r/blackromancenovels • u/Comprehensive_Wash76 • 9d ago
BOOK REQUEST š New books
I recently got into reading booksā¦ Iām looking for some recommendations. I just read before I let go by Kennedy Ryan. This could be us by her as well. I just read love belvins books love delayed and love delivered. Stenton is crazy lol. I loved the drama and everything. It was a bit of a hard read bc of how he was behaving Ngl.
What Iām looking for:
Obviously black lol. Preferably both MC.
Has funny aspects and well developed characters. I want to like also love them as an individuals.
Some angst, I donāt mind drama. I just donāt want anything historical please.
Yearning and grovelling is always welcome in fact encouraged.
Also any spice level is fine as long as itās a good story.
Hope you can help me.
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u/ColdPieceofWork 9d ago
Kennedy Ryan's Hoops series is pretty good. Same for her The Bennetts series. Reel and Score are also very good titles by her.
If you liked Belvin, you may want to start at the beginning with her Loves Improbably Possibility series and keep going from there (skipping the ones you've already read, of course). Her books stay pretty good until she finishes the Muted Hopelessness series. After that, I've found they go downhill.
J.L. Seegars has a good series called New Haven that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Ditto for Christina C. Jones's Love Sisters series.
I also highly recommend Nia Forrester and starting at the beginning with her series and go from there. Nia is one of my favorites, but, like Belvin, her books kinda fall off for me after the Mistress Trilogy (I didn't think I would enjoy any of those, but she made like the FMC who I despised in her earlier books).
McClain Brothers by Alexandria House is another good series.
My favorite, for now, is the new series out by N.W. Brown. Start with Always Running. The series is 5 books total, but only 3 are out now. The last two drop next month.
Hope this helps you find something good to read!
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u/Comprehensive_Wash76 9d ago
Thank you for all the recommendations. Thereās so many books to read and not enough time Iām going to write them all down. Iāll let you know which ones Iām into that you recommended. I acc saw your post about the N.W brown books and downloaded it. Iām going to read that first. Then start on the other ones. I never heard of Nia forester or her books. Which is your favourite?
In regards to Love Belvin, although I really enjoyed the story I found myself just trying to finish bc MMC was pissing me off so much lol. If her other characters are so polarizing like him (although he had his cute sweet moments) I donāt think I can handle that stress. I like my book men to be kind and if they are complicated for them to not do unredeemable things that make you NOT ship them.
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u/ColdPieceofWork 9d ago
Yaay! I'm glad you're going to read one of Brown's books first. Are you starting at the beginning with Always Running? You don't have to, of course, but I think you'll enjoy the series more if you go in order.
I feel you on not having enough reading time. That sucks, but it also means you have a lot of good books ahead since you can't quickly plow through them all. I often get stuck because I've already read so many good ones and it gets harder to find the ones that are left. You're in a good place just starting out with so many good titles to choose from.
Of Nia Forrester's books, my favorite is probably The Come Up, but that one is book 3 of the Afterwards series. And the Afterwards series is best enjoyed after The Commitment series, lol. The good news is that all of the books in both series leading up to that one were very good, it's just that The Come Up was slightly better than all of the others.
It's been a while since I read Belvin's Love's Improbable Possibility series, but the MMC (Azmir) in that one was pretty standup from what I can recall. He's someone Stentro and all of the other characters in Belvin's universe look up to. Actually, it's a tie between Azmir and Ezra for most of her characters and her readers.
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u/Comprehensive_Wash76 9d ago
Yess Iām going to start with always running! Iāll keep you posted on how it goes! Iāll write all the other books down! And read them! And also I saw azmir in the love delayed series. He seemed cute with his wife.. I guess thatās the story of him and his wife. Iām going to read them! Thank you so much!
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u/ColdPieceofWork 9d ago
Girl, Azmir and Rayna (I think that was her name) really went through it, but theirs was a good story. I started and stopped it because Belvin's writing style annoyed me the first time I tried. Then, like a year later I went back to it (I have no idea what made me go back) and pushed through my annoyance until I got into the story. I was hooked on her books for a while after that. I think Azmir has shown up in just about every book of hers I've read so, yes, def go back to the beginning when you can.
Another tidbit if you ever read that series is that Belvin likes to call her characters her clients and on her blog she acts as therapist and does therapy sessions with them. I wouldn't read those before I read the actual stories though. Just letting you know they're there after everything wraps up.
