7 Best Books by Black Authors in 2022
When’s the last time you read a good book? If that question leaves you scratching your head, then it’s time to get into our recommendations for the best books written by Black authors in 2022.
Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi
Connecticut Book Award for Fiction winner and Dragon Award Finalist
If you are a sci-fi fan, this book is for you. If you are not a sci-fi fan, this book is still for you. Goliath answers the question, “What would life look like if the 2020 pandemic had ravaged the Earth, forced the rich and powerful to retreat to space colonies and left the rest of us to fend for ourselves?”
This book is a dystopian page-turner, complete with a fresh take on the yet unseen, but very real effects of income inequality in a world built not on survival of the fittest, but survival of the richest.
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
An Oprah Book Club feature
Nighcrawling is for the woman who loves true crime and all things Oxygen channel. Leila tells a story that’s gritty and heavy-hitting, and one that’s guaranteed to spark deep conversations in book clubs everywhere.
In her debut novel, Leila introduces us to the world of sex work, sexual violence and police misconduct as experienced by Kiara and Marcus. Set in Oakland, the teenage siblings are doing their best to survive after their family is ravaged by the criminal justice system and the untimely death of a loved one.
Desperate for financial stability, Kiara finds herself a reluctant participant in the world of sex work, aka nightcrawling. Her spiral into the dark underbelly of her beloved city will lead her straight back to the Oakland Police Department; not as a suspect, but a witness to major police corruption.
A Killer Sundae by Abby Collette
A Killer Sundae is the latest murder mystery to hit bookstores. But if you’re expecting a dark, brooding thriller, think again. Instead, Abby opts for a lighter, more charming tone for the story. While ‘charming’ and ‘murder’ aren’t two words typically associated with each other, they aptly describe this delicious novel.
The story takes place in Small-Town USA during a local festival filled with any and everyone in town. Win, a local boss babe and proud owner of a new ice cream truck, is the prime suspect in this “whodunit”. She’s suspected of poisoning the former Harvest Time Festival Queen during the festivities. Win must find a way to clear her name before time runs out. This novel will keep you on your toes. Is Win wrongly suspected or is there more to the story?
I’m So Not Over You by Kosoto Jackson
Romance is in the air in this LGBT-friendly love story. Kosoto treats us to a novel worthy of a holiday rom-com adaptation on Netflix.
Kian Andrews and his beau Hudson are done, or at least they think so. But when Hudson calls Kian with an intriguing proposition, complete with a fake shomance that could be life-changing for his career, Kian finds himself at odds. Does he oblige his ex? Does he choose his career or love? Or, can he beat the odds and have both?
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilson
If you enjoyed The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, then you owe it to yourself to read Black Cake by Charmain Wilson. While both books focus on siblings and family secrets, that’s where the similarities end.
Black Cake revolves around Eleanor Bennett, her two children Byron and Benny, and the bizarre clue she leaves them regarding their inheritance. Throw in a secret, long-lost sibling and Eleanor’s strange request that they all “share the black cake when the time is right” and you have a recipe for a page-turner.
Finding Me by Viola Davis
We couldn’t let 2022 escape us without mentioning one of the year’s most talked about autobiographies. Using her personal story of triumph through adversity, Viola Davis examines what it takes to experience self-love in the face of hardship. She masterfully crafts a message for anyone struggling to remain authentic in a world that rewards the artificial. This book is well worth the read if you enjoy personal stories of self-discovery and perseverance on the way to success.
Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
“You still single?” “You got a man yet?” “You’re running out of time. When are you going to get married?”
Recognize those questions? They’re the questions all well-meaning (and not so well-meaning) family members start asking when an unmarried and uncoupled woman hits 30. And, it’s the inspiration for the book Yinka, Where is your Huzband?
In it, Yinka devises a plan to potentially silence her nagging Nigerian aunties and persistent mother by showing up to her cousin’s wedding with a date, by any means necessary. But as the plan progresses, Yinka begins to suspect that the person she needs to be looking for is herself. Only then can everything else, like a husband, fall into place.
Monique Davis-Garvey is an imaginary multi-hyphenate. Part content writer. Part saleswoman. Full of misplaced energy.
