15 New Books by BIPOC Authors You Need to Add to Your TBR!
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The year 2024 will bring some of the best reads by BIPOC authors thus far. And these plus more are some must-read stories from BIPOC authors that you must add to your TBR!
Every book nerd knows, that reading widely is crucial. And, having diversity in stories and storytellers allows us to learn about different cultures and backgrounds. It’s a must to provide a well-rounded experience to your reading repertoire. As we read books by BIPOC authors, we build empathy, understanding, and awareness by reading stories authored by those with different backgrounds from our own.
And, with things like book banning on the rise, it is even more critical that we support BIPOC authors. Giving them space to speak their truths and entertain us in a way they can. Plus, giving space where their voices are already underrepresented is an added benefit.
Whether you want a romance that will make your heart flutter, a thrilling mystery, or an immersive fantasy, here are some books by BIPOC authors to add to your TBR for 2024.
BIPOC Authors all 2024…
Diversify Your Reads!
1. A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

We kick this list of BIPOC authors to read in 2024 with Hafsah Faizal and her newest release A Tempest of Tea.
You may know Hafsah Faizal from her duology We Hunt the Flame/We Free the Stars. Now, Hafsah is releasing a highly anticipated fantasy duology reminiscent of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.
A Tempest of Tea is about Arthie, an orphan turned criminal mastermind. Collecting secrets in her prestigious tearoom. The tearoom caters to the vampires of the land that are feared by all. When Arthie’s business is forced to strike a deal to save it, she realizes that she can’t do it alone.
With her band of misfits, Arthie concocts a plan to infiltrate the dark vampire society known as the Athereum. But not everyone is on her side. Truth reveals itself, and Arthie finds herself amid a conspiracy that threatens to crumble the world of everything she knows.
A Tempest of Tea is a dark, action-packed fantasy. If you don’t have Hafsah on your favorite authors list do it now.
A Tempest of Tea is out on February 20th
2. Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

After a horrifying murder shakes her elite school, a teenager embarks to uncover the truth behind the crime. Aiming to clear her brother’s name in a psychological thriller. Tender Beasts reminiscent of The Taking of Jake Livingston and Ace of Spades.
Sunny Behre, part of the affluent Behre family with four siblings, is thrust into chaos following her mother’s death. The family’s matriarch. Left with cryptic instructions to “Take care of Dom,” Sunny, groomed to lead the family, grapples with the unexpected responsibility. Yet, her younger brother Dom, accused of second-degree murder, remains a distant figure to her, potentially dangerous.
Determined to honor her mother’s final wish despite doubts about Dom’s innocence, Sunny’s resolve is tested when a classmate is brutally killed. And Dom is found at the scene, hands stained with blood. Unsure of her brother’s honesty, Sunny delves into the investigation, spurred by further deaths. Collaborating with Dom, she unravels unsettling truths about her siblings’ hidden lives. Torn between loyalty to her family and protecting Dom, risking everything her mother built.
Tender Beasts releases on February 27th.
3. The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

The country is divided between humans and witchers. And Venus Stoneheart hustles as a brewer making love potions illegally to help support her family.
But love potions are a dangerous business. Brewing extremely painful, with brutal side effects. And getting caught is even worse meaning death or prison.
But when an iron bullet kills Venus’ mother, her life implodes. Now she has to work at keeping her reckless little sister safe. When the Grand Witcher, offers Venus the chance to punish the assailant, she has to pay a steep price for revenge. What’s the cost? The enslavement of the most influential politican’s in D.C.
Venus falls deeper into the underbelly of the city. And the line between magic and power starts to blur and it’s hard to tell who she can trust.
The Poisons We Drink releases on March 5th.
4. Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah ĂbĂkĂŠ-ĂyĂmĂdĂŠ

