Top 10 Black Romance Books of 2024! A Must Read List for Your TBR

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Hello, hello, hello, and

welcome back to Culture Lit.

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Your bi weekly dive into the

Black romance books that are

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shaping our cultural conversation.

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I'm your host, Octavia Marie, and

today we're diving into my top

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10 Black romance reads of 2024.

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Black love runs deep.

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It's rooted in connection,

history, and resilience.

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Whether it's turning pain into joy or

celebrating the complexities of love,

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Black romance novels continue to give

us stories that inspire and empower.

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So if you're ready to laugh, cry, and

feel all the feels, stay tuned for the

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Ultimate Black Love Reading List of 2024.

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By the end of December

: 2024

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Not all of them were romance.

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But you know me, I'm a romance

girlie through and through.

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After much thought, and it was

difficult, I've narrowed it down

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to my Top 10 Black Romance Reads

of the Year by Black Authors.

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Of course, I couldn't resist

a few honorable mentions.

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So consider this your ultimate TBR guide.

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Let's get into it.

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I'm starting with a book that

I enjoyed mentally just for

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the summer by Abby Jimenez.

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Now I cheated a little here.

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Abby isn't a Black author,

but as an author of color,

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Her work deserved a mention.

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This fluffy, fun romance

has a creative premise.

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Emma and Justin believe they're cursed.

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Every time they date someone and break

up, that person finds the one right after.

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So, they decide to date each

other to cancel out the curse.

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I loved how the story balanced humor,

emotional depth, and mental health themes.

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Justin, our cinnamon

roll hero, is everything.

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Thoughtful, caring, and

exactly who Emma needs.

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It's a feel good read that I

rated four and a half stars.

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Perfect if you're looking

for a light hearted escape.

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Next is The Kiss Countdown, a slow

burn fake dating romance debut

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that kind of took me by surprise.

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Mimi and Vincent's chemistry was

undeniable, but what made this story

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stand out was Mimi's growth journey.

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As an only child who's always prioritized

her family over herself, she learns

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to take risks and overcome fears, and

that's just as satisfying as the romance.

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Vincent is the thrill

seeking, nerdy astronaut

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perfectly.

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This book felt like a warm hug,

filled with relatable family

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moments and friendship dynamics.

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It's a great pick if you love heartwarming

romances with very strong character arcs.

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Kicking off my next pick is Life

is Beautiful by Asia Monique.

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Now, I'm not usually a fan of

the pregnancy trope, but Life is

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Beautiful completely won me over.

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It's emotional.

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fast paced perfect for new

readers diving into black romance.

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Asian Monique knows how to create

characters that stick with you.

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And this one is no exception.

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Next on my list is Between Friends

and Lovers by Shirlene Obobi.

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This book took me on an emotional

rollercoaster in the best possible way.

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It's about an influencer, an actor,

and a writer navigating the messy

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intersections of friendship, romance,

and social media expectations.

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this book is an exploration of

friendship, love, and the complex

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intersections of identity in a

world that often demands perfection.

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And I absolutely love Malcolm.

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His devotion to Joe was heartwarming,

even as Joe grappled with deep seated

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issues rooted in family trauma.

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And the love triangle adds a bit

of tension, but it's Joe's personal

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journey that really shines.

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Watching her confront depression and grow

into her own was powerful and refreshing.

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Charlene Abobe didn't shy away

from addressing the complexities

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of being Black and a woman.

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And I loved how the book challenges

those narratives without being preachy.

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It's messy.

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It's real.

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And it's one of my top reads of the year.

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Next up is When I Think

of You by Maya Ariel.

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This second chance

Hollywood romance is a gem.

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Kalia, a receptionist with dreams

of breaking into film, reconnects

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with her college sweetheart

Danny, who's now a rising star.

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The emotional depth combined with

the glitzy backdrop of Hollywood

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made this an unforgettable read.

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Maya Errol had me laughing, crying,

and feeling everything in between.

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If you're into second chance love

stories, then this is a must read.

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Now this next one is by

debut author Tanviay Pert.

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Ella gets the D.

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I cannot rave about this one.

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this hilarious and empowering story of

a divorced mom rediscovering herself

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and love with her best friend's brother

had me hooked from start to finish.

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Ella's journey of self love combined

with the sizzling chemistry with

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Julian makes this book equal

parts steamy and heartfelt.

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And did I mention it's an age gap?

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Ella is older than Julian.

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If you love romance with spice and

substance, you have to grab this one.

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Tamia Pierre makes another appearance

on this list with The 7 Month Itch.

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This was the first book in

her Chance at Love series.

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This rom com was a riot, balancing

steamy romance with themes of

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self discovery and healing.

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Justice, recently separated from

her husband, attends a singles

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retreat where everything, and yes,

I mean everything, goes haywire.

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The humor, the pop culture reference, the

sizzling chemistry, this book had it all.

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It's a fun, heartwarming exploration of

second chances if you love a salacious

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rom com with a little scandal, then the

7th Month Itch is definitely for you.

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Now, you've heard me rave about This

Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan all year,

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and this book again is everything.

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Soledad's journey of self discovery

combined with Kennedy Ryan's powerful

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storytelling makes this one of the

st impactful romance reads of: 2024

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It's all about learning

to love yourself first.

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And honestly, we need more

stories like this in romance.

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If you haven't started the Skyland

series, what are you waiting for?

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Next on my list is Demon's

Dream by Elle Kaysen.

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Now, don't let the title fool you.

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If you love gangster drama with your

romance, then Demon's Dream is for you.

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This gritty, emotional story follows

Demon, a deeply flawed enforcer

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in dream, a resilient fixer.

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Their chemistry combined with L.

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K.

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Simpson's vivid storytelling kept

me up til four am, reading it.

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It's intense, it's raw, and

it's very unforgettable.

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Then you have Curvy Girl

Summer by Danielle Allen.

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This book was everywhere this summer.

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Danielle Allen did it

with Curvy Girl Summer.

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Aaliyah and Ahmaud's slow burn romance

is equal parts witty and heartfelt,

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tackling themes like fatphobia,

grief, and healing with grace.

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Aaliyah Namaz's banter is, it's

funny, and the chemistry, sizzling.

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It's the perfect blend of

humor, depth, and spice.

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And so there you have it.

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My top 10 black romance books of 2024.

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Whether you're into slow burns,

second chances, or swoon worthy

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cinnamon roll heroes, there's

something on this list for everyone.

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And don't forget, you can find all

the books I've discussed today at my

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culture lit digital bookshop At bookshop.

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org slash shop slash culture lit

podcast, supporting any bookstores

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and black authors has never

been easier or more rewarding.

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If you enjoyed this episode, please

subscribe, leave a review and share it

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with your fellow romance book lovers.

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Until next time, keep reading,

keep loving, and keep sharing

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Black stories that matter.

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Happy reading.