bookish-afrolatina

[bookish-afrolatina]

what do you mean elon musk did a nazi salute on live tv at the united states presidential inauguration twice and is now erasing the evidence off the internet by replacing the footage with the crowd cheering instead?

would be a shame if people reblogged this, wouldn’t it?

[bookish-afrolatina]

I’M NOT DEAD!!! And I have a book now???

• • •

Synopsis: Nonverbal autistic girl Cassandra Ventura finders the world to be a lot sometimes — especially people. They’re confusing and hard to understand, and they don’t always get her either. Then she meets Juno.

After a bizarre first encounter, Cass and Juno connect pretty much instantly. They come to understand each other more than anyone else. Soon, Cass’ best friend becomes a romantic interest.

With prom just around the corner, Cass finds herself wanting to step out of her comfort zone with a big question. But it doesn’t quite go as planned . . .

• • •

This book was made with a lot of love and I’m so excited (and nervous!) to finally be able to share it with the world. I hope it makes the autistic and queer community feel seen with this short but sweet story.

Also huge thank you to @atrous_yolks on IG for the GORGEOUS cover art!! 💕💕💕

P.S. I know I haven’t been consistent with my content . . . But it’s only going to get better from here! I promise this is book is a gem in the midst of this mediocrity. 🥴

Thank y’all for your time and your support would mean the world to me.

[bookish-afrolatina]

Happy book birthday to this week’s new releases! 📚

[bookish-afrolatina]

Reading is political and it always has been. Here are some of the classic books on the banned list that you should definitely check out.

[bookish-afrolatina]

Insights from The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

If you’ve never read a book by James Baldwin, I recommend his work to you. His insight on American culture is invaluable. I wish his sentiments did not hold true in the present day, but here we are on January 20th, 2025 w/ a white supremacist administration officially taking office on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. One book comes to mind in this circumstance:

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.

SYNOPSIS

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin is a powerful collection of two personal essays that delve deeply into the complexities of race and racial injustice in America, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement, where Baldwin passionately addresses the systemic issues faced by Black people through a combination of personal experiences and direct appeals to white Americans to confront their own prejudices and actively work towards change; the title draws from a spiritual, warning that if societal issues aren't addressed, a catastrophic "fire" will follow. The Fire Next Time is a stirring, intimate reflection on the nature of race and American nationhood that has inspired generations of writers and thinkers.

There are a couple of quotes that call to me every time I’ve read this book.

“A bill is coming in that I fear America is not prepared to pay.”

“They had the judges, the juries, the shotguns, the law – in a word, power. But it was criminal power, to be feared but not respected, and to be outwitted in any way whatever.”

Since our society and government have not addressed the issues of our past, they continue to haunt our present. As always, connecting w/ our communities & providing mutual aid will be how we survive & fight for our future. I don’t have all of the answers, but I know I will continue to provide information to as many people as possible.

[ID: 1. A brown hand holds up a paperback copy of The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. On the cover, Baldwin is sepia-toned and looking to the right with a concerned expression on his face. His name and the title of the book sit below him on a diagonal black strip. The bottom of the book is different shades of orange, invoking fire. To the right of the book, embers from orange flames float in the dark with white text over it: A bill is coming in that I fear America is not prepared to pay. - James Baldwin, 1963. 2. The same image except the embers are below the book with the following text in white: They had the judges, the juries, the shotguns, the law – in a word, power. But it was criminal power, to be feared but not respected, and to be outwitted in any way whatever. - James Baldwin, 1963.]

[bookish-afrolatina]

Happy January! Here are bi books out in January!

This is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list.

Books listed:

This Feast of a Life by Cynthia So

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes

For One Night Only by Jessica James

Build a Girlfriend by Elba Luz

Vessel of Shadows (The Shadow Sequence, #2) by Rowan Redfield

In Love and Death (Spellster and the Hound, #2) by Aldrea Alien

Tavern Tale: A Sapphic Side Quest by Kristina W. Kelly

An Honored Vow (The Halfling Saga, #4) by Melissa Blair

Unromance by Erin Connor

The Afterdark by E. Latimer

A Spark of Something (A Librarian's Guide to Witchery, #1) by Shelby Rhodes

Tarnished (The Elder Tree Trilogy, #1) by Erica Rose Eberhart

Love on the Sunny Side (Confession #2) by Cozy DuBois

Kissed and Missed by Cleo White

Dawn of the Obsidian Sun (Bound by Moonfire Book 1) by R.N. Barbosa

A Traitorous Heart by Erin Cotter

Goaltender Interference (Penalty Box, #4) by Ari Baran

Virulence (Bioluminescence Trilogy, #2) by Toni Duarte

[bookish-afrolatina]

Need something to look forward to?

Mark your calendars! I will be chatting on IG Live on Friday, January 24th at 7pm (Eastern) with the amazing Adriana Herrera about her Las Leonas series and its last installment: A Tropical Rebel Gets The Duke (out Feb. 4).

We plan to discuss the stories as well as the historical research Adriana did!

