This February, we're celebrating both Black History Month and Valentine's Day by exploring love stories written by Black authors from across the diaspora.

From queer Nigerian narratives to magical realism in Trinidad, from YA thrillers to wartime epistolary novels, these six books showcase the beauty, complexity, and revolutionary nature of Black love in all its forms.

Join me as we discuss family love, romantic love, self-love, and love as an act of resistance.

Links mentioned:

Reviews

• ​Ace of Spades
• ​Pet
• ​Butter Honey Pig Bread

Reading Challenges

• ​Blind Date with my books
• ​2026 Something Bookish Reading Challenge

Recipe

Red Velvet Brownies

BOOKS DISCUSSED: 1. Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

2. Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi

3. Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

4. Aanu Ife by Lara Kareem

5. When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo

6. These Letters End in Tears by Musih Tedji Xaviere

In this episode of Caffeinated Chapter, I discussed 11 books read in January, what I loved, books that made me cry, and the ones that weren't for me.

Grab a drink and wrap up January with coffee, conversations, and bookish reflections.

Books Mentioned:

• The Bone River— Nkereuwem Albert

• Mafia & Secrets — Isa Oliver.

• Rebel Folklore - Icy Sedgwick

• Things We Do Not Tell the People We Love — Huma Qureshi

• Son of the Morning — Akwaeke Emezi

• Gate to Kagoshima — Poppy Kuroki

• The Samurai’s Garden — Gail Tsukiyama

• Scrum — Ava Tenny

• The Gingerbread Bakery - Laurie Gilmore

• So Long a Letter — Mariama Bâ

• How to Kill Your Biggest Fan — Helen Ellis

In this episode of Caffeinated Chapter, I reintroduce the podcast, sharing my excitement about returning to the mic after a hiatus.

I discuss my goals for the podcast, including cutting out filler words and creating a cozy space for book lovers.

I reflect on my recent reading journey, mentioning the books I have completed and my intention to read more consistently.

I emphasized the importance of enjoying the reading process without pressure, and I shared my love for coffee, a recurring theme in the upcoming episodes.

Throughout the conversation, I also express gratitude for listener engagement and the emotional connection I feel with my audience, highlighting the impact of a supportive community on my creative endeavors.

Some of the books mentioned in this episode:

• The Bone River by Nkereuwem Albert
• Rebel Folklore: Empowering Tales of Spirits, Witches, and Other Misfits from Anansi to Baba Yaga Audiobook edition by Icy Sedgwick with Maite Jáuregui (Narrator)
• Things We Do Not Tell The People We Love by Huma Qureshi
• Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi
• The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
• Gate to Kagoshima by Poppy Kuroki

The 2026 reading challenges mentioned:

• Fun With Titles Reading Challenge 2026
• January in Japan
• The StoryGraph Reads the World 2026
• The StoryGraph's Genre Challenge 2026
• The 2026 #SomethingBookishReadingChallenge

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