One thing I’ve been trying to do lately is read new black fiction. 12 of the 18 books I’ve read this year are by black authors, but I’ve been really interested in reading fiction by black authors that came out this year. I found out about Lakewood from combing through lists of New Black Fiction Coming Out in 2020 that I searched for on Google. … Continue reading Lakewood by Megan Giddings
To be honest, I was a little skeptical about reading this book. I don’t really know how I feel about social media influencers getting book deals *solely* for being popular on the Internet and not necessarily because they have a great story to share. That being said, I love Patricia Bright. She was one of the first YouTubers that I started following back in college … Continue reading Heart & Hustle by Patricia Bright
This is one of my new favorites, y’all. This book reminds me of Gone Girl in the way that it’s impossible to put down and it has so many good twists, but it’s even better. The social commentary in Such a Fun Age is brilliant, and it exposes an aspect of the way that black people and white people in the U.S. interact that I … Continue reading Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
I bought this book as soon as it came out because I was such a big fan of Charlamagne’s first book. I started reading it, but I couldn’t really get past the first chapter because I just couldn’t relate to what he was talking about. For the past two years, it’s been collecting dust on my bookshelf, but I finally picked it up because I … Continue reading Shook One by Charlamagne Tha God
I’ve heard of this book no less than one million times. I’ve seen it, heard about the title, heard people talk about it, and I’ve known about it for a long time. Why am I only reading it just now? Who knows. But if you’re sitting at home eating hella carbs and feeling like a small pig and you want to feel like you’ve been … Continue reading How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Hello everyone! I hope you’re staying sane during these crazy times. This book was picked from my ever-growing list of Books to Read that I keep in the notes section on my phone. I’m not really sure how I heard about it or what made me add it to my list. When I got it, I looked up the author and found out he’s a … Continue reading Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King
I don’t remember how I discovered who Luvvie is, but I bought this book solely because she promotes it so much and I was curious. For someone who isn’t a comedian, I think Luvvie is hilarious. She’s very smart, she’s a great interviewer (I would definitely recommend her podcast Rants and Randomness), and her Instagram highlight of her reacting to Love Is Blind is one … Continue reading I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual by Luvvie Ajayi
In case you didn’t know, I host a podcast called Purple Diary that highlights people I enjoy and who offer insights on topics I find interesting. At the end of every episode, I ask my guests to give me (and my listeners) a book recommendation. This is the second book I’ve read based on a podcast guest recommendation, and it came from my very brilliant … Continue reading Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
I honestly don’t remember what made me want to buy this book, but I’m glad I picked it up. I was in the mood to read a memoir, and this one just jumped out at me. I love Gabrielle Union. She’s beautiful and funny, and she seems like a normal person. The first thing I remember seeing her in (though I know I’d seen her … Continue reading We're Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union
Thank you for being patient with the book reviews! I was very sick last week and I’m starting to feel better, so I’ve got three reviews to share with you today. To be honest I don’t really know what I was sick with. My doctor told me a sinus infection (that was definitely wrong), my boyfriend thought it was pneumonia, my mom said it was … Continue reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Purple Diary 