June 19th, also known as Juneteenth, is celebrated as America’s second Independence Day. It has been long celebrated in Black communities to remember the day that the last enslaved Black Americans learned they were emancipated (two years after the emancipation proclamation was first made!), and it became a federal holiday in 2021 (source). To honor Juneteenth and Black authors, we asked our editors to tell us about recent favorites from their personal reading lists.
Emma Cole, Editor for Harlequin Intrigue:
Donyae Coles, Midnight Rooms: This is not out yet, but it’s the most beautiful and creepy Gothic story. In 1840, Orabella Mumthrope is sent from her uncle’s house to be wed to Elias Bakersby, and horrible things ensue. The writing is excellent, and the setting is delightfully unsettling. This is a fantastic story, I highly recommend it!
S.A. Cosby, All the Sinners Bleed: Cosby just won the International Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel, and it’s not hard to see why. His book All the Sinners Bleed is chilling, propulsive, and insightful. Cosby is one of the absolute best crime writers around.
Kuchenga Shenjé, The Library Thief: Another Victorian-era story, this novel about a white-passing bookbinder who ends up working on an estate, preserving the family’s books, is engrossing. The mysterious death of Lord Belfield’s wife, along with other mysteries, will keep you guessing all the way through, and Florence, the main character, is beautifully realized.
Kathryn Lye, Editor for Harlequin Heartwarming:
I am really enjoying Colson Whitehead’s current Harlem Trilogy—Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto. The voices, time, and setting are vivid. The characters are complex and memorable. But it’s the prose that really stands out. It’s quietly compelling and the blend of harsh realities mixed with a touch of hope and inspiration draws you in from the start. Eagerly awaiting the last installment.
Dana Grimaldi, Editor for Harlequin Heartwarming:
I recently came across the music of Dominique Fils-Aimé, a singer-songwriter from Montreal, Canada. Her songs are the perfect example of how music can tell a story. I’ve been playing “Old Love” in particular again and again. And I love how she uses her platform to support other artists. She often sends out email updates about new releases from other musicians that her listeners might like. I love this! And it reminds me of the way romance authors often support each other and promote each other’s new books.
Jenny Macey, Associate Editor, Harlequin Romance:
I’m late to the party, since this book was published in 2019, but I recently read—and devoured!—The Nickel Boys by an incredible Black American novelist, Colson Whitehead. This is a powerful yet harrowing story about the dark realities of a reform school in Florida in the 1960s, explored through the experiences of two young boys. Though the characters are fictional, astonishingly, and appallingly, this book is based on the true events of the historic Dozier school. This certainly isn’t an easy read, so I would urge caution if you don’t feel you’re in the right headspace for the darker themes this book explores. For anyone who feels up to it though, I urge you to get your hands on this book. Colson’s nuanced storytelling immerses readers so fully in the world of his characters that the emotional impact of his writing is immense, and the pacing and plot twists will have you compelled from start to finish. It won a Pulitzer Prize for a reason!
We hope you find some inspiration here for books you want to read this June and beyond!
