The holiday season is upon us, and finding the perfect gift for a book lover can be challenging. To make your holiday shopping experience easier, EnVi’s Formation team has picked out a selection of intriguing fiction books written by Black authors, for your loved ones’ reading pleasure. These books kept us on the edge of our seats, and will surely make your beloved’s holidays unforgettable!
Miyeko May – Take A Chance
In need of a romantic story that will have you smiling throughout? Take A Chance on Miyeko May‘s debut novel: an adult contemporary romance piece with a spicy storyline. It revolves around Cassandra and Cyrus, two high school friends who reunite in Mexico as adults. The chemistry between the characters, as they discover their feelings, will leave you kicking the air!
Joelle Wellington – Their Vicious Games
Their Vicious Games is the love child of The Hunger Games, Squid Game, and Ace of Spades, with its unique twists. It is the perfect gift for a thriller lover seeking an entertaining, brutal, and terrifying read. Authored by Joelle Wellington, Their Vicious Games tells the story of Adina, a Black teen who unknowingly enters a deadly competition to regain her Ivy League status. It also features social commentary on class, privilege, and misogyny.
Tembe Denton-Hurst – Homebodies
Know someone who’s feeling out of place and confused about life? Gift them Homebodies, the debut novel of Tembe Denton-Hurst. The coming-of-age and LGBTQ novel follows Mickey, who loses her coveted but racist media job. She, then, relocates to her grandparents’ home in Maryland, as advised by her girlfriend. While in Maryland, she does a retrospective of her life and tries to get over her slump.
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah – Chain-Gang All-Stars
In search of the perfect gift for a dystopian fiction lover? Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah might be what you are looking for. A blend of sci-fi torture, action, and social commentary, it tells the story of two imprisoned teammates and lovers, Thurwar and Staxxx. Both women are fan favorites of Chain-Gang All-Stars, a popular and controversial program where prisoners compete in death matches for the ultimate prize: their freedom.
Zadie Smith – The Fraud
History meets humor in The Fraud by best-selling English author Zadie Smith. Set in the 1870s, the novel is based on the Tichborne trial, in which a lowly butcher claims to be the heir to a wealthy English family. The trial is described as one of Victorian England’s lengthiest court cases. It also weaves together the stories of Elizabeth Touchet, a white housekeeper, and a Jamaican ex-slave Andrew Bogle.
Looking for more gift ideas for this holiday season? Check out our 2023 holiday gift guide with a focus on Black women-owned brands here!
