14 Romances by Black Writers to Swoon Over
Do You Take this Man by Denise Williams
We here at Dog-Eared couldn’t dream of doing a list like this without mentioning one of our hometown favorites, Denise Williams. We love all of her books (The Fastest Way to Fall and How to Fail at Flirting, plus her Airport Romance novella collection Love and Other Flight Delays) but her latest novel is perfect for this Valentine’s Day.
Wedding officiant RJ doesn’t think love is real and event planner Lear has been burned one too many times, but they find themselves agreeing to a mutual “enemies with benefits” arrangement nonetheless. Surrounded by love and happy couples at every turn, the two can’t help but feel intense physical attraction pulling them together. But RJ won’t let herself be vulnerable and Lear doesn’t want to be hurt again. But with surrounded by so many “I dos", the couple may not be able to resist. With sexy banter, steaminess, and a hard-earned happily-ever-after, this is a romance you won’t want to miss.
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
When they got married, they swore to each other their love would last forever, but life kept dealing out blow after blow to Josiah and Yasmen. Despite their feelings for each other, they had to realize that love cannot save or fix everything.. This book alternates chapters between Josiah and Yasmen as you explore their co-parenting and business relationship that does nothing to stop them from coming together again and again like magnets. A stolen kiss becomes two, then more as they wonder if they didn’t give up on their love too soon. But the problems that ripped them apart haven’t gone away, and they need to figure out how to navigate them together or stay separated for good.
This is a deep and impactful story and their emotions are raw and transparent as we learn why they divorced. This book is full of emotion, angst, and second chances. One of the most raw, poignant, and romantic stories you’ll find.
The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon
When a personal trainer agrees to fake date a client, all the rules get thrown out the window. Taylor Powell is good at what she does, and kicks butt as a personal trainer. But even though she’s rocking the gym, bills are piling up and her money situation is quickly becoming dire. Jamar Dixon might just be the answer for all of her problems—this former football player wants back into the NFL and wants Taylor to help him. But before long they’re outed as a couple and their plans are turned upside down, and each of them must find out if they’re just playing or playing for keeps.
This story is a total romp, filled with humor, sparkling banter, and oh-so-steamy sex scenes, but also has beautiful examples of sisterhood and familial love. And even with it’s heaping dose of hilarity, the emotional journey between our two leads still rings true. Swoony, fun, and ultimately joyful, this is a story that is sure to win your heart.
Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
Jesse Strong is known for two things: being an absolute heartbreaker and his unending devotion to his adoptive mother, Mama Joy. After Mama Joy passes unexpectedly, Jesse and his brothers are left adrift without knowing what to do with Strong Knits, their mother’s yarn store. Jesse insists it stays open, while his brothers want to cut and run. Part time employer Kerry Fuller overhears one of the brother’s conversations about the shop, and her knowledge of the “knitty”-gritty details of running the store combined with her crush on Jesse means she volunteers to help keep the shop going. As they spend more time together, their chemistry grows. But Kerry knows Jesse’s history, and it’s up to him to prove that he will stay.
A totally satisfying slow-burn, you won’t be able to stop yourself from rooting for the couple and their store. This is a big-hearted, warm, and funny story that will leave any romance-lover feeling cozy.
On the Hustle by Adriana Herrera
Alba Duarte loves a side hustle. Her favorite is doing bookish, insta-worthy bedroom makeovers for her loved ones. He least favorite? Working for frustratingly handsome and demanding Theo Ganas for 3 years as his PA. Theo is a former Olympic swimmer and heir to a real-estate empire, and while gorgeous, his infuriating demands have Alba wanting to pull out her own hair.
When opportunity knocks, she decides it’s time for her to go out on her own, leaving her family—and the impossible Theo—behind. Imagine her surprise when Theo shows up in Dallas with an offer to work together that she can’t refuse—a home make-over reality TV show. The couple has palpable chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and spicy sex scenes. With some of our favorite tropes (forced proximity, pining, banter, and workplace drama) this is an Afro-Latinx story you won’t want to miss. For fans of The Hating Game or Colleen Hoover.
