I still reference the stories “Peach Cobbler” and “How to Make Love to a Physicist” because both of them took my breath away. While those are my two favorites in the collection, every story is noteworthy, and I can name several moments from other stories that made me shake. While The Secret Lives of Church Ladies does revolve around a church and the Black women that attend it, it doesn’t preach anything to its readers. Well, except maybe, “Look at what happens when you eat the forbidden fruit.”
Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
Courtesy of Publisher
Author Samantha Irby’s hilarious and relatable essay collections have earned her a spot on the bestseller list. And the latest one—which covers everything from proper public bathroom etiquette to dealing with a deranged pandemic puppy—is a must-read.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
A favorite of pretty much every book club out there, this novel explores the repercussions when a Black babysitter is confronted and accused of kidnapping the white toddler in her care. It’s a deep and thought-provoking look at the intersection of race and privilege.
Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling by Elise Bryant
Bookshop.org
I first fell in love with Elise Bryant’s work when I read an advance copy of her debut novel Happily Ever Afters. I am excited to tell you that with each of her books, she gets better and better, though I’m unsure how that’s humanly possible. Bryant has a way of making her readers feel seen, especially if they’re people who have been told that they’re not “Black enough” to be in certain spaces. Reading her work makes me feel like I’m being hugged and soothed for things that were out of my control when I was a child. If you are a Black teen or know and love a Black teen, please give them this book and let them know that whoever they are at this very moment is the right kind of Black.
Let Us Descend, by Jesmyn Ward
Courtesy of Publisher
Two-time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward follows Annis, a young slave who is sold by the man who fathered her to a New Orleans sugar plantation in this best of 2023 pick.
Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
Bookshop.org
I was lucky enough to read this for the book club that I run for Black women, and let me tell you: I had forgotten how fun reading could be. Bolu Babalola’s writing made me laugh more than I thought possible while reading. Babalola created such lovable characters, the kind that you want to root for but also yell at when they make continuous mistakes because they’re young and we all cringe at our younger selves. There’s so much growth for these characters and I was so proud to be able to sit back, kick my feet up, and be there for it all. I will be recommending this one to everyone for as long as I am a bookseller. Not all Black stories need to be tragic; sometimes, we just want to laugh, too.
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
Bookshop.org
Drew, a pediatric surgeon living in Los Angeles, and Alexa, the chief of staff for the mayor of Berkeley, Calif., begin a steamy romance after Alexa agrees to be Drew’s pretend date for a wedding while they’re stuck in an elevator together. I devoured this novel in two hours and recommend it to anyone wanting to read a smart romance novel starring a black woman.
Finding Me by Viola Davis
The EGOT-winning actor shares her arduous journey from a rough childhood in Rhode Island to her life as a beloved Hollywood actor in this gripping memoir.
Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
Graywolf Press
I don’t normally highlight or write in books, but I had to after reading Citizen. It is such an excellent meditation on race. It’s a collection of essays, images, and poetry that will start a required conversation about a difficult topic—a desperately needed conversation, in my opinion.
I’m Telling the Truth, But I’m Lying by Bassey Ikpi
Bookshop.org
There are very few memoirs about mental illness through the lens of what it also means to be black. Nigerian-American Ikpi explores her life in multiple frames—slam poet; mother; daughter; girlfriend—and shows readers what life looks like when you’re living with bipolar II and anxiety. It reads like a stream of consciousness, which I found fascinating, and I know you will too.
The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
Courtesy of Publisher
Sarah M. Broom has written one of the best memoirs—ever. I’m calling it. Broom tells the story of her family history, but she uses the yellow shotgun house that her mother purchased in New Orleans as the starting and ending point. The house was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but with Broom’s excellent storytelling, it feels like a historical landmark.
How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones
Simon & Schuster
In this winner of the 2019 Kirkus Prize in Nonfiction, Jones crafts a tender coming-of-age memoir, detailing his story of growing up as a young, black, gay man from the South. My heart ached while reading this memoir. It is an examination of race, queerness, and vulnerability that will stick with you.
When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele
Bookshop.org
Written by the founders behind the profound hashtag and organization Black Lives Matter, this memoir details what it’s like to be a Black woman living in a country that has not been kind to us. The world saw it differently and called them terrorists and a threat to America. Hearing their stories was refreshing and I will stand behind them forever.
Life and Other Love Songs by Anissa Gray
Bookshop.org
After their husband and father disappears on his 37th birthday, Deborah and her daughter Trinity struggle to pick up the pieces and discover the secrets that the man they loved kept hidden from them.
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