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  • The 2023 Reading List

    by Shade Lapite

    I started a ton of books in 2022 but finished only a handful. Here’s the (very short) list of completed books: The Sweetest Remedy – Jane Igharo XOXO – Axie Oh Shine – Jessica Jung Dread Nation – Justina Ireland The Emma Project – Sonali Dev The Comeback – Lily Chu The Stand-In – Lily Chu Pachinko – Min Jin Lee My absolute favourites...

    January 4, 2023
    Comment 1
    Features
  • Video Review: The Comeback by Lily Chu

    by Shade Lapite

    One of my favourite books this year has been ‘The Comeback’ by Lily Chu. It’s a sweet, romantic comedy about a workaholic, corporate lawyer – Ariadne Hui – whose life is upended when her roommate invites her gorgeous cousin to stay in their small apartment. Unknown to Ari, the quiet, artistic South Korean guy loafing on her couch is one of the biggest k-pop...

    September 15, 2022
    Comments 0
    Features, Romance
  • Getting to Know West Africa – 3 Books I’m Reading

    by Shade Lapite

    I’m on a mission to learn more about life in pre-colonial Africa. I’ve started with West Africa, specifically the Yoruba peoples and it is a fascinating journey so far. Here are three books I’ve been reading and how they come at the subject matter from different angles.

    July 29, 2022
    Comments 2
    Uncategorized
  • 10 Black Books I plan to read in 2022

    by Shade Lapite

    I’ve selected 10 books that I’d like to read or listen to (hello audio books) in 2022. Since I’m obsessed with Black Joy, I’ve tried to choose titles that have more light than dark.

    March 31, 2022
    Comments 2
    Features
  • Video Review: 7 Days in June by Tia Williams

    by Shade Lapite

    A second chance romance about two successful writers – Eva Mercy and Shane Hall – who survived brutal childhoods and an epic romance that ultimately crashed and burned in their teens.

    October 22, 2021
    Comments 0
    Features, Romance
  • 15 Black Boy Tween and Teen Novels

    by Shade Lapite

    It’s been three years since a I wrote a blog post lamenting the paucity of books with Black lead characters for tween boys. In that post I recounted how I’d tried and failed to find five books with a Black boy protagonist that wasn’t about police brutality, drugs, gangs, social injustice or any other trauma. This summer a friend messaged me asking for book...

    August 19, 2021
    Comments 4
    Features
  • Review: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

    by Shade Lapite

    Jane McKeene is born two days before the dead start to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg. She's drafted into one of many combat schools set up by the government for Black and indigenous children where they are prepared for a life as cannon fodder.

    August 12, 2021
    Comments 0
    Fantasy, Features, Reviews
  • Review: His Only Wife By Peace Adzo Medie

    by Shade Lapite

    A slice of life novel about a young woman living in impoverished circumstances in the Ghanaian village of Ho, who gets the opportunity to marry into a wealthy family. Afi, the protagonist, is beautiful and smart but has done poorly in her secondary school exams and can’t Ghana’s public universities. Instead she faces a life playing seamstress to the unexciting women of Ho.

    May 23, 2021
    Comments 0
    Features, Reviews
  • Temi Oh: Space Girl

    by Shade Lapite

    I remember the day I walked through Foyles bookshop in Tottenham Court Road and literally stopped in my tracks. I’d spotted Do You Dream of Terra Two? on a shelf in the distance and was trying to discern whether the cover truly featured a Black girl in an astronaut helmet. I ran over. No, I wasn’t hallucinating; she was really there. It sounds ridiculous,...

    May 14, 2021
    Comments 0
    Features, Interviews

Latest Highlights

January 4, 2023

The 2023 Reading List

I started a ton of books in 2022 but finished only a handful. Here’s the (very short) list of...

by Shade Lapite
Comment 1
September 15, 2022

Video Review: The Comeback by Lily Chu

One of my favourite books this year has been ‘The Comeback’ by Lily Chu. It’s a sweet, romantic comedy...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 0
March 31, 2022

10 Black Books I plan to read in 2022

I’ve selected 10 books that I’d like to read or listen to (hello audio books) in 2022. Since I’m...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 2
October 22, 2021

Video Review: 7 Days in June by Tia Williams

A second chance romance about two successful writers – Eva Mercy and Shane Hall – who survived brutal childhoods...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 0
August 31, 2021

17 Black Romance Novels for 2021

The interwebs tell me August was Romance Awareness Month. Although we’ve missed that delightful bus, I offer up this...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 3
August 19, 2021

15 Black Boy Tween and Teen Novels

It’s been three years since a I wrote a blog post lamenting the paucity of books with Black lead...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 4
August 12, 2021

Review: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Jane McKeene is born two days before the dead start to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg. She's drafted into...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 0
May 23, 2021

Review: His Only Wife By Peace Adzo Medie

A slice of life novel about a young woman living in impoverished circumstances in the Ghanaian village of Ho,...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 0
May 14, 2021

