Summer is officially here, and there are plenty of Black books at your disposal. Here are a few I’m excited about. When possible, I’ve included affiliate links when available.
Takerra Allen
Tahli and Vin fell in love one summer and their story began.
Through personal growth, love guided them. Watered by kisses, battered by storms, petals died off and grew again. Bent, twisted, and strengthened through adversities as love often faces…as one, they flourished.
The flower turns to a garden, the garden grows a tree.
But what happens when rot sneaks into the roots? When mistakes of your past threaten your future?
Taking the fall in Book One left us suspended in air in three intervals of time.
Let’s join them in their parachute and see how far love can carry us. This go, let’s see if we survive the glide.
Chandra Blumberg
When two marine biologists with a complicated history are thrown together on a shark study broadcast over social media, it’s anything but smooth sailing. This charming and sexy second chance romance is the perfect beach read for fans of Helen Hoang and Ali Hazelwood.
At first glance, Hope Evans just landed the perfect job: spending the summer on a shark research boat. Except as every marine biologist knows, it’s what’s going on beneath the surface that counts, and Hope’s new position comes with a big catch—the boat belongs to her ex-boyfriend, Adrian Hollis-Parker. For three years Hope’s been treading water, staying away from anything that reminds her of their past. It’s time to dive back into a job that could springboard her career—and maybe offer much-needed closure.
Since their split, Adrian has risen to internet fame as a shark expert with the launch of his YouTube channel to dispel myths and educate viewers about sharks. But success rings hollow without Hope. Embracing this new career trajectory was a risk, but working in cramped quarters with the woman he never stopped loving? That has the potential to backfire in heartbreaking ways.
Elise Bryant
Mavis Miller is not a PTA mom. She has enough on her plate with her feisty seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, an exhausting job at a nonprofit, and the complexities of a multigenerational household. So no one is more surprised than Mavis when she caves to Trisha Holbrook, the long-reigning, slightly terrifying PTA president, and finds herself in charge of the school’s brand-new DEI committee.
As one of the few Black parents at this California elementary school, Mavis tries to convince herself this is an opportunity for real change. But things go off the rails at the very first meeting, when the new principal’s plans leave Trisha absolutely furious. Later that night, when Mavis spies Trisha in yellow rubber gloves and booties, lugging cleaning supplies and giant black trash bags to her waiting minivan, it’s only natural that her mind jumps to somewhere it surely wouldn’t in the light of day.
Except Principal Smith fails to show up for work the next morning, and has been MIA since the meeting. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Mavis, along with the school psychologist with the great forearms (look, it’s worth noting), launches an investigation that will challenge her views on parenting, friendship, and elementary school politics.
Denny S. Bryce
New York, 1924. Born to English immigrants who’ve built a comfortable life, idealistic Alice Jones longs for the kind of true love her mother and father have. She believes she’s found it with Leonard “Kip” Rhinelander, the shy heir to his prominent white family’s real estate fortune. Alice too, is “white”, though she is vaguely aware of rumors that question her ancestry—gossip her parents dismiss. But when the lovers secretly wed, Kip’s parents threaten his inheritance unless he annuls the marriage.
Devastated but determined, Alice faces overwhelming odds both legally and in the merciless court of public opinion. But there is one person who can either help her—or shatter her hopes for good: Reporter Marvel Cunningham. The proud daughter of an accomplished Black family, Marvel lives to chronicle social change and the Harlem Renaissance’s fiery creativity.
At first, Marvel sees Alice’s case as a tabloid sensation generated by a self-hating woman who failed to “pass.” But the deeper she investigates, the more she will recognize just how much she and Alice have in common. For Rhinelander vs. Rhinelander will bring to light stunning truths that will force both women to confront who they are, and who they can be, in a world that is all too quick to judge.
Natasha Frazier
Nailed It meets You’ve Got Mail in Batch of Love
A small-town baker with dreams of moving out of the mall’s food court and opening her own brick-and-mortar bakery enters a baking competition for a chance to win $25,000. But instead of winning the grand prize, she finds herself in the middle of her ex’s plan to acquire her business for a big box retailer.
Two years ago, Ginger opened a bakery, Ginger’s Goodies, to honor a promise she made to her late mother. Ready to take her business to the next level, Ginger enters a baking competition hosted by big box retailer, Decadent Dough. What she doesn’t count on is running into her high school ex, Brock Pearson, who works for the company.
