,

July 2024 Books By Black Authors We Can’t Wait to Read

A memoir from an inspiring NFL mom and an illustrated guide to Pilates from Chuck D? Yes, please!

Photo: Getty Images Westend61

The summer travel season is in full swing, which means there are plenty of great books hitting the shelves that are perfect for cross-country flights and lazy days at the beach.

Book lovers have lots to get excited about in July, with new titles from stars like Insecure’s Jay Ellis and hip-hop legend Chuck D. From an inspiring memoir by a resilient NFL mom to a hilarious story about how one star’s imaginary friend helped him cope, these are the books by Black authors we can’t wait to read this July.

“Midnight Rooms” by Donyae Cole (July 2)

Image: Amistad Image: Amistad

“Midnight Rooms” is a thrilling historical novel set in England in the 1840s. The story follows a young, orphaned mixed-race woman who agrees to marry a man to settle her uncle’s debts. But as her new husband takes her away from everything she knows, the woman soon discovers some mysterious things happening around her and that she’s losing herself in the process.

“This Great Hemisphere” by Mateo Askaripour (July 9)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

Fans of speculative fiction will love “This Great Hemisphere,” a gripping novel that follows a young invisible woman on a quest to find the older brother she thought was dead, but who is actually a suspect in a high-profile murder.

“Grant Me Vision: A Journey of Family, Faith, and Forgiveness” by Sabrina Greenlee (July 9)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

“Grant Me Vision” is Sabrina Greenlee’s powerful memoir about overcoming adversity. The mother of NFL star DeAndre Hopkins shares the story of how she has triumphed in the face of unspeakable tragedy and a brutal attack that caused her to lose her vision.

“Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (0r Just Me)?: Adventures in Boyhood“ by Jay Ellis (June 30)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

“Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend?” is Insecure star Jay Ellis’ hilarious memoir about how he used his imaginary friend to cope with the realities of growing up as an only child and an Army brat.

“Sharks Don’t Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist” by Jasmin Graham (July 16)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

In “Sharks Don’t Sink” Black shark scientist Jasmin Graham writes about her path to becoming a marine biologist despite a lack of representation in the field and the lessons sharks can teach us about survival.

You’ll be inspired by how she’s used her experience to help others, including co-founding Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), an organization supporting young women of color in the field.

“Beyond Policing” by Phillip V. McHarris (July 30)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

In “Beyond Policing,” Philip V. McHarris writes about a world where an increased police presence isn’t the answer to a problem with crime. Instead, he suggests mediators and other community-based solutions to help ensure public safety.

“The Blonde Dies First” by Joelle Wellington (July 30)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

Fans of “Scream” will love “The Blonde Dies First,” a hilarious story in which a group of friends trying to have the Best Summer Ever find out what happens when playing with a Ouija board goes wrong.

“Grown Women” by Sarai Johnson (July 9)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

“Grown Women” is Sarai Johnson’s beautiful debut novel about how four generations of Black women move forward in love despite the trauma and tension of their pasts.

“RAPilates: Body and Mind Conditioning in the Digital Age” by Chuck D. and Kathy Lopez (July 2)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

Public Enemy rapper Chuck D has credited Pilates with helping him maintain the energy he needs to perform after nearly four decades in the rap game. Now, in “RAPilates,” he shares a series of Pilates exercises for people of all ages and fitness levels. The book includes Chuck’s illustrations, easy-to-follow descriptions and modifications that make the exercises accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.

“My Parents’ Marriage” by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond (July 9)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

“My Parents’ Marriage” is the story of a young Ghanaian woman who hopes moving to America will allow her to have a marriage much different than her parents’. But after her father’s death, the woman is forced to return home and face the demons she’d been trying to avoid.

“The Bookshop Sisterhood” by Michelle Lindo-Rice (July 30)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

As four best friends prepare to open a bookstore, they’re forced to lean on each other as their personal lives are upended. “The Bookshop Sisterhood” is a heartwarming story about the power of friendship.

“Sounds Like a Plan” by Paula Samuels Young & Dwayne Alexander Smith (July 9)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

“Sounds Like a Plan” is a novel about Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham, two rival detectives who find themselves working together against their will to solve a missing person’s case. But working together leads to some romantic tension – and a lot of laughs.

“Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples” by Mavis Staples & Carole Boston Weatherford (July 9)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

In “Bridges Instead of Walls,” legendary singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples and award-winning children’s book author Carole Boston Weatherford teamed up to tell the story of how Staples dedicated her life and voice to share a message of love and justice for all.

“Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow: A Novel” by Damilare Kuku (July 30)

Image: Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com

“Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow” is a hilarious story about Temi, a recent college grad on a mission to get a BBL and find the man of her dreams – despite the disapproval of practically every older woman in her family. Author Damilare Kuku will keep you laughing with this one while making an important statement about our culture’s obsession with a woman’s appearance.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Father's Day 2025: Fave Black Dads in TV and Film

Father’s Day 2025: Fave Black Dads in TV and Film

From films like "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "Daddy's Little Girls" to shows like "Family Matters" and "Black-ish," we're celebrating our favorite dads in media ...
Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Trigger Warning…All of the Shocking Testimony From Diddy’s Federal Trial

From federal raids to gruesome details of Cassie's alleged abuse, witnesses at Diddy's trial paint a scary picture ...

