Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
TBR Must-Reads: Books by Black Authors
22
items From thrillers and sci-fi to romance and historical fiction, some of these I've read, some I'm currently in the middle of, and others have come highly recommended. But every title here is by a Black author worth knowing and every book earned its spot...
This list includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
This list includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
This one has been on my radar and the word of mouth is strong enough that I can't ignore it. Vampire fantasy meets dark academia, with secret societies and a morally gray heroine at the center of it all. The author is already planning to drop book th...
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
What if Harry Potter went to an HBCU? That's how someone described the premise to me and honestly, I immediately bought the book. My partner and I started reading this one together and we're really enjoying it. A compelling protagonist, an HBCU with ...
Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams, Paperback - Barnes & Noble
Werewolves. Vampires. A Black college student getting pulled into an ancient war she never asked for. Readers who loved Vampire Diaries and Twilight will love this one.
Blood Moon by Britney S. Lewis, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®
Post-Civil War historical fantasy where the magic is tied to the constellations. I listened to the audiobook and loved every bit of it. The world-building here is doing a lot and delivering every time.
The Conductors by Nicole Glover, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
This Octavia Butler novel is a must-read for all. This was the first book I read by Butler and it did not disappoint. But I can’t say the same for the tv series adaptation that came out a few years ago. The series made creative liberties that I wasn’...
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
If you loved Wicked, this one belongs on your list. Dorothy comes back to Oz, except this time she's the villain. The whole premise flips the original story we all know on its head, and I am here for it. This has been on my TBR for a while.
Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die Series #1) - Barnes & Noble
Two families. Both with magic. Both able to time travel, but in completely different ways. I listened to this one via audiobook and was hooked. Highly recommend if you like magic systems, layered secrets, and a final battle building in the background...
Heart's Gambit by J.D. Myall, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®
Medusa has always been one of my favorite mythological figures. She gets villainized in the original story, but what was she like before? What was her inner life? That's the premise here, and I'm already hooked. This one's been on my radar and I fina...
I, Medusa: A Novel by Ayana Gray, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®
If fairy tale retellings are your thing, this one is worth a look. It's a contemporary romance take on Beauty and the Beast. I stumbled across it while selling books on Whatnot. Adding it to the radar.
By the Book (A Meant to Be Novel) by Jasmine Guillory, Paperback
A spontaneous trip to England turns into an unforgettable romance with a 50-something woman as the lead. If you're a fan of Jasmine Guillory or just need a cozy read, this one looks like the right call.
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
This one has been sitting on my shelf long enough. A movie adaptation is coming, and I refuse to be the person who sees the film before reading the book. This trilogy features West African mythology, magic, and a world where it's been stripped away f...
Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha Series #1)
I know this one has already appeared on another one of my lists, but it earns the repeat. The idea of each New York City borough having its own superhero avatar that must come together to save the city from a great evil was too good to pass up. Curre...
The City We Became: A Novel by N. K. Jemisin, Paperback
Someone described this as Hidden Figures meets Indiana Jones with magic and I immediately stopped what I was doing and added it to my shelf. That's it. That's the whole comment. Read the series starter, “The Conductors” (also mentioned in this list),...
The Starseekers: A Murder and Magic Novel - Barnes & Noble
A historical novel set in 19th century Victorian England centered around a real-life trial about identity fraud. Zadie Smith takes a stranger-than-fiction scandal and builds a whole world around the people caught up in it. This one is on my TBR.
The Fraud: A Novel by Zadie Smith, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
An actress with everything to prove. A film director with the power to change her life. A Harlem Renaissance biopic that becomes the backdrop for a forbidden romance. This one comes from my Whatnot inventory. I added it because I heard great things a...
Reel by Kennedy Ryan, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
This has been described as a modern day fairy tale set in Harlem. A woman leaves her Atlanta socialite family behind, moves to Harlem, opens a flower shop, and falls into a love story that connects modern Harlem to the Harlem Renaissance. Magic, roma...
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams, Paperback
Frankenstein retelling. That concept alone was enough to get it into my Whatnot inventory and onto this list. Kalynn Bayron is known for fresh takes on classic stories and this one looks like it delivers.
Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®
A skeleton discovered at the bottom of a well in 1972. And the mystery pulls you back into a 1920s Pennsylvania neighborhood where Black and Jewish residents built something together against the odds. If you are a fan of James McBride, you'll definit...
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel (B&N Exclusive Edition)
Ta-Nehisi Coates writing a superhero origin story set during slavery with magical realism woven through it. Oprah's Book Club pick and number one New York Times bestseller. It's currently on my bookshelf and I plan to get to it soon. Stay tunned.
The Water Dancer: A Novel by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Paperback
A Black sheriff. A small Southern town. A serial killer hiding in plain sight behind an evangelical church. S.A. Cosby fits a lot into one book and BookTok has been talking about it since it released. So I want to check it out.
All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
This one has been sitting on my shelf because I know it is going to hit hard. Based on a real reform school that operated for over 100 years and shaped the lives of thousands of children. This is not a light read. Colson Whitehead won the Pulitzer fo...
The Nickel Boys (Pulitzer Prize Winner) - Barnes & Noble
If African mythology, a shape-shifting leopard, and a bounty hunter who may or may not be telling the truth piques your interest, this needs to be added to your TBR. I recently got the audiobook.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf (Dark Star Trilogy #1) - Barnes & Noble