Love Unapologetically: A Black Romance Challenge

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18 participants (151 books)

01 Jan 2025—31 Dec 2025

Overview

The Love Unapologetically: A Black Romance Challenge is a celebration of Black love in all its forms. This challenge is designed to highlight and honor the richness, diversity, and beauty of romance stories featuring Black characters and written by Black authors. It’s a chance to unapologetically embrace stories of passion, resilience, vulnerability, and joy that center Black love.

What the Challenge is About:
This challenge invites readers to explore and uplift Black romance across genres and styles. From swoon-worthy contemporary tales to heart-pounding romantic suspense, and from historical settings to fantastical worlds, these stories showcase the power of love through unique and authentic lenses.

How to Participate:
  1. Set Your Goal: Decide how many Black romance books you want to read during the challenge.
  2. Diversify Your List: Include a mix of subgenres (e.g., contemporary, historical, fantasy, or dark romance) to explore the vast world of Black love stories.
  3. Reflect and Share: Keep track of your favorite books, characters, and moments, and share your progress with others.

Optional Monthly Themes:
  • January: Fresh Love – New relationships and beginnings.
  • February: Iconic Couples – Stories with unforgettable pairings.
  • March: Love Over Time – Second chances or long-term romances.
  • April: Powerful Women – Romances with strong Black female leads.
  • May: Unexpected Love – Stories where love takes surprising turns.
  • June: Hot and Steamy – Passionate and bold romances.
  • July: Love in Danger – Romantic suspense and thrillers.
  • August: Fantasy and Magic – Black romance in fantastical worlds.
  • September: Black Historical Romance – Love stories set in the past.
  • October: Forbidden Romance – Love that defies expectations.
  • November: Family Ties – Stories blending romance with family themes.
  • December: Holiday Bliss – Cozy, seasonal Black romance reads.

Why Join?
  • Celebrate the diversity and depth of Black romance.
  • Discover new authors and hidden gems.
  • Support Black authors and amplify their voices.
  • Fall in love with stories that reflect joy, authenticity, and passion.

Join the Love Unapologetically: A Black Romance Challenge and let yourself be swept away by tales of love that are unapologetically powerful, authentic, and unforgettable. 

Challenge Books

All books added
Long Past Summer by Noué Kirwan

Long Past Summer

Noué Kirwan

437 pages • paperback • 2022

fiction contemporary romance emotional slow-paced
The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert

The Roommate Risk

Midnight Heat #2

Talia Hibbert

258 pages • paperback • 2018

fiction contemporary romance emotional lighthearted medium-paced
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Act Your Age, Eve Brown

The Brown Sisters #3

Talia Hibbert

400 pages • digital • 2021

fiction contemporary romance emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

The Brown Sisters #1

Talia Hibbert

369 pages • paperback • 2019

fiction contemporary romance emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

The Davenports

The Davenports #1

Krystal Marquis

379 pages • hardcover • 2023

fiction historical romance young adult emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute

Talia Hibbert

319 pages • hardcover • 2023

fiction contemporary romance young adult emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
The Love Simulation by Etta Easton

The Love Simulation

Etta Easton

305 pages • paperback • 2025

fiction contemporary romance adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

The Kiss Countdown

Etta Easton

336 pages • paperback • 2024

fiction contemporary romance emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
Business Not as Usual by Sharon C. Cooper

Business Not as Usual

Sharon C. Cooper

320 pages • paperback • 2022

fiction contemporary romance funny lighthearted medium-paced
Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins

Forbidden

Old West #1

Beverly Jenkins

384 pages • paperback • 2016

fiction historical romance emotional hopeful medium-paced