Fall is inarguably the best season for reading and what better way to spend it than by discovering new, diverse authors! We've compiled some great reads to help celebrate diversity—titles that entertain, titles that inform, titles that reflect on how far we've come and illuminate how far we've yet to go. Some are on sale now, some have egalleys available to read, and some are a bit further out but are so good we think you must have them on your radar. So without further ado, enjoy!
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly: Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South and the civil rights movement, the never-before-told true story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space program—and whose contributions have been unheralded, until now. Get your copy here.
Stand Tall by Dewey Bozella: In this inspiring memoir, Dewey Bozella recounts his life and the twenty-six years he spent behind bars for a murder he did not commit—a stirring tale of courage, strength, faith, and perseverance. Get the egalley from Edelweiss here.
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love? by Kathleen Collins: A never-before-published collection of stories from a brilliant yet little-known African-American artist and filmmaker—a contemporary of revered writers including Laurie Colwin, Ann Beattie, Amy Hempel, Lucia Berlin, and Grace Paley—whose prescient work has recently resurfaced to wide acclaim. Get the egalley from Edelweiss here.
Breathless by Beverly Jenkins: A strong-willed beauty finds herself in the arms of the handsome drifter from her past, in this second book in the sizzling series set in the Old West, from the USA Today bestselling author. Get the egalley from Edelweiss here.
The Original Black Elite by Elizabeth Dowling Taylor: In this outstanding cultural biography, the author of the New York Times bestseller A Slave in the White House chronicles a critical yet overlooked chapter in American history: the inspiring rise and calculated fall of the black elite, from Emancipation through Reconstruction to the Jim Crow Era—embodied in the experiences of an influential figure of the time: academic, entrepreneur, and political activist and black history pioneer Daniel Murray. For further details, click here.
Making Rent in Bed-Stuy by Brandon Harris: A young African-American millennial filmmaker’s funny, sometimes painful, true-life coming-of-age story of trying to make it in New York City—a chronicle of poverty and wealth, creativity and commerce, struggle and insecurity, and the economic and cultural forces intertwined with “the serious, life-threatening process” of gentrification. For further details, click here.
No One Is Coming to Save Us by Stephanie Powell Watts: The Great Gatsby brilliantly recast in the contemporary South: a powerful first novel about an extended African-American family and their colliding visions of the American Dream. Get the egalley from Edelweiss here.
Chasing Space by Leland Melvin: In this moving, inspirational memoir, a former NASA astronaut and NFL wide receiver shares his personal journey from the gridiron to the stars, examining the intersecting roles of community, perseverance, and grace that align to create the opportunities for success. For further details, click here.
A Thousand Interlaced Fingers by Vanesa Grubbs: A young, hopeful doctor’s memoir—an unforgettable love story and an informative journey into the world of medicine and kidney transplantation that ultimately asks: What does it mean to let go of something that you love, even if it is life itself? For further details, click here.
Ways of Grace by James Blake: From the former professional tennis player comes an energizing new book highlighting the many positive stories in sports history that have had a direct influence in fighting racism. For further details, click here.
The Cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty: A renowned culinary historian offers a fresh perspective on our most divisive cultural issue, race, in this illuminating memoir of Southern cuisine and food culture that traces his ancestry—both black and white—through food, from Africa to America and slavery to freedom. For further details, click here.
In the midst of a crazed election cycle, we hope you find time to step back, savor this wonderful season, and give a few of these incredible books a read. We look forward to hearing what you think!
-Chris