It’s finally here, the new season of our book club podcast premieres today! We are so excited to be diving in to this seasons audience pick, We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L Berry! Andddd the timing feels extra special with National Book Club Day right around the corner on 8/29, a holiday founded by Sistah Girls Book Club to honor the power of Black readers and reading communities.

If you’re new around here, hi welcome in! We are a bite sized book club where every season of our show, we discuss a book voted upon by our audience and break it down chapter by chapter. This approach is meant to make reading feel more accessible and manageable for our busy lives.

Listen here!

Today’s episode is meant to serve as the pregame for the rest of the season before we really dive in to things. We’re catching up, bringing back our beloved coffee break segment and getting ready to figure out what happened to the six missing Black girls at the center of We Don’t Talk About Carol. Haven’t grabbed your copy yet? You can support us and independent bookstores by shopping through our Bookshop.org link or listening on Libro.fm link.

These contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase something through the link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

We also love too save money around here and have the following discount codes available for our audience:

Pango Books- Code SHEWELLREAD for $5 off your first purchase of $20 or more

Be Rooted- Code is shewellread for 15% off

Bookshop- Code SHEWELLREAD for 10% off

Libro.fm- Code SHEWELLREAD for three audiobooks for your first month when you start a new, one-credit per month Libro.fm membership (⁠link⁠ applies the code automatically)

Gatekeeper Press- Code SheWellPublished gives you 10% off all publishing packages, can be combined with any running promotion, and excludes marketing services

If you’d like to follow along and read with us, we’ve got our initial episode timeline up on our Instagram. So, be sure to grab your physical book, ebook, audiobook or just listen along to us yap our way through this read!

Most importantly, we want y’all to join in on the conversation. Tell us your theories. Send us your thoughts. Leave us a voice note. Come kiki with us in our Bookum community. Or if you’ve already read the book, come revisit it with us, spoiler-free please!

Cheers to the new season and happy reading!

XOXO,

Lana and Sam

It matters who is doing the looking and it matters where they start the story.

Alexis Okeowo, Blessings and Disasters: A Story of Alabama

With that, I guess I should tell you a little bit about myself. I’m Samra, one half of SHE WELL READ, a creative, a feeler, someone who sees things a little different. My upbringing is not quintessentially Southern or Black the way that my friends’ is. That has often made me feel alone or isolated. This isn’t a sad story though — I’ve always been surrounded by people who love me — was it for who I truly am or a version of me that strived to fit into a palatable box? That’s kinda the basis of the “alone feeling” I mentioned.

I am a first-generation Eritrean American. An East African. An African American. A Black American. An Alabamian. I’ve identified as all of these titles at some point or another. But did I — better yet, do I — inherently feel all of the identities I claim? I go down the list and name reasons why there are more Alabamian Alabamians than me, Blacker Black Americans. Does that make me feel less than? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I’m working on that. But that’s my real American experience.

This is who is doing the looking today and I’m honored to speak to my guest, Alexis Okeowo, about her latest novel, Blessings and Disasters: A Story of Alabama.

Alexis Okeowo is the kind of writer who can take a place you think you know and make you look again. An Alabama-raised journalist, author and staff writer at The New Yorker, Okeowo has spent her career reporting on conflict, human rights, culture, and power across Africa, Mexico, and the American South. Her first book, A Moonless, Starless Sky: Ordinary Women and Men Fighting Extremism in Africa, received the 2018 PEN Open Book Award, and in 2020, she was named Journalist of the Year by the Newswomen’s Club of New York. Her work also extends into major cultural profiles, including her recent ELLE Summer 2026 cover interview with Zendaya.

Here is our interview via text message. I hope you enjoy this format! It’s our way of extending the She Well Read Bonus Podcast Episode experience where we have the honor of asking really cool people really cool questions about their life, career, and current projects.

