Recommended Reading | Gather Me by Glory Edim

Gather Me by Glory Edim was one of my favorite reads of 2024!

In Gather Me, Glory welcomed me into her world from the very start-- describing a kitchen filled with rich spices and Nigerian delicacies. She gave me a written tour of her home and community, filled with books, books, and more books.  My eyes grew wide at all the discoveries and vivid descriptions. I was in awe of the way her father weaved stories from the objects around their home and grew sad when he left suddenly for Nigeria.

And as I continued to read, I learned that Glory and I had a few things in common. We both owned the same yellow bible story book that materialized from thin air one day. We both found safety and comfort in the library. And most importantly, we both grew a habit of seeking solace in the written word. Like Glory, I was often reading novels as a kid, hoping to find direction and instruction within the paragraphs. 

I found it endearing to read the story of a woman I admired with similar experiences to mine. She too, was trying to find her place in the world around her so often. She was also making room for herself in the books she devoured at the local library. I find it so beautiful that she references the books she was reading during pivotal moments in her life as well. I always say that books find us at just the right time and each instance was a testament to that. The magic of words carry so many of us through the good times as well as the bad and Gather Me was a poignant reminder of that.

Glory champions for those of us who found safe spaces in libraries, novels, short stories and poems. 

Glory, thank you for all the love, honesty and transparency you poured into this book. For all the books you've seen yourself in, I'm grateful you've allowed me to see myself in parts of yours.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💫

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of Gather Me.

HAVE YOU ADDED GATHER ME TO YOUR READING LIST YET?

Recommended Reading | Da Baddest by Katrina Taylor

As a huge fan of Trina, diving head first into Trina's memoir, Da Baddest, was a non-negotiable. I've loved Trina since I heard her rap that feature on Trick Daddy's Nann in 1998, much to my mother's chagrin. In my early teens, I admired Trina's beauty, confidence, assertiveness, and style. And while I usually had to sneak to listen to so much of her music at the time, Trina left an indelible mark on my friends and I (Silver Dollars, Dime Status Dames, y'all remember?). And over the years, my love for the Diamond Princess has only grown in admiration. 

Recommended Reading | All The Black Girls Are Activists by EbonyJanice Moore

 All The Black Girls Are Activists by EbonyJanice Moore is a MUST-READ! This book is necessary for black women looking to make change in today's social and political climate. We are not our grandmothers or even our mothers, but we are equipped with their tools and a new wave of feminism. Often, when we discuss creating change we look to the older generations for answers and leadership. This book reminds me that there are women my age out here in the trenches making waves NOW. When we speak of activism, today's journalists, with the likes of EbonyJanice, should be mentioned loudly!

Recommended Reading | The Upcycled Self by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter

"From one of our generation’s most powerful artists and incisive storytellers comes a brilliantly crafted work about the art—and war—of becoming who we are."

Publish Date: November 14, 2023

As a hip-hop fan and avid listener of The Roots, I was very excited to read The Upcycled Self by Tariq Trotter. While I had sifted through stories about the group from Questlove's books, I looked forward to reading personal accounts from Tariq Trotter. The Upcycled Self did not disappoint! 

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about Trotter through the stories he told. I felt as though I was walking down the streets with him as his beautiful words painted pictures of Philadelphia. It was a treat getting to learn more about him through his descriptions of his loved ones and those he was most influenced by. And I appreciated the vulnerability he possessed when sharing early stories about "the fire," his mother, and parts of himself I'd never heard him speak candidly about before. 

The Upcycled Self was a treat for me as I know it will be for fans and others as well. The only thing I wished for was that the book was longer. I found myself wanting to know more about this brilliant man I've grown to adore through verse and style over the years.  

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the eBook! 

Will you be adding The Upcycled Self to your reading list? 

Recommended Reading | A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams is such a beautiful book to behold in both the month of love AND a leap year!

This book introduces us to unconventional Ricki Wilde, the youngest of 4 sisters, and the black sheep of the family. While the other three sisters follow the proverbial rules to a "T" and each contribute to running the family funeral business, Ricki longs to do her own thing. Doing her own thing leads this Georgia Peach to Harlem to open her own florist shop and bask in the rich history of the Harlem Renaissance.

