I’d love to say that I could name my favorite essays from this book, but I’d just be listing the entire table of contents.

Quick Synopsis

An inspiring collection of essays by black women writers, curated by the founder of the popular book club Well-Read Black Girl, on the importance of recognizing ourselves in literature…

As she has done with her incredible book-club-turned-online-community Well-Read Black Girl, in this book, [Glory] Edim has created a space where black women’s writing and knowledge and life experiences are lifted up, to be shared with all readers who value the power of a story to help us understand the world, and ourselves.

via Goodreads

My Review

This book was a great resource for finding new stories and authors. I really enjoyed not only the suggestions of stories with representation but also the stories that the women in the book connected to as children. In the end, it was affirming to see how other black women found themselves in the written word and also how it further inspired them to be the contemporary authors we love today. This anthology should be on the shelf of every bookworm.

A few of my favorite contributors include: Jesmyn Ward (Sing Unburied Sing), Lynn Nottage (Sweat), Jacqueline Woodson (Another Brooklyn), Gabourey Sidibe (This Is Just My Face), Morgan Jerkins (This Will Be My Undoing), Zinzi Clemmons (What We Lose), N. K. Jemisin (The Fifth Season), Tayari Jones (An American Marriage).

For more info on the book club that started it all check out the Well-Read Black Girl reading list from 2014 to now.

My Rating (stars out of 5):