A few months ago, I went to the second annual event black romance book festival In Atlanta. It’s not the first event of its kind, but it’s certainly the largest, hosting nearly 3,000 romance writers, illustrators, illustrators, vendors, content creators, and of course, readers. An entire weekend of Black romance lovers living in a shared space is an incredible experience, and tells us something that should be obvious but some people still don’t realize: Black people love books, especially romance, and we will do everything possible for it (I’ve talked about this before).
In 2020, most of us had to stay at home for some time. Over the first few months of lockdown and the next several months of social distancing, we mostly connected through various social media, and many people discovered the joys of romance novels. The romance landscape remained largely traditional in 2020, but indie romance was on the rise. And we never knew which author’s book, whether traditionally published or not, would go viral on TikTok or YouTube or any other platform. But with viral books flooding more and more romance books and authors across the board, more black readers were picking up what authors were putting out — and it was indie authors who were making the biggest waves.
More Black Romance Writers Than Ever Before
When my book, black love matters As we head into 2022, we’re seeing the slow emergence of Black writers in traditional publishing – books published by familiar names like Penguin Random House, Macmillan, Hachette, HarperCollins, etc. Representation in publishing has ebbed and flowed over the decades: a greater number of Black romances were published by Harlequin and its peers in the 1990s and 2000s, then numbers dropped in the 2010s, only to increase again just before the pandemic lockdowns. (Please note that when we talk about these numbers, we’re still talking about less than 10 percent of romances published each year; the vast majority of romances published have always been by white authors.) So as more Black readers found their peers on TikTok and Instagram, and began sharing their new favorites by word of mouth, some authors moved on, and others came out with them as potential readers.
So as we entered 2020 with mostly interracial rom-coms being promoted by traditional publishers, indie Black writers were coming out with Black romances spanning the entire cinematic universe. Authors like Alexandria House and Christina C. Jones were going about their business, publishing at their own pace, writing contemporary Black romance that felt alive and uncensored. Urban and street lights were all around, but certainly not the kind discussed in shared spaces. And then we started seeing people talking about writers like Antoinette. about books like demon’s dream. About finding time not only to read, but also to write in the times of Covid. And suddenly, there were more Black romance authors than ever before, publishing at a pace that no one could have imagined.
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A rising romance tide
Romance novels overall have spent the first half of 2020 growing in prominence, and Black romance has been carried along with it. While romance by black writers on both sides of the traditional line is few and far between in places like Barnes & Noble, Target, and Walmart, black readers have still managed to find the genre, then turn elsewhere for answers to the obvious question: Where am I? Once you get into this genre, it’s no surprise that you’ll want to read more books about falling in love with people like you, and so you venture into reader spaces outside the most well-known. You seek out black influencers and wander the digital shelves for black faces. Amazon, in particular, has provided Black readers with countless options through Kindle Unlimited and Audible Plus, allowing them to delve deeper into their backlist of authors. For one monthly payment, you can read or listen to countless romances by Black authors, whether they’re urban, contemporary, fantasy, historical, or anything else. As social media increasingly escalated conversations over the next few years, it became even easier to find new writers, either on your own or through recommendations.
So how, then, have we seen such an increase in print book acquisitions and author events after a decade and a half of prioritizing reading on the Kindle? Part of it is conversation: the public’s attitude toward romance is no longer as hostile as it used to be, and more people are happy to show off their book covers again. (This is inspired by the trend toward trade paperbacks with graphic covers instead of clutches and torsos, but now we’re leaning in the other direction.) TikTok and Instagram Reels have really drawn readers into the joy of sharing the acquisition of physical objects, and book boxes and very special editions are certainly part of that. Black authors don’t get the same treatment in special editions that white authors do, so when we see a book by a black author, especially A dark romance, getting the fancy treatment, we’re going to take advantage of it.
But honestly, whether special edition or not, the chance to get a print copy, the chance to meet the person who made it, the chance to acknowledge their work and the joy they brought us, is a feeling unlike any other. We take it home and put it in our trophy room, and we can always have a visual reminder of how awesome it was. And while larger protests and events may attempt to showcase some black writers, it is such events a love reunion, Chocolate City Lit Fest, House Party ExperienceAnd much more that really brings to light how hard we work for our short romance books.
A Very Short Reading List
Who are some of the Black romance authors who have sparked this surge in readers and interest? Not surprisingly, I don’t have space to do even close to a complete list, but here are some representative books of this explosion.
Capone: An Urban Romance By Jahquel J
If you don’t know who Jah is, the reader will tell you. She’s been attracting readers to the rough road with compelling characters and heart-touching romance stories for some time now, but it’s only been in the past year that she’s really emerged in the conversation. She’s one of the leading artists in the cliffhanger game, so be prepared to wait – but at least she’s got a long backlist for you to explore! Capone is the most popular of his stories and the best place to start in world building and character introduction, but I’m also here to rave about the sheer amount of uninterrupted fun it is. 10,000 hours with a rich threat. Perfection, my friends.
before i let go by Kennedy Ryan
Kennedy is one of those guys who’s been doing this a long time, and has been winning awards since before 2020, but it was before i let go And the rest of Skyland’s books really get people everywhere talking about her books. (Skyland is also a standout in this respect; while many romance books by Black authors have managed first-look and other option deals with studios, this one really should be made!) The first in a trilogy about three friends in their 40s who have different types of relationships and personal growth, before i let go It made me cry with both sadness and joy, and presented a relationship I would normally object to: a divorced couple on the path to reunion. The fact that their divorce was caused by grief and not hatred, and that they run a business and family together with deep respect for each other, helps. And you just have to read it to find out how it all works.
Correct! by shaun
One thing we’re seeing more of across the board in romance is why polyamorous people choose romance, and Black writers don’t hold back when it comes to giving us sexy, complex relationships. This reimagining of Goldilocks and the Three Bears takes us to the mountains, where Goldin just needs some food and a nap. However, she breaks into a house to get them, and wakes up three nice, confused men. A quick respite turns into something else, and eventually all four of them are pursuing their own version of the relationship, exploring different dynamics between each of Polycule’s hands. This is a great introduction to Shawn, and like the other authors I’ve mentioned, it will make you want to dive into his backlist to learn more.
There are so many authors I could include on this list, from urban romance authors who have been doing it for decades, to new names that have made readers scream. If you’re looking for more, you can definitely find something else to read in this list of new romances by black authors from earlier this year, or in my list of the nine best black romances I’ve read. Once you find your topic, you can follow it further down those rabbit holes to find the best things you will ever read.
The history of Black romance is long and diverse, and its future promises to be just that. Readership of romance in general has tripled over the past half decade compared to any time before, and Black romance continues to attract new readers and build community in ways that readers and writers of yesteryear could only dream of.
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