2026 Bonus Podcast Episodes | Listen Now

To set the scene, I asked Alexis a few icebreaker questions based on the vibes I sussed out of her writing. Do y’all do that or am I just nosy?? 😂

Q: FUCK MARRY KILL? Three 6 Mafia, Trina, OutKast

My intuition was going crazy in this moment and I couldn’t resist another icebreaker question…

Q: What’s one early memory you have of music, dancing or those gatherings making you feel connected to your culture?

I thought Alexis’ answer was particularly potent and I could quickly imagine the scene in my head. It lended itself to a fuller picture of her upbringing, family and community dynamics. It reminded me of a young Samra sitting at wedding tables amongst aunties who “hadn’t seen me since I was a baby.” Never taking my sighs and no’s for an answer, I was often playfully approached by my dad or another relative, who’d pull me off my ass — straight to the dance floor.

Now that we warmed up, I dove straight into the characters — the real people that made the story so impressively Alabama. Her novel follows half a dozen Alabamians, as well as several supporting characters — all fighting for a version of their home state in some distinct way.

• Mary McDonald

  Mary is from Lowndes County, born into a family whose land and home are tied to the Black freedom struggle. Her parents sheltered civil rights workers, and her family survived intimidation and violence. Later, Mary becomes connected to the environmental crisis in the Black Belt, especially the septic and wastewater issues that reveal how history, poverty, public health, and land all collide. Her story feels like one of the emotional centers of the book.

• Stephanie Bryan

  Stephanie is the first female leader of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Through her story, Alexis explores Native sovereignty, the fight for federal recognition, the politics of tribal identity, and the complicated power of the Poarch Creek’s casino wealth. Stephanie’s arc is about being first, belonging to Alabama before Alabama existed, and still having to prove that belonging to the state.

• Tina Johnson

  Tina is a white woman from Etowah County whose story moves through poverty, childhood abuse, complicated family dynamics, religion, marriage, and eventually her public accusation against Roy Moore. Through Tina, Alexis gets into gender, power, sexual violence, the limits of the Me Too movement in Alabama, and what it costs a woman to tell the truth in a place that would rather move on.

• Brandon

  Brandon is a Mexican immigrant raised in Alabama whose family is undocumented. His story brings in H.B. 56, DACA, farm labor, fear, activism, and the idea that Alabama is also home to people whose families arrived more recently. He helps Alexis widen the definition of who counts as Alabamian. His arc is tender because he wants stability, dignity, and the ability to care for his parents in the place that shaped him.

• Calvin Chappelle
  Calvin is a white Alabamian connected to Confederate memory and the director of Confederate Memorial Park. His story lets Alexis examine inheritance, pride, historical denial, and the emotional grip the Confederacy still has on Alabama’s public memory. He is one of the figures who makes the book wrestle with the question of what people choose to preserve, excuse, or reinterpret.

• Alexis Okeowo
  Alexis is both the author and a central presence in the book. She writes as an Alabama-raised daughter of Nigerian immigrants, a Black Southern woman, and a journalist who has spent years reporting on places that are often flattened by outsiders. Her personal lens lets the book ask: Who gets to tell Alabama’s story, and where does that story begin?

• Alexis’s parents
  Her parents’ story grounds the book’s immigrant lens. They came from Nigeria, met at Alabama State University, built a life in Alabama, and raised their children in the complicated middle space between Nigerian identity, Black American identity, and Southern life.

Q: What sparked the idea to weave together lives that, at first glance, might seem disconnected?

This isn’t a story about a friend group, a church family, or people naturally moving through the same circles. In many cases, their communities are tied together by histories of violence, removal, enslavement, exclusion, and political struggle on this land.

How did you approach placing those stories in conversation with one another?

Her perspective is radical because it’s equal opportunity. This book doesn’t silence parts of the story based on their appeal. Instead of hushed tones and whispers, Alexis courageously peels back the layers of history that led to Alabama’s current political landscape. Synthesizing years of trauma into a cohesive narrative that’s a perfect jumping off point for those interested in the future of the state.

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From the outside looking in, the South can easily be written off as a lost cause—and is. Starting fresh anywhere else can seem like you’re stepping into a promised land of new opportunity and progressive politic.

Alexis’ trajectory, like many others young professionals, led her to leave the state. It’s something we call a talent drain because so often these young people never come back to the South. Although the hope is that young people get the opportunity to grow elsewhere, many Southerners hope to influence the next generation of influencers to come. back. home. and invest back home. Whether it’s financial or knowledge-based capital — to build a better Alabama, we need future-thinkers and doers pushing back against the powers that be. As it stands, our current traditionalist leaders and good ole boys are far more interested in moving backwards in time than forwards.

Did Alexis’ physical distance from the South (traveling abroad and studying up North) give her greater perspective when she inevitably came home every so often, over time. My interest was piqued, so I asked her the following question.

Q: Your career made it so you really didn’t have to come back to the South if you didn’t want to.

What made the South so irresistible, potent and sticky to you? 😉

Yeahhh, put that on a shirt. My girl chewed. I oohed and awed and got back to business (see next screenshot).

In my mind, I likened the experience of traveling North and abroad and coming back to ‘Bama as something a bit dramatic… maybe even traumatic. Especially around the time Alexis did, in 2020 — Covid, Donald J. Trump and Kay MF Ivey were all simultaneously showing out. The best comparison to the potential culture shock I expected she experienced is something called the Overview Effect.

The overview effect is an awe-inspiring experience that manifests itself in a few distinct ways and is common among astronauts who view Earth from above for the first time. It’s been recorded as any one of or a combination of the following feelings:

• The Erasure of Borders: Astronauts realize that national, political, and religious boundaries are entirely invisible from above. This frequently inspires a deep sense of global unity, a feeling that humanity is one species sharing a single home.

• Realization of Fragility: Seeing the paper-thin, glowing line of our atmosphere against the hostile vacuum of space gives astronauts an intense appreciation for how delicate Earth is. Many return home as passionate conservationists, feeling a fierce urge to protect our environment.

• Overwhelming Awe: The visceral, 3D experience of the planet floating alone in the universe is deeply emotional. Astronauts frequently report breaking down in tears, feeling intense self-transcendence, and viewing daily earthly problems as petty in the grand scheme of things.

Would viewing the South through new eyes be more positive or more negative?

I stayed in the state — didn’t leave for school or work — so my twenties have been a story of Alabama in a way that differs from Alexis’. What wisdom did I miss out on by staying close? What are my home state blind spots considering I am living at the scene of the crime? Of course, I asked.

Q: Did your time away from Alabama, especially reporting around the world, change the way you saw home once you returned?

There are many other places I wanted to take this article, but for the sake of time, I’ll simply encourage you to pick up a copy of Blessings and Disasters: A Story of Alabama — in all its’ glory and nuance — to read and maybe even create your own rabbit holes.

For my final question, I asked Alexis about the book’s title.

Q: Was the term “blessings” used as a nod to the way we use that word in the South (i.e. the Bible Belt) or did it come from somewhere else for you?

Her answer is a perfect summation of the collection of lives she weaves together to create a descriptive image of the story of Alabama. Although each group has its’ own narrative-serving agenda, Alexis sees her role as the curious observer. The time she spends with the land and those who inhabit it, plus her own personal connection to the state, create space to hit the heart of the “Alabama problem” so to speak.

When I picked this book up, I envisioned a bit of boredom on my part, but the extreme nature of each individual’s story is riveting, particularly in conversation with one another. Thank you, Alexis Okeowo, for sharing a spirited perspective of the state I call home.

Before we get in to it, friendly reminder that the Publishing Journeys Grant that we’re giving away in partnership with Gatekeeper Press is officially open through July 8! This grant was created to support writers who are ready to take the next step in their publishing journey.

You can find all the details and apply here: https://www.shewellread.com/grant

I keep coming back to the definition of fearless.

Being fearless means acting with courage, resolve, and determination in the face of danger or uncertainty. It does not mean fear disappears. It means something inside you decides to move anyway.

That feels like Pride to me.