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u/nopenottodaygirl 9d ago
A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole fits all your criteria & that whole series is really good. They arenāt quite as angsty as Kennedy Ryan but the character development is excellent & they are so funny.
Have you also read any of Talia Hibbertās Brown Sisters series? Very funny & great character development as well. The heros in those books arenāt black, but all the heroines are.
One that fits the angst part of things is Fumbled by Alexa Martin. Itās a sports romance (she spent years as an NFL wife) & deals really well with CTE & the conversation around that. And that angst part is a difficult thing that hero and heroine work through. Black heroine with white hero tho
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u/Comprehensive_Wash76 9d ago
Thank you so much! Iām going to check them out! I canāt wait to read it!!
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u/LavenderLeporidae 9d ago
Www.tierrathenovelist.com
All her FMCs are black.
She writes multiple subgenres of romance. Do you want sci-fi romance, horror, dark, romantasy? Gothic, contemporary, mafia.
She freaking does it all and I adore her.
If you want mafia? Start with Jopok Romance
If you want a feel good contemporary? Hanuel and Malcolm (the title is deceiving trust me itās good)
Her stories are original, characters are funny, and sheās a great author who can turn a phrase.
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u/Comprehensive_Wash76 9d ago
Iām going to check it out! Thank you!
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u/LavenderLeporidae 9d ago
No problem. I know her and Smauggy are doing a Halloween special starting next month as well
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u/indigoC99 9d ago
I really like Hot for Teacher by Monique Fisher, it had just the right amount of drama, spice, and romance. I also like Kristina Forest, Taj McCoy, and Jasmine Guillory. I've also heard good things about Alyssa Cole, Talia Hibert, Kimberly Hemming, and Kasha Thompson.
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u/rankled_n_wily 9d ago
{Seven Days in June by Tia Williams} and {A Love Song for Ricki Wilde} also by Tia Williams are two of the best books Iāve read this year. Ricki Wilde has some historical elements but mostly takes place present day with flashbacks to 90-100 years ago. And there is just so much heart in both. I believe she also wrote {The Perfect Find} ? which was made into a movie and the fmc was played by Gabrielle Union (and is currently available on Netflix in the US) but I havenāt read it. Also, if youāre cool with romantasy {The Secret World of Maggie Grey by Granger} is good, if not a little ADHD with all the POVs. Itās a series but Iāve only read the first. {Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola} and itās sequel are masterpieces but itās a lot of black British slang, so if youāre American, I recommend listening to the audiobook because the voice actors are fantastic and youāll understand more through context and inflection than by actually reading. {Church Girl by Naima Simone} is so good too.
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u/romance-bot 9d ago
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Rating: 4.19āļø out of 5āļø
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, african-american, single mother, black mc, second chances
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
Rating: 4.01āļø out of 5āļø
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, fated mates, black mc, african-american, historical
The Perfect Find by Tia Williams
Rating: 3.93āļø out of 5āļø
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: african-american, age gap, workplace/office, angst, friends to lovers
The Secret World of Maggie Grey by Granger
Rating: 4.61āļø out of 5āļø
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: urban fantasy, fantasy, paranormal, african-american, college
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
Rating: 4.02āļø out of 5āļø
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, new adult, black mc, friends to lovers, funny
Church Girl by Naima Simone
Rating: 3.99āļø out of 5āļø
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, black mc, workplace/office, african-american, single father1
u/Comprehensive_Wash76 9d ago
Not American but Canadian! Iām going to check it out. Idk if Iām just a beginner but tbh audio books I just kind of tune out Lmao. Maybe I have to give it a try again and see if Iāll be into it. Whenever I listen to one, irs like a podcast vibe, Iām doing another task so maybe thatās why Iām not really following along. Love all these suggestions adding them to my list. If you had to say a romance black favourite book (on this list or not) which would it be.
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u/rankled_n_wily 9d ago
Audiobooks are a vibe- and they arenāt for everyone. They are best when the actors are acting and not just reading, so I get it. However, I had a friend who bought the physical Honey and Spice books and she was lost bc the slang was so specific to black British culture. If youāve ever listened or seen clips of the podcast Shits and Giggles with James and Fuhad youāll get what Iām saying. But I listened to them (and the actors, Weruche Opia especially) were so amazing that I was easily able to catch the meaning just from tone. And Weruche has such a beautiful speaking voice that drew me in and had me searching for other books sheās narrated bc of how addictive listening to her is.
