8 books to add to your reading list before August ends

These eight books explore love, identity, history, faith and more across a range of genres.

With August coming to an end, there’s still time to find your next good read. Whether you’re looking for fiction, nonfiction, poetry or a book for younger readers, this month’s selection offers plenty of options to add to your reading list.

The featured books include works by authors such as Kennedy Ryan, Michelle Obama, Jason Reynolds and Sharifa Stevens, exploring topics including love, relationships, history, faith, and identity.

Here are the 8 books by Black authors to add to your collection.

“Cool Machine”

By Colson Whitehead

Adult Fiction

Colson Whitehead returns with “Cool Machine,” the final installment in his Harlem Trilogy. Set in 1980s New York City, the novel follows Ray Carney and his friend Pepper as they navigate a decade filled with crime, heists and a rapidly changing city. The book takes readers through three different points in the decade while exploring the people and communities caught in the middle of New York’s transformation.

“Score”

By Kennedy Ryan

Adult Fiction

Kennedy Ryan’s “Score” follows Verity Hill, an award-winning screenwriter, and Wright “Monk” Bellamy, a successful musician who was once her college sweetheart. More than a decade after their relationship ended, the two reunite to work on a film about the Harlem Renaissance. As they work together, they must navigate their complicated history while balancing their personal feelings with the project’s demands.

“The Look”

By Michelle Obama

Adult Nonfiction

Michelle Obama’s “The Look” takes readers through her style evolution, from her time on the campaign trail and as the first Black First Lady to her life after leaving the White House. The book features memorable looks and never-before-seen images, while Obama shares stories behind some of her most notable fashion choices and the people who helped bring them together. She also discusses how fashion and beauty have helped express her personal style and identity.

“all about love: New Visions”

By bell hooks

Adult Nonfiction

bell hooks’ “All About Love: New Visions” examines how society views love and how those ideas can affect our relationships and communities. In the book, hooks challenges the idea that love is mainly about romance, sex and desire while exploring a broader understanding of love that includes care, compassion and strength. Drawing from her own experiences, hooks also looks at what it means to build healthier relationships with ourselves and others.

“Ghost”

by Jason Reynolds

Juvenile Fiction

Jason Reynolds’ “Ghost” follows Castle “Ghost” Cranshaw, a middle school student with a natural talent for sprinting who joins an elite track team with three other young athletes. Ghost wants to become the team’s fastest sprinter and hopes to qualify for the Junior Olympics, but his past keeps slowing him down. With his coach’s help, Ghost must learn how to stay focused and make the most of his talent on and off the track.

“Brown Girl Dreaming”

By Jacqueline Woodson

Juvenile Nonfiction

Jacqueline Woodson’s “Brown Girl Dreaming” tells the story of her childhood growing up between South Carolina and New York during the 1960s and 1970s. Through a collection of poems, Woodson reflects on growing up as a Black girl during a time when the country was still dealing with the effects of Jim Crow and the Civil Rights movement was gaining momentum. She also shares her journey of finding her voice through writing while trying to understand where she belonged.

“Long Way Down”

By Jason Reynolds

Young Adult

Jason Reynolds’ “Long Way Down” follows 15-year-old Will, whose brother, Shawn, has just been murdered. Following the rules he knows — no crying, no snitching and revenge — Will takes his brother’s gun and gets on an elevator, determined to kill the person he believes is responsible. But before he reaches his destination, the elevator stops on the sixth floor and Buck gets on.

“When We Talk to God: Prayers and Poems for Black Women”

By Sharifa Stevens

Poetry

Sharifa Stevens’ “When We Talk to God” is a collection of prayers and poems created for Black women of faith. The book explores different moments in life, from gratitude and celebration to grief, loss and uncertainty, while encouraging readers to bring their full range of emotions to God. Drawing from Stevens’ personal experiences, biblical examples and artwork, the collection covers topics including parenting, work, grief, relationships and feeling unseen.