The most popular black experience books of 2023

These books tell the stories of Black people in Africa and across the diaspora. History, family, music, struggle and joy fill novels, memoirs, poetry and essays, written by some of the finest authors at work. There are classics, and the new voices shaping literature today. This list shows the ones first published in 2023.

Results

Yellowface
Cover of Yellowface

Yellowface

R. F. Kuang

Published 2023

322 pages

Family Lore
Cover of Family Lore

Family Lore

Elizabeth Acevedo

Published 2023

384 pages

The First Ladies
Cover of The First Ladies

The First Ladies

Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

Published 2023

400 pages

The List
Cover of The List

The List

Yomi Adegoke

Published 2023

384 pages

Crook Manifesto
Cover of Crook Manifesto

Crook Manifesto

Colson Whitehead

2023 · 2024 edition

336 pages

The Davenports
Cover of The Davenports

The Davenports

Krystal Marquis

Published 2023

384 pages

This Other Eden
Cover of This Other Eden

This Other Eden

Paul Harding

2023 · 2024 edition

208 pages

Worthy
Cover of Worthy

Worthy

Jada Pinkett Smith

2023 · 2025 edition

416 pages