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.
Suggested Reading
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)
“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)
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)
“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)
“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)
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)
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)
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)
“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)
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)
“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)
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)
“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)
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)
“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.
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