Fifteen Black Authors to consider adding to your TBR for Black History Month. This list includes writers of various genres.
These books are the works that I have added to my Book List for this month. I pick my reads based on recommendations, book covers, titles, or vibes (LOL, seriously). I like to have the least amount of information before I begin reading. I prefer to find out the plot while it unfolds. The fact that I read all of the descriptions for the books mentioned here shows my unfaltering love for you, my dear reader. *Siri, insert heart emoji*
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Money, Business, & History
Shomari Willis, Black Fortunes, Publ. 2018
This book explores the first black men and women who made it out of slavery and became millionaires. I started this book in 2019 after I first came across it. I forgot all about it until recently when I was looking through my kindle books.
Cassandra Cummings, Fearless Finances, Publ. 2022
Fearless Finances was written by the founder of Stocks and Stilettos.This book helps the women who have good money habits and want to learn how to compound their money via stocks and other options.
Dennis Kimbro & Napoleon Hill,
Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice, Orig. Publ. 1991
If you’ve read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill this may be a book to add to your To Be Read. Dennis Kimbro was asked by the Napoleon Hill Foundation to complete Hill’s work on this book. Kimbro understands the challenges and pressures we face as a culture and includes this in the book. He teaches through stories of well known athletes and business women/men.
Troy Millings & Rashad Bilal,
You Deserve to Be Rich, Publ. 2025
If you’ve heard of Earn Your Leisure (EYL), EYL University, or Invest Fest, you likely already are familiar with Rashad and Troy. They touch on the psychological aspects of living and growing up in households that live paycheck to paycheck, how to create passive income streams, how to choose a side hustles while working a job, and much more.
Faith
Kachelle Kelly, Boss Women Pray, Publ. 2015
I’ve read this book every year for the past few years, It is a the perfect companion for female entrepreneurs who want to draw nearer to God through prayer
Relationship
Nedra Glover Tawwab,
Set Boundaries, Find Peace, Publ. 2021
Read this book if you need help with communicating and setting boundaries. If you’ve seen Nedra online, you already know this woman always encourages boundary setting, and healing. If you live in or grew up in a toxic environment her book, Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships, would be a good one to add to your reading list.
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Faith Jenkins, Sis, Don’t Settle, Publ. 2021
Judge Faith Jenkins hosted Divorce Court and had her own show called Judge Faith for many years. I think it goes with out saying that she has seen all kinds of scenarios when it comes to love and marriage.This book gives her insights.
Shiro Ndune, Date Like Cleopatra, Publ. 2025
I came across this book when watching one of my favorite Feminine Energy Coaches, Alexis Smith. I heard the title and immediately added it to my book list for this month. I have included a description form Amazon: “Tired of playing by the rules that society has set for women in love? Shiro Ndune invites you to break free from the outdated ‘good girl’ paradigm that keeps you from owning your worth and enjoying fulfilling relationships”
Romance
Kennedy Ryan,
Before I Let Go (Skyland, Book 1), Publ. 2022
The story of a divorced couple who parted ways and finds their way back to each other. All of Kennedy Ryan’s books that I’ve read have explore some form of grief, love, loss, and other mental challenges everyday women, especially black women, face, I know this book will be no different. I cherish her books and her writing style.
Kristina Forest,
The Neighbor Favor (Greene Sisters, Book 1), Publ. 2023
This summary from Penguin House gives us what we need to know before we pick up this one.”A shy bookworm enlists her charming neighbor to help her score a date, not knowing he’s the obscure author she’s been corresponding with, in this sparkling and heart-fluttering romance by Kristina Forest.”
Fantasy
Tracy Deonn, Oathbound
(The Legendborn Cycle, Book 3), Rel. March 2025
I enjoyed the first two books in this series, Legendborn and Bloodmarked. If you are into retellings of the legend of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, or Excalibur, this is a book to check out. If you love all of the above mixed with some Black Girl Magic, then run to go pick up Book 1, Legendborn.
Natasha Bowen, Skin of the Sea
(Mermaids of Orissa, Book 1), Publ. 2022
Skin of the Sea is the first book in the series Mermaids of Orissa by Nigerian-Welsh author Natasha Bowen. A Mami Wata, mermaid, breaks a long-standing decree to save a human. She is now on a quest to make amends with the Supreme Creator or else she won’t be able to ensure the safety of the other Mami Wata.
Historical Fiction
Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Take My Hand, Publ. 2022
From Dolen’s website: “Inspired by true events that rocked the nation, a profoundly moving novel about a Black nurse in post-segregation Alabama who blows the whistle on a terrible wrong done to her patients, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wench.”
As a black women I have more than one idea of what she means by “a terrible wrong.” I myself, have experienced various forms of malpractice and prejudice by medical professionals whom I thought were on my side. I know this book will be relatable and also heartbreaking.
Initially, I did not know what this book was about. I added it to my TBR because I liked the title and book cover. After reading the book synopsis, I am even more convinced that I chose well when choosing this book.
Charmaine Wilkerson, Black Cake, Publ. 2022
You may have heard of the T.V. show Black Cake that aired on Hulu. I had heard people mentioning it, but never knew what it was about. This is an excerpt form Charmaine’s website: Byron and Benny haven’t seen each other in years. Now these estranged siblings must set aside their differences to deal with their mother’s hidden past. When their mother Eleanor dies in California, they are left with a puzzling inheritance: a traditional Caribbean black cake and a voice recording whose contents will change Byron and Benny’s lives.
Thriller & Mystery
Alyssa Cole, When No One is Watching, Publ. 2020
A book that brings up a heavy topic: gentrification. The main character is concerned about the constant loss of so many of her neighbors. These are people who she’s grown up with and around all her life. They seem to be disappearing more and more often. Fed up, she dives into the history of her community to find out what is gong on. The answers she and her neighbor discover are both alarming and frightening.
Have you read any of these books? Are you adding any to your Reading List for this month?
With Love,
Lana
