01

Children of Blood and Bone (fantasy)

By Tomi Adeyemi

As young Zelié witnesses her mother's homicide, her journey of retaliation begins as she discovers she can bring her magical powers back to her motherland (Nigeria.) Whilst on the run with Princess Amari, Prince Inan (Amari's brother) follows the young girls to stop the return of magic. A journey of friendship, love, revenge and deceit is intertwined with themes of colonialism, rebellion and police brutality.

 

02

The Rose that Grew from Concrete (poetry)

By Tupac Amaru Shakur

A collection of poems written by the rapper when he was 18/19 years old. We all know him as a rapper but not as a poet and I really like some of his pieces. The book contains photocopies of his writing and although it may not be for everyone he writes about love, politics and family.

 

03

The Hate U Give (urban)

By Angie Thomas

Starr Carter lives between two worlds - her Black neighbourhood and her private white school. As her friend, Khalil, is murdered by the police, she is forced to stand up for herself and speak on the injustices her community faces. Angie Thomas takes a contemporary approach in her writing which makes it an easy read but you can also watch the movie and follow Starr's journey in the second book - On the Come Up.

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03

Rebecca (classic)

By Daphne Du Maurier

An unnamed narrator marries a wealthy aristocrat, Maxim de Winter, but learns that he has an obsession with his late wife, Rebecca. Whilst Maxim mourns his previous wife's death, the new wife uncovers family secrets as Rebecca's truth is revealed. Rebecca was not the loving, perfect wife that everyone thought she was. A really plot-driven book with constant cliffhangers, revelations and complex character. I might even give this a re-read soon... UNDERRATED NOVEL and better than Jane Eyre.

 

05

Jane Eyre (classic)

By Charlotte Brontë

Young Jane is plain and simple. Living a traumatic childhood, Jane seeks happiness within her marriage with Mr Rochester. But Rochester has a secret that destroys their marriage as Jane runs away and is left homeless. What is Jane's fate? Will true love reunite the couple?

 

06

Magnolia Parks (romance - series)

By Jessa Hastings

How many loves do you get in a lifetime? A BookTok and Bookstagram favourite, the Magnolia Parks series is set in the London socialite world. People say it's Gossip Girl meets London which in some ways I can see. Magnolia Parks and BJ Ballentine are meant to be, everyone sees them but their communication gets in the way many many times. Daisy Haites is sister to crime lord to Julian Haites and sparks some interest in Christian Hemmes who is supposedly in love with Magnolia Parks. The characters in the series crawl into each other's lives, put the friendships to the test and lives are at risk.

 

07

The Housemaid (thriller - series)

By Freida McFadden

Okay Freida McFadden is THE thriller Queen if you haven't heard of her already. Our main character is a cleaner who is struggling to make ends meet. That's until Nina Winchester invites our protagonist to live in her home, giving her a chance to start fresh but also put a roof over her head. But the narrator finds herself locked in the attic in the middle of the night where she sleeps with nowhere to go and no money, she learns about the dark secrets that live within the four walls of the Winchester family.

 

08

Clap When You Land (ya)

By Elizabeth Acevedo

A story about two girls battling grief. Camino waits for the summers where her father visits her, until the plane he's supposed to be on doesn't land. Camino soon learns after her father's death that he had secrets that change her life forever and force her to face a new world.

 

09

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Hollywood movie icon, Evelyn Hugo, lives a glamourous and scandalous life as the book title tells us and hires a writer to tell her story. Magazine reporter, Monique, isn't the best writer or iconic nor well-known. Regardless, Evelyn chooses Monique for a reason that's yet to be revealed at the end as she tells her story of LA in the 1950s - glitz, glam and grief.

10

My Sister, The Serial Killer

By Oyinkan Braithwaite

Korende's dinner is interrupted one day when her sister, Ayoola, turns up as expected. This wouldn't be the first man her sister has killed in self-defence and so the sister's get the bleach and cleaning gloves out to clean Ayoola's mess. They, especially Korende should go to the police but she loves her sister and will protect her at all costs. Will anyone find out what the duo have been up to?