AUTHOR Q&A | BRITTNEY MORRIS, AUTHOR OF THE JUMP

“All I ever wanted to do was escape into this magical world where for once I don’t have to act a certain way because I’m Black, and where I don’t have to answer certain questions because I’m the Black authority in the room, and where if I do something that’s not stereotypically Black, I’m different.” ― Brittney Morris, Slay

Representation matters: in the literature we read, the movies we watch, and even the video games we play. And I am grateful that in present times, our youth can see so much of themselves in the entertainment they consume. I am constantly in awe of authors who introduce us to characters and plots that we can so easily relate to. One author in particular, Brittney Morris, masterfully weaves together stories and characters that readers can FEEL. She consistently creates characters that stick with us long after the read is over.  

Today, I share an author Q&A with said esteemed author, Brittney Morris. Here, she discusses what inspires her stories, video-game writing, advice to aspiring authors, and briefly touches on the paperback release of The Jump. Read below to learn more about Brittney Morris.

INTRODUCTION TO BRITTNEY MORRIS

Brittney Morris is the bestselling author of SLAY, The Cost of Knowing, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Wings of Fury, and The Jump. She also writes video games and has contributed to projects such as The Lost Legends of Redwall, Subnautica: Below Zero, Spider-Man 2 for PS5, and Wolverine for PS5. Brittney is an NAACP Image Award nominee, an ALA Black Caucus Youth Literary Award winner, and an Ignite Award Finalist. She has an economics degree from Boston University and spends her spare time reading, playing video games, and not doing enough yoga. 

Recommended Reading | Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown

Rhythm & Muse, by India Hill Brown is described as "Cinderella meets Cyrano" in this pitch-perfect YA rom-com that is a celebration of Black joy, first crushes, and putting your heart on the line for love.

When a daydreamer falls for someone, it happens first in his head. Then, unfolds in a perfectly synchronized rhythm, if timed correctly. The only downside to this proverbial falling, is that the daydreamer may trip and fall with nothing substantial to catch him, if he doesn't wake up from his daydream. That's been the case for me and many other daydreamers I know. And I'm pretty sure Darren, our MC, can attest to this.

Rhythm and Muse by India Hill Brown introduces us to high-school overall good kid, Darren. Darren checks all the good-guy boxes and never colors outsides the lines. He thinks before he speaks or reacts, and often overthinks so much, he misses the opportunity to take action. But the thought of trying on a "love thang" with his crush Dillie D has him stepping outside his comfort zone in ways he wouldn't have imagined before.

Meet Delia, aka Dillie D, according to her podcast listeners. Delia is a free-spirited young woman who knows what she wants and doesn't hold her tongue when it comes to expressing those wants. She hosts a podcasts most teens & college students in the local area tune into each week without fail. But one thing that seems to elude her is that connection from a special someone, since her boyfriend broke her heart last year. Pouring all her time and energy into her podcast proves to be quite the distraction until she has the bright idea to run a contest for her listeners to find the perfect jingle for her show. This contest brings our MC Darren and Delia together in a serendipitous way that I'm gonna spare you the details for, because I need you to go read this for yourself! Will Darren be able to get out of his head long enough to get the girl of his dreams? Will he seize the opportunities laid before him to be recognized for his talent? 👀

I won't overshare here, but I will share one of my "musings" from Rhythm and Muse I wrote in my while reading: Beautiful things can happen when you get out of your head to enjoy the rhythm of the present moment around you every now and again. ❤ This quote personally conveys the message I received from this book, and I am grateful for the reminder.

I rated this one 4 stars only because teenage angst stresses me out sometimes. I think Darren being in his head so much affected his connections tremendously, and it started to wear on me a bit. I wish I could have seen his relationships develop more organically, outside of his thoughts & fantasies. Overall, I enjoyed the read and hope you check it out as well.

Major thanks to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books for the eARC!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

WILL YOU BE READING RHYTHM & MUSE?

WHAT'S THE LAST YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE YOU READ? 

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Recommended Reading | Sisterhood Heals by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford

Sisterhood Heals, by creator of #TherapyforBlackGirls Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D, is a beautiful testament to the power of sisterhood and what it means to Black Women. 

Publish Date: June 25, 2023

There is beauty, power, love, joy, and safety in the kinship we share. This book explores the various ways in which this community acts as a safe space and healing balm for us. It also illustrates how sisterhood is a means of survival for us all, as well. Covering topics such as cultivating friendships, finding our "place"  & "holding space" in groups, seeking community, and navigating the life stages of our friendship circles, reading Sisterhood Heals feels like listening to a good girlfriend. It is insightful, relatable, and lists reflections at the end of each chapter that readers can apply to their own lives. 

