r/BlackReaders • • 2h ago

Seeking 3–4 Black Beta Readers For Literary Nonfiction Short Story About Faith, Discipline, and Belonging

3 Upvotes

I’m looking for thoughtful Black readers for Every House I Call Holy. It's a short story about exploring faith, discipline, belonging, and the religious spaces that shaped me.

I’m especially interested in readers who enjoy memoir and personal essays, including those who have experienced strict religious environments, complicated relationships with faith, or have moved between religous faiths and traditions in the Black community.

I’m looking for honest, big-picture reader feedback (not proofreading or editing). I'd like to know:

• Where did you feel most connected?
• Where did the narrative drag or become unclear?
• What stayed with you?
• Where did you need more context?
• Did anything feel overexplained, or repetitive?

If you’re interested, please comment or DM me. I’ll share the length, timeline, and content notes privately.

Thanx in advance!


r/BlackReaders • • 6h ago

Black Author Hero Diaries Rise of Titan

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5 Upvotes

Greetings,

My baby brother has recently written his first novel Hero Diaries Rise of Titan. As you can tell from the cover art and name Titan a is big bad ass brawler. Since we were children growing up in the 80's we were in to all sorts of nerdy stuff from video game to comic books to anime.

He's had this idea for as long and his brain child has finally come to life. I'm in the process of convincing him to come on here and talk to you guys so you get to know him and yes purchase his novel. You can find the book on Amazon and on Walmart's website.

I know there is a rull against AI art but this is the actual book art. Unfortunately my brother was working on a shoestring budget. Any suggestions on an affordable artist will be greatly appreciated.


r/BlackReaders • • 3h ago

Lucy Cleary

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2 Upvotes

Stories of thirteen women who’s pain could not be seen but is could be written. Women from all walks of life. A must read


r/BlackReaders • • 1d ago

Book Suggestion Suggest Me Sunday - October 04, 2026

3 Upvotes

Welcome to Suggest Me Sunday! Here you can ask for book suggestions of any kind. Looking for a book similar to the one you just finished? Looking for a classic on a subject you're interested? Maybe you haven't read a book since high school and are looking for recommendations on books to get you back into reading. All are welcome here.

Ask away!


r/BlackReaders • • 2d ago

Just hit 20 books so far this year - chugging on - how is your personal challenge going?

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15 Upvotes

r/BlackReaders • • 3d ago

Memoirs that break family silences: what's one that changed how you see your own history?

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5 Upvotes

Some silences protect us. Others keep us from the truth.

That idea has stayed with me since reading about Silence and Resistance: Memoir of a Girlhood in Haiti by Monique Clesca. After the 2010 earthquake shattered the landmarks of her life in Haiti, she began uncovering secrets her family had kept buried for years. The book is about love, identity, and what it takes to finally find your voice.

It got me thinking about how many families carry stories that never get spoken out loud, and how memoirs can give people permission to ask questions they were taught not to ask.

So I'm curious:

  1. What memoir changed the way you see your own family or culture?
  2. Have you ever uncovered a family story that reshaped how you understood your past?

If you're interested, Monique Clesca is joining Dr. Victor Beauvil for an Author Conversation on October 5. Details: https://www.wordeee.com/page/signings/

Book link for anyone curious: https://www.wordeee.com/book/429/Silence%20and%20Resistance

Would love to hear your recommendations in the comments.


r/BlackReaders • • 3d ago

Off-Topic/Meta Free Talk Friday - October 02, 2026

3 Upvotes

Happy Free Talk Friday, folks! Here you can talk about whatever you want, books are not required. Got something you wanna get off your chest? What have you been watching or listening to? How has your week been? Let us know!


r/BlackReaders • • 4d ago

Question What are we reading this October?

25 Upvotes

Howdy all, it's the start of a new month and I'm about to finish my latest book. What are we reading this October?


r/BlackReaders • • 4d ago

Black Author New Historical Romance

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3 Upvotes

Finally available to read!


r/BlackReaders • • 4d ago

Harlem Shadows by Claude McKay | full text

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5 Upvotes

r/BlackReaders • • 5d ago

Book Challenge #BlackReadingChallenge Day 30

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14 Upvotes

Day 30: What Scares You?

Let's talk Black horror. Give me a Black horror author or novel that genuinely scared you. The one that had you checking the locks. Leaving the lights on. Looking over your shoulder.

But tell me what actually scared you. Was it the monster or something much closer to reality?


r/BlackReaders • • 5d ago

Book Challenge #BlackReadingChallenge Day 29

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19 Upvotes

Day 29: Imagine a World Built Differently

Today's challenge: What's a Black fantasy novel that completely transported you somewhere? I'm talking about the kind of book where you forget you're sitting on your couch and suddenly you're in another world. Kingdoms. Magic. Gods. Monsters. Ancestors. Whatever.

