This list is a personal collection of books that shaped how I see the world, navigate challenges, and grow as a person. Each title offered something meaningful—whether it sparked reflection, inspired action, or simply made me feel seen. I hope these ...
Sections
6
Classic
Science Fiction
Fiction
Romance
Historical Fiction
Modern Classic
Classic
I am a classic novel girlie. My son and I were visiting a book store and we found this gem. I read my faves over and over.
The Complete Novels of Jane Austen (Hardcover)
Science Fiction
This work of fiction is eerily similar to present times. It is a dystopian warning.
Parable of the Sower (Earthseed, #1) by Octavia E. Butler
Sequel to Parable of the Sower. The books are classic and engrossing.
Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler
Classic speculative fiction, Marge Piercy’s novel is a transformative vision of two futures—and what it takes to will one or the other into reality. Harrowing and prescient, Woman on the Edge of Time speaks to a new generation on whom these choices w...
Woman on the Edge of Time: A Novel
Fiction
This was the first book I read by Amy Tan. It is based on her family and her mother's pre WW2 journey that led her from China to the states. It is also a story about mothers and daughters building bridges to understanding.
The Joy Luck Club: A Novel: Tan, Amy - Books
This is the first book I read by Bebe Moore Campbell. This novel focuses on the aftermath of a family who experiences a tragedy similar to Emmett Till.
Your Blues Ain't Like Mine: A Novel: 9780345401120
NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE • This debut novel follows members of a Dominican family in New York City who take
radically different paths
when faced with encroaching gentrification
Neruda on the Park: A Novel
Romance
This book is a favorite. The main character falls in love with a handsome ghost.
The Hand I Fan With by Tina McElroy Ansa
It is a combination of stories that combine humor and heartbreak, using a variety of voices.
The Dating Game: Short Stories About the Search for Mr. Right
This was the book that made me love Terry McMillan. She did such a great job telling this story from both the female and male perspectives.
Disappearing Acts - McMillan, Terry: Books
This book became a classic movie. But this book is like visiting an old friend.
How Stella Got Her Groove Back - Books
The 90s was a time for great books about Black women's friendships. This one is one of the best. If you've only seen the movie do yourself a favor and read the book.
Waiting to Exhale (A Waiting to Exhale Novel)
Historical Fiction
A beautifully written story, based on the lives of the Mirabal sisters during the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina, El Jefe.
In the Time of the Butterflies - Alvarez
Modern Classic
I was introduced to this book in college. And I will never tire of reading it.
Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Novel
Pecola Breedlove believes that if she could wake up one day with blue eyes, blonde hair, and white skin, she would finally be free—from poverty, abuse, and invisibility. In this haunting and powerful novel, Toni Morrison explores how generations have...