It would be love if all my sisters and those who love + support us check out Sisterhood Heals. Buy a copy for someone, even. This book is a celebration & poignant reminder that we are out here supporting each other, loving on each other, and making the world go round in the process. It also serves as a toolkit for optimum community within our own respective groups. Sisterhood Heals is an absolute must-read for me! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for the eBook! 

Have you read Sisterhood Heals yet?

If not, will you be adding it to your reading list? 

Five Ways to Read More for Less

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I receive commission if you make a purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. To read more about my disclosure policy, click here.

 

If you've been here for a while, you already know about my love of books. In fact, if you've been here since the beginning, you'll know that I used to maintain a book blog as well. So, knowing that I've been obsessed with books for my entire life will come as no surprise to you. The constant urge to purchase the latest release and the perpetual salivating over pretty book covers has plagued me for years. I'm definitely that reader that daydreams about subplots and colorful characters before I even crack open the hardcover.

I've also spread this love of reading on to my children and they have their own favorites to contend with: comics, graphic novels, manga, young adult fiction, science fiction, poetry, you name it. And with everyone loving to read, the amount we spend on books would get out of hand at times. Over time, I have found ways to remedy breaking our book budget. So, I've decided to share here some affordable ways to read more books if you can relate to any of the above. Also, if reading more is a goal you've created for yourself this year, here are some cost-effective ways to get more reading in!

Recommended Reading | Jonah's Gourd Vine

 What's the last book you read that took you to a different time and place?

Reading Jonah's Gourd Vine by Zora Neale Hurston a few months back transported me to the deep south via 1920-something, thanks to Zora Neale Hurston and her way with vivid imagery + colorful dialect.

While breezing through Jonah's Gourd Vine, I met this super charming preacher named John Pearson who just couldn't seem to leave the ladies alone, much to his wife Lucy's chagrin. Due to his chasing and constant running, I was introduced to so many interesting characters from "over the creek" and miles between Alabama and Florida. And every time I thought John was gonna chill out & get his (I promised not to curse while discussing this book) fool self together, he came with more foolishness. This man was the busiest guy I've met through typed pages in a minute!

Without giving too much away, I just wanted to share that I enjoyed this book so much. Zora Neale Hurston is a gem and no personal library is complete without her work. I made a vow at the beginning of the year to read more from her, so I decided to start with her first published book. If reading about the lives of beautifully flawed black folks in the deep south is your bag (as it def is mine), I recommend that you give Jonah's Gourd Vine a read. I hope you laugh, gasp, and shake your head as much as I did while reading it, too.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Have you read Jonah's Gourd Vine yet? 

What's your favorite Zora Neale Hurston book?

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle | 5 Reasons Why Prince Is BookBae

"Don't ever think I fell for you or fell over you. I didn't fall in love, I rose in it. I saw you and made up my mind. My mind. And I made up my mind to follow you too." -Toni Morrison (as recited by Dani in Love Radio)

5 Reasons Why Prince Is Bookbae:

💜 He's a dope DJ who has a way with words. If he isn't saying all the right things, he's spinning all the right songs 🎶 Plus, he has that "radio voice" thing going for him.

💜 Dude doesn't mind taking down braids his first time coming over. I mean, I have to be pretty open to let someone see me with my hair looking crazy. But all that would probably subside the moment babe comes through with the scissors and rat-tail comb 🤷🏾‍♀️

💜 Prince loves the kids (and he's always looking out for family). Imagining him agonizing over countless bookshelves at the library for books his baby brother would appreciate really made me swoon. And don't get me started on how attentive he was with his mother.

💜 He was so patient, understanding, and in touch with his feelings. Just dig how he communicates with his friends and family. And peep how he gives advice on his radio segment with such care + consideration. We'll also say he fares well in situations most of us would seriously get "caught up" in. Very admirable.

💜 He really pays attention to detail. The way Prince planned that scavenger hunt around the bookstore within the spaces + pages of Dani's favorite authors (yes, he included my fav 3) was the cutest. Can we say "rizz?" (My teens would be mortified to see me saying that 😂)

Prince aka DJ LoveJones and Dani had the cutest lil vibe going. And I enjoyed getting wrapped up in it a few months back.

Have you read Love Radio yet?

And while we're at it, what's your favorite romance movie from the 90s/2000s? 

