Back in 2024, I challenged myself to read 24 books in 2024. At the time, that was a very ambitious goal for me. I broke it down to two books a month, but I still wasn’t sure I would actually accomplish it.
Fast-forward to 2026, and I decided to challenge myself to read 26 books. Well, not only did I reach that goal, but I also completely surpassed it! I’ve already read more than 50 books, and I’m still counting.
I can honestly say that I have fallen in love with reading. I love being able to step outside of my own reality and immerse myself in someone else’s world for a while. Reading has become one of my favorite forms of self-care and the perfect escape when I need a break from real life.
I try to read different genres, but I always seem to gravitate back toward romance. I’m also drawn to books by Black female authors. I don’t discriminate, a good book is a good book, but these are naturally the stories I tend to reach for the most.
As I looked back at all the books I’ve read so far this year, four immediately stood out: In Black and White by Nia Forrester, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams, Broken Clocks by Danielle Allen, and We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry.
These books are all very different, but each one surprised me and stuck with me long after I finished reading it. I still find myself thinking about the characters, their stories, and how they made me feel. And to me, that is what makes a book truly unforgettable.
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1. In Black & White by Nia Forrester
In Black & White was so much more than I expected. I almost did not finish it because the story begins with the unimaginable kidnapping of a child, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to read about that. But something told me to keep going, and I’m so glad I did.
It’s a story about love, marriage, race, white priviledge and how different people can view the same relationship. There are always three sides to every story.
I was completely invested in Dana and Noah, not because they were perfect, but because they weren’t and every relationship has its issues. Their marriage felt complicated, messy, but the love felt genuine. They had so much working against them, but I never stopped rooting for them as a couple.
My favorite moment: One of my favorite scenes was when a woman at Noah’s law firm told him he looked like a snack. Noah came home and asked Dana what that meant because all the Black women at work were suddenly looking at him differently, and he thought it sounded “lascivious.”
That moment was hilarious and so cute to me! It showed Noah’s innocence when it came to certain slang, but it also gave us a glimpse of the playful side of Dana and Noah’s relationship. With everything happening in the story, I loved those lighter moments between them.
How did I feel when I finished it? Honestly, I felt like I had been on an emotional roller coaster. Dana and Noah had so much working against them, but I was still rooting for their marriage and their family through it all. Their love felt real, and I wanted them to find their way back to each other. Most of all, I was glad I didn’t give up on the book because it became one of those stories I couldn’t stop thinking about.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I gave In Black & White five stars because I loved Dana and Noah’s love story that much. I would read this book again just to experience their love story all over and for me, that is what makes a book worthy of five stars.
2. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
This is the first time I have read a magical realism book and I loved it. This book felt like a beautiful love letter to Black love, Harlem, creativity, and finding the courage to create a life that truly belongs to you. I loved watching Ricki step away from her family’s expectations and bet on herself and her dreams. Then Ezra entered the picture, and their connection took the story to an entirely different level.
Their romance was magical, passionate, mysterious, and unlike anything I expected. I usually gravitate toward realistic, emotionally layered romance, so I was surprised by how much I loved the magical elements. Tia Williams gave me all the emotion I crave in a romance while also reminding me that some love stories can feel bigger than time itself.
I also loved that Tia Williams included characters from Seven Days in June, which was the first book I read by her. I love when authors connect their books like that! It feels like I’m in on an inside joke or finding little Easter eggs that only readers of the other books will fully appreciate. Seeing familiar characters pop up made the story even more special and made me feel like I was returning to a world I already knew and loved.
Another thing about Tia Williams is she is going to make me laugh! Her books always have me laughing out loud, and this book was no different. I absolutely love her sense of humor and how she can make me laugh even while I’m completely caught up in an emotional love story. That is one of the reasons I enjoy her books so much.
If I could ask the author any question, what would it be?
I would ask Tia Williams what inspired her to blend a modern-day Black love story with the history and magic of the Harlem Renaissance. The magical element was completely unexpected, but it ended up being one of the things that made Ricki and Ezra’s love story so special and unforgettable.
If I could change one aspect of the book, what would it be and why?
Honestly, I would have given Ricki and Ezra more time together. Their love story was so unique, and after everything they had to overcome, I wanted more moments of them simply enjoying their relationship. This isn’t necessarily a criticism I just wasn’t ready to let them go!
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book gave me Black love, magic, history, humor, and characters from Seven Days in June. What more could I ask for? Ricki and Ezra’s love story was beautiful, unexpected, and unforgettable. Five stars no question!
3. Broken Clocks by Danielle Allen
If there is one thing Danielle Allen knows how to do, it is make me feel every emotion and Broken Clocks definitely did that. Honestly, if I had known how the book was going to end, I probably would not have read it. But once again, I’m so glad I did.
