Minnie's Fiction Addiction

This week’s What to Read Wednesday shines a light on Black female authors whose words challenge, comfort, and captivate. From powerful coming-of-age tales to sharp social commentary, these voices explore identity, love, resilience, and joy in all their forms. Whether you’re diving into classics or discovering new favourites, these books are essential reads that stay with you long after the final page.

1.  Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

A vibrant, interconnected portrait of twelve British women, Girl, Woman, Other is a masterpiece of rhythm and empathy. Evaristo’s prose dances between poetry and narrative, exploring race, gender, and class with humour and heart. Each story adds another thread to a tapestry of modern womanhood that feels both specific and universal.

Read it if you love: multi-perspective storytelling, intersectional feminism, and writing that feels alive.

2.  Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Funny, raw, and full of heart, Queenie follows a young Black British woman navigating her career, relationships, and mental health after a painful breakup. Carty-Williams writes with a voice that feels both sharply modern and deeply honest, tackling heavy themes with warmth and wit.

Read it if you love: messy, relatable heroines and stories that balance humour with vulnerability.

3. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Spanning generations and continents, Homegoing traces the descendants of two Ghanaian half-sisters—one sold into slavery, the other married to a British coloniser. Gyasi’s storytelling is epic in scope but intimate in emotion, examining the lasting impact of history on family and identity.

Read it if you love: sweeping historical fiction with emotional depth and lyrical writing.

4. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Part social satire, part character study, this novel explores privilege, performative allyship, and modern racism through the story of Emira, a young Black babysitter, and her well-meaning but misguided employer. Reid’s dialogue crackles with authenticity, making you question your own assumptions along the way.

Read it if you love: contemporary fiction that mixes humour, insight, and uncomfortable truths.

5. Manifesto: On Never Giving Up by Bernardine Evaristo

Yes, she’s on the list twice—but with good reason. In this memoir, Evaristo reflects on her creative journey, activism, and what it means to persist as a Black woman artist in Britain. It’s honest, inspiring, and brimming with wisdom.

Read it if you love: creative nonfiction, memoirs about resilience, and finding motivation through authenticity.

Final Thoughts

From lyrical epics to witty contemporary tales, these authors showcase the incredible range and power of Black female voices. They challenge stereotypes, celebrate joy, and demand to be heard. Whether you’re new to their work or revisiting old favourites, this is your reminder to diversify your bookshelf and listen to stories that expand your world.