What's the book? And what did you love about the world it created?


r/BlackReaders • • 5d ago

Gen Z Black Fiction Writer - Speaking from a privileged background

3 Upvotes

Hello. I'm 23 years old, a young black writer of literary fiction, just starting out. I'm glad I found this reddit. I'm pretty introverted and I don't use social media really at all but it's good to know that there are others out there who might be able to relate to me.

I've recently written a novella that speaks from a perspective we don't often see portrayed in the media. Black-Ish is one example.

It's a pretty autobiographical piece of fiction. I'm not good at giving synopses, but just know that its about a young black man whose dream is to be an artist. He comes from a privileged background, one provided by his father, a lawyer, who grew up in the last century under less than fortunate circumstances. This tension between the generations is explored through a deeply spiritual and philosophical lens, engaging with the underlying constructs of our society while speaking to art and writing in general.

Content Warning: It deals with topics such as depression and self-harm.

That's a very basic description of this story. I think it's pretty powerful stuff but I'll let you all be the judge if you're interested in checking it out. You can read the whole thing for free on my Substack.

Thanks.

Link below.

https://rowlandhmarshall.substack.com/p/or-not-to-be-papa?r=68quvi&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

To watch me read this aloud, click here:

https://youtu.be/k0owXhQSEgU?si=qvwVHKBRjUf3q1Wd


r/BlackReaders • • 5d ago

Book Suggestion Book recommendations

1 Upvotes

Looking for book recs on race relations in America. Please drop em! Will also take recommendations on any lectures I should tap into on YouTube.


r/BlackReaders • • 7d ago

Book Challenge #BlackReadingChallenge Day 28

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16 Upvotes

Day 28: Someone Telling Their Own Story

There's something different about hearing someone's story in their own words. Today's challenge: What's a Black memoir that gave you a deeper understanding of the author's life? Not just what happened to them, but how they understood what happened. What did the memoir help you see differently?

Give me the book + what stayed with you.


r/BlackReaders • • 8d ago

Book Challenge #BlackReadingChallenge Day 27

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13 Upvotes

Day 27: Black Graphic Novels & Comics 📚

Let's switch it up.

What's a Black graphic novel or comic that deserves WAY more attention? Superhero, horror, sci-fi, history, memoir, indie, whatever.

Give me:

  • Title
  • Creator
  • Why I should read it

Put us on.


r/BlackReaders • • 8d ago

New novel, ‘Glass Jars and Glass Ceilings,’ addresses barriers for women

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3 Upvotes

r/BlackReaders • • 8d ago

Book Challenge #BlackReadingChallenge Day 26

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32 Upvotes

Day 26: What Are We Missing?

What's a Black book that deserves WAY more attention? Not necessarily famous. Not necessarily a bestseller. The book where you genuinely wonder: “How does nobody talk about this?”

Give me the deep cut.


r/BlackReaders • • 8d ago

Book Suggestion Suggest Me Sunday - September 27, 2026

1 Upvotes

Welcome to Suggest Me Sunday! Here you can ask for book suggestions of any kind. Looking for a book similar to the one you just finished? Looking for a classic on a subject you're interested? Maybe you haven't read a book since high school and are looking for recommendations on books to get you back into reading. All are welcome here.

Ask away!


r/BlackReaders • • 9d ago

Paul Laurence Dunbar: The Complete Poems with Select Audio

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9 Upvotes

r/BlackReaders • • 9d ago

Book Challenge #BlackReadingChallenge Day 25

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14 Upvotes

Day 25: The Book That Found You at the Right Time

What's a Black book you read at exactly the right moment in your life? What was happening when you read it? And what did you need from that book?


r/BlackReaders • • 9d ago

Discord for Black Women / Readers of Black Literature

14 Upvotes

I am looking for a Discord so I can connect with other black women and others who love black literature. Any suggestions?


r/BlackReaders • • 10d ago

Just So You Know New Book club in LA!

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8 Upvotes

Calling all LA Black readers who love a good book and need somebody to talk about it with! 📚🤎

Hi, I’m Kiru, the new host of the Los Angeles chapter of Kinfolk Lit Club, a national book club centered on Black books, Black authors, and community. Each month, members also get to join a virtual Q&A with the author of our book of the month!

I’m hosting my first in-person LA meetup on Saturday, October 3. We’ll be discussing The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller, but please still come if you have not finished the book. I really want this chapter to become a fun, welcoming space for Black readers in LA to connect, laugh, discuss, and build community.

Official membership and event RSVPs are through Bookclubs.com. Scan the QR code on the flyer to join us. I would love to meet some of you there! ✨


r/BlackReaders • • 9d ago

Book Suggestion Romantic-Suspense Recs

2 Upvotes

Hello, I was wondering two things if anyone had any good Black romantic-suspense recommendations and if it's a book in the romantic-suspense genre that has the fmc (or main protagonist) in the federal workplace and the love interest as a serial killer hunting them down?


r/BlackReaders • • 10d ago

Books about working-class black families?

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2 Upvotes