Faridah ĂbĂkĂŠ-ĂyĂmĂdĂŠ the author of Ace of Spades is releasing a new YA contemporary mystery. Where Sleeping Girls Lie is the story of a girl new to a boarding school. Discovering the dark secrets and coverups within the walls.
It’s as though I keep stumbling through the darkness, desperate to find the switch that will illuminate my world again. To trigger my memory. But the switch seems elusive. Was it ever there to begin with?
Starting her third year of high school at the esteemed Alfred Nobel Academy boarding school, Sade Hussein finds herself in unfamiliar territory. Previously homeschooled and feeling like a magnet for misfortune, she’s uncertain about what lies ahead. What she certainly doesn’t anticipate is the sudden disappearance of her roommate, Elizabeth, following Sade’s first night. And even more unexpected is the suspicion that falls upon her.
Amidst swirling rumors, Sade captures the attention of the school’s most popular clique. The ‘Unholy Trinity’âwho pull her into their circle. Juggling getting to know them, particularly the enigmatic Persephone whom Sade feels drawn to, keeping up with her studies, and unraveling the mystery of Elizabeth’s vanishing becomes overwhelming. Compounding her struggles is the weight of grief stemming from her family’s past tragedies.
Then, a student is discovered dead.
As Sade delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers layers of complexity within Alfred Nobel Academy and its student body. Secrets abound at every turn, mirroring, if not eclipsing, her own.
Where Sleeping Girls Lie releases on March 19th.
5. The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

Experience the captivating allure of These Violent Delights fused with the mechanical marvels of Cinder in The Last Bloodcarver. The inaugural installment of a thrilling two-book debut. Set against a backdrop of a lush Vietnam-inspired fantasy realm, this novel introduces readers to a mesmerizing medical magic system.
Nhika is a bloodcarver, wielding the power to manipulate human biology with a mere touch. In the industrial city of Theumas, however, her abilities mark her not as a healer, but as a feared monster who brings death instead of cure.
When Nhika’s bloodcarving skills are exposed during a sham medical consultation, she falls into the clutches of underground criminals. Eventually landing in the possession of an aristocratic family. Nhika is tasked with healing the sole surviving witness of their father’s murder. Finding herself entangled in a web of intrigue within the opulent confines of Theumas’ elite district.
As Nhika immerses herself in the family’s investigation, echoes of her troubled past resonate with the present circumstances. Her encounters with Ven Kochin, a charming yet enigmatic physician’s aide, further blur the lines between truth and deception. Despite his attempts to distance himself from her, Nhika senses an undeniable connection. Even as she unravels the secrets concealed within Theumas.
When Nhika uncovers Kochin’s true identity and confronts the malevolent forces lurking beneath the city’s surface, she is faced with a critical choice: embrace her feared bloodcarving abilities to safeguard herself and those she holds dear or succumb to the darkness that threatens to engulf them all.
The Last Bloodcarver releases on March 19th.
6. Dead Girls Walking by Sami Ellis

Temple Baker grapples with the haunting legacy of her bloodline. Her father dubbed the North Point Killer, garnered infamy for his brutal murders. Leaving a trail of victims marked with his signature brand. Despite his incarceration for twenty confirmed deaths and the rumors swirling about his involvement in unsolved cases. Temple clung to the belief that he couldn’t have killed her mother. Yet, when he confesses to the crime from death row, Temple is compelled to confront her past and search for answers in the very woods where her family’s nightmare began.
Returning to her father’s former hunting grounds, Temple discovers an unexpected transformation. The once sinister farm is now an overnight camp catering to queer, horror-aficionado girls. Assuming the guise of a camp counselor, Temple navigates the unfamiliar terrain. concealing her true identity amidst the campers’ shared fascination with true crime.
However, when a girl is found dead in the woods, Temple fears that her father’s twisted legacy may be spawning imitators among his devoted followers. As she unravels the mystery to safeguard the campers, Temple confronts the unsettling possibility that darker forces may be at play, revealing that her father’s depravity might have been just one facet of the malevolence lurking within these woods.
Dead Girls Walking releases on March 26th.
7. Icarus by K. Ancrum

