Calvin Walker
Horrific dreams of dying siblings! Sex with the ex! Scandalous family revelations! Yes, that’s how Black authors are kicking of 2025. In the first few months of 2025 alone, we get exciting debut novels, triumphant crossovers from YA to Adult, and the umpteenth book from seasoned voices. It’s official: Black authors are serving up a cornucopia of literature to feast on.
As generic as this next statement might sound, there really is something for every reader. When it comes to celebrating Black writers, that is something I’ll never tire of saying. As I continue to build out reading lists, I am thrilled to dedicate a series to Black authors.
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Isaac’s Song by Daniel Black (January 14, 2025)
There’s nothing like the AIDS crisis to snuff out the joy of a young, Black, gay man, amirite?
That’s precisely what happens to Isaac, a sensitive young man who grew up suppressing so many parts of himself. Searching for a sense of freedom in Chicago, he begins to write his life’s story. This leads him on a journey back to his family roots in Arkansas. In the process, he’s forced to confront generational trauma. His path takes an unexpected turn when a discovery that could reveal long-buried truths or unravel the life he’s built for himself.
Isaac’s Song brings back beloved characters from Black’s Don’t Cry for Me and has been described as both poignant and sweeping.
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson (January 28, 2025)
Charmaine Wilkerson’s Black Cake was such a hit, it was even made into a limited series on Hulu. Now, Wilkerson is back with Good Dirt, a novel that introduces us to Ebby Freeman.
As a young girl, Ebby witnessed the death of her brother Baz and the destruction of a centuries-old family heirloom jar. Because of the Freeman’s high status in their community, this incident becomes a media sensation.
When Ebby’s relationship mysteriously falls apart, it triggers renewed media attention. She escapes to France but realizes her troubles have passports, too. While in France, she learns that the shattered stoneware jar may hold secrets that could illuminate both her family’s history and her own future.
I Think They Love You by Julian Winters (January 28, 2025)
When Denz Carter’s dad retires, he lies about being in a serious relationship. Why? To boost his chances of becoming CEO of the family company of course! To pay off the lie, he reluctantly turns to Braylon, a man who once broke his heart. But their ‘mutually beneficial deal’ quickly gets messy once the kissing and funny texts are introduced.
As they’re faced with their unlikely reunion, both men come to the same conclusion: they are struggling in keeping their fake relationship from turning real.
Winters is already an award-winning author but I Think They Love You marks his debut as an adult Romance writer. And all I’ll say it is refreshing to see more and more Black men such as Winters contributing to this genre.
The Rules of Fortune by Danielle Prescod (February 01, 2025)
I came to know of Danielle Prescod through her Instagram content and became a bit more interested when I learned her sister, Gabby, was on Summer House. I was all in when I realized she was a writer, too.
In her latest novel, Prescod tells the story of Kennedy, a woman who must decide if she wants to preserve her family’s legacy or expose the shocking truth about her father’s rise to power. Let’s take a step back, shall we?
When her billionaire dad dies on the eve of his 70th birthday, her documentary project about him suddenly becomes an investigation. As she digs deeper into the past, she uncovers disturbing truths about how their dynasty was built, creating rifts in her already tense family. Uh…sign me up.
Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (February 4, 2025)
In 1919, Jessie Redmon Fauset moves to New York City. There, she becomes the first Black woman literary editor of The Crisis magazine while carrying on an affair with W.E.B. Du Bois.
By the way, Du Bois is her very married boss.
Despite being a hood rat, Jessie throws herself into discovering young talent like Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen, helping ignite what would become the Harlem Renaissance. As her own novel gains acclaim, Jessie grapples with the personal price of her groundbreaking success and the fight to preserve her legacy.
With over 3 million books in print and an NAACP Image Award for outstanding literary work, Murray has proven she knows how to craft one hell of a good story.
Listen To Your Sister by Neena Viel (February 4, 2025)
25 year old Calla Williams is barely keeping it together as guardian to her teenage brother Jamie. Her other brother, Dre, agreed to help but is nowhere to be found. On top of that, homegirl is plagued by nightmares of their deaths.
When Jamie’s protest activism goes wrong, all 3 siblings flee to a creepy remote cabin. While there, something far more disturbing presents itself. Everyone realizes Calla’s recurring nightmares might have been more than just dreams as reality begins to unravel around them.
Not only does Viel live in a cabin in the woods, but her writing has been described as “Jordan Peele meets Grady Hendrix.” While the Hendrix comparison is underwhelming, the premise and promise of Viel’s debut novel put it on a level all its own.
The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest (February 4, 2025)
Iris Greene is a widowed single mom and a beauty executive. Angel Hughes is an R&B star feeling unfulfilled with the music he’s producing.
The pair randomly meet at her sister’s wedding and crash back into each other’s lives when Angel becomes her brand’s latest ambassador. Despite their chemistry, they struggle to keep things professionals even though all they want to do is figure out if they can find their rhythm together.
This book, the third in a standalone-connected series, comes after the successes of The Neighbor Favor and The Partner Plot.
Spilling the Tea by Brenda Jackson (April 01, 2025)
In Spilling the Tea, Zoey Pritchard shows up at Chance Madaris’ door investigating a scandal that links her dead parents to his wealthy family. Of course, Zoey and Chance immediately dislike each other.
That doesn’t matter all too much to Chance’s great-grandmother, Mama Laverne. She has a goal of finding The One for all of her great-grandchildren, Chance included. We know the answer of ‘will they or won’t they.’ It’s a romance novel, after all. So, the question for readers is if Mama Laverne orchestrated Zoey showing up or was it merely by ‘chance’?
A good enemies-to-lovers story might be one of the more entertaining tropes since we, as humans, are ofeten so annoyed with others. There’s something Considering Jackson has published over 100 romance novels, I’d say she does, too.
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory (April 08, 2025)
Avery Jensen, almost 30 and fresh off a breakup, is ready to shed her uptight ways. She thinks she’s ready to embrace dating, flirting, and fun…but has no idea where to start.
Enter Taylor Cameron, Napa Valley’s biggest flirt, who bets she can teach Avery the ropes. But as their weekly lessons turn into something deeper, Avery and Taylor are forced to face what they’re really feeling for one another.
Before Guillory became That Girl in the Romance genre, she was a lawyer. Thank goodness she embraced her true calling to write. “I just knew I loved doing this,” she said on the Tamron Hall Show. With Flirting Lessons being her 9th book in only 7 years, that sentiment is obvious and her readers agree.
Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (April 08, 2025)
Nikki hasn’t seen her grandmother in years. But when her granny, Mother Rita, calls from the hills of western North Carolina, Nikki sees this as her chance to uncover some truths. What does she find? A tale of the Kingdom of the Happy Land and details how her family’s identity are tied to this land.
Inspired by true events, Happy Land is a multi-generational story about legacy, resilience, and the courage to hold on to what matters most.
In addition to being a bestselling author, Perkins-Valdez last novel, Take My Hand, was named a Most Anticipated Book by publications including Newsweek, Essence, and more.