The Wild, Unbelievable Timeline of Kendrick Lamar's First Toronto Show Post-Drake Diss

The Wild, Unbelievable Timeline of Kendrick Lamar’s First Toronto Show Post-Drake Diss

Lamar touched down in Drake's hometown for his Grand National Tour and let's just say things went off-script in the most hilarious way ...
Expert: Brace Yourself For Anti-Ice Protests, But That's Not The Scary Part

Expert: Brace Yourself For Anti-Ice Protests, But That’s Not The Scary Part

Father’s Day weekend might be met with a side of anti-fascist chaos… across the country ...
Fans Get Too Close to Rumi Carter at the 'Cowboy Carter Tour' Until They See ...Jay-Z

Fans Get Too Close to Rumi Carter at the ‘Cowboy Carter Tour’ Until They See …Jay-Z

“Beyoncé’s youngest daughter was among the crowd during the latest ‘Cowboy Carter’ show in London.” ...
Embattled Shannon Sharpe Claps back At Nicki Minaj! Here's What We Know?

Embattled Shannon Sharpe Claps back At Nicki Minaj! Here’s What We Know?

Minaj took aim at Sharpe in a new song and now that he's gotten wind of it, he's a got a whole lot to say! ...
Former NBA Star Grabs His Privates and Pays a <i>Huge</i> Price For What He Does to a Fan

Former NBA Star Grabs His Privates and Pays a Huge Price For What He Does to a Fan

DeMarcus Cousins catches a steep penalty from his basketball team for very unsportsmanlike conduct caught on camera ...
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Behind Florida’s Sheriff’s ‘We Will Kill You’ to Anti-Trump Protesters

With Sheriff Ivey basically giving the green light for violence against Americans using their First Amendment right, Black folks took it all in ...
What Black Men Secretly Want For Father's Day

What Black Men Secretly Want For Father’s Day

It's not socks. Nor is it cologne. What Black men want for Father's Day is simple and free ...
How Trump is Now Involved in R. Kelly's Legal Mess, Explained

How Trump is Now Involved in R. Kelly’s Legal Mess, Explained

The once beloved R&B singer is pulling out all the stops to try to get out of prison and his latest attempt just might involve the president! ...
Detroit Mother Kicked Out Of Zoom Court For Making Daughter A PB&J

Detroit Mother Kicked Out Of Zoom Court For Making Daughter A PB&J

Turns out you can't make PB&Js during a court hearing, even if it's on Zoom ...
Kenny Lattimore and Faith Jenkins Go After Youtubers For Spreading Lies About Them

Kenny Lattimore and Faith Jenkins Go After Youtubers For Spreading Lies About Them

Lattimore, a popular singer, has remained out of the headlines as of late. But this new development has now changed that! ...
Black Internet Reacts To Nelly And Ashanti's New Reality Show Trailer

Black Internet Reacts To Nelly And Ashanti’s New Reality Show Trailer

If reality TV wasn't already starting to get juicy with the comeback of Love Island USA, it's definitely going to get interesting with a new show everyone is talking about. Spin the block couple, Nelly and Ashanti, are coming out with a reality TV show, "Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong ...
Wait...Who's Trying to Kill R. Kelly??

Wait…Who’s Trying to Kill R. Kelly??

Kelly, the disgraced R&B singer, has been trying to get out from under his 31 year prison sentence. But this latest attempt might be the wildest ...
Will Ryan Gosling Play Black Panther? Answered

Will Ryan Gosling Play Black Panther? Answered

After a new Marvel comic introduces a white Black Panther, fans discuss whether Ryan Gosling should take on the role ...
Marc Lamont Hill Breaks Silence on Viral Video of Him Getting Pepper Sprayed During a Talk

Marc Lamont Hill Breaks Silence on Viral Video of Him Getting Pepper Sprayed During a Talk

The author and activist talked to Joe Budden about what really went down when he was attacked in 2024 and how he's dealt with his alleged attacker since ...
This NYC Father Suspected of Killing His 2-Year-Old Son, Tossing His Remains in a River

This NYC Father Suspected of Killing His 2-Year-Old Son, Tossing His Remains in a River

Montrell Williams was last seen in May and now, police suspect his father is involved in his disappearance.  ...
Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Project Angel Food, X

Dems Are Furious at Why This Senator Was Detained at a MAGA News Conference

Los Angeles is already making news after President Donald Trump deployed troops following protests... but this surely takes the cake ...
The Surprising Tea on the Black Colorado Child Born With Blonde Hair and Blue Eyes

The Surprising Tea on the Black Colorado Child Born With Blonde Hair and Blue Eyes

Yes, these babies with “European” features are, in fact, Black.  ...