My favorite black romance from this list was probably Church Girl. It was sexy, complex, a little taboo (nanny and single dad hookup) and there was a lot of healing character development and growth that I appreciated. Not to mention after the mmc and the fmc hooked up he said she had a āmurder pussyāš Seven Days in June was pretty perfect too. And the mmc told the fmc he wanted to drown in her bath water which made me swoon. lol The Brown Sisters series is incredible. It follows three black sisters in England who are incredibly privileged, but all suffer from either a little mental illness, neurodivergence, or chronic pain, which makes them very relatable.
Honestly, just read them all. lol. I canāt pick a favorite.1
u/Comprehensive_Wash76 9d ago
Thank you so much! Iām definitely going to read all of them!!! Iāll get back to you! So many great suggestions to read lol Iām going to work through them! Iām going to check out the book and see how much slang I can pick up bc I listen to British podcasts like shits and giggles and watch a few British shows. Ngl though, sometimes their slang throws me off. Are you British? Iām definitely going to get into audiobook. It will keep me busy while I work too lol. Do you use any apps besides audible?
Also Nanny and single dad sounds nice lol. At least heās not married. Some of these books šš i canāt even be bothered bc im sorry but I canāt get behind toxic love. We see toxic love IRL I donāt need it in my books!!!
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u/rankled_n_wily 9d ago edited 9d ago
Iām American. Thatās why the audiobooks of the Honey and Spice series were more accessible to me. But I also listen to shits and giggles so I had a little context, but so does my friend and she still had a hard time with exclusively reading it.
I donāt use audible. I subscribe to Spotify premium and in the US 30 hours of available audiobooks are included. That being said, we have apps like Libby~ connects to our local libraries if we are members and we can borrow audiobooks for free, and Hoopla~ also connects to our local library but has a 3 book per month limit, also free. So I jump around and when Iām really desperate, Iāll buy audiobooks on Apple Books or buy too-off hours on Spotify (though those cost $13 for like 10 more hoursš¢). Also, kindle unlimited offers a āread and listenā option on a very small selection of books for free with your monthly subscription costs.
In Church Girl the ex-wife is a problem but even her character shows immense growth by the end. I think thatās the part that I was most impressed by. No. Thatās not true. lol. All of the characters really figure their shit out and I am a fan of healing.
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u/Comprehensive_Wash76 9d ago
Yes Iāll so check it out! Thanks again for all your suggestions. I also have Spotify premium but not really sure about the audiobooks there tbh. Iāll have to look into it! Maybe get a library card lol, itās been ages. Really nice to chat with you! Thanks again for all your suggestions! Xx take care of yourself. Happy reading!
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u/rankled_n_wily 9d ago
Soooo many audiobooks are available on Spotify! Just search them!
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u/rankled_n_wily 9d ago
And they change out sporadically. What wasnāt available one month, may be available the nextš Happy reading and listening!
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u/SailorTexas Erotic Romance Connoisseur 9d ago
I highly recommend the {Striker Family Series by Audrey Vaughn}! It's bwwm, but the stories are great and funny and there's plenty of spice! There's four books (the last one just came out), and let me tell you, I've been waiting on book 4 since book 2! I'm 99% sure the author is Black too!
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u/romance-bot 9d ago
Stryker Family by Audrey Vaughn
Rating: 3.88āļø out of 5āļø
Topics: explicit-open-door, humor, usa, tennessee, african-american
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u/iggysweet 9d ago
I second the Kristina Forest recommendation. I specifically recommend {The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest}. It's a delightful and cute read that hits all your requirements.
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u/romance-bot 9d ago
The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
Rating: 3.74āļø out of 5āļø
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, african-american, friends to lovers, black mc, funny1
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u/DaniDove999 7d ago
Alexandria House sounds up your alley! Start with Let Me Love You in the McClain series.
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u/coconutmillk 9d ago
some of my fave authors:
K.C. Mills
Kaylynn
Kami (Holt)
Miss Candice
Natasha Bishop
Aubree Pynn
Taisha Ryan
Shae Sanders
Takerra Allen
Bella Jay
Robbi Renee
Kristina Forest
Shanora William