Layla and William had an undeniable connection, but their timing never seemed to be right. I loved the friendship at the center of their relationship and how they continued to find their way back to each other, even when circumstances kept pulling them apart. This story had love, longing, chemistry, frustration, and enough emotional angst to keep me completely invested. It reminded me of the saying, “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
After Layla’s grandmother passed away, she received a broken clock that had belonged to her. Her grandmother always told her that even a broken clock is right twice a day, so Layla believed she had two chances to get things right. I loved how that message connected to her relationship with William and became such a meaningful part of their story.
When I finished this book, I genuinely cried. I was emotionally distraught and had to sit with it for a moment but I still loved their story. It broke my heart, yet somehow, I was grateful that I experienced it.
Has this book impacted me in some way?
Yes, this book reminded me that there is no such thing as the perfect time. Layla and William’s story made me think about the importance of living in the moment, telling people how you feel, and not allowing fear to keep you from experiencing love.
If I could rewrite the ending, how would it go?
Without giving anything away, I would give Layla and William more time together and a softer ending.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Any book that can make me genuinely cry and leave me emotionally distraught deserves five stars. Layla and William’s story broke my heart, but it also reminded me to love fully and stop waiting for the perfect time. I may never emotionally recover, but I loved it!
4. We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry
We Don’t Talk About Carol had more twists and turns than I knew what to do with. Every time I thought I had figured out what happened, chile… I had no idea! Just when I felt confident that I knew where the story was going, another secret was revealed and completely changed everything. This book kept me guessing until the very end.
This book surprised me the most because it stepped outside of the romance-heavy books I usually reach for. It pulled me in with the mystery of the FMC’s Aunt Carol’s disappearance, but it was the deeper story about missing Black girls, family secrets, motherhood, marriage, and generational trauma that made it unforgettable. It had a lot of layers.
We Don’t Talk About Carol is one part family-secrets suspense, one part amateur-detective story, and one part personal journey. While Sydney searches for the truth about Carol and the other missing girls, she is also forced to confront her family’s silence, generational trauma, and the parts of herself she had tried to bury.
What made the story even more powerful was the attention it brought to the disproportionate number of missing Black people and how often their cases receive less attention from the media and law enforcement. This wasn’t just a mystery created for entertainment but it also reflected a heartbreaking reality that deserves more attention.
This book was suspenseful, emotional, and thought-provoking. It also highlighted the heartbreaking reality of how easily missing Black girls can be overlooked and why their stories deserve to be told.
Which character did I relate to the most?
I related to the FMC Sydney the most. Sydney was a complex and sometimes frustrating character, but that only made her feel more real to me. I could feel the weight of everything she was carrying as she searched for answers that her family had buried for decades.
Once she discovered that something had been hidden from her, she could not let it go until she found the truth. She must be a Virgo like me! I understood her determination, especially when it came to her family. She carried so much emotionally and sometimes pushed herself beyond her limits, but she refused to give up.
Sydney had so much on her shoulders between her relationships with her sister, mother, and husband. She had to deal with generational trauma, struggles with IVF, a strained marriage, crimal injustice and family silence. At times, I didn’t know how she managed to keep it all together. Actually, I do because I do it every day. I could definitely relate to feeling like you have to hold everything and everyone together while still trying to find the answers you need.
If the book were adapted into a TV show or movie, who would be in my dream cast?
I would cast Teyonah Parris as Sydney because she can play strong, determined, vulnerable, and slightly unraveling all at the same time. Aldis Hodge would be perfect as Malik, Sydney’s husband, because he has the calm, supportive energy the role needs. I could see Keke Palmer as Sasha, Sydney’s sister, bringing humor and heart to the complicated sister relationship. Ryan Destiny would make a beautiful young Carol, and Angela Bassett would be perfect as Grace. Honestly, with all the twists, family secrets, and multiple timelines, I think this book would make an amazing limited series.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was full of twists and turns. It was suspenseful, emotional, and thought-provoking while calling attention to missing Black girls and years of family silence. It kept me guessing and gave me so much to think about after I finished.
Looking back, these four books may be completely different, but each one gave me something I wasn’t expecting. They made me laugh, cry, think, and question whether I really knew where the story was going. Most importantly, they introduced me to characters and love stories that stayed with me long after I finished the final page.
Reading more than 50 books this year has taught me that the best books aren’t always the ones you expect to love. Sometimes they are the books you almost put down, the genres you don’t normally reach for, or the stories that leave you emotionally distraught yes, I’m looking at you, Broken Clocks! These four books reminded me why I genuinely fell in love with reading.
Now I want to hear from you. What is the best book you’ve read so far this year? Did any book completely surprise you or leave you thinking about it long after you finished? Let me know in the comments because clearly, I always have room for one more book on my TBR!
