February Isn't the Only Month To Read Black Books

Black Authors on my 2025 TBR

February isn’t the only month to read black books, however in the spirit of celebrating Black History Month I thought I’d share different books on my 2025 TBR, or that should be on yours, by black authors.

🌟The Dark Star Trilogy by Marlon James| Fantasy

Black Leopard Red Wolf & Moon Witch, Spider King

“Drawing from African history and mythology and his own rich imagination, Marlon James has written an adventure that's also an ambitious, involving read. Defying categorization and full of unforgettable characters, Black Leopard, Red Wolf explores the fundamentals of truths, the limits of power, the excesses of ambition, and our need to understand them all.”

I’ve started Black Leopard and so far I’m entranced. Like any other fantasay or book written before or with the cadence of pre 1950s, it’s takes me the first 50 pages to orient myself. But after that we’re in a wild ride, full of culture, interesting characters, and mystery. The 3rd book hasn’t been released yet.

Shop Marlon James: https://bookshop.org/contributors/marlon-james-a7fbfe59-48d5-40a4-b124-614cdfa8160a

🌟Lone Women by Victor LaValle | Audio Rec

“Crafted by a modern master of magical suspense, Lone Women blends shimmering prose, an unforgettable cast of adventurers who find horror and sisterhood in a brutal landscape, and a portrait of early-twentieth-century America like you’ve never seen. And at its heart is the gripping story of a woman desperate to bury her past—or redeem it.”

Wanted to throw this out there as an audio book recommendation. I started listening and I’m about half way through. It’s extremely immersive from the first few sentences, you’re immediately there with Adelaide in this world as she navigates a brand new beginning.

Shop more Victor LaValle: https://bookshop.org/p/books/lone-women-victor-lavalle/18590054?ean=9780525512103&next=t&next=t

🌟Seven Days In June by Tia Williams |Romance

“Eva Mercy is a single mom and bestselling erotica writer. Shane Hall is a reclusive, award-winning novelist. When the two meet at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their buried traumas, but the eyebrows of the Black literati. What no one knows is that when they were teenager, Eva and Shane spent one crazy week madly in love. They can pretend they've never met, but they can't deny their chemistry--or the fact that they've been secretly writing to each other in their books through the years. With its keen observations of creative life in America today, as well as the joys and complications of being a mother and a daughter, Seven Days in June is a hilarious star crossed romance.”

So I read this last spring and I’m wanting to do a reread this year because it’s just that good! Eva and Shane has crazy hot and beautiful, yet deep chemistry that leaps off the page. A second chance romance will always get me excited, the sexy scenes are written well, and the little nods to DC (where the characters and I grew up) warms my heart. PLEASE READ THIS!

Shop Tia Williams: https://bookshop.org/p/books/seven-days-in-june-tia-williams/17653844?ean=9781538719091&next=t&next=t

🌟Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler|Fiction\Distopian

“When global climate change and economic crises lead to social chaos in the early 2020s, California becomes full of dangers, from pervasive water shortage to masses of vagabonds who will do anything to live to see another day. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding anarchy. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy, a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions. Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.”

This has been on my TBR for a minute, can’t believe I still haven’t read it! Thanks to my sister for lending me her copy in November. I’m planning to speed through this soon :)

---

What black authors are on your TBR for the year?

XOXO,
Ali Ann