7 Black Romance Novels That Celebrate Black Joy
It’s Black History Month and also the month of Valentine’s Day, so it’s the perfect time to pick up some romance books by Black authors! Too often, non-Black readers only add Black authors to their TBR during Black History Month, and those books are usually about the struggles of racism. Those are important to read, but there is so much more to Black literature than just those stories. These romance novels celebrate Black joy, and they’re a perfect pick for not just your February TBR but any time of year.
Let me know in the comments which romance books by Black authors you’ve read and loved! As always, Read Harder paid subscribers get access to the full list, as well as community features like commenting. Sign up to get recommendations for the Read Harder Challenge tasks as well as to keep up to date with other interesting reading challenges around the bookish internet.
Without further ado, here are seven romances to read this month that celebrate Black joy!
Destiny’s Embrace by Beverly Jenkins
You can’t talk about Black romance novels without mentioning the queen, Beverly Jenkins. There are so many books in her catalogue to choose from, but if you want to get started with one of her series, a good option is Destiny’s Embrace, the first book in a historical romance series that follows three sons of a rancher who find love in 19th-century California. This one stars Logan, who butts heads with the housekeeper, Mariah, until that animosity turns into a whole different kind of heat.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole
Likotsi and Fabiola had a whirlwind love affair last time Likotsi was in town…until Fab broke it off without any explanation. When they meet again on the subway, Fab asks Likotsi to join her for tea, and Likotsi, looking for an explanation for what went wrong between them, agrees. What follows is a romantic night that takes them around the city while Fabiola slowly shares what’s been happening in her life that came between them. This charming second-chance romance is a novella, so it’s a quick read!
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
Ben is an ad executive who is content with only dabbling in casual dating. Anna is an up-and-coming actor starring in his latest ad. When they start flirting, the opportunity arises to turn their chemistry into a publicity stunt to boost Anna’s popularity. But when they start confiding in each other and supporting each other, this relationship becomes a lot more real than either of them were expecting.
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
Let’s not forget about YA romances! Celine and Bradley were once best friends, but now Bradley is a popular football player and Celine hosts a podcast about UFOs and conspiracy theories, so their relationship is now purely academic rivals. When they both sign up for a wilderness survival program that comes with a scholarship prize, they’re forced to work together…and to confront what happened to drive them apart. This book also has bisexual and OCD representation!
D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins
As the title suggests, D’Vaughn and Kris are planning their wedding…but they’re not a couple. They’re on a reality TV show where they have to convince their friends and family that their relationship (and upcoming wedding) are real in order to win $100,000. Kris wants to use this TV opportunity to become an influencer, while D’Vaughn is using it to come out to her mother. But you know what happens in fake dating romance novels…
The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon
London is a very stressed pediatrician who decides a casual hookup is a good way to blow off some steam. Unfortunately, her choice of partner comes with some complications: Drew is a millionaire who is deciding whether her hospital stays open. He’s also her archnemesis. And to make things worse, he keeps trying to convince her that he’s actually a good guy. But London is not going to let good sex and great abs distract her from the truth.
Learned Reactions by Jayce Ellis
Okay, allow me one more fake dating story. Deion has been in love with his best friend, Carlton, for decades. Carlton needs someone to fake a relationship with him so he can adopt his teenage niece. Deion can’t say no, but he knows he’s setting himself up for heartbreak. As the adoption is pending and they continue to play house, though, the two will have to decide whether to walk away or try to make this new family a reality.
Looking for more? Here are some queer Black romance novels out this year, Black YA romances, and Black historical romance novels!
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What are some of your favorite romance novels by Black authors? Let’s chat in the comments!
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