2018 isn’t even decomposing in its grave and I am on my THANK U, NEXT!
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As for books authored by or with black lead characters, the lists are growing longer every year as we somehow managed to convince the publishing gods that black folk are indeed literate and since The Emancipation Proclamation (also Juneteenth) aka, the end of institutionalized American slavery, now have the hard-earned coins to happily spend on living our best lit(erature) lives. These lovely books aren’t just for black readers, they are stories that should be read and cherished no matter your race/ethnicity. I’m anticipating a great number of books in 2019, but right now we are talking about books by or centered on African diasporic characters.
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I’m all about the sequel in 2019. Are you ready to be blessed by good book 2 juju, because I am!
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On The Come Up by Angie Thomas (out February 5th) though not technically a sequel, is the highly anticipated second novel by the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning The Hate U Give.
Amazon / Local Indie Bookstore
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Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.
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Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi, out March 5th. The sequel of Children of Blood and Bone, which I (like most folks with taste) loved. It was one of the most anticipated releases of 2018 and I hope book 2 slays 2019 just as hard.
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The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton, out March 5th. In this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, The Belles, Camille must race against time to find Princess Charlotte and help return her to the castle and Charlotte’s rightful place as queen.
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A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney, out September 24th. The sequel to A Blade So Black, where Alice goes deeper into a dark version of Wonderland. L.L. McKinney crafts a character that is as interesting, woke, black and unapologetic as her twitter feed.
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Let’s Talk Adult Fiction:
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An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma, Out January 8th. Being called a contemporary twist on the Odyssey, this book is a heart-breaking story about a Nigerian poultry farmer who sacrifices everything to win the woman he loves.
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Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James, out February 5th. I love a good fantasy novel and the genre notoriously lacks inclusivity of any kind. In a space where literally anything is possible, the lead characters are notoriously bi-ped humanoids of European descent, so I am excited about this one.
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Set in Ancient Africa, a hunter named Tracker follows the scent of a lost boy and ends up working with a group of mysterious and secret individuals to try to find him — including a shapeshifting man/animal named Leopard. Their journey becomes fraught with danger when creatures have set out to kill them making Tracker wonder who this boy is and why does it seem people are intent on having him not find him.
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray, out February 19th. Anissa had me at hello, this title is everything.
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The Mothers meets An American Marriage in this dazzling debut novel about mothers and daughters, identity and family, and how the relationships that sustain you can also be the ones that consume you.
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Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, out March 19th. A book about a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London balancing cultural duality and adulting.
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Bridget Jones’s Diary meets Americanah in this disarmingly honest, boldly political, and truly inclusive novel that will speak to anyone who has gone looking for love and found something very different in its place.
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Historical fiction is my jam and I can’t wait to get my hands on these new additions.
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American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson, out February 10th. Set in the 1980’s, this novel centers around the Cold War and Marie Mitchell, an intelligence officer with the FBI. A brilliant, young black woman navigating an old boys’ club. After hitting a brick ceiling in her career, she’s given the opportunity to join a shadowy task force.
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What if your sense of duty required you to betray the man you love? One woman struggles to choose between her honor and her heart in this enthralling espionage drama set against an unforgettable historical backdrop.
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The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins, out May 21st.
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A servant and former slave is accused of murdering her employer and his wife in this astonishing historical thriller that moves from a Jamaican sugar plantation to the fetid streets of Georgian London.
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The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, out July 16th. Based on the real story of a reform school that operated for one hundred and eleven years and warped the lives of thousands of children, Colson Whitehead dramatizes another strand of American history through the story of two boys sentenced to a hellish reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida.
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Rebel (Women Who Dare) by Beverly Jenkins, out May 28th. Beverly Jenkins has a knack for painting a vivid picture of a historical period that is enlightening and enthralling. Her Historical Romance novels aren’t all corsets and heaving cleavages. While there are corsets and heaving cleavages where applicable, her stories are a beautiful balance of history and romance.
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The first novel in USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins’s compelling new series follows a Northern woman south in the chaotic aftermath of the Civil War…
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Yes, I am a grown woman who LOVES Young and New Adult Novels, coming of age stories are inspiring at any age:
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Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard, out January 3rd.
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Life as a half-mortal teenager should be epic. But, for Helen Thomas, it’s tragic. She’s just moved in with her dorky dad and self-absorbed older siblings – who happen to be the ancient Greek gods, living incognito in London! Between keeping her family’s true identities secret, trying to impress her new friends, and meeting an actually cute boy, Helen’s stress levels are higher than Mount Olympus.”
Amazon / Local Indie Bookstore
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Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America by Ibi Zoboi, out January 8th.
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A star-studded anthology edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi that will delve into the closeted thoughts, hidden experiences, and daily struggles of black teens across the country. From a spectrum of backgrounds—urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—Black Enough showcases diversity within diversity.
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Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds, out March 12th.
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Debut author Justin A. Reynolds delivers a hilarious and heartfelt novel about the choices we make, the people we choose, and the moments that make a life worth reliving. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and John Green.
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With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo, out May 19th.
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Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago’s life has been about making the tough decisions—doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela. The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness.
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The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert, out August 20th.
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Perfect for fans of Nina LaCour and Nicola Yoon comes a novel about first love and secrets from Stonewall Book Award winner Brandy Colbert. Dove “Birdie” Randolph works hard to be the perfect daughter and follow the path her parents have laid out for her: She quit playing her beloved soccer, she keeps her nose buried in textbooks, and she’s on track to finish high school at the top of her class. But then Birdie falls hard for Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past…whom she knows her parents will never approve of.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and if I missed any, comment below with books by or centered on black characters that you are anticipating in 2019!
[Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on a link and purchase something I’ve talked about or recommended, I’ll receive a very small percentage of the sale (which is always a blessing when you are raising kids in Southern California).]
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