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Favorite Book Recs
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items I’m a lifelong reader with a soft spot for romance, fantasy, and stories with strong, relatable characters. This space is where I share books I’ve loved—feel free to explore my list and maybe find your next favorite read. More sections coming soon!
Sections
7
Romance
Fantasy
Horror/Suspense
Let's Think...
Contemporary Fiction
Bookworm Beginnings
Romance
Stories that made me swoon, smile, and sometimes cry. This section is full of heart—from flirty rom-coms to deeper, emotional reads featuring characters who feel real and love stories that hit just right.
A flirty, body-positive summer romance that celebrates confidence, sisterhood, and second chances at love.
Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen, Paperback
A heartwarming romance between a reclusive songwriter and a rising music star—perfect for fans of emotional healing and music industry drama.
The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest, (The Greene Sisters #3)
A swoony romance set against the backdrop of a NASA launch countdown—smart, steamy, and emotionally satisfying.
The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton
A lighthearted and lovable rom-com featuring a cute French bulldog, travel mishaps, and plenty of sparks between the leads.
Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon
Fake dating turns real in this charming story of childhood rivals turned reluctant partners—full of chemistry and emotional depth.
The Partner Plot (The Greene Sisters, #2) by Kristina Forest
A sweet, bookish slow-burn romance between neighbors, complete with love letters, missed connections, and second chances.
The Neighbor Favor (The Greene Sisters #1) by Kristina Forest
A funny, heartfelt story of a chronically ill woman reclaiming her joy—complete with lists, steamy moments, and a brooding artist.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters, #1) by Talia Hibbert
Fake dating, viral fame, and undeniable chemistry—this one’s for lovers of brainy heroines and cinnamon roll heroes.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown (The Brown Sisters, #2) by Talia Hibbert
A chaotic sunshine heroine meets her grumpy match in this cozy, laugh-out-loud romance full of warmth and growth.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown (The Brown Sisters, #3) by Talia Hibbert
A delightful opposites-attract romance featuring a bold dreamer and a buttoned-up businessman—fun, feel-good, and full of ambition.
Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper (#1)
Second-chance romance meets friendly competition in this Vegas-set story where exes reunite—and sparks fly all over again.
In It to Win It: Sharon C. Cooper (#2)
A thoughtful, modern story about a Black woman juggling career, relationships, and reproductive health—real, raw, and incredibly relatable.
Black Girls Must Die Exhausted (#1) by Jayne Allen
The second installment continues Tabitha’s journey with grace, humor, and vulnerability—reminding us that healing isn’t linear, but it is worth it.
Black Girls Must Be Magic (#2) by Jayne Allen
A satisfying and emotionally rich conclusion to the trilogy, full of personal growth, chosen family, and hard-won joy.
Black Girls Must Have It All (#3) by Jayne Allen
An ambitious lawyer and a low-key senator find unexpected love. Sweet, sexy, and a thoughtful take on public image vs. personal truth.
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
A Hollywood romance between a rising star and a grounded ad exec—flirty, emotionally nuanced, and mental health-positive.
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
A viral jumbotron proposal gone wrong sparks a charming second-chance-at-love story—light, fun, and perfectly bingeable.
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
A fake date to a wedding turns into something real in this classic, chemistry-filled Guillory debut.
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
A fake dating setup explodes into steamy chaos in this quick, laugh-out-loud novella packed with Talia's signature charm.
The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco - Talia Hibbert
A scandalous royal romance with secret identities, steamy tension, and lovable leads—Talia in top form.
The Princess Trap (The Midnight Heat Collection, #1) by Talia Hibbert
A YA holiday romance full of warmth, community, and second chances—perfect for cozy winter reading.
Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello
A festive, feel-good romance that pairs holiday magic with second-chance love and small-town charm.
The Holly Dates by Brittainy C. Cherry
A friends-to-lovers romance featuring demisexual rep, emotional honesty, and one of the softest love stories in Talia’s catalog.
That Kind of Guy (Ravenswood, #3) by Talia Hibbert
A grumpy-welder-next-door romance that’s tender, funny, and full of healing—for fans of slow burns and soft masculinity.