In the face of so much political and social unrest, I have been thinking about what Pride means when the world feels heavy. Pride is celebration, of course. It is glitter, joy, chosen family, good music, loud laughter, and outfits that deserve their own museum wing. It is also memory. It is protest. It is people choosing to live out loud in a world that has spent too much time trying to make them shrink.

And maybe that is why Fearless Pride feels so important this year.

Because love is real. Community is real. The courage to become yourself in public, in private, in art, in work, in friendship, and in the middle of uncertainty is real.

When I think about fearlessness, I think about people I know. Queer people who are living, creating, dreaming, fighting, healing, and making space for the rest of us to believe in something better. I wanted to use this Pride Month to shout out a few of my friends who inspire me in different spaces and seasons of life. The common thread is purpose. Each of them, in their own way, is working toward something bigger than themselves, and I feel lucky to know them.

I asked each of these folks the same question, “What does living fearlessly mean to you right now?”

Here is a little bit about each of them and their responses.

Hayley Procacci (they/them)

Hayley is a playwright, a non-binary theater nerd, and someone whose work reminds me that storytelling can hold grief and beauty at the same time.

I recently watched their show, Don’t Ask, at the UAB Alys Stephens Center, and I fell head over heels in love with their vision for the story. Based on real-life events involving their aunt, the show was riveting. It explored what it feels like when family doesn’t show up for you, when the people who should protect you actively harm your mental health, and when you are left trying to survive a loneliness you never asked for.

What inspired me most was the care in the writing. Hayley did not just tell a story. They honored one. That takes courage. It takes a special kind of fearlessness to turn pain into art and trust that someone in the audience will feel seen by it.

Learn more about Hayley: https://www.hayleyprocacci.com/

Zoe Gage (she/her)

Zoe is a fashion designer, a bisexual diva of your dreams, and someone I have admired for years because she has always had the nerve to find her place in the world.

I’ll never forget when she left undergrad to attend a fashion school in LA. A real-life movie. The kind of thing I would have watched from my couch while saying, “Could I ever?” and the answer at the time would have been absolutely not. I didn’t have the balls for it, but I cheered her on from the sidelines because when you see your people moving, you clap. Loudly.

Zoe’s fearlessness shows up in her willingness to bet on herself. She reminds me that sometimes the life you want requires a decision other people may not understand at first. And sometimes, you have to go anyway.

Learn more about Zoe: babycakes.online

Abby Franks (she/her)

Abby is an environmentalist, an activist, and a fearless leader in the truest sense.

She fights for our climate and the land we inhabit with a passion that is powerful to witness. She cares deeply about people, place, and the future we are all responsible for protecting. Her work through her podcast, Climate Justice Y’all, focused on climate change in the Southeast show what it means to stay committed to the fight, even when the fight is exhausting.

What I admire about Abby is that she does not look away. She pays attention. She speaks up. She takes on the kind of work that requires patience, knowledge, and a backbone. That is fearless to me.

Learn more about Abby’s podcast: https://www.instagram.com/cjypodcast/

JD (he/him)

JD’s artistry is something special.

The way he pours his own experiences into music is powerful, and his latest album feels like proof that healing can have a sound. His work is honest in a way that stays with you. He creates from a real place, and you can hear it.

I am consistently impressed by the way he can take what he has lived through and turn it into songs that make the next person feel less alone. That kind of vulnerability is fearless. To create from your own truth and release it into the world takes courage. To make art that gives somebody else hope is a gift.

Learn More about JD’s music here

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Autumn (she/her)

Autumn is the crafting queer, the friend who reminds me that checking in with yourself is also a form of courage.

She is smart, thoughtful, talented, and intentional about the way she moves through life. I love how she listens to herself. I love how she makes necessary changes when her life starts asking for something different. There is something so inspiring about watching someone realign with purpose in real time.

She is hopping over the pond next month, and that is pretty damn fearless to me. Starting a new chapter, choosing adventure, and trusting yourself enough to move toward what is next? That deserves applause.

Learn more about Autumn: https://www.tiktok.com/@stishersweets

What They Teach Me

Each of these people shows me a different way to live fearlessly.

