My Fall 2023 TBR List | Read With Me

The temperatures are slowly dropping here in South Carolina, and girlies have all grabbed their Pumpkin Spice Lattes, but I’m eager to cozy up with a good book. I’m still in my ‘Well-Read Black Girl Era,’ and I LOVE it here! Even though I do more listening than reading, I can’t wait to pull out the book tags and highlighters to enjoy these.

• "A Worthy Love" by A.E. Valdez: Publicly humiliated, Marisa Banks is blindsided by the news that the man she’s been dating for months is married. Being called names she wouldn't wish on anyone in front of a room full of people by her boyfriend’s wife is enough to shake her identity to its foundations. In an attempt to rebuild, she makes a few questionable decisions. 

After searching TikTok for hours for romance recs, this book kept coming up. I can’t wait to grab a glass of wine, burn a candle and indulge! 

• "The Kingmaker" by Kennedy Ryan: In a world of haves and have-nots, Maxim Cade's family and their oil empire have it all…and he wants nothing to do with it. At odds with his mogul father, he's determined to build his own empire, even if it means traveling far from home, painted as the black sheep.

Kennedy is my girl! I fell in love with her work after listening to Before I Let Go. Omg, that book had me torn up! I felt every emotion, I needed those words. They were so powerful and I’ve enjoyed everything else I’ve read from her thus far! 

• "By The Book" by Jasmine Guillory: Isabelle is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing after college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, still living at home, and one of the few Black employees at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.

This was another TikTok recommendation, for a feel good, black girl magic book. I recently read one of Jasmine Guillory’s books ‘While We Were Dating’ and I knew I needed to check out more of her work!

My reading as of late has been so heavy, so I’m looking forward to some fun, love, and make me blush type of books!

What books are you planning on reading this fall?

My Latest Reads

On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi 

Don’t Cry For Me by Daniel Black 

The Son of Mr. Suleman by Eric Jerome Dickey 

Aging in Life and Love

I can’t believe March is over; where did the time go? It feels like life has been coming at me hard and fast. It feels like something else happens once I have a moment to catch my breath. Nevertheless, I’m rolling with the punches. March is always one of the happiest times of the year for me, but this year felt different. I felt an extreme heaviness over me. Most days, I felt like I was suffocating. Then it hit me; I’m probably grieving. 

I lost my auntie, aka my bestie, in 2020. I didn’t have time to process her death. I took on a significant role in planning her services. I became the strong one - had to be. There was no time for me to sulk. I got my first taste of real adulthood and what happens after you pass away. It was a learning process, but it made me realize that I needed to reevaluate a few things in my life.

 Now, I’m 32, another year older. I’m not sure what aging is supposed to feel like. I remember wanting to be “grown” so badly; now, I only wish to take time a little slower. I’m in my reflection era. I want things to come easy. I want to become the best version of myself. I desire to walk in my purpose. I can see the vision, but it isn’t evident. I’m choosing not to beat myself up about it. I’ve accomplished so much, and it’s okay to celebrate that, even if I haven’t met the goal I set.

Here are a few of my wins from the last year:

1. I bought a new car - I can’t wait to share more about it. I’m in love, and I worked my butt off to make sure I could get it.

2. I worked with one of my dream brands, Coca-Cola, for a long-term partnership.

3. I invested in leveling up my business. Even when times felt scary, I believed in myself.

Sometimes, I have to question my sanity. Like why did I get married 6 days AFTER my birthday? I have no idea because we all know March is all about me, and now I gotta share it with my husband, lol. What can I say? 

Hello, year 2; it’s been a wild ride. The last year has caused us to figure out what love looks like for us. Between work, side hustles, and kids pouring into each other didn’t happen. We constantly found ourselves at odds and arguing over silly things. We realized that we needed quality time with each other - just us. We’ve only been on two dates this year, but life has thrown us so many curve balls within the last 3 months - a pivot was necessary. 

However, we did explore a new city, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. If you caught my Instagram post, then you know where we went. Stay tuned!

As always, you know I have to do my honorary birthday photo shoot, and I did it myself with a bit of help from my sidekick.

I’m claiming a great year of learning and love!

Related Posts:

The Wedding

30th Birthday 

I’m Getting Married!!!

#ISaidYes

It almost feels weird to say that but I’m so happy. If you would have told me 4 years ago that this is where I would be I wouldn’t have believed you. I was in such a dark place and then I met Cleveland April of 2017 and the rest is history!

So let me tell you what you really want to know…the proposal! Cleveland foreshowed our engagement. On a recent trip to Myrtle Beach he said we’re going to be married before this (COVID-19) is all over. I laughed it off and we went on about our weekend. A few days after our return he hit me with “We getting married?” and “You gonna be my wife?” text and all I could do was laugh and yes. He gave me a proper proposal a few weeks later but that’s him and considering everything going on right now we would not have been able to have family and friends around for the moment.

Now, I’m counting down the days to #TheMiddletonMerger! I’m enjoying planning every moment and I can’t wait to take you on the ride with me.

And to the woman that doesn’t think marriage is in her cards…I was you. Heartbroken and a little bitter. I thought I could never love again. I was even told that I would never find someone wanting to be with me because I had two children. LIES! He took me and the kids and now we have a handsome son. What I’ve learned is when you stop looking you’ll find exactly what you need.