More books from your favourite Black authors

There’s nothing like finding a new favourite author. Whether their humour, storytelling, or imagery connects with you, it’s a magical feeling. But sometimes it’s hard to know which book to read next. To help you pick your next read, we're spotlighting books that you might not yet have read by authors you already love.

Anthology

N.K Jemisin

If you liked Jemisin’s award-winning novel The Fifth Season, try How Long 'til Black Future Month?

In this collection of Jemisin’s evocative short fiction, she examines modern society, infusing magic into the mundane, and drawing deft parallels in the fantasy realms of her imagination.

Bolu Babalola

If you liked Sunday Times bestselling Honey & Spice, try Love In Colour.

Bolu Babalola rewrites beautiful love stories from history and mythology, focusing on the magical folktales of West Africa, iconic Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from countries that no longer exist in our world.

Children's

Joseph Coelho

If you liked Coelho’s dark rewrite of the classic tale in Zombierella, try Creeping Beauty.

Eshe and her twelve sisters are Fairy Godmothers who have incredible gifts they can bestow. Eshe can even glimpse into the future! One day, Eshe sees a terrifying future where the world is covered in creeping vines. At the centre of it all, there’s a girl covered in thorns. Eshe knows she needs to stop her vision becoming true, and that she won't be able to do it alone.

Marcus Rashford

If you liked Rashford’s inspiring smash hit You Are A Champion, try You Can Do It.

Packed with inspiring stories from Marcus Rashford's own life, brilliant advice, and top-tips from social justice educator Shannon Weber, the book will show you that you don't have to be an international footballer to make a difference – even the smallest changes can have the biggest impact.

Non-fiction

Malorie Blackman

If you liked Blackman’s classic tale of prejudice in an alternative world in Noughts and Crosses, try Just Sayin’.

Malorie Blackman OBE is one of Britain's best loved authors. For over three decades, her books have inspired generations of young people.

Just Sayin’ tells the story of Blackman’s life in south London. It follows her time as the daughter of parents who were part of the Windrush Generation, and her journey from a childhood surrounded by words to the children's laureateship.

Ta-Nehisi Coates

If you liked The Water Dancer, try his earlier novel, Between the World and Me.

Between the World and Me is a beautifully crafted personal narrative and reimagined history shared in the form of Coates’ letter to his teenage son. Coates weaves an account of the American Civil War battlefields, mothers whose children were taken as American plunder, and his life in childhood home.

Octavia E. Butler

If you liked Butler’s masterpiece Kindred, try Fledgling.

Shori is a young, amnesiac girl who discovers she’s a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. This shocking realisation forces her into a quest to learn all she can about her old life and how to outrun those who want to destroy her and her loved ones.

Alexis Henderson

If you liked Henderson’s stunning debut, The Year of the Witching, try House of Hunger.

Marion has been raised in poverty, where she has no hope of escape until she spots an advert seeking a 'bloodmaid'. Soon she finds herself employed at the infamously luxurious House of Hunger, where wealthy nobles consume the blood of those in their service. Marion is devoured by a world of dark debauchery and quickly realises she'll need to learn the rules of her new home, or it will soon become her grave.

Contemporary

Mike Gayle

If you liked Gayle’s life-affirming story, All the Lonely People, try The Museum of Ordinary People.

Reeling from her mother’s unexpected death, Jess meets the mysterious Alex as she empties her childhood home. Together the pair become custodians of The Museum of Ordinary People, a fascinating archive of letters, photographs, curios and collections.

As they begin to learn more about the curiosities, they uncover stories that span generations and continents, as well as hidden secrets that lie much closer to home.

Zadie Smith

If you liked Smith’s multi award-winning, White Teeth, try Swing Time.

On an unremarkable Saturday in 1982, two brown girls, who both dream of being dancers, meet. Only one has talent. The other has ideas and she’s been taught her future is her own to decide.

Their close but complicated childhood friendship ends abruptly in their early twenties as their paths diverge. While their lives have taken different trajectories, they never dance out of each other's lives completely.