Black Lives Matter Recommendations

In an effort to show #blackpublishingpower to the Publishing Industry until June 20th, our goal is to #blackoutbestsellerlist and get some of these amazing Black stories up there! So, if you can, please purchase two Black books before then and, if you can, do so from your local indies! I bought A Song of Wraiths and Ruin and The Jumbies!

I compiled a giant list of Black books that celebrate a variety of Black stories. It’s important to not only read Black stories that illustrate their struggle against racism, but to also read a whole variety of Black stories. I would encourage you to add all of these books to your TBR, to request them at your local library, and to order them from (black owned) indies if you want to purchase them.

A thread of book recs to celebrate black voices. I encourage you to add them to your TBR or better yet check them out from your libraries or buy them from your local indies.
— Lili (USOM) (@UtopiaMind) June 1, 2020

Additionally this Card has a list of resources for right now. Petitions to sign, places to donate (and an excellent resource for those who want to help but cannot financially), and other information.

Today I wanted to share the spotlight on some of my favorite Black books of 2020 so far. I will also put the titles in bold which are queer!

Already Released

I’ve linked to reviews in case you need more info and if I don’t have a review on the blog, then to Goodreads! I still encourage you to order them directly from Black owned indies and this is just a small list of the ones I know about. Reminder you can also request these at your library if they don’t have the title.

If you want zombie books PLUS some great conversations about privilege and race – which totally matter when we’re faced with the end of the world – then you have to grab this duology!

Dread Nation – Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository. /

Deathless Divide – Find Deathless Divide on Goodreads, Amazon, Amazon (UK), Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

I am SO ready to read this entire series and I’ve read this one, but haven’t finished yet.

A Princess in Theory – Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Clap When You Land is my favorite Acevedo novel! Such a great book about famil secrets!

Clap When You Land – Find Clap When You Land on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

When You Were Everything is a book about friendship and the holes that it can leave in our lives.

When You Were Everything – Find When You Were Everything on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

If you’re a fan of friendship groups then you have to check out The Beauty that Remains – Make sure you check out The Beauty That Remains on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Queenie is a book that handles modern dating and the micoaggressions (and racism) against Black women- Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

Kindred is one of my favorite Octavia Butler books for a reason! It tackles the generational trauma of slavery – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

Wild Seed is my most recent Butler reads, but it seems to be a good start to this older series – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound & The Book Depository.

White Teeth is a book that’s been on my TBR for a while and I finally read it! A generational family saga about race, the UK, and family- Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

The Black Flamingo is gorgeous. It’s a lyrical navigation of queerness and one’s Black identity- Find The Black Flamingo on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Now That I’ve Found You (Preorder it!) is an entertaining story about family secrets and expectations – Find Now That I’ve Found You on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Get A Life Chloe Brown and it’s sequel whic comes out this month, Take a Hin Dani Brown – are part of a series that is one of my favorite. This one tackles chronic illness in romance – which is fabuolus – and is so swoony! – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org and The Book Depository.

Take a Hint Dani Brown is my favorite of the two because of all the simmering tension and we love a man who loves romance books! – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

A Song Below Water is unexplainable. It’s a story about the silencing of Black girls voices, about protesting, and the power of speaking out – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is a fabulous story of enemies to maybe something more! It’s the start of a fantasy duology that I am so looking forward to for the sequel! – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

Americanah is an icon and if you haven’t read it, you definitely should add it to your TBR! – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

The Good Luck Girls is like Westworld meets a group of girls who are resilient, charming, and emotional – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

The Fifth Season is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE series of all time. I don’t even have the words for it – read it! – Amazon(US), your local indie, Bookshop.org, The Book Depository and add it to Goodreads.

The Stars and Blackness Between Them is one of those book that handles racism and queer identity. It’s a gorgeous book that felt like an experience just to read it – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Who Put This Song On? tackles mental health and family in a contemporary setting – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

An Unkindness of Ghosts is stunning. A SF story about class, race, and how we can make change in the future – Amazon(US), your local indie, Bookshop.org, The Book Depository or add it to Goodreads.

Binti is one of my favorite SF novellas and it’s a gorgeous story about finding our own power and place in the world – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

This is What It Feels Like is a fabulous story about friendship and forgiveness – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

The Weight of the Stars is lyrical and emotional. A love story, this book features fabulous character depth and made me so emotional! – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Witchmark is the beginnig of this fantasy novella series and this one talks a lot about war and ethics – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Stormsong is my favorite of the series so far as it tackles the idea of the truth and is super queer – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

I would encourage you to add these diverse books to your TBR and consider purchasing/requesting/preordering them, especially the Black stories and from (black owned) indies.

Some More All Time Faves

Field Guide to the North American Teenager gave me all the teenage feels and I love his relationship with his mother! – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Opposite of Always is so unique and amazing. Goundhog day meets falling in love meets wondering if we can save the people we love – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

The Belles is a detailed fantasy world about beauty, sacrifice, and rebellion – Amazon(US), your local indie, Bookshop.org, The Book Depository, and add it to Goodreads.

War Girls tackles the Nigerian Civil War conflicts in a SF world with amazing technology and a sister realtionship- Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Beasts Made of Night is one of those unique fantasy worlds that I cannot get enough of and it navigates privilege, racism, and class – Amazon(US), your local indie, Bookshop.org, The Book Depository, and Goodreads.

Riot Baby is a novella I don’t actually have words to describe. It’s fantasy, but also about prison and family and rage – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Jackpot looks at privilege and what one lottery could do to our lives- Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Dear Martin was amazing and it looks at this idea of blending in and trying to succed in a world that sees only your differences – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Monday’s Not Coming is a thrilling msytery book which will break your heart and put it back together again – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

When the Stars Lead to You is more than a beautiful summer love story as it tackles forgiveness and mental health- Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Full Disclosure is a striking book about speaking out an self-acceptance- Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Slay which is this contemporary of virtual gaming and racism – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

A Blade So Black is an Alice and Wonderland retelling meets portal fantasy with a Black heroine which is fabulous – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

The Sound of Stars is a story that looks at hope and music at the end of the world- Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

The Wicker King is on my TBR but I loved Ancrum’s other book so this is an almost guaranteed win – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

Let’s Talk About Love is one of my favorite queer books of all time as it’s the first I ever read with ace rep! – Amazon(US), your local indie, Bookshop.org, The Book Depository, and add it to Goodreads.

If It Makes You Happy is a charming story about finding ourselves and navigating our queer identity – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Children of Blood and Bone is the beginning of a fantasy story with danger, revolution, and family – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

A River of Royal Blood There’s so much going on from the page one: a history of subjugation and power, sibling rivalry which results in a fight to the death, and a fear of what we can’t control – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Kingdom of Souls Last chances, betrayal, and unknowing compromises. What will we do to taste the magic out of our grip? – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

American Street – Do I begin with the characters that make your heart pulse and swoon? Or do I start with the plot which captures your heart in a vise grip? – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository

With the Fire on High – Whether it be the recipes at the beginning of each section, the mouth watering descriptions of the food, or Emoni’s complex family dynamics, I loved With the Fire on High – Goodreads |Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | The Book Depository

The Deep asks questions about memory, the community versus the individual, and more. – Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.