Thursday Tea Time- Black Lives Matter Novels at the Top of My TBR

Alright everyone, confession time. I have not been making the effort to be antiracist like I should. I am guilty of so many little thongs. The biggest behavorior was some thing that I brought up to my husband the other night.

Essentially, when I used to walk home from after work and school I would catch myself getting nervous if I found myself walking and a black man was walking behind me or in front me. It didn’t happen all the time but it happened enough that it gave me pause. Honestly there is no excuse for it and I’m trying to do better. All I can say is I’m sorry, I’m trying to do better and I am trying to call white family and friends out when I see or hear anything.

Anyway, all this reflecting has motivated me to move books written by black authors about black characters to the top of my TBR.

If we left your favorite book off our list let know! We are always lookong for way to grow our TBRs.

If you want to see some nonfiction titles we love on the topic you can find that post here.

Adult Fiction

The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare

This book has been at the top of my list forever. It’s follows a young Nigerian girl, who runs away from the family to whom she was sold, in order to go and get an education. I think what has kept me from reading this book is the comments I keep hearing about the struggle with the writing style/dialect. I am determined to push through and read it this month though.

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

I have read some of Jesmyn’s Ward’s other books. This particular short novel follows our fourteen years old protagonist who spends much of the novel helping her brother prepare for a hurricane. They are an impoverished family and it makes the story difficult but necessary to read.

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon

While reviews are mixed on this contemporary romance it follows three women who are catfished by the same guy. While this novel is a romance there is a heavy emphasis on female friendship in this book and it sounds positively delightful.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

I feel like I don’t need to give this book much introduction. It essentially follows two sisters who ran away from their hometown as teenagers. When the novel opens one of the sisters has returnee to the town The Vanishing Half tackles issues of race, identity and figuring out who you really are in a world that expects so mich.

Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden

This is the only adult sci-fi novel on this list but I love me a good science fiction book and think it’s time to pick up this book (whose ARC has been sitting on my bookshelf for far too long). As a group works to strip a high tech spaceship during it final voyage things go terribly terribly wrong.

YA Fiction

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayton

The synopsis of this book sounds like The Handmaid’s Tale meets Cinderella and I am here for it! Plus it includes a queer romance which make it a perfect for Pride month. I love twisted takes on classics fairytale and this novel fits the bill to a T.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Another beautiful cover this contemporary fantasy following Bree who is trying to run away from her problems and finds a monster hunting secret society and discovers that magic that runs through her own veins in the process.

The Court of Miracles by Lester Grant

I just started this Les Mis retelling and it is so good so far. Nina’s adopted sister Ettie catches the eye of the leader of one of the guilds Nina must decide whether she will let the guilds fall into war or lose her beloved sister forever.

Given by Nandi Taylor

I have had every intention of reading this book forever. It’s a ya shapeshifter romance set at a magical school and is Nandi’s debut. While reviews are mixed a lot of them have praised the way it explores unknown cultures and identity.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Every thing about this book sounds amazing from it’s gorgeous cover to the premise which includes rigging ones way into a contest with plenty of political intrigue and west African folklore. I was able to get a copy from a black-owned independent bookstore called: Semicolon in Chicago, IL.

What About You?

What did you think about our list? Will you be picking any of these up? Tell us all about it in the comments and see the image below for black-owned bookstores you can support.