Black Romance is my Valentine

It goes without saying that romance is my favorite genre to indulge in. Books, movies, news stories—whatever. Now that I've given that disclaimer, you should know that this post is going to be in full advocacy of romance, particularly Black romance.

When I started reading for leisure about fifteen years ago, I first picked up whatever books were laying around just to pass the time. Then I moved over to e-books, scouring Amazon Kindle's top 100 free lists and their deal of the day—weekly in the romance category—downloading anything that caught my eye. Early on, I wasn't particularly selective about authors, but after a few consecutive reads by Black indie authors who were, in my opinion, absolutely killing it at the time, I can't say I've turned back.

Fast forward a decade later, and Black romance—particularly indie—is thriving and undeniably making an impact that transcends geographic boundaries. I don't know the numbers outside the U.S. but across these 50 states, we are all connected. These books are moving through cities, book clubs, and online communities in a way that feels organic and community-driven—readers finding each other, recommending to each other, and showing up for each other in ways I don't see replicated anywhere else in the literary space. The amount of book and author events being hosted within this community is a beautiful thing to witness, and I'll speak more about that rise in another post. But if it's between traditionally published Black romance and independently published Black romance, I'm going with Black indie romance every time. I'll tell you why, briefly, because this post is really meant to be a curated list of exactly those books.

Being a consumer of both, I cannot recall many traditional romance novels that have elicited the kind of emotions, reactions, and commentary that indie romances have. Call me crazy, but these books have had me crying and laughing out loud—just me and a book, alone in my house. Take a look at the Black and African American romance fiction category and see which authors are holding the top spots. It tells you everything. One may say it is the relatability of the books, but honestly, most of those books I actually do not personally relate to. I cannot relate to the biker gangs. I cannot relate to the college sweethearts. I cannot relate to reading a book on a yacht (I need to get out more and live more life, because these women in these books are truly taking it). These authors write about fantasy that many of us—or maybe just me—wouldn't mind living in. To me, these books read so well that I enjoy being a fly on the wall, witnessing the love stories unfold and come together. But even if you don't have a personal experience you can relate to, it is the culture, the banter, the settings, and the authenticity that makes for a great read. And honestly, I've read some authors who started indie and went traditional, and felt their stories, voice, and tone become watered down in the process. Which is exactly why I keep coming back to the ones who haven't. Here are the books that have held a top spot at BLK & Company and on my own personal shelves.

---

Books with Great Banter

Because sometimes you just want to smile the whole way through.

• Losin Control by Ladii Nesha

• All of Shvonne Latrice's books (I genuinely cannot pick just one)

• The Delgado Family series by Jahquel J.

Books That Just Feel Good

The ones you reach for when you need to be held by a story.

• Sanctuary by Alexandria House

• Her Forever by Zee Renee

• Dry Cry by Joanna Kimber

• Lost & Found series by Natasha Bishop

• Unorthodox Love by BriAnn Danae

Books That Are Steamy

Because it is Valentine's Day, after all.

• Just Right by Shon

• The Danger Family series by Endiya Carter

• In the Gray by B.B. Reid

• Soul Ties by Miss Candice

Book Series with Range

For when you want more than one book can hold.

• A Courageous Love series by Terreece M. Clarke

• Seasons of Fidelity by Takerra Allen

• Summers by M. Monique

• The New Haven series by JL Seegers

Honorable Mention (If You Want a Guaranteed Cry):

Read this one when you have tissues nearby and nowhere to be.

• A Timeless Love by Shanel

---

All of these fall under the general umbrella of Black & African American romance, but this genre is like a spectrum—there are many subcategories, and it's worth doing a little research before diving in to find what fits your reading mood. Nonetheless, this is my personal list of reads I would pick up on any given day, and especially if I needed a little company on Valentine's Day.

Black romance, indie Black romance especially, deserves its flowers today and every day. These authors are building worlds, writing love stories that feel alive, and doing it largely on their own terms. That's worth celebrating, not just in February, but every time you pick up one of these books and find yourself somewhere between smiling and sobbing. Happy Valentine's Day.

If you have recommendations or thoughts to share, please drop them in the comments. I'll be cozying up with my books this weekend.

Until the next thought,

Happy Reading

Did you prefer indie romance authors or traditionally published romance authors?

• 0%Give me indie romance
• 0%I'll take traditionally published romance