First Book vs Favorite Book by These Black Authors | Kennedy Ryan, S.A. Cosby & More
Sometimes the first book you read by an author becomes the book. The one you recommend forever. The one you compare everything else to.
And sometimes?
That first read is just the introduction. The warm-up. The gateway drug.
Because every now and then, an author sneaks up on you with another book that completely shifts your ranking system and suddenly you’re sitting there staring at the wall trying to explain why your “favorite” changed.
As a reader, I actually love when this happens. It means an author has range. It means I’m growing as a reader. And honestly? Sometimes the book that emotionally destroys you at the right time in your life is the one that wins.
So here are a few authors where my first read was memorable… but not my favorite.
Before I Let Go vs Reel vs Kennedy Ryan
My first Kennedy Ryan read was Before I Let Go and whew. What an introduction.
The grief. The love story. The maturity. The emotional intelligence. This book made me understand immediately why people speak about Kennedy Ryan the way they do.
And for a long time, I truly thought this would stay my favorite.
Then I read Reel.
There was something about the atmosphere of this story that completely consumed me. It felt cinematic and intimate at the same time. The chemistry, the vulnerability, the conversations around disability and the representation of unconditional love… it just worked for me on every level.
Before I Let Go made me a Kennedy Ryan reader. Reel made me obsessed.
And listen… Can’t Get Enough came dangerously close to taking the top spot.
Dangerously close.
Blacktop Wasteland vs Razorblade Tears, SA Cosby
I really thought Blacktop Wasteland was untouchable.
That book was gritty, high octane, and stressful in the best way, and impossible to put down. It introduced me to S.A. Cosby’s writing style and immediately made me understand why people call him one of the best thriller writers out right now.
Then Razorblade Tears showed up.
And almost immediately, I knew.
The emotional depth in this one hit was something I didn't expect. Yes, it’s violent. Yes, it’s tense. Yes, it moves fast. But underneath all of that is a story about grief, regret, and fathers trying to avenge their slain sons while also desperately seeking forgiveness from them… even though they’re no longer here to give it.
Whew… not this book reminding me that people don’t have to be perfect or exactly who we hoped they’d be to still deserve love.
This was the book that elevated S.A. Cosby from “really good writer” to “automatic preorder author” for me.
Ethic vs Before the Streetlights Come On, Ashley Antoinette
If you know Ashley Antoinette, then you already know Ethic is one HECK of an introduction.
Drama. Mess. Chaos. Jaw-dropping moments. I was fully entertained.
But Before the Streetlights Come On? That book hit me emotionally in a completely different way.
At its core, it’s about friendship, reconnecting with the people who feel like home, and finding each other again right when it’s needed most around the holidays.
It made me laugh, made me emotional, and reminded me how beautifully Ashley Antoinette writes about love, memory, healing, and complicated relationships.
Honestly, I think this book really showed her versatility as an author.
Ethic grabbed my attention.
Before the Streetlights Come On stole my heart.
The Perfect Ruin vs Sweet Little Hearts
The Perfect Ruin was my introduction to Shanora Williams, and I remember immediately liking how readable and engaging her writing felt.
But Sweet Little Hearts became my favorite because it gave me something softer emotionally while still keeping me invested the entire time.
Sometimes your favorite book isn’t necessarily the most shocking or dramatic one.Sometimes it’s the one that simply feels the most connected to you as a reader.
And that was this one for me.
Honorable Mention: Favorite in a Series
Because yes, I absolutely rank books within series too.
Bloodmarked
Currently my favorite in the Legendborn series. The emotional stakes? The tension? The black girl MAGIC? Incredible.
That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf
Still my favorite in Kimberly Lemming’s Mead Mishaps series because this book is FUN in the best possible way.
Final Thoughts
One of my favorite reading experiences is realizing an author still has the ability to surprise me.
Not every first read becomes the favorite.
Not every favorite is the “best written.”Sometimes it’s just the one that met you at exactly the right moment.
And honestly? I think that’s what makes reading so personal.
More Black Author Book Recommendations?
Loved any of these books? Here are a few more posts you might enjoy:
