As summer approaches and folks start taking time off work to bask in the sun, authors are releasing books to keep you entertained and educated throughout June and July. From memoirs to spooky ghost stories, this summer is coming in hot with new books that will have you turning the page and wanting more. We have you covered on which books to look out for.
So, as you consider what to pack in your bags to take to the park, the beach or your favorite coffee shop, make sure to leave some space for these book recommendations, because you are not going to want to miss out.
“Tulsa Speaks: A City Council, Reperations and Race In America Today” by Kristal Brent Zook (Jun. 9)
In the highly informative book “Tulsa Speaks: A City Council, Reparations and Race in America Today,” journalist and professor Kristal Brent Zook educates readers on the work of the Tulsa City Council and its nine councilors in their continuous battle for racial justice and reparations after the destruction of Black Wall Street and a once-flourishing town in 1921. Speaking about the book, Zook told The Root that she views Tulsa as a blueprint for racial healing for the entire nation.
“I see Tulsa as a microcosm of America. If they can repair the harmed community there—in the place where the most violent act of domestic terrorism in the country’s history took place—maybe the rest of the nation can do it, too.”
“A Committee of One: How Faith + Action = A PurposeFULL Life” by Opal Lee (Jun. 2)
Activist Opal Lee played a major role in making Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday, a cause she began campaigning for in 2016 at the age of 90. After five years of hard work, President Joe Biden signed the holiday into law in 2021. Now 99 years old, Lee is releasing “A Committee of One: How Faith + Action = A PurposeFULL Life.” It’s an inspiring memoir that dives into the challenges she has overcome to become the woman she is today and how she combined faith and action to live a purpose-filled life.
“Good Morning Means I Love You” by Kendra Allen (Jul. 7)
“Good Morning Means I Love You” is poet and essayist Kendra Allen’s debut novel. Diving into themes of love, motherhood, partnership and pleasure, the novel explores how one woman can live unapologetically as herself while being a mother to her children and a partner to both of the men in her life, who in turn are grappling with their own ideas of masculinity.
“Breakout” by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon (Jun. 2)
The Avengers of YA authors — Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon — combined their powers to create “Break Out,” a multi-POV thriller about a group of friends who find themselves locked in a Florida resort with a murderer on the loose. This book will send a chill down your spine.
“We’ve Been Here Before: How Rebellion and Activism Have Always Sustained America” by Angela P. Dodson and Michael I. Days (Jun. 9)
In “We’ve Been Here Before: How Rebellion and Activism Have Always Sustained America,” the late Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael I. Days and Angela P. Dodson, former senior editor for The New York Times, explore how activism and rebellion against injustice are the foundation of contemporary America and how that history of revolution should define the nation’s future.
“Love Is A Contact Sport” by Frederick Smith (Jun. 16)
Who doesn’t love a second-chance romance? “Love Is a Contact Sport” by Frederick Smith is all about rediscovering a love you thought you had lost and the healing journey of making it work on your second try.
“The Heirs” by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Jun. 2)
If you are a fan of murder mysteries and messy family drama, “The Heirs” by New York Times bestselling author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is exactly what you are looking for. When the billionaire father of the Button siblings is killed at a party, his children — his heirs — must discover who did it and why.
“There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood” by Rasheed Newson (Jun. 2)
Another recommendation for murder mystery fans, Rasheed Newson, executive producer of “Bel-Air,” will keep you on your toes in his novel, “There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood.” When closeted actor Xavier C. Barlow is suspiciously found dead at the height of his career, Aaron Touissant must uncover who killed him and bring the deceased actor justice.
“Remembering Roots: How an American Classic Transformed the World” by Lucas Johnson (Jun. 16)
For the 50th anniversary of Alex Haley’s award-winning novel “Roots,” journalist Lucas L. Johnson II reflects on how Haley shifted culture and unearthed an enormous piece of history for people around the world in “Remembering Roots: How an American Classic Transformed the World.” Throughout the book, Johnson reminds readers that storytelling is not just entertainment but an important way to preserve Black history.
“Our Sisters Keeper” by Jasmine Holmes (Jun. 9)
If you are looking for something scary, “Our Sister’s Keeper” by Jasmine Holmes is what you need for your bookshelf. The Southern Gothic and historical fiction novel is set in the 1920s in East Cobb, an all-Black utopian town. However, this place is not what it seems, because Black women in East Cobb are haunted by monsters that no one else can see.
“Die For Me” by Shirlene Obuobi (Jul. 15)
Craving something supernatural? Then you will want to pick up “Die for Me” by Shirlene Obuobi, a paranormal age-gap romance and seductive page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
“The Great Wherever” by Shannon Sanders (Jul. 7)
“The Great Wherever” by Shannon Sanders is a novel about grief. After inheriting her late dad’s farm, Aubrey Lamb moves to Tennessee, where she discovers not only buried family secrets but also four ghosts who have claimed the land and are desperate to kick her out.
“The Price of Exclusion: The Pursuit of Healthcare in a Segregated Nation” by Nicole Carr (Jun. 16)
For her book “The Price of Exclusion: The Pursuit of Healthcare in a Segregated Nation,” award-winning journalist Nicole Carr uncovers the untold stories of Black doctors who fought against systemic racism to ensure better care for Black patients and open doors for future Black medical professionals.
“The Missed Connection” by Tia Williams (Jun. 9)
For fans of “Seven Days in June,” Tia Williams is back with another romance that will tug at your tender heartstrings. In “The Missed Connection,” workaholic Sasha Cruz is always on the job working as a casting agent. But when she is seated next to a breathtakingly handsome man on a flight to Paris and fails to get his contact information, Cruz sends a company-wide email asking for help to find her Prince Charming. Soon enough, there is a global search for Mr. Perfect.
“The Revelation of Dionne Daphne” by Mara Brock Akil (Jun. 30)
Iconic creator of the 2000 sitcom “Girlfriends” and Netflix’s “Forever,” Mara Brock Akil is now entering the publishing space with her debut novel, “The Revelation of Dionne Daphne.” The novel follows the protagonist on a road trip as she goes on a journey of self-awakening that will help her confront the truth of her past.
“Cool Machine” by Colson Whitehead (Jul. 21)
For the third and final installment of his Harlem Trilogy, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead is dropping “Cool Machine.” The novel follows Ray Carney through his life’s woes as he navigates Reagan-era New York in the 1980s.