A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert
A bodyguard romance with serious emotional depth and plenty of steam—dark pasts, soft hearts.
Untouchable (Ravenswood #2) by Talia Hibbert
A single mom and a gentle midwife find healing together—short, sweet, and surprisingly powerful.
Damaged Goods: A Small Town Romance (Ravenswood Novella) by Talia Hibbert
A sharp, flirty campus romance with a fierce Black British heroine, podcast drama, and enemies-to-lovers vibes—witty, empowering, and full of spice and heart.
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
A tattooed cinnamon roll hero and a down-on-her-luck heroine collide in this spicy, heartwarming holiday romance.
Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert
Childhood friends reconnect and try not to fall for each other in this emotionally rich, slow-burn romance.
The Roommate Risk (The Midnight Heat Collection, #3) by Talia Hibbert
A steamy, heart-tugging story about a married couple trying to save their relationship—sexy, emotional, and surprisingly deep.
Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey
A reformed player and his best friend fall hard in this friends-to-lovers gem—full of charm, longing, and soft vulnerability.
Hook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters, #2) by Tessa Bailey
A Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com where a spoiled LA socialite finds love (and herself) in a small fishing town. Enemies to lovers with major heat.
It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1) by Tessa Bailey
A modern take on romance and self-love! I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to those who are learning to love themselves and others.
Between Friends & Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi
Fantasy
Magical worlds, unforgettable heroines, and powerful storytelling. These fantasy picks blend rich lore, high stakes, and Black girl brilliance—perfect for escaping into something epic.
A powerful blend of Arthurian legend and Southern Black girl magic. Dark academia meets secret societies in this gripping fantasy debut.
Legendborn (The Legendborn Cycle #1) - Tracy Deonn
An intense and emotional sequel that dives deeper into identity, legacy, and rebellion—packed with action, lore, and heartbreak.
Oathbound (The Legendborn Cycle, #3) by Tracy Deonn
A book that expands the Legendborn universe, revealing hidden truths and deepening the emotional stakes. Best read between Legendborn and Bloodmarked.
Bloodmarked (The Legendborn Cycle, #2) by Tracy Deonn
A wild, fourth-wall-breaking tie-in to Gravity Falls that turns chaotic and hilarious in all the right ways. Perfect for fans of the show and irreverent storytelling.
The Book of Bill (B&N Exclusive Edition) by Alex Hirsch, Hardcover
A West African-inspired fantasy with powerful world-building, magic, and revolution—epic and emotionally intense.
Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha, #1) by Adeyemi, Tomi
The stakes rise and alliances fray in this darker, high-octane sequel about power, pain, and resistance.
Children of Virtue and Vengeance (#2) by Tomi Adeyemi
A bold, bittersweet finale that challenges heroes and villains alike—heart-wrenching and hopeful in equal measure.
Children of Anguish and Anarchy (Legacy of Orisha, #3) by Tomi Adeyemi
Horror/Suspense
Dark, eerie, and impossible to put down. These stories blend horror with social commentary, historical depth, and slow-building dread. If you like your books unsettling in the best way, start here.
A dark, feminist horror set in a puritanical town cursed by witches—moody, atmospheric, and deeply unsettling.
The Year of the Witching (Bethel, #1) by Alexis Henderson
A haunting, powerful blend of supernatural horror and historical fiction rooted in the Jim Crow South—tense, emotional, and unforgettable.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
Let's Think...
Books that challenged me, taught me, and made me reflect. These reads explore race, gender, power, and history—and they do it with clarity, courage, and urgency.
An eye-opening look at implicit bias, especially in law enforcement and everyday life—scientific, compassionate, and essential.
Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, ...
A powerful reframing of American inequality through the lens of caste systems—illuminating and sobering.
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents: Wilkerson, Isabel
A groundbreaking work on mass incarceration and systemic racism in the U.S.—a must-read for understanding modern injustice.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
A bold, unapologetic critique of mainstream feminism that centers the needs of marginalized women—clear, urgent, and empowering.