D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins
Kris Zavala is right on the cusp of really making it as an influencer—all she really needs is something to elevate her brand. Instant I Do could be just the thing to launch her career, and the cool $100,000 prize wouldn’t hurt. D’vaughn is just trying to break out of her shell and come out to her mother, so a splashy fake wedding is all she really needs. All they have to do is convince their friends and family that it’s real for 6 weeks. A piece of cake, especially when their on-camera chemistry sticks around once the recording stops. But each weeks that passes brings new challenges, and a fake wedding isn’t the steadiest of foundations on which to build a new relationship, and before too long, it’s not just the prize money that’s at risk.
Emotionally powerful, warm, sexy, and joyful, this queer relationship is an inclusive and thoroughly enjoyable escape, as well as a beautiful distillation of what love can become if you simply open your heart.
Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
Sharp-tongued, soft-hearted Kiki Banjo is an expert in relationship-evasion and hosts a popular student radio show “Brown Sugar” and has made it her mission to help the women of the African-Caribbean society stay free of “situationships”, players, and heartbreak. But when Kiki kisses Malakai—a playboy she just publicly denounced—in front of everyone, she finds her show on the brink. They end up tangled in a fake relationship in an attempt to salvage their reputations and futures. Kiki has never surrendered her heart before, and Malakai won’t be the one to change that, no matter how charming he is or how electric their connection feels. But as they spend more time together, Kiki might have to look inside herself and open up to something deeper.
This fake-dating enemies-to-lovers story is sexy and messy, wry and hilarious, and this book will hit all of your most favorite romance tropes without ever seeming tired. Full of delicious tension and romantic intrigue, Kiki and Malakai’s story makes this sparkling debut the perfect book to curl up with over the weekend.
Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling by Elise Bryant
A dual POV rom-com starring Delilah and Reggie. Delilah hides her messy gooey insides behind a mask of indifference and likes to go with the flow. Reggie is a self-declared Blerd (Black Nerd) and spends his weekend playing Dungeon Master and writing essays critiquing D&D under a pseudonym. Though the two have nothing in common, they meet on New Years, then Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s…like the universe is pushing them together for a reason. Delilah wishes she could be more like Reggie—boldly herself, open about what she likes, even if it’s not cool. Except Reggie’s confidence is all a front. They begin to fall for each other as their holiday meetings continue, but what happens when the version of the person they like doesn’t really exist?
This new-release YA story brimming with uncertain, joyful self-discovery is an irresistible love song devoted to hope and overcoming your fears while tackling hard conversations about disability and tokenism.
Digging Up Love by Chandra Blumberg
Alisha Blake works her magic in the kitchen, creating delectable desserts for her grandfather’s restaurant in rural Illinois. But even while she loves her small-town life with her family nearby, she dreams of something bigger—a cookie shop in Chicago. But when a dinosaur bone sprouts up from the dirt of her grandparents’ backyard, paleontologist Quentin Harris arrives on the scene, hoping this fossil will distract him from his painful breakup. But an academic breakthrough isn’t his only discovery—Alisha’s there too, and soon sparks fly. But Alisha is scared of falling in love, and Quentin’s quest to make a name for himself in a competitive field makes things even more complicated, especially when the press arrives.
Blumberg’s debut is warm, engaging and emotionally honest, filled with delicious cookies and dinosaur bones. The playful combination of careers helps create a story about chasing your dreams and stumbling upon true love along the way.
Tempest by Beverly Jenkins
Beverly Jenkins has been writing Black-centered romance since the mid 1990s, and I almost didn’t include one of her titles simply because I assume everyone knows about her already, but I thought I’d be remiss if I didn’t include her, just in case. One of the greats of romance, she has a huge backlist for you to discover. I’ve included one of her newer releases, Tempest to help jump-start anyone’s discovery of her.
Regan Carmichael is a mail-order bride who accidentally greets her intended with a bullet to the shoulder instead of a kiss—an honest error that leads to her wondering if she’s made a grave mistake. Dr. Colton Lee thinks he buried his heart along with his first wife, only wanting a wife to be a mother to his daughter, yet the two find surprising chemistry together. Regan is far from the docile bride he expected, but Colton knows few women could handle the wild Wyoming territory and having a bold, forthright woman like Regan begins to inspire a new dream. And despite his family’s disapproval and an unseen enemy, he’ll risk all to make this match a real union of body and soul. Vivid and nuanced with a sizzling romance, you’ll want to dive into all the Beverly Jenkins you can get your hands on.
