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
Unexpected Expectations by K.C. Mills

Unexpected Expectations

K.C. Mills

3 hours, 40 minutes • audio • 2020 user-added

fiction emotional medium-paced
Tempest by Beverly Jenkins

Tempest

Old West #3

Beverly Jenkins

384 pages • paperback • 2018

fiction historical romance adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced
Losing Sight by Tati Richardson

Losing Sight

Tati Richardson

10 hours, 24 minutes • audio • 2025

fiction contemporary romance emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

The Love Lyric

Greene Sisters #3

Kristina Forest

10 hours, 48 minutes • audio • 2025

fiction contemporary romance emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Captured Beauty by Tay Mo'Nae

Captured Beauty

Tay Mo'Nae

8 hours, 31 minutes • audio • 2025 user-added

fiction romance
Anonymous Acts by Christina C. Jones

Anonymous Acts

Christina C. Jones

11 hours, 48 minutes • audio • 2017

fiction contemporary romance dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Technical by Alexandria House

Technical

St. Louis Cyclones #2

Alexandria House

6 hours, 36 minutes • audio • 2021

fiction contemporary romance sports emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
I Got You by Miss Jenesequa

I Got You

The Evans Family #1

Miss Jenesequa

12 hours, 3 minutes • audio • 2022 user-added

fiction erotica romance adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced
For Better or Worse by Delaney Diamond

For Better or Worse

Hawthorne Family #4

Delaney Diamond

3 hours, 38 minutes • audio • 2013

fiction romance emotional lighthearted slow-paced
Down South Bayou: A Black Sapphic Romance by Aricka Alexander

Down South Bayou: A Black Sapphic Romance

The BR Bayou Series #1

Aricka Alexander

251 pages • digital • 2024

fiction lgbtqia+ romance sports funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced