20 Must-Read Romance Novels by Black Authors

Jordan Greene is in culture shock when he arrives in Manhattan from his Tennessee hometown. Still, he manages to keep the pace and stay in the race, with a Wall Street job, a Queens apartment, and a very sexy girlfriend named J'nette.

But when Jordan meets Kimberly Chavers, what starts as a shared cab ride turns into something more. This girl is funny, fiesty, fine...and white. And for a man with Malcolm X's picture hanging on his office wall, that's a definite problem....

Award-winning romance author Beverly Jenkins offers up another high-stakes historical romance that is sure to make you swoon.

With Destiny’s Embrace, Jenkins brings readers back to the American West, where Logan Yates, a self-important ranch owner, must confront his feelings for his beautiful, free spirited housekeeper, Mariah Cooper. While they bicker incessantly, their sexual tension is palpable, and only rises when Mariah's former lover arrives on the scene. Will she accept Logan's heart?

Set in 19th-century California, Destiny's Embrace features unforgettable characters and a satisfying mix of adventure and passion from nation's premier writer of African-American historical romance.

"Take a Hint, Dani Brown" is my favorite book of this series about sisters from Talia Hibbert. The story follows Dani Brown, a smart and independent academic, and Zafir Ansari, a former rugby player turned security guard. When a fake relationship goes viral, Dani and Zafir decide to play along to avoid public scrutiny. As they navigate their arrangement, the two find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other. The book explores themes of love, vulnerability, and the complexities of modern relationships, all with a blend of humor and heartwarming moments.

Elle Burns is a former slave with a passion for justice and an eidetic memory. Trading in her life of freedom in Massachusetts, she returns to the indignity of slavery in the South—to spy for the Union Army.Malcolm McCall is a detective for Pinkerton's Secret Service. Subterfuge is his calling, but he’s facing his deadliest mission yet—risking his life to infiltrate a Rebel enclave in Virginia.Two undercover agents who share a common cause—and an undeniable attraction—Malcolm and Elle join forces when they discover a plot that could turn the tide of the war in the Confederacy's favor. Caught in a tightening web of wartime intrigue, and fighting a fiery and forbidden love, Malcolm and Elle must make their boldest move to preserve the Union at any cost—even if it means losing each other . .

Feyi Adekola wants to learn how to be alive again.It’s been five years since the accident that killed the love of her life and she’s almost a new person now—an artist with her own studio and sharing a brownstone apartment with her ride-or-die best friend, Joy, who insists it’s time for Feyi to ease back into the dating scene. Feyi isn’t ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could have never imagined: a luxury trip to a tropical island, decadent meals in the glamorous home of a celebrity chef, and a major curator who wants to launch her art career.She’s even started dating the perfect guy, but their new relationship might be sabotaged before it has a chance by the overwhelming desire Feyi feels every time she locks eyes with the one person who is most definitely off-limits—his father. Can she release her past and honor her grief while still embracing her future? And, of course, there’s the biggest question of all—how far is she willing to go for a second chance at love?

Jesse Strong is known for two things: his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation for breaking hearts. When Mama Joy unexpectedly passes away, he and his brothers have different plans for what to do with Strong Knits, their neighborhood knitting store. Jesse wants to keep the store open. His brothers want to tie off loose ends and close shop....Part-time shop employee Kerry Fuller has kept her crush on Jesse a secret. When she overhears his impassioned plea to his brothers to keep the knitting shop open, she volunteers to help. Unlike Jesse, Kerry knows the “knitty-gritty” of the business, and together they make plans to reinvent Strong Knits for a new generation.But the more time they spend together, the stronger the chemistry builds between them. Kerry, knowing Jesse’s history, doesn’t believe their relationship can last longer than she can knit one, purl two. But Jesse is determined to prove to her that he can be the man for her forever and always. After all, real men knit.

