eNewspaper | Crosswords | Horoscopes

Books

Thu Feb 19 2026

Clare Mulroy | Books Reporter

Happy Thursday, booklovers!

We're nearing the end of Black History Month , but there's still plenty of time to shelve new books by Black authors. One of my favorite recent reads was "Kin" by Tayari Jones, a touching tribute to female friendship and sisterhood. "Kin" follows two motherless girls and neighbors, Niecy and Annie, so close they often refer to each other as "cradle friends." Both grow into adulthood differently – Annie sets off toward Tennessee to find her long-lost mother and Niecy, at Spelman College, must choose between two conflicting paths of love and expectations. Despite years apart, through strife and success, they remain tethered to each other.

"Kin" is literary and moving, an excellently-paced coming-of-age with characters you'll come to love like family.

This February, celebrate Black History Month by shelving new books by Black authors.

Elena Chernykh, Getty Images

Here are five more new books from Black authors to check out, from thriller to memoir:

💐"Where the Wildflowers Grow" by Terah Shelton Harris: A woman haunted by grief and tragedy becomes the sole survivor of a prison bus accident. In her search for safety, she stumbles upon a flower farm in rural Alabama and a family who offers her tenderness.

🎺"With Love from Harlem" by ReShonda Tate: This historical fiction novel is the story of jazz prodigy Hazel Scott and her decades-long affair and relationship with politician Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Forced to choose between music and family, what can Hazel afford to lose?

💍"Last First Kiss" by Julian Winters: Unlucky-in-love Jordan gets a wedding planning assignment with baggage – the man-of-honor at this high-profile shindig is none other than the ex who gave him his first kiss and broke his heart.

🌷"T he Flower Bearers" by Rachel Eliza Griffiths: In this memoir, Griffiths reflects on grief following the attack on her husband, the writer Salman Rushdie, and the unexpected death of a close friend on the day of their wedding.

🏠"Sundown Girls" by L.S. Stratton: This YA thriller follows a 16-year-old girl whose family cabin vacation turns eerie when she discovers the town has violent origins as a Sundown Town – and two girls have recently gone missing.

In memoir, David Archuleta shares alleged family abuse

David Archuleta is telling his story from his perspective for the first time in "Devout," out now.

David Archuleta is opening up in a new memoir, revealing an abusive home life amid "American Idol" and the Mormon church's reaction to him coming out.

READ MORE