5 Books Written By Black Authors You Can Still Read Before Black History Month’s Over
Black history month can be a great time to celebrate black authors you haven’t read yet…go check some of these out…
Black history month is back again and while I personally think celebrating Black History Month means we don’t celebrate Black history enough throughout the year, it’s nonetheless, the perfect time to find ways to celebrate the contributions of black people in America and all over the world.
But it seems like most people like to celebrate by reading about black pain, which is fine, but it’s just not always my cup of tea.
That’s why I’ve decided to compile a list of books by black authors that don’t center on Black pain (with the exception of one).
There’s more to us than our struggles, so here we go…
1. Everything Everything — Nicola Yoon (YA)
Everything Everything is the story of 17-year-old Madeline Whittier, a house-bound Bubble disease girl, who meets and falls in love with her teenage next door neighbor, Olly.
At first, she shies away from communicating with him, resigned to living her life the way she’s always lived it — quietly and unnoticed. But as time moves on, she can’t help but become increasingly curious about the boy next door who can’t seem to stop climbing walls (he’s into parcore).
Her journal observations about the comings and goings of her new neighbors are cute and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. The drawings only add to the humor that she makes of her situation throughout the book.
She’s never experienced the things most of us take for granted, such as playing outside, going out with your friends, or having your first kiss.
In this story, we get a peek into the life of someone living with a chronic condition — how they manage it, and manage to deal with it at such a young age.
It’s an entertaining and easy read that has a twist at the end you might not see coming.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2. The Boyfriend Project — Farrah Rochon
The Boyfriend Project is a cute, fantastically written novel about IT superstar Samiah Brooks and her “date” with serial dater, Craig, who’s seeing two other women (and possibly more). She finds this out when one of his other dates live-Tweets her date with him. Her sister notices the live-Tweets and alerts Samiah to the situation.
Obviously, Samiah’s smart enough to dump him (I won’t reveal how), but it ends up making her gain unwanted attention. It also leads to her befriending the other two women Craig’s done wrong (London and Taylor) — and that leads to the Boyfriend Pact.
The novel doesn’t quite live up to its name (three girlfriends make a pact not to date, but to instead focus on themselves and their projects/careers) as its more about her flirtatious encounters with sexy, bi-racial Daniel Collins, an undercover FINCEN agent, which go on for most of the book. It takes a while for her and Daniel to get to the first kiss, but at least it’s entertaining. And the writing is really good.
The non-romantic aspect of the storyline is interesting as well. While Daniel appears to be an employee at Trendsetters, the IT solutions firm Samiah works for, he’s secretly working for a FINCEN (a financial crimes unit of the Department of Treasury), trying to uncover certain dirty deeds going on there. It’s pretty in-depth character development for Daniel and while a lot of the jargon might go over your head if you’re not in IT/tech, it doesn’t hurt the storyline. It only makes for richer characters and a pretty intriguing ending.
In my opinion, the book could’ve gotten to the action a bit quicker, but with writing this witty and well-crafted, I couldn’t say I didn’t enjoy the ride.
It picks up again at the end and you become entrenched in the story, wondering how everything will unfold. The ending wraps things up nicely, although you’re left wondering whether Samiah and Daniel will truly be able to make it work due to both their careers. As far as HOAs go, this was a pretty good one.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. The MisAdventures of an Awkward Black Girl — Issa Rae
Issa Rae has been dominating the film and TV industries for a few years now. With Emmy nominations for her hit HBO show, Insecure, and several successful acting gigs under her belt (Little, The Photograph), the multi-talented actress, writer, director, and producer is a force to be reckoned with.
And her book gives us a taste of exactly what it’s like to walk in the shoes of a young, even more awkward (if you can believe it) Issa from her early days into her teenage years.
The first few chapters will make you literally laugh out loud as you enjoy Issa’s personality in word-form.
If you haven’t checked it out, go get it now on Amazon or wherever you buy your books.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4. The Farming of Bones — Edwidge Danticat
The Farming of Bones is a historical novel set in 1937. It’s a poignant story about Amabelle Desir, a young Hattian woman living in the Dominican Republic.
She’s fallen in love with a cane worker named Sebastien, who she plans on marrying.
But when genocidal violence tramples her world, brought on by Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo, her entire world is turned upside down and she’s separated from Sebastien.
People all around her are being slaughtered and she has to find her way to safety and a new home.
It’s a harrowing story of love, pain, and triump that’ll make you weep for Amabelle.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5. Honey & Spice — Bolu Babalola
Honey and Spice is the story of “sharp-tongued (and secretly soft-hearted) Kiki Banjo, a college student with African roots living in the UK who ends up fake dating fellow student, Malaki Korede, after publicly donning him the “Wasteman of Whitehall.”
To save their reputations, they end up in a fake relationship that eventually turns into something more, as these fake relationships in novels tend to do.
But the way this one unfolds is particularly interesting and entertaining.
It’s a story that forces Kiki to reevaluate herself and her choices. She starts looking beyond what she thought she wanted and should have and begins to open up to possibilities she never would have entertained in the past.
Seeing her growth and listening to her talk is entertaining.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you haven’t already, go pick up one or two of these books and settle in for a good read. Tea and a blanket may be required. Fireplace optional.
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