BookTok Belongs to Black Writers, Too
3 min read
BookTok has taken the literary world by storm, turning everyday readers into influencers and obscure titles into instant bestsellers. But here’s the thing—while some names constantly trend in the algorithm (cough Colleen Hoover cough), there’s a wave of Black writers whose stories are climbing the ranks, building communities, and sparking deep conversations.
This Trending Tuesday, we’re spotlighting five Black authors you need to read, follow, and fangirl over. These writers are not just trending—they’re transforming the culture.
1. Tia Williams
📖 Seven Days in June, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
Tia Williams writes the kind of romance that feels like falling in love and pulling out old scabs at the same time. Her heroines are messy, brilliant, and Black AF. Her BookTok fans rave about her emotional intelligence and the way she blends steamy romance with real-life trauma and triumph.
Why She’s Trending:
Her books are emotionally layered, wildly quotable, and always feature women taking back their stories. BookTok loves her “soft Black woman” energy.
Follow if you like: Emotional slow burns, writers writing about writers, second-chance love stories.
2. Kennedy Ryan
📖 Before I Let Go, Reel, The Kingmaker series
Kennedy Ryan doesn’t just write love stories—she writes legacy. Her romances explore grief, co-parenting, racial justice, and healing with a grace that feels revolutionary. She’s a USA Today bestselling author whose fanbase on BookTok keeps growing thanks to passionate reviews and emotional read-alongs.
Why She’s Trending:
Before I Let Go had Black BookTok in tears—and ready to buy the sequel yesterday. Her stories feel like therapy and a love letter at the same time.
Follow if you like: Mature love, second chances, powerful Black couples.
3. Alexandria House
📖 Let Me Love You, The McClain Brothers
If you’re not already obsessed with Alexandria House, you’re missing out on some of the sexiest, most character-driven Black romance out right now. She writes with humor, heart, and heat—like, pages-stuck-together heat. Her male leads are strong, flawed, and deeply romantic, and her female leads are everything from strippers to social workers.
Why She’s Trending:
TikTok users are stanning the McClain brothers like they’re real men, and Alexandria’s audiobooks are creating full-blown thirst traps.
Follow if you like: Alpha men who cry, family sagas, Black love at its rawest and realest.
4. Nic Stone
📖 Dear Martin, Odd One Out, Chaos Theory
Nic Stone is the kind of author whose work hits you in the chest and lingers in your mind. She writes YA and contemporary fiction that doesn’t sugarcoat the truth—and teens (and adults) are here for it. With powerful discussions around race, mental health, and sexuality, Nic’s voice is both urgent and necessary.
Why She’s Trending:
Dear Martin is a BookTok staple in educational circles and activist reading lists alike. Her openness about mental health and neurodivergence resonates with Gen Z.
Follow if you like: Socially conscious fiction, sharp dialogue, coming-of-age stories with teeth.
5. Jessica George
📖 Maame
Jessica George burst onto the literary scene with Maame, a coming-of-age novel that masterfully blends grief, cultural identity, awkward adulthood, and Black womanhood in all its complexity. Set in London, this story follows Maddie as she juggles family duty, work stress, and the overwhelming task of simply figuring out who she is. George writes with warmth, wit, and just enough heartbreak to leave a mark.
Why She’s Trending:
Maame has been embraced by BookTok for its honest depiction of mental health, caretaking, and the quiet loneliness that often follows strong Black women. TikTok creators have called it “a mirror,” “a release,” and “the soft, sad book I didn’t know I needed.”
Follow if you like: Literary fiction with heart, introspective journeys, millennial burnout, and tender stories about figuring it all out—bad dates, good therapy, and everything in between.
Join the Conversation
Have you read any of these authors? Who’s been on your radar lately? Drop your favorite BookTok Black authors in the comments—and don’t forget to tag us when you post your #TBR stack.
Want to talk about these reads in person?
Join us at the next Books & Shots Book Club meeting—July 30 at the Shawn Rae Art Gallery, or online in our Facebook group.
And make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter, Saturday Ink, for new author features and upcoming events.