Instead of joining his father’s firm, The Pearson Group, Brock Pearson was eager to prove he could be successful outside of his father’s shadow and joined the legal team at Decadent Dough thirteen years ago. When his mentor retires, he throws his hat in the ring to become his successor. The job is his if he can find potential acquisitions, one of which is Ginger’s Goodies.
For Ginger, joining Decadent Dough is a hard NO.
However, Brock will not back down easily because now he wants to win her heart again.
And just when Brock and Ginger were at the precipice of sealing the deal of love….
Brock’s boss learns Ginger is the daughter of his college rival. Now, he will stop at nothing to destroy her business. To make matters worse, he convinced Ginger that Brock is part of his scheme. To prove his innocence, Brock may lose his shot at the promotion he’s coveted and the career he’s worked so hard for.
Ginger and Brock’s careers and hearts hang in the balance. Which is more important than the other?
Christina C. Jones
For Rori Mitchell, delulu is decidedly not the solulu.
Getting her lick back is.
What starts as chance encounter at a sporting event ends up being a perfect distraction from the chaos of a broken heart. Instead of throwing herself into work, she throws herself – for good or bad – into Tatum Wilder.
An offensive tackle for the Connecticut Kings, Tatum is used to high-stakes games and intense scrutiny. On the field, he’s a powerhouse; off the field, he’s a country boy with gentleman tendencies… and a propensity toward knowing the right thing to say at all times.
Well.
Most of the time.
Their connection?
Immediate and undeniable.
Well…
They can deny it.
After all, with Rori on the heels of heartbreak, a relationship could be a disaster.
Free Agency might be a position of power.
Or maybe just a crutch.
Michelle Lindo-Rice
When life rewrites the story, only friendship will see them through.
After years of hard work, four best friends—Celeste, Yasmeen, Toni and Leslie—are finally on the verge of opening the bookstore of their dreams. A place where their community can find solace with an intriguing new read, a comforting beverage and book-loving friends.
But before they can cut the ribbon, their worlds are upended.
Toni receives devastating news just months before her wedding, while Celeste’s struggling marriage threatens to collapse completely. Leslie learns a shocking secret about her family, and a lotto ticket changes Yasmeen’s life—but not for the better.
As the bookstore’s grand opening fast approaches, the four women must lean on each other now more than ever to navigate their grief and uncertainty. And together, they’ll learn that sometimes, even life’s most unexpected plot twists can lead to beautiful new beginnings.
For the Night
Rae Lyse
Still reeling from a messy divorce, kindergarten teacher Venus Thibodeaux is on a self-proclaimed healing journey and adamant that she’s done with love. She’s determined to move on from her toxic past with a fresh start in a new city, but starting over isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Anthony “Nuney” Nunez is young. He’s unpolished, unpredictable, and according to his daughter’s kindergarten teacher—a lousy parent. In fact, the two can’t see eye to eye on anything except the strange attraction they have for each other every time their paths cross.
After Anthony and Venus find themselves on a wild date that shouldn’t have been, they become embroiled in a torrid affair that threatens her healing journey, exposes the secrets in his sketchy life, and makes her question if she’s really done with love after all.
Brandon Massey
A toxic friendship plunges a family into chaos in an explosive new psychological thriller by the bestselling author of The Landlord and The Exes.
After fifteen years of marriage, Adrian and Steph Wall’s relationship is in crisis. But their troubles multiply when their teenage daughter falls under the spell of Scarlett, a charismatic teen with a knack for shoplifting, joyriding—and secretly triggering tragic “accidents.”
Steph worries from the start about Scarlett’s negative influence on their daughter. But when Adrian discovers the girl’s connection to a powerful figure who could make or break his career, he’s torn between ambition and protecting his family from Scarlett’s growing menace.
As danger escalates and lies unravel, the Walls must confront their deepest fears and darkest secrets to save their family. Can they overcome the sinister forces threatening to rip them apart—or will bad influences destroy their family forever?
Rhonda McKnight
From the beloved author of The Thing About Home comes a dual timeline tale of family, grief, secrets, and the sweet redemption that lies within the bonds of sisterhood.
-The Present-
When summoned to Georgetown, South Carolina, sisters Mariah Clark and Sabrina Holland both assume their ailing grandfather’s health has gotten worse. Neither expects their grandmother’s undeniable request–save the family restaurant.
Mariah is at a crossroad in her life. After being dumped by her husband and forced to walk away from their diner that she helped rescue from bankruptcy, bitter feelings consume her. Even though the restaurant has been in the family for eighty-six years, giving her all to another struggling business isn’t something she wants to do.