If you loved Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe or Portrait of a Thief you will love Icarus.
Icarus is a suspense-filled queer YA romance. Reimagining the tale of Icarus as a star-crossed love story between a young art thief and the son of the man he’s stealing from.
Icarus Gallagher lives by the code of a thief, pilfering priceless art and swapping them with his father’s impeccable forgeries. Their target: the affluent Mr. Black, a man linked to the tragedy that befell Icarus’s mother. To safeguard their clandestine operation, Icarus maintains strict rules: distance yourself, don’t allow physical contact, and above all, never get caught.
Yet, one fateful night, he is apprehendedânot by Mr. Black, but by his enigmatic son, Helios, residing under house arrest in the opulent Black mansion. Rather than turning Icarus over, Helios strikes a perilous bargain: a friendship that defies all of Icarus’s self-imposed rules.
As reluctance gives way to trust and intimacy, they unravel the intricate web ensnaring their families for years. Icarus is determined to break free, but his father’s thirst for vengeance looms large. Soon, he faces a stark choice: pursue his long-awaited escape or embrace the love he’s found in Helios. Pursuing both paths could either be his crowning achievement or his undoing.
Icarus will be released on March 26th.
8. Darker by Four by June CL Tan

Darker by Four is perfect for fans of This Savage Song and Only a Monster. Pulling readers into a world of love, desperation, and revenge. A world where every deal has a catch, no secret stays buried, and no one is exactly who they say they are.
A girl consumed by vengeance. A boy haunted by emptiness. A deity went astray.
Rui is driven by a singular purpose: mastering her magic to avenge her mother’s tragic demise.
Yiran, the outlier in a prestigious lineage, is bereft of the magic that defines his family’s legacy, yet harbors a longing for belonging.
Nikai, a Reaper tethered to the Fourth King of Hell, faces chaos when his sovereign vanishes, precipitating a perilous unraveling that threatens both realms.
When a twist of fate transfers Rui’s power to Yiran, their destinies entwine in unexpected ways. Stripped of her magic, Rui’s quest for retribution is thwarted, while Yiran finds newfound purpose and acceptance. However, Rui’s revelation about her connection to the missing deity prompts a perilous pact with a formidable King.
As darkness encroaches, three divergent paths converge in the shadows, intertwining lives irrevocably. United by fate, they must confront destiny’s machinations before the fragile barrier between worlds collapses, unleashing unprecedented chaos.
Darker by Four releases on April 2nd.
9. Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

This year wouldn’t be complete without a mythology and this one was Pacific Island based.
In ancient tales, it’s said that the egg of a seadragon, known as dragonfruit, possesses the power to dispel one’s deepest sorrow. But like all tales of hope, this one carries a dire warning.
Every wish exacts a toll.
Hanalei of Tamarind, a beloved daughter of a revered island lineage, faces exile when her father steals a seadragon egg destined for an ailing princess. Amidst her solitude, she finds solace in studying the graceful seadragons of the Nominomi Sea. Yet, an unexpected encounter with a female dragon presents her with a chance to return home and right past wrongs.
Meanwhile, Samahtitamahenele, or Sam, the last prince of Tamarind, grapples with his inability to inherit the throne in a matriarchal society. With his mother’s illness and his grandmother’s impending departure, Sam faces a daunting choice: marriage or finding a cure for his mother’s decade-long ailment. The return of a childhood friend from exile brings a glimmer of hope he thought was lost.
However, Hanalei and Sam are not alone in their quest for the elusive dragonfruit. As they confront adversaries both nearby and distant, they realize that their greatest peril may lie not in their foes but in the very object of their desiresâthe dragonfruit itself.
Dragonfruit releases on April 9th.
10. Canto Contigo: A Novel by Jonny Garza Villa

