Favorite Reads so far this year!
I’m excited to share some of my favorite reads this year! To put this in perspective I have read 121 books so far, and these happen to be my favorites. Oh and let me give a disclaimer and state that I am into romance books…sports romance, adult romance, modern romance, listen somebodies falling in love or getting their heart broken. If that’s not your thing this list isn’t for you. If that’s up your alley then let’s get into it!
My favorite book so far this year, hands down is “Thirty” by Rae Lyse. Listennnnn this woman has only written 4 books. Dassit! When I tell you I am fully invested in these characters, sometimes crying, but definitely full blown emotional in each book, I really am. She has a background in social work and it makes so much sense. These books are complex, they are long, and worth every bit of the time it takes to read them. I have read several books since reading it, but I am NOT over the way it made me feel. The first thing that comes to mind is layers. Every book is filled with so many layers that she allows the reader to slowly peel back throughout each book. I would recommend reading her previous books first, so that you can fully understand the characters. This particular book is about Andre who is fresh out and trying to find his place in a world he hasn’t seen in years. He meets Natasha and is intrigued by her aura and the immediate connection they seem to have. Do yourself a favor and read the entire series here.
The rest of my favorites have been really good summer reads. I have not ranked them in any particular order, but I have truly enjoyed them all. Click on the highlighted text to view or purchase the books on Amazon. It defaults to kindle books, but if physical books are your thing just switch to a soft are hard copy. Please note, I receive a small commision for purchases. One other thing to note is almost all of these books can be found on Kindle Unlimited which means no additional cost beyond the subscription.
Let’s get into my favorite books!
We’ve Only Just Begun by Nicole Falls This was a short book, under 200 pages and it packed a punch. Sully was a Book Bae, funny yet protective and respectful. The way he handled Skylar was everything. This book will have you laughing, ready to fight, and swooning. Definitely a sweet read!
A Heart’s Rejection: Loving a Black Mafia Princess by B. Love is my favorite story in the Black Mayhem Mafia series. It didn’t turn out how I thought it would. Honestly I love when an author throws me for a loop and comes up with an outcome that is just as meaningful if not more. This book is about Dijon who is the princess of the Black family. For years she has been fighting to be with Rakim, of the Mayhem family, but life takes them down a different path. The other book, “A Father’s Objection: Reclaiming a Black Mafia Enforcer,” is where Naeem proves he knows how to handle her heart. He really shows Dijon where his loyalty lied and didn’t waver even when the situation seemed impossible. I am partial to the Black Family in this series. Read the entire 10 book series here.
Concourse D with Love by Cassandra B and Aubree Pynn What a perfect novellete! Kelani and Israel meet when they both have issues with a flight and it lands them together for 48 hours. Time stood still as their energies connected like magnets. I got so much out of these characters and their interactions in such a short time. This is perfect for readers that don’t like longer books or want a great introductory to reading consistently.
Love notes: Equilibrium 1 by Christina C. Jones I had this on my TBR (to be read) list for a long long time and I have no idea why. It was so good, so it was definitely my miss. Mrs. Jones is an OG in this author thing and she definitely does not disappoint in this book. The entire concept of love notes is nothing that I thought it meant. It was a beautiful well thought out story that touched on parent abandonment and opening up to love. All the books in the Equilibrium series are good, this one, “In Tandem,” and “Grow Something ” are my favorites. Read the entire Equilibrium series here.
I could fall in Love by Kimberly Brown This book was an unexpected love and it took me through so many emotions. Lavish is fresh off her divorce, trying to figure out how she is going to move forward. Mitchell has benefited from having a silver spoon in his mouth and in is being forced to settle down. Mitchell is drawn to Lavish and feels like she just may be his one. This starts out as a marriage of convenience and they end up truly falling for each other. Solid read!
All the King's Men series by Kennedy Ryan The first book is titled “The King Maker,” and I’m not sure what I was expecting but it was definitely NOT what the actual story was about. Lennix was such a beautiful fearless character. She was half Apache and like her mother she fought for the land and rights of Native Americans. As a teenager she meets Maxim, who she believes is an ally. They have an intense connection but the timing is off. Life goes on and years later their paths meet again. The first two books are their journey back to each other’s arms while navigating demanding careers, politics, and dangerous situations. Mrs. Ryan knows how to develop some damn characters. She will have you bought into their story. The third book “Queen Move,” is about Lennix's business partner. It was such an unconventional love story and although it had a similar premise to “King Maker,” I enjoyed it.
Super Gremlin by Mercy B. Grim was everything!!! He was so gutter and I was here for all the smoke. He was the loyal friend that ends up being betrayed. The way he takes his time to get revenge is wild. He is nonchalant and slowly approaches his prey and along the way he meets Tati. Tati decides to move to the winning team and Grim makes sure she doesn't regret it. Listen, everything about him was swag on 100. Definitely worth the read.
Lastly the “On Us series,” by Nina. Sigh, I lovvvved this series!! This was five books and all of them except the first one were crazy engaging. Take it from me, suffer through the first one “Front St. Porter,” because it sets up the stage for some beautiful characters. The next 3 books are The On Us stories are all about the 5 Porter brothers. We first learn who they are, get exposed to their personalities, and watch them grow from boys to men. The Porter brothers are essentially orphans after their father passes away. The oldest brother Lake takes care of his 4 younger brothers, when their mothers are in the wind…with their hands out no less. Lake has no love for anything, but his brothers and his best friend Daly. He is grinding to ensure they can all live very comfortably. Although, they all start off as hard core fboys, through each story we get to see them experience love. Not all of them have happily ever afters, and the journey for some of them to get there are by far easy. I love the complex nature of these stories as they overcome self doubt, mental illness, abandonment, and so much more. I loved the Porters! There is a bonus story called “Clear Water,” that had a surprise character and was amazing too!
All of these books are by black authors! I love seeing us humanized, experiencing love and life, and these books do just that! If you read any of these books make sure to come back and let me know your thoughts.
Happy Reading!