Living out of her van and striving for a fresh start, Sabrina yearns for stability for herself and her daughter and a chance to turn her baking hustle into a bona-fide business. The family restaurant may be just the blessing she needs–but as old tensions and angry disagreements resurface, Sabrina wonders if her sister will let her have a say.
-The Past-
After falling victim to a love she thought would last a lifetime, Tabitha Cooper finds herself away from home and struggling to survive in Charleston in the early twentieth century. She is determined to turn corn into cornbread and to take care of her children the best way she knows how–by serving food that’s good for the soul–and along the way forges a path that leaves a legacy of success for generations to come.
D. Rose
Since making his first appearance in the rap duo Fame & Fortune, Keyan “FAME” Martin consistently found himself under the scrutiny of celebrity gossip. His personal life was dissected for public consumption at every turn. Without feeling compelled to address rumors, Keyan navigated life with an unyielding confidence, shrouded in a steel armor. That was until a chance encounter on a random night out with an unexpected acquaintance weakened his armor, thrusting them into another tidal wave of rumors.
Following a heated online feud with a label mate, Emory “HEAVEN” Thomas aimed to gracefully return to the limelight. However, as she reintroduced herself with new music, she unexpectedly becomes the focal point of public attention, now linked as Fame’s latest romantic interest. A seemingly innocent invitation sets her world into a frenzy, putting her relationship with the notorious heartbreaker under intense inspection.
When interest in their relationship draws the attention needed to advance her career, Emory and Keyan agree to fake date for a year. Initially, the agreement appeared straightforward, given their complex histories that deemed them unsuitable for love. Then, suddenly, during their shared quiet moments and confidences, adhering to the terms of their arrangement became challenging. Soon, the obstacles that once prevented them from being together became insignificant.
Jacquelin Thomas
Can a former US marshal
Protect an agent running for her life?
Not even leaving her old life behind can keep former Homeland Security agent Rylee Greenwood safe from the ruthless cartel hunting her. After a murder leaves her WITSEC identity compromised, Rylee joins forces with former US marshal Kaleb Stone. But uncovering evidence to take down a powerful enemy who’s always one step ahead plunges them into a deadly game that could cost them their lives…
Tiye
Music
Born and raised in Atlanta by a father who blames the family rift on music, Amara Johnson’s talent for guitar and passion for poetry have always been just that: talent and passion that she channels into her work as a music teacher. When her estranged grandfather—a man known as much for his raspy, soulful blues songs as his perplexing personality—passes away, Amara discovers a collection of old letters, journals, and a tattered photo that offer more questions than answers.
Legacy
Jake Barnes, part of legendary country music star Evelyn Hart’s management team, is blown away by Amara’s voice when he sees her perform at her grandfather’s burial. Enraptured, he offers her a deal: he’ll help her uncover the truth about her family’s past if Amara agrees to come to Nashville and sing for him.
Love
Against a backdrop of music and the drive for answers, Amara and Jake grow closer, testing the boundaries of friendship as the summer passes. With Jake’s help, Amara is on the brink of a blindingly bright future, preparing to share her undeniable talent with the world. But when Jake confronts some unsettling truths, he’s torn—between Evelyn, who he considers family, and Amara…the woman he’s slowly falling in love with.
D.L. White
After spending years raising her siblings, witty and ambitious Kari Savoy is ready to dive headfirst into a new career challenge: Director of Marketing and Events for the luxurious Pearl Resort and Residences on picturesque Black Diamond. With determination and a desire to breathe life into a struggling resort, she faces her biggest obstacle yet –her uptight boss, Property Manager Davis Scott.
Davis is a seasoned hotelier with a reputation for turning mid-range establishments into luxurious havens. He takes his job seriously and, with reason, is cautious about mixing business with pleasure. As the pressure to maintain the resort’s success mounts, he finds himself torn between his growing attraction to Kari and his strict professional boundaries.
Shanora Williams
For Jolene “Jo” Baker, the least she can do for her adoring husband, Dominic, is give unwavering support for his North Carolina gubernatorial run. He is not only the love of her life, he’s also helping her prove that she’s far more than just a pampered trophy wife. With huge crowds showing up at Dominic’s speeches and the polls consistently in his favor, she’s never been happier to stand proudly by his side . . .
Until she and Dominic start seeing the same, strangely ominous woman turning up all along the campaign trail. Until their tour starts becoming a nightmare of botched events, crucial missed information, and increasingly dangerous “accidents.” Suddenly Jo can’t get any answers from Dominic—or understand why he is acting so paranoid and terrified . . .