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot
A practical and motivational guide to building wealth, especially for women of color—smart, strategic, and confidence-boosting.
We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman's Guide to Earning More, ...
A letter from father to son on race, fear, and Black identity in America—poetic, searing, and beautifully painful.
Between the World and Me: Coates, Ta-Nehisi
A deeply researched account of how white backlash has consistently undercut Black progress—sharp, compelling, and infuriating in the best way.
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide: Anderson, Carol
A short, powerful manifesto on modern feminism—clear, personal, and unforgettable.
We Should All Be Feminists: Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi
A raw, reflective memoir on navigating race and faith as a Black woman in white spaces—honest, heartfelt, and deeply human.
I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
A remix of Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning—accessible, fast-paced, and a great primer on the history of racist ideas in America.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award ...
Contemporary Fiction
Thoughtful, character-driven stories that stay with you. These books explore identity, love, fame, culture, and the messiness of life—with sharp writing and unforgettable voices.
A deeply moving exploration of race, love, and identity spanning Nigeria, the UK, and the U.S. Honest, introspective, and beautifully written.
Americanah: A novel - Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi
A glamorous, emotional story of an aging Hollywood legend telling her truth—full of secrets, sapphic love, and legacy.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A Novel
Bookworm Beginnings
These are the series that turned me into a book lover—the ones I stayed up late reading with a flashlight, re-read more times than I can count, and still think about to this day. From wizarding worlds and vampire drama to demigods and unlucky orphans...
Where it all begins! Percy finds out he’s not just a regular kid—he’s a demigod. Funny, fast-paced, and full of Greek mythology with a modern twist.
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1): Riordan, Rick
Percy and friends set sail on a rescue mission that leads them into dangerous waters (literally). Think: sea monsters, sibling dynamics, and heroic quests.
The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2): Riordan, Rick
Things get darker and more intense as new characters are introduced and the stakes get higher. A turning point in the series with real emotional weight.
The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3): Riordan, Rick
The crew navigates a magical maze filled with traps, monsters, and secrets. Action-packed and full of clever twists.
The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4) by Rick Riordan
An epic finale that delivers on all the build-up. Heart, humor, and a whole lot of bravery—Percy’s journey comes full circle in the best way.
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5) by Rick Riordan
New heroes, new prophecies, and a Roman twist on the world of demigods. A fresh start with familiar threads that build on the original series.
The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus, Book 1): Riordan, Rick
Percy’s back—kind of. With new friends and memory gaps, this one flips the script while expanding the mythological world.
The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus, Book 2): Riordan, Rick
Greek and Roman demigods unite—and tensions rise. A cross-country quest with clever puzzles, epic battles, and major character growth.
Mark of Athena, The Heroes of Olympus, The Book Three: Riordan, Rick
Emotional, intense, and beautifully written. Characters face their darkest fears (and the literal Underworld) in this unforgettable installment.
The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus, Book 4)
The final showdown brings all the threads together. Big battles, big decisions, and a satisfying wrap-up to a truly ambitious series.
Blood of Olympus, The-Heroes of Olympus (#5) by Rick Riordan
The god Apollo is cast down to Earth as a mortal teen (yep, acne and all). Hilarious, chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt.
The Trials of Apollo, Book 1: The Hidden Oracle: Riordan, Rick
Apollo’s quest continues through the American Midwest with strange new enemies and quirky companions. Laugh-out-loud funny with sharp emotional beats.
Dark Prophecy, The Trials of Apollo, The Book Two: Riordan, Rick
A turning point in the series—darker and deeper. This one hits hard emotionally while keeping the action going strong.
Burning Maze, The Trials of Apollo, The Book Three: Riordan, Rick
Apollo struggles with loss, loyalty, and leadership as he tries to rally Roman forces. Poignant and full of character development.
Tyrant's Tomb, The Trials of Apollo, Book Four by Rick Riordan
A strong, redemptive finale. Apollo comes full circle as he faces his final test—both godly and human. Emotional, satisfying, and well-earned.
The Tower of Nero-Trials of Apollo, The Book Five: Riordan, Rick