Celebrating Black Voices Staff Picks

We are honoring the impactful contributions of the Black community all year long, but for February’s Staff Picks, we’re celebrating these Black voices.

Amanda: THE HOUSE OF BROKEN BRICKS by Fiona Williams

In this debut, Tess is a Londoner whose relationship with Richard transports her from a Jamaican diaspora in the city to the English countryside. When the dramatic arrival of their fraternal twins—one who presents as black and the other as white—recasts the family dynamic, it stirs up complicated questions of belonging. Tess yearns for the comforting chaos of life as it once was, instead of the kids tracking dirt through the kitchen where cooking Caribbean food becomes her sole comfort. And Richard obsesses over getting his crops planted rather than deal with the conversation he cannot bear to have. With a quartet of unforgettable, alternating perspectives, secrets and vines clamber over the house’s broken red bricks, but as the seasons change and the cracks let in more light, the family might just be able to start to heal. THE HOUSE OF BROKEN BRICKS is perfect for fans of WE ARE THE BRENNANS, FIGHT NIGHT, and OF WOMEN AND SALT, and a Kirkus starred review says this is “a subtle, complex, and gorgeously written delight.”

Emily: THE DANGEROUS ONES by Lauren Blackwood

Vampires are back! And this time they’re fighting in the American Civil War. Set in 1863 Pennsylvania, this romantic historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blackwood pairs up a Union vampire with Jerusalem, an escaped slave with powerful demigod-like abilities. Together, they set out to change the course of the war and take down the vampire who destroyed everyone Jerusalem loved. Lauren Blackwood has woven together an irresistible romance in an atmospheric world filled with magic, chemistry, and an enemies-to-lovers love story for the ages. Fans of DREAD NATION, LEGENDBORN, and BEASTS OF PREY will be captivated by this stunning fantasy!

Michelle: DEVIL IS FINE by John Vercher

This is a profoundly moving novel of what it means to be a father, a son, a writer, and a biracial American fighting to reconcile the past with the present. Amidst reeling from the sudden death of his teenage son, our narrator learns that he has just inherited a plot of land from his estranged grandfather. As a biracial Black man struggling with the many facets of his identity, he’s now the owner of a former plantation, passed down by the men on his white mother’s side. This story is funny, sad, and has a touch of magical realism that makes for an emotional read. It’s an unconventional take on grief that packs a huge punch, touching on important and controversial topics with humor and nuance. Fans of DID YOU HEAR ABOUT KITTY KARR?, DEVIL HOUSE, and MY MONTICELLO will especially love this one.