When a Mariachi sensation transfers schools, he anticipates claiming the lead vocalist position in his new group. Instead, he finds himself facing off against a determined incumbent with a surprisingly familiarâand enticingâface.
In a whirlwind twenty-four hours, Rafael Alvarez guided North Amistad High School’s Mariachi Alma de la Frontera to their eleventh consecutive victory at the Mariachi Extravaganza de Nacional. Amidst the triumph, he shared a memorable encounter, including a kiss, with one of the most captivating guys he’s ever met.
Now, eight months later, Rafie is determined to secure one final triumph. However, his plans are upended when his family relocates to San Antonio, forcing him to bid farewell to his cherished group while mourning the loss of his beloved Abuelo. Adding to his challenges, The Selena Quintanilla-Perez Academy’s Mariachi Todos Colores already boasts a lead vocalistâRey Chavez, the boy Rafie shared that memorable moment withânow standing in the way of his aspirations. Despite their newfound rivalry, Rafie finds himself unable to ignore his feelings for Rey. As he grapples with conflicting loyalties, Rafie must choose between his longstanding connections and the burgeoning bond with someone who sees him for who he truly is.
“Canto Contigo” celebrates Mexican heritage, family bonds, and the legacy that shapes us. It explores the journey of self-discovery, the significance of those who influence us, and the courage to carve our own path. At its core, this tale is a stirring romance of rivals-turned-lovers, illustrating the transformative power of finding someone who challenges us in the most extraordinary ways.
Canto Contigo releases on April 9th!
11. To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang

In this enchanting epic fantasy, a young woman burdened with the gift of death must confront a harrowing choice: to save her family at the expense of betraying her homelandâa gripping introduction to a compelling new series.
In a world conquered by foreign invaders wielding incomprehensible technology, Ruying harbors a deep-seated resentment towards these celestial conquerors who extinguished her people’s magic long before her birth.
Endowed with the dreaded Gift of Death, Ruying possesses the ability to extract life from mortal bodies. Despite her formidable power, she remains fearful of the invaders, driven by a primal instinct to shield her family from harm.
When an enemy prince uncovers Ruying’s clandestine ability, he proposes a precarious pact: in exchange for becoming his clandestine assassin and eliminating his political adversariesâa move he claims will safeguard their worlds from further devastationâher family will be spared from suffering. However, embracing this arrangement demands that Ruying embrace the very powers she has long dreaded, a choice that could exact a toll on her lifespan.
Can Ruying place her trust in this prince, whose visions of a brighter future stir conflicting emotions within her? Are the sacrifices demanded by this alliance truly in service of a greater good, or will she unwittingly betray her homeland by protecting those she holds most dear?
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods releases on April 16th.
12. Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin

From the author of A Magic Steepin in Poison comes a spellbinding new romance steeped in gothic allure. “Song of the Six Realms” is a heavenly delight and a must-read from one of the BIPOC authors featured on this list!
Xue is a prodigious musician with a past veiled in uncertainty and a future fraught with peril. Finding herself adrift in a world of shadows. Orphaned at a tender age, she found solace under the wing of her benevolent poet uncle, securing an apprenticeship at the esteemed House of Flowing Water, the kingdom’s pinnacle of entertainment. Yet, with memories preceding her tenure at the House erased, Xue’s world is shattered when her uncle falls prey to marauders, severing her last connection to a life beyond her indentured service.
Now ensnared in a life of servitude, playing the qin for nobles who vacillate between admiration and disdain for her modest origins. Xue’s fortunes take an unexpected turn when she receives a summons to perform privately for the enigmatic Duke Meng.
However, as Xue delves deeper into Duke Meng’s realm, she uncovers truths that defy comprehension. Surviving a harrowing encounter with a monstrous assailant, Xue discovers that Duke Meng is no mere noble. He is the Duke of Dreams, a divine ruler of the Celestial Realm. Amidst escalating turmoil threatening the Six Realms, Xue must navigate treacherous waters, confronting monstrous foes and divine entities alike, as she strives to unlock the secrets of her forgotten past. A quest that may hold the key to forestalling an impending war that threatens to engulf existence itself.
Songs of the Six Realms releases March 29th.
13. Perfect Little Monsters by Cindy R.X. He

