Winter is coming, Rosettes! Let’s face it: we’re not going to want to be outside all of the time when winter weather hits. There are so many great reads by up-and-coming Black authors on the shelves these days, why not crack open a new book? If you’d rather get a good read in than face old man winter, we’re with you — this one’s for the book-lovers looking to cozy up to a great read this season!
The Other Black Girl - Zakiya Dalila Harris
Set against the backdrop of New York City’s publishing world, the Other Black Girl is a thriller that follows the story of two young women as they navigate that world (where author Zakiya Dalila Harris also got her start). The novel has been called “essential reading” by Terry McMillan and promises a story full of unexpected twists and original storylines. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking tale that’s part thriller, part social commentary and analysis, you’ll want to give the Other Black Girl a read.
Legendborn - Tracy Deonn
Sci-fi or fantasy fan? Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn is for you. This fantasy tale set in modern times is about a young girl who faces tragedy and loss which sends her spiraling on a journey full of magic and supernatural forces that she never anticipated. Although technically a YA novel, Legendborn is a page-turner for readers of any age, blending Southern African-American folktales with Arthurian legend to create an unforgettable story.
The Final Revival of Opal and Nev - Dawnie Walton
The music scene in 1970s Detroit was one-of-a-kind, to say the least. The Final Revival of Opal and Nev takes us back there, with the story of Opal, a Black creative and musician who found her place (and a lot of backlash and violence) in the rock ‘n’ roll scene during that time. The tale is fiction but all as enthralling as if the “afro-punk before that term existed” band were actual underground legends.
Sugar - Bernice L. McFadden
The first part of a two-part series, Sugar centers around an unlikely and transformational friendship between two women with very different lives. While the author, Bernice McFadden wasn’t raised in the South herself, her mother was, and the authenticity of the connection shines through. The novel places Southern African-American culture at the forefront with vibrant imagery, folksy characters, and familiarities reminiscent of Zora Neale Hurston.
The Sweetest Remedy - Jane Igharo
Born in Nigeria and raised in Canada, Jane Igharo knows the feeling of being connected to two lands and explores this in her latest, the Sweetest Remedy. Centered around a young American discovering her Nigerian roots after the passing of the father she has never known and set in Banana Island, the Sweetest Remedy is a novel about family, ancestral roots, tradition, love, self-discovery and so much more.
There’s nothing quite like cozying up to a book when the weather outside is frightful. What books are on your to-read list this winter?
Honoring the Best Black Authors With These Cozy Reads
by Eartha Terrell – December 03, 2021
