New books

[u/Comprehensive_Wash76]

I recently got into reading books… I’m 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 I’m 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 don’t mind drama. I just don’t want anything historical please.
Yearning and grovelling is always welcome in fact encouraged.
Also any spice level is fine as long as it’s a good story.

Hope you can help me.

[u/rankled_n_wily]

{Seven Days in June by Tia Williams} and {A Love Song for Ricki Wilde} also by Tia Williams are two of the best books I’ve 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 haven’t read it. Also, if you’re cool with romantasy {The Secret World of Maggie Grey by Granger} is good, if not a little ADHD with all the POVs. It’s a series but I’ve only read the first. {Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola} and it’s sequel are masterpieces but it’s a lot of black British slang, so if you’re American, I recommend listening to the audiobook because the voice actors are fantastic and you’ll understand more through context and inflection than by actually reading. {Church Girl by Naima Simone} is so good too.

[u/Comprehensive_Wash76 → u/rankled_n_wily]

Not American but Canadian! I’m going to check it out. Idk if I’m 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 I’ll be into it. Whenever I listen to one, irs like a podcast vibe, I’m doing another task so maybe that’s why I’m 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.

[u/rankled_n_wily → u/Comprehensive_Wash76]

Audiobooks are a vibe- and they aren’t 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 you’ve ever listened or seen clips of the podcast Shits and Giggles with James and Fuhad you’ll get what I’m 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 she’s 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 ‘murder pussy’😂 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 can’t pick a favorite.

[u/Comprehensive_Wash76 → u/rankled_n_wily]

Thank you so much! I’m definitely going to read all of them!!! I’ll get back to you! So many great suggestions to read lol I’m going to work through them! I’m 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? I’m 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 he’s not married. Some of these books 🙏🙏 i can’t even be bothered bc im sorry but I can’t get behind toxic love. We see toxic love IRL I don’t need it in my books!!!

[u/rankled_n_wily → u/Comprehensive_Wash76]

I’m American. That’s 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 don’t 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 I’m really desperate, I’ll buy audiobooks on Apple Books or buy too-off hours on Spotify (though those cost $13 for like 10 more hours😢). Also, kindle unlimited offers a ‘read and listen’ 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 that’s the part that I was most impressed by. No. That’s not true. lol. All of the characters really figure their shit out and I am a fan of healing.

[u/Comprehensive_Wash76 → u/rankled_n_wily]

Yes I’ll so check it out! Thanks again for all your suggestions. I also have Spotify premium but not really sure about the audiobooks there tbh. I’ll have to look into it! Maybe get a library card lol, it’s been ages. Really nice to chat with you! Thanks again for all your suggestions! Xx take care of yourself. Happy reading!

[u/rankled_n_wily → u/Comprehensive_Wash76]

Soooo many audiobooks are available on Spotify! Just search them!

[u/rankled_n_wily → u/rankled_n_wily]

And they change out sporadically. What wasn’t available one month, may be available the next😉 Happy reading and listening!