The queen bee of Sierton High School has been murdered, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community. What’s more, with a long list of potential suspects, each harboring their motives and grievances against the deceased, the truth becomes increasingly elusive.
Ella Moore, revered yet reviled as the school’s most popular girl, meets a tragic end at her party. As accusations fly and suspicions mount, the spotlight falls on the newest addition to the school, Dawn Foster. Last seen handing Ella a drink before her demise, Dawn becomes the prime suspect in the eyes of the police, especially with Ella’s friends eager to deflect blame onto her.
Refusing to be scapegoated, Dawn embarks on a quest to clear her name. Uncovering a web of animosities and vendettas among Ella and her circle, Dawn realizes that the deceased had made formidable enemies. With the threat of wrongful arrest looming and the specter of further tragedy hanging over Sierton High, Dawn races against time to unveil the truth before it’s too late.
Perfect Little Monsters releases on May 7th.
14. A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

In her riveting novel, “The Red Palace,” acclaimed author June Hur delivers a poignant and timely narrative drawn from a true story in Korean history.
Set in the year 1506, during the tumultuous reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, the people of Joseon suffer under his oppressive rule. With the king’s unchecked power, he ruthlessly seizes land for his pleasure, bans, and burns books, and subjects women and girls to unspeakable horrors as his toys.
Seventeen-year-old Iseul, despite her sheltered upbringing, is compelled to act when her sister Suyeon falls victim to the king’s predation. Risking everything, Iseul embarks on a perilous journey to the capital, determined to rescue her sister. However, she soon learns that challenging the king means facing almost certain death.
Meanwhile, Prince Daehyun has long endured the shadow of his despicable half-brother, King Yeonsan. Driven by a fervent desire to overthrow the tyrant, Daehyun seeks allies for a daring coup. But in a realm where betrayal lurks at every turn, discerning friend from foe is a perilous task.
As Iseul and Daehyun’s paths converge, their initial animosity gives way to a shared determination to topple the tyrant. With Iseul’s familial connections and Daehyun’s royal access, they reluctantly unite to embark on a daring mission: to rescue Iseul’s sister, liberate the oppressed, and bring an end to the tyrannical reign of King Yeonsan.
A Crane Among Wolves is on sale on May 14th.
15. Not About a Boy by Myah Hollis

This cover is gorgeous and is the final book on this list of BIPOC authors you should read in 2024!
In this poignant coming-of-age narrative, reminiscent of “Euphoria” and “Girl in Pieces,” a young woman struggles to overcome a grief-stricken past, only to be confronted by the sudden appearance of a long-lost sister, shattering the fragile stability she has worked so hard to attain.
AmĂŠlie CĹur has never truly experienced happiness. Haunted by the aftermath of a tragic love affair that pushed her to the brink, seventeen-year-old Mel is determined to rebuild her life. Under the care of Laurelle Child Services, an esteemed foster care agency, Mel resides with a new family amidst the affluent backdrop of Manhattan. It’s her final opportunity for adoption before aging out of the system, and she’s resolved to seize it.
However, a casual relationship with a boy begins to unravel the carefully constructed facade Mel has erected, stirring up emotions she never anticipated. Then, a mysterious message from a sister she cannot remember shakes Mel to her core, dredging up memories of a past she thought she had left behind.
As the anniversary of her darkest day approaches, Mel grapples with resurgent waves of grief and despair, teetering on the edge of losing herself once more. With the support of those closest to her, she must navigate the treacherous waters of her emotions before it’s too late.
Coming to shelves on July 2nd.