Sharp-tongued (and secretly soft-hearted) Kiki Banjo has just made a huge mistake. As an expert in relationship-evasion and the host of the popular student radio show Brown Sugar, she’s made it her mission to make sure the women of the African-Caribbean Society at Whitewell University do not fall into the mess of “situationships”, players, and heartbreak. But when the Queen of the Unbothered kisses Malakai Korede, the guy she just publicly denounced as “The Wastemen of Whitewell,” in front of every Blackwellian on campus, she finds her show on the brink.

They’re soon embroiled in a fake relationship to try and salvage their reputations and save their futures. Kiki has never surrendered her heart before, and a player like Malakai won’t be the one to change that, no matter how charming he is or how electric their connection feels. But surprisingly entertaining study sessions and intimate, late-night talks at old-fashioned diners force Kiki to look beyond her own presumptions. Is she ready to open herself up to something deeper?

This romantic comedy evolves around Alexa Monroe, a successful professional, and Drew Nichols, a pediatric surgeon. When they get stuck in an elevator together, Drew impulsively asks Alexa to be his fake date for a wedding. What starts as a pretend relationship soon develops into something more meaningful. The book explores themes of love, commitment, and the challenges of modern relationships, offering a delightful and heartwarming tale with a mix of humor and romance.

Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything.It couldn’t save their marriage.Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she’s is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had.Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It's hot. It's illicit. It's all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?

A wedding planner left at the altar? Yeah, the irony isn’t lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite that embarrassing blip from her past, Lina’s offered an opportunity that could change her life. There’s just one hitch… she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man from her own failed nuptials. 

Marketing expert Max Hartley is determined to make his mark with a coveted hotel client looking to expand its brand. Then he learns he’ll be working with his brother’s whip-smart, stunning—absolutely off-limits—ex-fiancée. And she loathes him. 

If they can nail their presentation without killing each other, they’ll both come out ahead. Except Max has been public enemy number one ever since he encouraged his brother to jilt the bride, and Lina’s ready to dish out a little payback of her own. 

Soon Lina and Max discover animosity may not be the only emotion creating sparks between them. Still, this star-crossed couple can never be more than temporary playmates because Lina isn’t interested in falling in love and Max refuses to play runner-up to his brother ever again.

Samiah Brooks never thought she would be "that" girl. But a live tweet of a horrific date just revealed the painful truth: she's been catfished by a three-timing jerk of a boyfriend. Suddenly Samiah -- along with his two other "girlfriends," London and Taylor -- have gone viral online. Now the three new besties are making a pact to spend the next six months investing in themselves. No men and no dating. For once Samiah is putting herself first, and that includes finally developing the app she's always dreamed of creating. Which is the exact moment she meets the deliciously sexy Daniel Collins at work. What are the chances? But is Daniel really boyfriend material or is he maybe just a little too good to be true?

Hannah Bailey has never known her father, the Nigerian entrepreneur who had a brief relationship with her white mother. Because of this, Hannah has always felt uncertain about part of her identity. When her father dies, she's invited to Nigeria for the funeral. Though she wants to hate the man who abandoned her, she’s curious about who he was and where he was from. Searching for answers, Hannah boards a plane to Lagos, Nigeria.  In Banana Island, one of Nigeria's most affluent areas, Hannah meets the Jolades, her late father's prestigious family—some who accept her and some who think she doesn't belong. The days leading up to the funeral are chaotic, but Hannah is soon shaped by secrets that unfold, a culture she never thought she would understand or appreciate, and a man who steals her heart and helps her to see herself in a new light.

Shy Lily, secretly pen pals with her fave fantasy author, feels like a wallflower trapped in a family of high achievers. Desperate for a change, she asks charming neighbor Nick, oblivious to his secret identity as that beloved author, to be her "fake date" to her sister's wedding. Sparks fly in real life, but their blooming romance hits a snag when secrets surface - can their online connection survive the face-to-face truth? "The Neighbor Favor" is a witty, bookish tale about embracing courage, vulnerability, and finding love in the most unexpected places, next door.

