As a passionate reader, books have always held a special place in my heart since childhood. There’s no feeling like escaping into a great book. And now, halfway through the year, I have exceeded my reading goal(to read 50 books in 2023). I have been discovering many “new to me” authors this year and fell in love. So in love that I want to share them with you.

In this blog post, I share ten must-read books I read in the first half of 2023. Now, I must warn you – these books belong to a genre (Urban fiction, urban romance, and black contemporary romance) that has taken hold of my thoughts and emotions, but I understand it’s not for everyone. Nonetheless, I’m sure each book below will leave you with butterflies, shedding tears, and/or occasionally tempted to punch the air because that’s how they left me. These ten books were 5-star reads for me, with characters who linger in my thoughts long after I've finished the book.

To help you choose which books to add to your bookshelf, I've included synopses for each book and links to where you can find them. Additionally, I'll share my reviews and ratings on Goodreads so that you can see my thoughts and reflections.

Let’s get into the top 10 black romance books to add to your bookshelf before the end of the year.

*This post contains affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on my site at no additional cost.

10 Must-Read Black Romance Books

Restore Me

Synopsis

Sloane: Dominic Alexander is my late husband's best friend and the last man that I should want. For the last ten years, he's taken a sick pleasure in making me feel paper thin, like my existence is of no consequence to him at all.

But now, things are different.

After a drunken night, and a surprisingly sexy act of heroism, he's started to be . . . nice. Treating me like something other than the embodiment of his annoyance, which would be nice if it didn't make me feel things I swore to never feel for another man after my husband died.

Dominic: Sloane Kent is going to be my undoing.

What's worse: I think I'm going to enjoy being unraveled by the gold flecks in her hazel eyes and the way she scrunches her nose when we're arguing, which we've done a lot of over the past decade. She thinks it's because I hate her, and I've let her think that because the alternative is . . . untenable.

But something is changing between us, and I don't know how to stop myself from breaking every promise I've ever made to myself regarding my best friend's wife. Promises that include never telling her that there's a long list of things I feel about her, but hate isn't one of them.

Only For The Week

Synopsis

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Amerie Cross and Arnold Hightower.

And now a toast from the maid of honor, Janelle Cross!

Hi everyone, thank you for being here.

Some of you may know me as the sister of the bride.

Some of you may know me as the ex-girlfriend of the groom.

But I'm willing to bet none of you know me as the woman secretly sleeping with the best man.

I am.

I know, I'm just as surprised as you.

It was only supposed to be for the week; but every kiss, adventure, and stolen moment with Rome Martin feels like it could last forever.

Oh well. What happens in Tulum stays in Tulum.

Right?

Keep You To Myself

Synopsis

Chaotic peace was the only way Synovi Black could explain his life to those who had questions. He never understood why they asked because an answer was never given; it was none of their business. For her, he’d break it down, however. Weave through the complexities of his upbringing, urging her to get comfortable and reside in chaos by his side.

His world became hers, and she became his.

Flawed but perfect in her eyes, Torin Kaine adapts to Synovi’s meek yet assertive presence. Breaking down barriers, making his stand-offish personality open up to her, she finds a crack in his wounded heart, gains comfort, and remains.

Simplistically, Torin eases his troubled mind. She becomes someone Synovi cherishes, making him not want to ever share her with anyone else.

Lucid Dreams

Synopsis

After a horrific incident, Nite and his twin Dai are left to fend for themselves. Living recklessly in the fast lane, the twins flirt with danger not caring about the aftermath of their actions. Partying, popping pills, and getting money are just a few ways they cope with their untreated childhood trauma. Without the guidance of strong male figure and the love of a nurturing mother, they can come off as rude and callous.

For Hunter, life has never been easy. From birth, she was dealt a hand deemed unfair. With an alcoholic father and deadbeat baby daddy, Hunter is suffocating and no one seems to care. After literally being knocked off her feet by Nite, Hunter is immediately turned off by his rude demeanor, but she can’t seem to shake him.

The lines between reality and dreams are blurred when the past and future collide. Loyalty is tested, greed is at an all-time high and several lives are left hanging in the balance. Nite and Dai learn that no matter how hard they try, they can never outrun their past.

Goal

Synopsis

For Maleek Jones, hockey is his wife. Everything and everyone else is his mistress, an aside. When unexpected responsibilities land in his lap, the balance of his world is disrupted, changing the way he sees everything.

Trying to figure out life while recovering from trauma, Nuri Knox finds herself in desperate need of the one thing Maleek has to offer.

In each other, they discover what neither of them expects.

Love.

Demon’s Dream

Synopsis

Demon Montana: Clawing my way from the depths of hell to haunt the nightmares and steal the lives of many, I earned the name “Demon.” Hardened by a life that no one should live, I had rules that governed my existence. No caring. No intimacy. No love. And then I saw her… Dream. Beautiful. Brave. Bold. And for thirty days, she was mine. I would follow my rules: have her body, ignore her heart. Then, she looked at me… like she knew me. Like she saw me. Like she loved me. And I knew… thirty days weren’t nearly enough.