10 Must-Read Modern Poetry Collections by Black Women

 

I believe there is healing power in poetry. Reading words written in a lyrical way that mirror your own thoughts and feelings makes you feel seen. It gives language to emotions you may not always know how to articulate. And it also shows you that you aren't alone in your deep feelings, especially when you're overwhelmed in emotion. I believe that is why I've leaned on poetry so much over the years.

There are times when I like to write my feelings and allow them to spill in any way that I can release them. Other times, I like to read poems from others to explore how they navigate their feelings as well. It is a carthartic experience when I find myself in reading the words of others.  So much so, that I'd like to share a few collections with you from Black Women that tugged at my heartstrings and settled in my head for hours on end. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

RECOMMENDED READING: SOMETIMES I TRIP ON HOW HAPPY WE COULD BE BY NICHOLE PERKINS

 

Alexa, play that Prince song. You know the one... 💜🎵 

Sometimes I Trip On How Happy We Could Be by Nichole Perkins was beautiful and candid, funny and frank, and let me not forget spicy, y'all! Nichole Perkins has a way of pulling you into her stories that feels like she's trusting you with a secret she hasn't told anyone. However, she shares them with such honesty and conviction, you soon realize you aren't the first one to hear these "secrets." In "Sometimes I Trip," Perkins divulges tidbits of her life through coming of age & relationship stories glittered with music + pop culture references. She had me remembering the last time I logged into an AOL chatroom, recalling the first time I heard Shirley Murdock's "As We Lay" (and actually knew what it meant), and even going back to watch my favorite episodes of Frasier to appreciate how absolutely cynical, yet neurotic Niles Crane was!

This book was a fun read I could not put down and between me and you, I even had the nerve to relate to quite a few of the things she was dishing out. If you've read the book, we def need to talk about it soon! As I told my gf the other day, I came for the title (as a devout Prince fan) and stayed for the candor. Sometimes I Trip On How Happy We Could Be by Nicole Perkins gets 4.5 stars from the kid. 

Have you read Sometimes I Trip... yet?

RECOMMENDED READING | BLACK GIRL CALL HOME BY JASMINE MANS

Hello everyone, I'm Drea and it's come to my attention that I may or may not have an addiction. See, I grab for nearly every beautiful book cover I see and have no shame about it. Especially beautiful book covers featuring brown girls with natural hair. Could I be acquiring all of these books at lightning speed to make up for the ones I needed growing up but didn't have? Perhaps. Either way, I love them and I'm gonna stick beside them.

What's the most beautiful book cover you have on your shelf right now? I went with Black Girl, Call Home today because this baby here is beautiful inside and out. The poetry within these pages moved me to + through ALL THE FEELINGS last year. Covering topics of race, feminism, and queer identity, Jasmine Mans reminded the wanderer in me how much childhood shapes us, how much trauma scars us, and how those scars do heal, eventually. Have you read this one, yet?

To grab your own copy of Black Girl Call Home, click here.

HAVE YOU READ BLACK GIRL CALL HOME YET?

WHAT'S THE LAST POETRY COLLECTION YOU READ? 

BONUS POINTS IF IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL COVER!

RECOMMENDED READING: CAREFREE BLACK GIRLS BY ZEBA BLAY

"How do Black girls find freedom? Where do they go to find it, to feel it, uncomplicated and uncompromised?"

Carefree Black Girls is a collection of writer Zeba Blay's musings on the #carefreeblackgirls we identify with in society and pop culture. If artists like Lizzo, Cardi B., and Nicki Minaj come to mind, you are in luck, as they all make appearances in these essays. 

Blay writes with so much insight and introspection that I could not help but to lean in and nod repeatedly as she spoke about feelings I've had about my own body and life. The essay "Girlhood" could have easily been written for me, with my obsession with the Spice Girls (particularly Scary Spice) in middle school and my unrequited crushes on guys that would never really "go" for my type. 

It was cathartic reading Blay's experiences in this book, as they mirrored quite a few of mine-- giving me the language to articulate thoughts I couldn't quite form before. This was a great collection of essays that brought up so many points I can't wait to discuss with my good girlfriends. 

Thank you, Zeba Blay, for keeping these necessary conversations going. Special thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

To purchase your own copy of Carefree Black Girls on Amazon, click here. 

WILL YOU BE READING CAREFREE BLACK GIRLS?

Recommended Reading: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

 "The Secret Lives of Church Ladies explores the raw and tender places where Black women and girls dare to follow their desires and pursue a momentary reprieve from being good. The nine stories in this collection feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church’s double standards and their own needs and passions.

