February 12, 2022

Valentine’s Day Reads Celebrating Black Love

Our love language…book suggestions

Valentine’s Day Reads Celebrating Black Love

Our love language…book suggestions

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Tia Williams, author of Seven Days in June, shares her book recommendations celebrating Black love that you can read during the month of romance. From vampires to the classic that introduced us to Taye Diggs, read on for her love list.

REEL by Kennedy Ryan

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REEL unites two of my favorite things in the world – Black creatives and Hollywood. The ultra-passionate story follows Neevah, an aspiring actress, and Cannon, a famous director, as they create a movie together about a 1930 singer who was the toast of Europe; but died in obscurity. It shines a light on the lives of Black artists then and now, which is fascinating – but it’s also one of the rare love stories that touches on chronic illness (something close to my heart).

THE GILDA STORIES by Jewelle L. Gomez

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Vampires! Louisiana! Historical fiction! I love everything about this lush classic. It follows the story of a little girl who escapes from slavery in 1850 and is taken in by two female vampires, an enigmatic lesbian couple. What follows is a lifetime of adventures both dark and delightfully lusty. Gomez writes about desire in such an evocative way.

REBEL by Beverly Jenkins

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Beverly Jenkins is the historical romance queen! I love this one about a schoolteacher who moves to New Orleans to help formerly enslaved people adjust to freedom. When she meets a wealthy architect who shares her same passion, she discovers that he’s more than an ally, he’s her soulmate. This is a multi-layered, slow-burn romance that’s worth it, every step of the way.

A PRINCESS IN THEORY by Alyssa Cole

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This is the perfect read for a rainy Saturday – just curl up with Alyssa Cole’s masterpiece, and get swept away in a delicious fantasy. The story follows Naledi, a grad school student who finds that she’s somehow betrothed to an African prince, Thabiso. What follows is a case of mistaken identity, friends-to-lovers sexiness, and a love story that’ll stick with you long after the last page.

AMERICANAH by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie

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AMERICANAH isn’t technically a romance novel, but the central love story is completely irresistible and compelling. Nigerian high school sweethearts Ifemelu and Obinze break up because of an epic misunderstanding, grief, and geography (she moves to America, he moves to England). Later, they realize that their connection is too deep to be forgotten. Such a beautiful story about the risks we take for love.

HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK by Terry McMillan

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A classic. Period. (And not just because the film introduced us to Taye Diggs). This novel tells the story of a forty-two-year-old investment analyst and single mom, who’s holding way too many balls in the air. She goes on a Jamaican vacay with her best friend, and accidentally falls in wild love with a guy half her age. Revolutionary when it was written, it’s still a dreamy, aspirational tale of impossible love.