Dream Castle: Brilliant and bad ass, I was my family’s fixer. I was the queen of negotiating and smoothing ruffled feathers. I had never met a situation I couldn’t talk us out of… until my brother crossed the wrong family and they would accept only one payment for that debt.

Me.

For thirty days, I was supposed to give myself to a man so brutal, they called him “Demon.” I had to follow his rules, honor his demands, be available to him only. When I met him, he had nightmares in his cold green eyes and an enemy’s blood splattered on his hard, inked body. How could I survive a month with a monster without losing myself?

Except… those eyes seemed to thaw a little each time he looked at me. And his chiseled body fit perfectly against mine. There was so much more to the enigma called “Demon,” so many things that made him my “Damien.” Suddenly, the only thing I was worried about losing in thirty days was my heart.

Soul Ties

Synopsis

From the moment his eyes met hers, there was something.

Time stood still, the world around them vanished, and electricity...

instant electricity.

Immediately... she owned him in an inexplicable way he couldn’t quite understand.

He couldn't escape her.

Not in his dreams.

And soon... not even in his reality.

He was the man that made her soar.

There was nothing in the world she wanted more than him.

Absolutely nothing.

His touch made her levitate.

When she was with him... she was limitless.

He felt like home. But sadly... he was home for someone else.

SOUL TIE: An intense connection between two people that binds them together mentally, spiritually & physically.

Where Love Blooms

“The tragedy of life is not death… but what we let die inside of us while we live.” –Norman Cousins

Jamison Jareau has suffered a terrible loss. His wife of eighteen years passed away the day she gave birth to their son. Consumed with grief and guilt over her death, Jamison has thrown himself into work and raising his four children without her. Two and a half years have passed since he lost his soulmate. The kids are growing up and Jamison realized he needs a little more help with them than he wants to admit. At the urging of his mother-in-law, he seeks a live in nanny to alleviate some of the stress of being a single parent.

In walks Aleviyah Sandifer, a beautiful, vibrant breath of fresh air. The kids immediately take to her and they aren’t the only ones. Jamison soon finds himself enthralled with a woman other than the one he’d been with since he was fourteen years old. With new feelings arising, guilt begins to set in over his newfound attraction. As bad as he wants Aleviyah, he can’t help but feel like he is betraying his wife.

When forced to finally come to terms with his feelings, will Jamison give in and embrace the budding romance between him and his nanny? Or will he continue to deny himself the happiness she’s brought to his household?

Sinful Vow: An Arranged Marriage Mafia Romance

Synopsis

Lucia Moretti

I always knew marriage for me would never be to a man of my choosing. As a young girl, I was all too aware of the power I wielded in a world where men were supposed to be the superior gender.

To the underworld, I was just a mafia princess. To my family, I was an equal. To my soon-to-be husband? Well, that was yet to be determined. But I prayed Enzo Bianchi was ready for me because I was damn sure prepared for him.

Enzo Bianchi

The life I’d seen for myself was no longer an option. My entire world had been turned upside down by the very people who were supposed to be family—my famiglia.

Us Bianchi men were starting anew—forging alliances with criminal organizations who understood our plight. The plan had been simple, cut and dry.

That was until Lucia Moretti showed up with a plan of her own—one I couldn’t say no to. Now everything was at stake, including my heart.

Sinful Vow is book one in the Mafia Misfits series and can be listened to as a standalone. This story includes depictions of violence that may not be suitable for all listeners.

I Got You

Synopsis

“I got her and everything that comes with her. All the good, bad, and crazy, I’ll be taking. Anything she needs, consider it hers and with her in my life, I’ll forever be whole.”—Genesis Washington

Putting herself first is what Jordana Evans knows how to do best. She’s at the top of her game in her career and no longer haunted by memories of her past threatening to steal her joy. In her mind, being in love is a want, not a need, and she’s convinced that she’ll be just fine without it. Having intimate relations with the opposite sex is something she’s willing to do for one night only. But then came along…him.

Being the son of a hood legend means absolutely nothing to Genesis Washington. His only priorities are taking care of the two people who have his heart–his sister and his nephew–and running the multimillion-dollar company that keeps his pockets fat. Juggling love and business just never made sense to a man like him, so he chose the latter.

But crossing paths with Jordana Evans suddenly changes everything for him and she becomes the only woman he wants. And he isn’t the type of man who shies away from whatever he desires.

When Jordana and Genesis lay eyes on each other, they’re unable to fight off the feelings that form from their very first encounter. What starts off as a one-time thing quickly turns into an addiction neither of them can get enough of. But the pain of Jordana’s past has her determined to keep their new arrangement strictly between the sheets. Can Genesis truly be the one to ease Jordana’s heavily guarded heart, or will family do more damage to Genesis and Jordana before they fully have the chance to prosper?

I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did! They touched my heart, made me cry, and kept me on the edge of my seat. If you're looking for a book bestie to share more recommendations and book talk with, follow me and my bestie on Instagram @_booksandbesties. You can also catch me on TikTok for more book-related content.

Feel free to leave your book recommendations in the comments—I love discovering new reads. Let's connect on Goodreads and StoryGraph as well so we can share our reading journeys.

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Happy reading, book besties!