25 Bestselling Adult Fiction (Hardcover) Books in the United States by Black Writers in 2024
1. James
by Everett, Percival
House (3/18/2024), Hardcover
A reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.
A reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.
2. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
by Mcbride, James
Penguin Group Usa (8/7/2023), Hardcover
A novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them.
A novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them.
3. Come And Get It
by Kiley Reid
Penguin Group Usa (1/29/2024), Hardcover
In the highly anticipated novel "Come and Get It" by award-winning author Kiley Reid, a senior resident assistant at the University of Arkansas becomes entangled in a web of deceit and chaos when an unusual opportunity offered by a visiting professor leads her into a world of dubious friendships, hostile dorm pranks, and illicit intrigue.
In the highly anticipated novel "Come and Get It" by award-winning author Kiley Reid, a senior resident assistant at the University of Arkansas becomes entangled in a web of deceit and chaos when an unusual opportunity offered by a visiting professor leads her into a world of dubious friendships, hostile dorm pranks, and illicit intrigue.
4. A Love Song For Ricki Wilde
by Williams, Tia
Hachette Book Group (2/5/2024), Hardcover
A free-spirited florist and a mysterious musician discover a deep connection amidst the magic and history of modern Harlem.
A free-spirited florist and a mysterious musician discover a deep connection amidst the magic and history of modern Harlem.
5. The First Ladies
by Benedict, Marie And Murray, Victoria Christopher
Penguin Group Usa (6/26/2023), Hardcover
In the backdrop of a racially divided America, this historical novel explores the unlikely, formidable friendship between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune, illuminating how their shared commitment to justice and equality helped shape the modern civil rights movement.
In the backdrop of a racially divided America, this historical novel explores the unlikely, formidable friendship between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune, illuminating how their shared commitment to justice and equality helped shape the modern civil rights movement.
6. Colored Television
by Senna, Danzy
Penguin Group Usa (9/2/2024), Hardcover
In this dark comedy, aspiring novelist Jane navigates reinvention and the racial identity-industrial complex with Hollywood ambitions, enticing a hot-shot producer with the promise of the "Jackie Robinson of biracial comedies," striving for success while grappling with unexpected setbacks.
In this dark comedy, aspiring novelist Jane navigates reinvention and the racial identity-industrial complex with Hollywood ambitions, enticing a hot-shot producer with the promise of the "Jackie Robinson of biracial comedies," striving for success while grappling with unexpected setbacks.
7. Love After Midnight
by Souljah, Sister
Simon & Schuster (10/7/2024), Hardcover
Winter Santiaga navigates the aftermath of a near-death experience, balancing spiritual reckoning with her unrelenting desires for love, revenge, and success in a vivid, hip-hop-infused narrative.
Winter Santiaga navigates the aftermath of a near-death experience, balancing spiritual reckoning with her unrelenting desires for love, revenge, and success in a vivid, hip-hop-infused narrative.
8. Let Us Descend
by Ward, Jesmyn
Simon & Schuster (10/23/2023), Hardcover
"In the harrowing world of American slavery, a young enslaved girl named Annis guides the reader through her perilous journey from the Carolinas to Louisiana, seeking comfort in memories and spirits, in Jesmyn Ward's transformative tale of survival, rebirth, and reclamation."
"In the harrowing world of American slavery, a young enslaved girl named Annis guides the reader through her perilous journey from the Carolinas to Louisiana, seeking comfort in memories and spirits, in Jesmyn Ward's transformative tale of survival, rebirth, and reclamation."
9. All The Sinners Bleed
by Cosby, S. A.
Macmillan (6/5/2023), Hardcover
When the first Black sheriff of a small southern town investigates a shocking murder, he uncovers a hidden serial killer, faces community secrets, and combats systemic racism while fighting to protect his hometown from impending darkness.
When the first Black sheriff of a small southern town investigates a shocking murder, he uncovers a hidden serial killer, faces community secrets, and combats systemic racism while fighting to protect his hometown from impending darkness.
10. Swift River: A Read With Jenna Pick
by Chambers, Essie
Simon & Schuster (6/3/2024), Hardcover
Diamond Newberry navigates family secrets and self-discovery while uncovering her father’s hidden past during the summer of 1987.
Diamond Newberry navigates family secrets and self-discovery while uncovering her father’s hidden past during the summer of 1987.
11. Lore Of The Wilds
by Sbrana, Analeigh
Harpercollins Publishers (2/26/2024), Hardcover
A young woman bargains with a Fae lord to enter a deadly enchanted library, seeking magic while navigating treacherous alliances and forbidden desires with two dangerous Fae.
A young woman bargains with a Fae lord to enter a deadly enchanted library, seeking magic while navigating treacherous alliances and forbidden desires with two dangerous Fae.
12. Faebound
by El-arifi, Saara
Random House (1/22/2024), Hardcover
"Two elven sisters, a warrior and a diviner, are thrust into a foreign world of myth and danger when they unwittingly cross into the vanished realm of the fae, stirring up a monumental clash between their loyalty to their homeland and their enticing new environment."
"Two elven sisters, a warrior and a diviner, are thrust into a foreign world of myth and danger when they unwittingly cross into the vanished realm of the fae, stirring up a monumental clash between their loyalty to their homeland and their enticing new environment."
13. The Reformatory
by Due, Tananarive
Simon & Schuster (10/30/2023), Hardcover
In 1950s Jim Crow Florida, 12-year-old Robbie Stephens is unjustly sent to a racially segregated reform school, where he uses his ability to see ghosts to uncover the grisly secrets behind the boys' disappearances and fight for survival.
In 1950s Jim Crow Florida, 12-year-old Robbie Stephens is unjustly sent to a racially segregated reform school, where he uses his ability to see ghosts to uncover the grisly secrets behind the boys' disappearances and fight for survival.
