Novella November, But Make It Black! 22 Novellas and Short Reads by Black Authors
I don't know if you know this, but there's something special that happens in November.
It's a chance for us to reset, catch up with our reading goals, and enjoy some fast-paced, easygoing reads.
That's Novella November, where we're reading novellas and short books that are 300 pages or less. Period.
Of course, you don't have to participate, but a girl like me? I love a good novella.
So here are 22 novellas and short reads by Black authors for you to enjoy in November. Or December. Or whenever you wanna.
We've got romance, thrillers, cozy mysteries, paranormal creatures, and a little bit of everything in between.
And of course, we're making it Black!
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Page counts are based on StoryGraph and may vary by edition.
Romance, Relationships, and a Little Mess
Olive and Oak by Aubrey Pynn
130 pages | Contemporary Romance
Part of the Ganton Hills series, a collection of novellas and short love stories.
This one follows a man recently released from prison who's trying to rebuild his life while restoring the restaurant he inherited from his father.
The problem? He can't do it alone.
Enter a restaurant rehabber who's been brought in to help him accomplish what seems impossible. And, of course, somewhere along the way, they fall in love.
P.S. There are actually 15 short books in this series, but I'm no cheater, so they don't count toward my 22.
Sugar Baby by B. Love
176 pages | Romance
After trying to save her hardheaded nephew from the streets, a woman finds herself negotiating a deal to settle his debts.
And somewhere in the middle of all that negotiating, she falls in love.
The Close-Up by Kennedy Ryan
170 pages | Spicy Romance
Kennedy Ryan brings together side characters from Long Shot and Reel for a little reunion.
And when I say they reconnect and have a spicy good time, I mean a SPICY good time.
The entire book.
Definitely Not a Thing by Christina C. Jones
Under 300 pages | Enemies-to-Lovers Romance
Two neighbors who absolutely cannot stand each other when they first meet.
But eventually, they start enjoying each other's company.
And by enjoying each other's company, I mean... well, you know what I mean.
Love Burn by Ashley Antoinette
Four books, each under 100 pages | Relationship Drama
This series follows a woman I wanted to grab by the shoulders and shake.
Girl. FIGHT BACK.
Because this man did her dirty in every single book, and she just kept taking it.
Three Months in Accra by L.B. Gaines
119 pages | Contemporary Romance
Part of a larger series featuring several books under 300 pages.
A woman travels abroad to further her education and meets a man who's practically royalty.
They fall fast and hard for each other.
But there's one little problem. She's only supposed to be there for three months.
Thrillers, Mysteries, and People Behaving Badly
How to Kill Your Neighbors by J.R. Mason
149 pages | Dark Comedy / Thriller
The How to Kill series has about four books at the time of this writing, and they're hilarious.
Essentially, they're about irrational people who decide the best way to deal with someone they don't like is to unalive them.
Easy Money by Pamela Samuels Young
21 pages | Legal Thriller
A group of lawyers discovers a legal way to bribe wealthy men into avoiding litigation.
And listen, I could have used MORE of this story.
It was so riveting that 21 pages just weren't enough.
Recall by Nia Forrester
51 pages | Mystery / Suspense
A man wakes up next to a dead body.
He doesn't know who he is.
He doesn't know how the body got there.
Need I say more?
The Baker Street Mystery Series by Valerie Burns
Each book under 300 pages | Cozy Mystery
A young woman leaves the big city behind and moves to a small town to take over her aunt's bakery.
And in every book, she finds herself solving a crime with her super-wholesome group of friends.
Cutthroat by Octavia Grant
131 pages | Revenge Thriller
A woman decides to get revenge on her cheating husband.
And I don't mean she takes him for everything he's worth in the divorce.
I mean REVENGE revenge.
The Circle: The Beginning by Ashley Antoinette & JaQuavis Coleman
21 pages | Crime Fiction
The beginning of a series following the takedown of a high-ranking crime family and their race for freedom.
There are three additional books in the series, all under 300 pages.
Petals and Peril by Kayla Bell
82 pages | Cozy Mystery
After inheriting her mother's flower shop, a woman finds herself trying to solve a mystery involving the poisoning of her competitors.
Apparently, the floral business is a lot more dangerous than we thought.
The Perfect Profile by Toni LaRue
148 pages | Horror / Thriller
The first book in the Dating App Horror series, a collection of novellas exploring the dangers of looking for love online.
These stories will have you wondering whether finding your next match is worth the risk.
Should you just stay single?
Copycat by Kimberla Lawson Roby
192 pages | Psychological Thriller
A woman becomes obsessed with another woman's life and decides she's going to copy her in every possible way.
It's giving Single White Female, but make it Black.
Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Things That Go Bump in the Night
Sistah Samurai by Tatiana Obey
150 pages | Action Fantasy
I'm never going to NOT talk about this book.
A Black female samurai, the last of her kind, battles demons and bad guys.
But more than anything, she's battling grief and guilt over things she cannot change.
Taken by the Wolfman and Taken by the Lake Monster by Melody Lynch
51 and 75 pages | Paranormal Romance
These are spicy paranormal romances featuring damsels in distress who find themselves rescued by nonhuman creatures.
And those nonhuman creatures?
They do things.
THINGS.
Beautiful Assassins by Stephanie Nicole Norris
Three books, each under 300 pages | Romantic Suspense
A female assassin and her husband, who are the king and queen of their street empire, spend their time having a spicy good time while dictating what happens on the streets.
Taste and Lick by Nikki Clarke
Each under 100 pages | Paranormal Romance
Black vampires on the hunt for love and a little something extra in the afterlife.
Contemporary Fiction and Family Drama
I Should Have Worn a Curtain by Samyra Alexander
42 pages | Contemporary Fiction
A gripping and unique story about a woman struggling with an eating disorder and the challenges that come along with it.
This one packs a lot into just 42 pages.
Fires to Come by Asha Lemmie
Part of Amazon's Blaze series | Family Drama
This story follows a Black woman adopted into an Italian family.
Her parents love and accept her, but not all her siblings feel the same way.
So what happens when the parents who protected her are no longer around, and she's left to deal with siblings who have always viewed her as an imposter?
A Little Something for Every Reader
That's the beauty of Novella November. You don't have to commit to a 600-page epic to enjoy a good story.
Whether you're trying to catch up on your reading goals, get out of a reading slump, or just want something you can finish in an afternoon, there's a little something here for you.
And remember, these books aren't just for November.
A good book is a good book whenever you decide to read it.
Want to find these books?
You can browse my Novella November collection on Amazon or check out my Libro.fm playlist for the audiobook editions.
Happy reading!