There is fourteen-year-old Jael, who has a crush on the preacher’s wife. At forty-two, Lyra realizes that her discomfort with her own body stands between her and a new love. As Y2K looms, Caroletta’s “same time next year” arrangement with her childhood best friend is tenuous. A serial mistress lays down the ground rules for her married lovers. In the dark shadows of a hospice parking lot, grieving strangers find comfort in each other.

With their secret longings, new love, and forbidden affairs, these church ladies are as seductive as they want to be, as vulnerable as they need to be, as unfaithful and unrepentant as they care to be, and as free as they deserve to be."

INTERVIEW | DEPARTURE STORY BY ROWANA M. ABBENSETTS-DOBSON

 “But ironically, amidst the wide range of inequalities that America shoulders – inequality is the great equalizer for Blacks. No one cared that I was born in a different country… In one glance, it was easy to deduce I was just Black – an equal part to one blanket “Black” race and one social status.” – Rowana M. Abbensetts-Dobson, Departure Story

The experiences of Black immigrants are largely invisible to Americans, despite their growing numbers – 4.2 million throughout the country (The Immigrant Learning Center, 2020). 

In her debut novel, Departure Story [Published June 1], Rowana invites us into the world of Celestine Samuels, a young Guyanese woman arriving in the U.S. for college, carrying the hopes of generations before her, while imagining new opportunities for personal growth.

Celestine’s studies are interrupted with devastating news - her beloved Uncle, a Guyanese politician, has been murdered as a result of rising turmoil within the government. She feels lost and homesick, but turns that grief into action, and joins the Student Council Diversity Committee, advocating for Black creatives on campus. Eventually, Celestine meets resistance from the administration, and so-called friends alienate her. All the while, “home” haunts her dreams, and eventually leads Celestine to investigate unforgivable family secrets, and uncover answers she may not want to know.

“Departure Story is my love letter to the Diaspora,” Rowana says. “It’s a novel about displacement and creating home… It’s also about finding your voice within the chaos and making a stand for what you believe in wherever you are. Celestine gets to a new country, and she’s testing the boundaries of her power in love, friendships, and politics… I hope it will make some Black girl who is reading white male authors in her American lit class feel seen.”

Book Feature | Sugar Mama: A Keilanii Jennings Saga

From the creative minds of Lalanii Wilson Jones and Treavion Davenport comes Keilanii Jennings, a sexy, feisty, independent, proud Texas mogul in the making who makes no apologies about splurging on her lavish lifestyle, designer labels, 5-star getaways, and her “boy toys.”

Keilanii is a confident, self-made success story whose life takes complex twists and turns while building her empire. Things start to heat up when she meets Elliot Jennings Jr., a handsome, charismatic companion who turns out to be her worst nightmare. Like most women, Keilanii wanted to have it all, including her happily ever after. This seems imminent until she discovers that the man who stole her heart tries to steal her fortune and is exposed as the ultimate gold digger.

RECOMMENDED READING | WE WANT OUR BODIES BACK BY JESSICA CARE MOORE

 "When you decide to give your body to someone, what exactly do you receive in exchange? If we, in fact, do “choose” to “give up our bodies,” when do we get to have our bodies back?" 

-jessica Care moore, We Want Our Bodies Back

This timely book of poetry was nothing short of amazing, y'all. Lending beautiful language to the black woman's power and pain, Moore reminds me to keep writing, no matter what. We have stories to tell, wounds to heal, and love to spread throughout our communities. I will no longer be silent and allow someone to tell my "story" for me. 

To grab your own copy of We Want Our Bodies Back by jessica Care moore, click here.

Have you read "We Want Our Bodies Back" yet? 

When is the last time you've felt seen and heard in a poem? 

Weekend Reading Recommendation: Every Day I'm Hustling by Vivica A. Fox

Every Day I'm Hustling by Vivica A. Fox was a 5 star read for me! When I tell you reading this book was like having a sit down with my favorite auntie (in my head) please believe me!

In Every Day I'm Hustling, Vivica A. Fox gives you tips and tricks on how to put your best high-heeled foot forward when it comes to hustling. She does this with such style and candor, it feels like you're having girl-talk with a trusted friend that has your best interest at heart. Vivica talks about her beginnings in the business on down to what she's up to now, leaving nuggets of wisdom all the way through. And she doesn't sugar coat anything or give just her highlight reel either. Ms. Vivica keeps it all the way real, honey!