Temi Oh: Space Girl

I remember the day I walked through Foyles bookshop in Tottenham Court Road and literally stopped in my tracks....

by Shade Lapite
Comments 0
January 28, 2021

10 Questions for ‘Symona’s Still Single’ author, Lisa Bent

In September 2020 Lisa Bent released her debut novel, Symona’s Still Single, the story of a 37-year old Jamaican...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 0
2021 Black Books
January 20, 2021

40 Black Books out in 2021

Happy New Year! To buffer ourselves against the (not inconceivable) event 2021 is not the safe harbour we’re hoping...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 3
Sonali Dev
October 30, 2020

Sonali Dev dives into the world of Austen

Indian-American writer, Sonali Dev has layered her warm romcom style, accomplished heroines and Indian culture into two of Jane...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 0

Interviews

Temi Oh: Space Girl

Published by Shade Lapite

I remember the day I walked through Foyles bookshop in Tottenham Court Road and literally stopped in my tracks. I’d spotted Do You Dream of Terra Two? on a...

May 14, 2021
Comments 0
Features, Interviews

10 Questions for ‘Symona’s Still Single’ author, Lisa Bent

Published by Shade Lapite

In September 2020 Lisa Bent released her debut novel, Symona’s Still Single, the story of a 37-year old Jamaican British woman looking for Mr. Right while trying not to...

January 28, 2021
Comments 0
Features, Interviews, Writers

Sareeta Domingo is Making Waves

Published by Shade Lapite

On a bright April day last year, I managed to grab a quick lunch with Sareeta Domingo. She’d whittled an hour out of her fiercely busy schedule to chat...

June 21, 2020
Comment 1
Interviews, Romance
Literary agent, Nelle Andrews sits in her office

Nelle Andrew is crafting a new narrative in publishing

Published by Shade Lapite

“I love the deal. I LOVE the deal. I mean to be an agent you have to love the deal. I love sending out a book and getting those...

July 21, 2019
Comments 3
Features, Interviews, Literature

Top Posts & Pages

  • 15 Black Boy Tween and Teen Novels
  • 10 Things You Should Know About Angie Thomas
  • Mansa Musa: Glitter and Gold, streaming now...
  • Front
  • 17 Black Romance Novels for 2021
  • 10 things you never knew about rock star author Malorie Blackman
  • 10 Questions for literary agent, Emma Paterson
  • 21 British Children’s Authors (of Colour) You Should Know
  • Video Review: 7 Days in June by Tia Williams
  • 5 Black Publishers You Should Be Supporting

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5 Must-Read Posts

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Archives

Quote

There are a lot of beautiful people in the world, and they need to get counted. They need to be the heroes in stories, as well.

Nicola Yoon

Reviews

Review: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

by Shade Lapite

Jane McKeene is born two days before the dead start to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg. She's drafted into one of many combat schools set up by the government for Black and indigenous children where they are prepared for a life as cannon fodder.

August 12, 2021
Comments 0
Fantasy, Features, Reviews

Review: His Only Wife By Peace Adzo Medie

by Shade Lapite

A slice of life novel about a young woman living in impoverished circumstances in the Ghanaian village of Ho, who gets the opportunity to marry into a wealthy family. Afi, the protagonist, is beautiful and smart but has done poorly in her secondary school exams and can’t Ghana’s public universities. Instead she faces a life playing seamstress to the unexciting women of Ho.

May 23, 2021
Comments 0
Features, Reviews
Holding My Sister the Serial Killer

Video Review: My Sister, the Serial Killer

by Shade Lapite

Korede’s gorgeous younger sister Ayoola has a nasty habit of killing her boyfriends once she grows tired of them. Covering up her sister’s crimes is bad enough, but life gets a lot more terrifying when Ayoola takes a liking to Korede’s love interest.

July 25, 2019
Comments 0
Features, Mystery and thrillers, Reviews

Homegoing calls out African complicity in slavery and offers healing

by Shade Lapite

Last year I visited Elmina Castle, a slave fortress on the coast of Ghana. It’s a beautiful white-washed building, very similar in style to Cape Coast Castle, the slave fortress where Yaa Gyasi sets key pieces of action in Homegoing. The castles are two of about 40 such structures that were built along the Ghanaian coastline by Europeans. They were trading posts that became...

February 28, 2019
Comments 2
Features, Literature, Reviews

Video Review: The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives

by Shade Lapite

Baba Segi has three wives, seven children, and a home filled with riches. Now he has his sights set on Bolanle, a university graduate with a tragic past. When she joins his household, she unwittingly uncovers a secret which threatens to destroy the patriarchal foundation of his life. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin

February 21, 2019
Comments 0
Features, Reviews

Video Book Review: Chasing the Stars

by Shade Lapite

Olivia and Aiden rescue a group of stranded refugees from a remote planet, only for their new passengers to start dying in suspicious circumstances. Gripping murder-mystery, space opera based on Othello.  

August 24, 2018
Comments 0
Fantasy, Mystery, Mystery and thrillers, Reviews

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