I can't wait 🤩

[ID: Text- "Leonas Chat Live. Friday, Jan. 24, 8pm EST." Two elaborate golden frames display Adriana Herrera and Gabby Womack. Adriana, with a closed-lip smile, shoulder-length curls framing her face, black square glasses and  burgundy top. Gabby smiles in long dark braids and a purple t-shirt that says "Unite Against Banned Books." Below them, lies the cover of A Tropical Rebel Gets The Duke. Lavender plants sprout around it.]

[bookish-afrolatina]

Currently reading: A Tropical Rebel gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera 😍😍😍

[bookish-afrolatina]

AfroLatine Authors by Bookish AfroLatina

A few folks have asked me for book recommendations by and about AfroLatine folks so here are some amazing authors I want to introduce y'all to:

Romance:

Adriana Herrera (Dominican) She's one of my favorite authors of all time! Herrera writes both Contemporary and Historical Romances with nuanced, fun, and tender characters and plenty of heat.

A.H. Cunningham (Panamanian) I'm just starting to get into her books but I already know I need them all! The chemistry! The heat!

Mia Sosa (Puerto Rican & Brazilian) My first introduction to Mia Sosa was The Worst Best Man which was messy in the best ways. I love the scenarios she puts her MCs in!

Young Adult Fantasy

Julian Randall (Dominican) He has a lot of range! I've read 3 out of his 5 books and each one has opened me up to processing my own identity and experiences.

Maya Motayne (Dominican & Guyanese) Her series is gripping and fascinating. It surpassed my expectations!

Young Adult

Maika & Maritza Moulite (Haitian) Dear Haiti inspired me to learn more about the Haitian Revolution! I haven't read their second book yet but I'm very excited for The Summer I Ate The Rich.

Jessica Parra (Guatemalan & Cuban) This beautiful soul sent me her work last year. I read and loved Rubi Ramos, so I expect I will probably enjoy The Quince Project as well!

Literary Fiction & YA

Camille Gomera-Tavarez (Dominican) High Spirits knocked me off my feet! The stories were so real but also used elements of Magical Realism.

Elizabeth Acevedo (Dominican) Another of my favorite authors! Acevedo's books give me a sense of belonging and warmth every time I read them.

Ibi Zoboi (Haitian) Zoboi writes in many genres but I've only read her YA so far. Her voice is powerful and her characters have strength through their vulnerabilities.

Books listed on my website: https://www.bookishafrolatina.com/blog

What AfroLatine authors do y’all recommend?

[ID: Slide 1-Gabby smiles behind a copy of An Island Princess Starts a Scandal. Text: AFROLATINE AUTHORS. I WANT TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL. Background is light purple with white stars. Slide 2-TEXT: ROMANCE. ADRIANA HERRERA. Adriana poses in black rectangular glasses and a burgundy top with her hair in short honey curls. 9 of her book covers surround her and a small Dominican flag sits below her. Slide 3-TEXT: ROMANCE. A.H. CUNNINGHAM. The author smiles in a floral top/dress and honey-colored braids. Below her sits the Panamanian flag. 9 of her book covers surround her. Slide 4-TEXT: ROMANCE. MIA SOSA. The author smiles in a denim top, dark rectangle glasses, and dangly earrings. Her dark brown/black hair is in short curls. Slide 5-TEXT: YA FANTASY & SPECULATIVE FICTION. DANIEL JOSÉ OLDER.  9 of her book covers surround him with a small Cuban flag below him. The author poses in the middle with a dark blue hat and gray shirt. Slide 6-TEXT: YA FANTASY, POETRY & ESSAYS. JULIAN RANDALL. The author laughs with his eyes closed. His hair and facial hair are black/dark brown. He's wearing a red and black jersey. Below hit, a small Puerto Rican flags sits and he is surrounded by 5 book covers. Slide 7-TEXT: YOUNG ADULT. FANTASY. MAYA MONTAYNE. Maya smirks with her dark hair in curls and wearing a dark green v-neck top. Below her, the Guyanese and Dominican flags sit above her three books. TEXT: MAIKA MOULITE & MARITZA MOULITE. The authors pose back to back. Maika smiles in her red lipstick, a tan fitted dress, and is bald. Maritza smiles in dark red lipstick, a blue, red, and white striped dress, and her black hair extends below her shoulder. Above them sit their 3 books and below them is the Haitian flag. Slide 8- TEXT: LITERARY FICTION & YA. CAMILLE GOMERA-TAVAREZ. The author poses with her hand under her chin. She wears her shoulder-length, dark brown hair in tight curls with 2 braids framing her face. She has dangly earrings and dark pink lipstick. Below her are a small Dominican flag and her two books. TEXT: JESSICA PARRA. The author poses in a pink tank top with her dark brown/black hair in loose curls reaching her shoulder blades. Her two books sit above her and mini ‎Guatemalan and Cuban flags flank her name. Slide 9-TEXT: LITERARY FICTION, POETRY & YA. ELIZABETH ACEVEDO. The author wears her honey brown, curly hair out and a patterned orange and purple top. A dominican flag sits below with 5 book covers surrounding her. Slide 10-TEXT: YA/MIDDLE GRADE & MORE. IBI ZOBOI. The author poses with her hand under her chin. She has her dark hair in short coils, large cat eye glasses, and a turquoise, orange, and cream top. The Haitian flag sits below her and 7 book covers surround her.]