The Black diaspora is vast, and Black authors from all over the world are consistently shaping literature with their characters, stories, and ideas. In particular, Black authors from Britain have been producing impactful books at a high level for years, weaving imaginations and real-world truths for all types of readers.
We’ve assembled a list of 15 incredible books across fiction and nonfiction from Black British authors, providing just a glimpse into the large catalog of these incredible writers.
Trigger Warning: This article contains brief mentions of racism and slavery. Please exercise personal care while reading.
Romance
The Love Dare by Abiola Bello
Eva Ojo is used to guys falling for her, so being dared to talk to one doesn’t seem like a big deal. As a result, she meets Saint Rowe-Falade, a comic-obsessed guy who is not at all interested in her. When Eva makes a bet with her friends that she can get Saint to fall in love with her, they start to develop feelings for each other. But soon Saint uncovers the bet, and Eva must prove her love before it’s too late.
Bombshell by Alison Hammond
Madison’s family is everything to her. Despite her career taking a backseat to her husband, Rich, a beloved TV handyman, and their two kids, Madison has never regretted putting their needs first. Suddenly, Rich decides he needs space and moves out. When the support of Madison’s friends isn’t enough, she starts investigating and focusing on her own aspirations.
Fantasy
The Reaper by Jackson P. Brown
As an empath, Amy has the ability to detect the supernatural auras of creatures lurking in the London night. Without proper knowledge, though, she continues to search for answers and information. A Reaper named Gerald is a weapon for hire, approaching his Awakening, soon to come into his power, and finally become the man his family needs him to be. When Amy and Gerald cross paths, she vows to help him in exchange for Gerald showing her the secret underground city and helping solve her parents’ murder.
Goddess Crown by Shade Lapite
Growing up hidden in the forested East rather than in her kingdom, Kalothia has been sheltered from the outside world and raised by adult caretakers who taught her to fish, hunt, and fend for herself. When assassins attack on her sixteenth birthday, Kalothia flees to the king’s court in the West, ruled by a powerful patriarchy. Set in the lush kingdom of Galla, this Afro-fantasy sees Kalothia navigate the poison, plots, and dangers of her country.
Firstborn of the Sun by Marvellous Michael Anson
L’ore is keeping a secret. In her Kingdom, Oru, she is the one person without the ability to harness power from the sun, a truth she keeps from everyone, including her best friend, Alawani. Soon, though, Alawani is declared an Àlùfáà, an honor dictating that he’ll serve the gods and the Kingdom, only after he is stripped of his power. After L’ore pledges to rescue him, she uncovers her own powers that originate from a secret, distant land where she and Alawani seek sanctuary and make life-changing discoveries.
Contemporary and Literary Fiction
Lush by Rochelle Dowden-Lord
Set in the complicated world of wine, Lush details the story of how four wine experts come together for an exclusive weekend of wine tasting at a famous French vineyard. Avery, Sonny, Maëlys, and Cosmo await the night when they’ll drink from the only bottle of an extremely rare wine. None of the women seem to have much in common, but they each are battling personal struggles that they project onto the prestigious wine. Throughout the weekend, they’ll share truths, mull over the complexities of the wine industry, and indulge in delightful dishes and wonderful wines.
Grow Where They Fall by Michael Donkor
Twenty years after his charismatic cousin Yaw comes to live with him and his family, Kwame Akromah is a secondary-school teacher traversing through the classroom, queer dating apps, and trips home. Despite his confident demeanor, Kwame is still motivated by the caution that drove him as a child. When changemaker Marcus Felix becomes headteacher at school, he’s forced to reckon with his adolescence and decide how he wants to move through the world.
The House of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams
The complicated nature of Tess and Richard’s interracial marriage is multiplied when she gives birth to fraternal twins, one of whom presents as Black and the other as White. Tess misses the chaos of her previous life, and Richard busies himself with his crops to avoid difficult conversations. With alternating perspectives and four parts, each representing one of the seasons, The House of Broken Bricks is a lyrical novel about identity and belonging.
Mystery/Thriller
I Know What You’ve Done by Dorothy Koomson
Inspired by the pandemic, a time when most people were at home getting to get to know their neighbors on an entirely new level, I Know What You’ve Done is a page-turning thriller from a seasoned author. In the small world of Acacia Villas, a diary is dropped on a neighbor’s doorstep, and they must decide if they’ll let the police investigate these near-deadly secrets or find out the truth for themselves.
The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters
Nicole Oruwari left London and a troubled past to join a group of expat wives, and her life has been perfect since. She has a luxurious house in Lagos and a gorgeous husband. Her sudden disappearance forces cracks in her facade, and her aunt Claudine flies to Nigeria when there are no leads in the investigation. As Claudine searches for answers in Nicole’s life, her own history is uncovered.
Historical Fiction
The Long Song by Andrea Levy
Miss July is the child of a field slave on the Amity sugar plantation in Jamaica, and she lives with her mother before being moved into the great house and given a new name. Told through the eyes of Miss July, who is telling the story to her son, this novel describes her experiences living through the bloody Baptist War and the violent end to slavery. The Long Song has been heralded by readers as being deeply moving and stimulating.
This Lovely City by Louise Hare
In 1950s London, Lawrie Matthews is a jazz musician who decides to answer England’s call for labor. He arrives from Jamaica aboard the Empire Windrush and falls in love with the girl next door, but soon the local community is reeling from a terrible tragedy and easily blames the new arrivals. A murder mystery on the surface, This Lovely City also deals with racism and other social issues that are still relevant today.
Nonfiction
Brit(ish): On Race, Identity, and Belonging by Afua Hirsch
In this rousing memoir, Afua Hirsch evaluates the reasons why her identity is constantly questioned. Born and raised in Britain with a British partner, daughter, sister, and parents, Hirsch is still asked where she’s from because of the color of her skin. She blends her individual experiences with historical contexts to discuss the identity crisis within Britain, a country she feels has struggled to be honest about its past and present. Through Hirsch’s explorations, Brit(ish) investigates how this came to be and how the culture can change for the better.
Black Girl, No Magic: Reflections on Race and Respectability by Kimberly McIntosh
As a writer and researcher, Kimberly McIntosh spent years studying social policy, and her findings culminated in this collection of essays. She uses her experiences to underscore the widespread impacts of systematic injustices, merging the personal with the political. McIntosh’s commentary on British society addresses ideas such as class, family, beauty, and faith through the eyes of a Black woman.
I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Brathwaite
Author, journalist, podcaster, and presenter Candice Brathwaite took to the internet in 2016 to chronicle her journey through motherhood. After observing the portrayal of motherhood in British media, particularly the absence of Black representation, she began exploring her feelings and experiences with White privilege, microaggressions, and racial bias. Her honest, vulnerable, and thought-provoking observations also present research and statistics that serve to educate readers and shed light on inequality.
Regardless of the genre, Black authors have a wealth of knowledge and perspectives to offer that introduce new and important ideas. Black excellence spans across countries and continents, and these books by Black writers from the UK are evidence of their passion and insightful contributions to the literary world.
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Find these books and more on our Diversifying Your TBR: Beautiful Black Voices in Literature booklist on Bookshop.org!
