10 Books By Black Authors That Are Must-Reads This Fall

Source: Reni K. Amayo / Onwe Press

Daughters of Nri by Reni K. Amayo

Black girls in a fantasy novel! I repeat: We’ve got Black girls in a fantasy novel! Daughters of Nri follows twin goddesses, Naala and Sinai, who were separated at birth and raised to believe they were simply human. In this incredible journey, the goddesses work to find each other, understand unspoken magic and defeat the man who took on the gods and won.

Daughters of Nri was published by Onwe Press, an independently-owned UK-based publishing company created by two Black women in 2018. Their mission is to value unforgettable stories, encourage author ownership and highlight diverse voices.

Source: Antoinette Clarke and Tricia Clarke-Stone / Currency

Double Down: Bet On Yourself and Succeed on Your Terms by Tricia Clarke-Stone and Antoinette Clarke

We have to be twice as good to get half as much. We know this. We also know it’s unacceptable. Twin sisters Tricia and Antoinette wrote Double Down to make sure the next generation of boss ladies get what they deserve. They share the stories behind their highly successful media careers. They also give you the tools to experiment with your own career and find a community of people who will be right there with you, supporting you.

Source: Erica Campbell / Simon & Schuster

More Than Pretty: Doing the Soul Work That Uncovers Your True Beauty by Erica Campbell

Erica Campbell’s new book explores her own experiences with self-esteem ups and downs while working in an industry that demands impossible body standards. She also shares the lessons she learned by keeping God’s wisdom by her side. More Than Pretty uses God’s word to remind us that we are worthy just as we are.

Source: Susan Rice / Simon & Schuster

Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For by Susan Rice

Susan Rice’s powerful new biography details Rice’s life, her lineage to both immigrants and slaves, and how she stood out among her peers as a Black woman living in America. She spent 30 years in some of the highest offices of the United States government, serving in the Clinton administration, becoming one of the country’s youngest assistant secretaries of state, managing the explosion that was the Snowden NSA leaks, and eventually becoming one of President Obama’s most trusted advisors. To say she has quite the story to share would be an understatement. 

Source: Akilah Hughes / Razorbill

Obviously: Stories from My Timeline by Akilah Hughes 

No one has any idea what they’re doing, so why not laugh about it? This hilarious collection of essays is exactly what you should pick up when you need something light to read. Akilah Hughes takes you from her experiences in a small town in Kentucky to the bustling city of NYC while poking fun at herself. She shares stories of her racist fifth-grade teacher, puberty and body image struggles, and what it’s like breaking into a new city on a budget. Sometimes it’s nice to sit back and read about other people navigating their problems. It’s even nicer when they can laugh about it, so maybe you can too.

SEE ALSO

• 5 Beyoncé Hairstyles To Complete Your ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour Look
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• From Basic To Bomb: 5 Ways To Elevate Your Sex Game This Summer

Source: Elizabeth Acevedo / HarperTeen

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo 

This novel has taken Bookstagram (yes, its a thing and its glorious) by storm. It’s not only because the cover is gorgeous, but also because it’s an inspiring story for those who need to read it most. Emoni Santiago got pregnant during her freshman year of high school and now everything she does is for her daughter and her abuela. While she tries to remain disciplined, she cannot forget her dream of becoming a chef. Try as she might to follow the rules and go the conventional route, she cannot ignore her passion and eventually allows her love of cooking to guide her path.

SEE ALSO

• 5 Beyoncé Hairstyles To Complete Your ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour Look
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• From Basic To Bomb: 5 Ways To Elevate Your Sex Game This Summer

Source: Cyntoia Brown-Long / Atria Books

Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System by Cyntoia Brown-Long

Free Cyntoia is a gripping story from the very first page because Brown tells the side of her captivating life story that many people have heard about but not really fully understood. She opens up about changing her life in prison, finding love and hope, and overcoming the trauma of her youth, which led to her murder conviction.

SEE ALSO

• 5 Beyoncé Hairstyles To Complete Your ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour Look
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• From Basic To Bomb: 5 Ways To Elevate Your Sex Game This Summer

Source: aysha treadwell / AT

Passion and Strategy Go Hand in Hand by Aysha Treadwell

If you’re ready to launch that new career of yours, this is the book to read. Aysha Treadwell uses her own experiences as a guide so you don’t have to make the same mistakes that she made in the past. She teaches you how to treat your business, your clients and yourself with respect and earn the trust of those around you. Treadwell has successfully run her daycare facility for 10 years and now she is ready to share her knowledge with the world. If you find you need more words of wisdom, Treadwell is an accomplished public speaker. She attends events hoping to encourage Black working moms and single mothers to keep pursuing their goals after having children. 

SEE ALSO

• 5 Beyoncé Hairstyles To Complete Your ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour Look
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• From Basic To Bomb: 5 Ways To Elevate Your Sex Game This Summer

Source: Akwaeke Emezi / Grove Press

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

You’ve definitely never read anything like this before. This dark and powerful work of fiction, which came out last year but is still a must-read, follows Ada, a child who was wanted and loved, and still, incredibly, has become an incredibly alarming young lady. We watch her grow up in southern Nigeria and eventually move to America for college. On her own, her life takes a turn for the worst as she struggles to find herself, even as her “self” divides into two different beings.