Business Not as Usual by Sharon C. Cooper
Dreamy Daniels moves through each day with affirmations running through her head. Who cares if she lives in a less-than-great part of Los Angeles and works an unfulfilling job while she struggles to finish her bachelor’s degree? Soon she catches the attention of her boss’s potential investor, and struggles to remind herself to focus on her own career goals when a man with the grace of a Duke and the suaveness of Idris Elba keeps looking her way. Karter Redford grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth, son of an A-list actor and socialite mother, and is now a venture capitalist. But he prefers using his wealth to help the less fortunate over attending movie premiers and lush galas, and his life has always revolved around his work. That is until he meets Dreamy. Even though they’re from totally different worlds, their investment in each other might be the best idea they’ve ever had.
With life-like characters and laugh-out-loud moments, Cooper has crafted a world its deliciously fun to sink into.
An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole
Elle Burns was formerly enslaved, and now has a passion for justice and a photographic memory. She bravely trades her freedom in the Northeast for the indignity of slavery in the South to be a spy for the Union Army. Malcolm McCall is a detective for Pinkerton's Secret Service—a job he is very good at. Now is time for his riskiest mission yet—trying to infiltrate a Rebel enclave in Virginia. Elle and Malcolm join forces when they both realize they share a common cause (and undeniable chemistry). The two discover a plot that could turn the tide of the war in the Confederacy’s favor. With the web of wartime intrigue ever tightening, combined with the heat of their budding love, they must decide to preserve the Union, even if it comes at the cost of their own love.
This book is an unflinching take at the horrors and inhumanity of this era, while vociferously dying the Lost Cause narrative that often colors romance novels of this time period. Mysterious, thrilling, and still deeply romantic, this historical interracial romance hits all the right spots.
I’m So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson
Kian Andrews hasn’t heard from his ex-boyfriend, Hudson Rivers for months, until one day, he receives an urgent text that has them meeting in a café. Hudson’s reason for meeting? Not apologizing for the breakup, and certainly not confessing his undying love—instead, Hudson asks a favor. Could Kian pretend to be his boyfriend while Hudson’s parents are in town? The situation quickly spirals out of control and Kian suddenly ends up agreeing to be Hudson’s plus one for Georgia’s wedding of the season. Hudson’s wealthy family cannot afford to lose face, and Kian’s presence will help him maintain appearances. Kian sees it as an opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the biggest media moguls around, which could spell the big break his career really needs. But despite their relationship being fake, their feelings are seeming more and more real.
Denise Williams called this “swoony, witty, and utterly fun”, and it’s swoony romance and snappy dialogue will have you blushing with delight and laughing out loud.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Eva Mercy is a best-selling erotica writer and a single mom. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic literary wunderkind. When the two cross paths at a literary event, sparks fly and all of the Black literary world pays attention. What no one knows, however, is that 15 years earlier, the two spend one mad, impassioned week together. While they pretend not to know each other in public, they can’t deny the pull that keeps drawing them together—or the realization that they’ve been writing to (and about) each other the whole time they’ve been apart. Over the next 7 days of a steamy Brooklyn summer, they reconnect. But Eva can’t help but be weary of the man who broke her heart, and she needs a few questions answered before Shane disappears.
This book is a smart, sexy testament to Black joy and tragic romances that grow into second chances. And don’t let the kind-of serious-seeming cover fool you—this book is a delight. Warm, witty, and funny, and Shane’s Dad-adjacent humor will leave you wheezing with laughter.
…and one bonus non-fiction book— Black Love Matters by Jessica Pryde
Romance is one of the largest (and best-selling) categories of media in history, but for Black people in the US and all across the diaspora, it has been far from easy to find Black stories and Black romance represented fully and joyfully. In this incisive essay collection, major industry figures and sparkling newcomers, librarians and academics, and avid readers and reviewers write on representations of Black love as it is shown in books, TV, and film, allowing Black people to shape their own stories. Using both personal reflections and cultural commentaries, these essays explore Black love now and in the past, including topics from the history of Black romance to social justice and the Black community to the meaning of desire and desirability. Exploring the multifaceted ways love is seen—and the ways it isn't—this diverse array of Black voices collectively shines a light on the power of crafting happy endings for Black lovers.
Unique and heartfelt, this collection’s greatest strength is its thoughtfulness and diverse perspectives, resulting in a book of joyful resistance that is a must read for anyone.