When the men in their lives prove less than reliable, Savannah, Bernadine, Gloria, and Robin find new strength through a rare and enlightening friendship as they struggle to regain stability and an identity they don’t have to share with anyone. Because for the first time in a long time, their dreams are finally OFF hold....

Light-skinned Patricia, burdened by navigating racial ambiguity, connects with troubled biracial student, Jamal, and his powerful CEO father, Morgan. A passionate romance ignites between Patricia and Morgan, but layers of secrets unfold - Patricia's hidden identity and Morgan's son's struggles with acceptance. As love deepens, they confront prejudice, family expectations, and questions of belonging. Can they overcome individual burdens and societal pressures to build a future together, embracing all their "significant others"? "Significant Others" is a poignant exploration of love, identity, and navigating the complexities of race in a world demanding clear lines.

ris DuPree meets August West in a sports bar during her last semester of college. It's the conversation of a lifetime and sends sparks flying in every direction. The connection is undeniable…but the timing is all wrong. August is poised for the NBA draft, and Iris belongs to another man―basketball's "golden boy" and August's long-time rival.

The two go their separate ways, but they often recall that electric night and what could have been. While August has embarked on his all-star life, studded with wealth and fame, Iris's perfect public relationship has become a nightmare behind closed doors. A tarnished dream of fool's gold.

When August re-enters her life, the world seems briefly bright again, but Iris's darkest nights are not over yet. To survive, she must build her own strength and trust that her bond with August can endure after all this time.

Even when her fraudulent prince has vowed never to let her go.

American Royalty ignites sparks between fiery American rapper Duchess and Prince Jameson, a reluctant royal yearning for academic anonymity. When a scandal-plagued family throws Jameson in charge of a royal tribute concert, he hires Duchess for the star power (and maybe the distraction). Sparks fly amidst palace protocols and paparazzi flashes, their whirlwind romance shaking both worlds. But can their love bridge the chasms of culture, class, and prejudice? Buckle up for a sassy, sexy ride as "Duchess" defies expectations, Jameson risks the crown, and love threatens to rewrite the royal rulebook in this modern-day fairytale.

Fifteen years after a searing, week-long affair shattered their souls, bestselling writers Eva and Shane reunite in Brooklyn's sweltering June. Eva, a single mom juggling erotica fame and her daughter's dreams, grapples with past trauma. Shane, a literary enigma haunted by grief, seeks sanctuary in solitude. When fate throws them together, old wounds bleed, trust remains elusive, and questions linger. Can seven scorching days rewrite their story? Can love rewrite itself, born from ashes and fueled by stolen moments, second chances, and the searing ache of what could have been? "Seven Days in June" is a passionate exploration of love, healing, and the enduring power of connection, second acts, and second chances.

Jaclyn Love is a magnet for trouble - it seems to follow her wherever she goes.Unfortunately for Kadan Davenport, she also seems to be a magnet for him - even after a disastrous first impression that leaves him - literally - black and blue.Jaclyn is busy trying to find some sort of balance, and Kadan is just trying not to get swept up in the chaos. In a small city like Blakewood, it's hard to avoid each other... especially when each additional encounter makes them wonder if they really want to. "I Think I Might Love You" is a first-in-series novella.

DJ Prince, Detroit's teen love guru, dispenses advice on-air but lacks romance in his own life, juggling care duties and radio dreams. Dani, a jaded writer scarred by a past betrayal, avoids love like the plague. Sparks fly when Prince meets Dani, but she offers him just three dates to prove his theories work. As Prince embarks on a hilarious, heartfelt mission to win her over, they delve into secrets, navigate family struggles, and discover truths about themselves and love. Can Prince, guided by his own advice, make Dani believe in happily ever afters? "Love Radio" is a witty, heartwarming tale about self-discovery, embracing vulnerability, and finding love on the most unexpected airwaves.