14. Chain Gang All Stars
by Adjei-brenyah, Nana Kwame
Random House (5/1/2023), Hardcover
In a twisted manifestation of the American prison system, two star-crossed women gladiators battle for their freedom in the deadly, corporatized arena of the Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, while challenging the unholy trio of systemic racism, capitalism, and mass incarceration.
In a twisted manifestation of the American prison system, two star-crossed women gladiators battle for their freedom in the deadly, corporatized arena of the Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, while challenging the unholy trio of systemic racism, capitalism, and mass incarceration.
15. Summer On Highland Beach
by Hostin, Sunny
Harpercollins Publishers (5/27/2024), Hardcover
Olivia Jones navigates family secrets and tense drama in Highland Beach while deciding between her established life in Sag Harbor and her dream of a home in her ancestral community.
Olivia Jones navigates family secrets and tense drama in Highland Beach while deciding between her established life in Sag Harbor and her dream of a home in her ancestral community.
16. Watch Where They Hide: A Jordan Manning Novel
by Hall, Tamron
Harpercollins Publishers (3/11/2024), Hardcover
When a mother of two goes missing, award-winning journalist Jordan Manning dives into a dangerous scandalous web of secrets to uncover the truth, risking her own life in the process.
When a mother of two goes missing, award-winning journalist Jordan Manning dives into a dangerous scandalous web of secrets to uncover the truth, risking her own life in the process.
17. Out There Screaming: An Anthology Of New Black Horror
by Peele, Jordan
Random House (10/2/2023), Hardcover
"Out There Screaming" is a groundbreaking anthology curated by visionary filmmaker Jordan Peele, featuring all-new horror stories from Black writers that delve into the terrors of the supernatural and the chilling realities of racial injustice.
"Out There Screaming" is a groundbreaking anthology curated by visionary filmmaker Jordan Peele, featuring all-new horror stories from Black writers that delve into the terrors of the supernatural and the chilling realities of racial injustice.
18. One Of Our Kind
by Yoon, Nicola
Random House (6/10/2024), Hardcover
Jasmyn Williams uncovers a disturbing secret about the planned utopia of Liberty, California, challenging her family's ideals and unity.
Jasmyn Williams uncovers a disturbing secret about the planned utopia of Liberty, California, challenging her family's ideals and unity.
19. Crook Manifesto
by Whitehead, Colson
Random House (7/17/2023), Hardcover
In the seedy underbelly of 1970s New York, a reformed crook is pulled back into his criminal past while trying to navigate his family through the city's chaos, resulting in a darkly humorous yet poignant exploration of survival and family in "Crook Manifesto."
In the seedy underbelly of 1970s New York, a reformed crook is pulled back into his criminal past while trying to navigate his family through the city's chaos, resulting in a darkly humorous yet poignant exploration of survival and family in "Crook Manifesto."
20. The House Of Eve
by Johnson, Sadeqa
Simon & Schuster (2/6/2023), Hardcover
In 1950s America, a young woman battles societal norms for her education, and another grapples with familial acceptance and motherhood, as their lives intersect unexpectedly, sparking decisions that forever alter their paths.
In 1950s America, a young woman battles societal norms for her education, and another grapples with familial acceptance and motherhood, as their lives intersect unexpectedly, sparking decisions that forever alter their paths.
21. Great Expectations
by Cunningham, Vinson
Random House (3/11/2024), Hardcover
In the midst of a historic presidential campaign, a young Black man named David grapples with questions of identity, race, and fatherhood as his work for the campaign forces him to reassess his life and beliefs.
In the midst of a historic presidential campaign, a young Black man named David grapples with questions of identity, race, and fatherhood as his work for the campaign forces him to reassess his life and beliefs.
22. Rogue Justice: A Thriller
by Stacey Abrams
Random House (5/22/2023), Hardcover
In this riveting sequel by Stacey Abrams, Supreme Court clerk Avery Keene uncovers a potential national crisis involving the blackmail of federal judges, a sinister pattern in high-stakes cases, and a conspiracy that could take down the US government.
In this riveting sequel by Stacey Abrams, Supreme Court clerk Avery Keene uncovers a potential national crisis involving the blackmail of federal judges, a sinister pattern in high-stakes cases, and a conspiracy that could take down the US government.
23. Ours
by Williams, Phillip B.
Penguin Group Usa (2/19/2024), Hardcover
In mid-nineteenth-century America, a powerful conjuror named Saint liberates slaves and builds a hidden town as a refuge, but as her powers and memories falter, the safety she provides for her community may become their own form of imprisonment.
In mid-nineteenth-century America, a powerful conjuror named Saint liberates slaves and builds a hidden town as a refuge, but as her powers and memories falter, the safety she provides for her community may become their own form of imprisonment.
24. The American Daughters
by Ruffin, Maurice Carlos
Random House (2/26/2024), Hardcover
In the tumultuous backdrop of the Confederacy, a young enslaved girl discovers purpose and the path to liberation by joining the Daughters, a secret society of spies, after a heartbreaking separation from her mother.
In the tumultuous backdrop of the Confederacy, a young enslaved girl discovers purpose and the path to liberation by joining the Daughters, a secret society of spies, after a heartbreaking separation from her mother.
25. Neighbors And Other Stories
by Oliver, Diane
Pgw (2/12/2024), Hardcover
"Neighbors" is a poignant collection of stories by the overlooked literary force Diane Oliver, examining the daily struggles and existential crises faced by African American families navigating the unrelenting racism of Jim Crow era America.
"Neighbors" is a poignant collection of stories by the overlooked literary force Diane Oliver, examining the daily struggles and existential crises faced by African American families navigating the unrelenting racism of Jim Crow era America.