Fearlessness can look like writing the story. It can look like moving across the country. It can look like fighting for the land. It can look like turning your truth into music. It can look like choosing a new life because your spirit said it was time.

They remind me that Pride is personal. It is found in the big public moments, and it is also found in the private decisions people make every day to keep becoming.

To my friends: You inspire me to show up with more courage, especially when life feels uncertain. You remind me that community matters. You remind me that love is something we practice, protect, and pour back into the world.

Life is so much better when we have people who make us braver just by being themselves.

Happy Pride, y’all! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

XOXO,

Sam

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We have been keeping a pretty exciting secret, and it is finally time to let the group chat know.

She Well Read is partnering with Gatekeeper Press Publishing to give away a Publishing Journeys Grant! The package includes editing, design, and publishing support that has an estimated retail value of $8,500. No cash award will be distributed.

She Well Read has always been about celebrating stories: the ones we read, the ones we recommend to our friends, the ones that change us, and now, the ones that deserve a chance to be published.

And maybe that story is yours.

Introducing The Publishing Journeys Grant

We know there are so many writers, storytellers, and dreamers out there with manuscripts, book ideas, and lived experiences that deserve to be shared with the world.

Maybe you have a book sitting in your notes app.

Maybe you have a manuscript you keep rereading but never submitting.

Maybe you have been telling yourself, “One day, I’ll finally do it.”

Babe, this might be your sign.

Through our partnership with Gatekeeper Press Publishing, one recipient from a historically marginalized community will receive a grant that supports the publication of an original work of fiction or nonfiction and provides professional publishing services through Gatekeeper Press Publishing.

Application Dates

Applications for the grant will be open from June 24th through July 8th.

All of the official grant details, eligibility requirements, application instructions, and deadlines are available on our website.

So please, please, please read through everything carefully before applying. We want you to have all the information you need to submit your strongest application.

Apply Here!

Who Should Apply?

This grant is for the aspiring author who is ready to take their story seriously.

It is for the person who has been waiting for permission to call themselves a writer.

It is for the storyteller who knows their book could make someone feel seen, inspired, understood, entertained, or completely changed.

It is for the person who has been quietly dreaming about publishing a book but needs support getting to that next step.

And because we know how easy it is to talk yourself out of opportunities before you even try, let us say this clearly:

Do not count yourself out!!

Your story deserves a chance.

Why This Matters To Us

At She Well Read, we always talk about how reading as adults can feel hard when life is busy, chaotic, expensive, and honestly just a lot. But we also know that stories have a way of bringing us back to ourselves.

Books help us feel less alone. They make us laugh, cry, reflect, spiral, heal, and occasionally ignore our responsibilities for “just one more chapter.”

Being able to support someone’s publishing journey feels like an extension of everything we love about this community. We are not just here to talk about books after they exist. We are here to champion the voices behind them, too.

So whether you are applying, sharing this with a friend, or cheering from the sidelines, we are so grateful to have you as part of this historic moment for our community.

Send this to the writer in your life. The one who keeps saying they want to write a book. The one who has drafts saved everywhere. The one who just needs a little push.

This is the push.

Good luck baddies!

XOXO,
Lana and Sam

We are officially back from Black Romance Book Festival 2026 aka BRBF, aka BookChella, aka the best weekend of the year if you love Black romance.

And yes, we are still tired.

Like… Lana’s eyelids and toenails we’re hurting when we got back tired.

But would we do it again? Immediately yes. Emergen-C packet in one hand, Curves tote bag in the other.

This year’s BRBF was bigger, louder, fuller, and somehow even more magical than last year. For us, BRBF really does feel like a family reunion. You know that cousin you only see once a year but instantly fall back into conversation with? That was the energy. We got to reconnect with people we met last year, meet new book besties, laugh with our pod sistahs, and have those random little moments that make the whole weekend unforgettable.

One of our favorite things about the festival is how easy it is to connect with people. You can be sitting down trying to inhale wings and fries before the next event, and suddenly you’re talking to a stranger like you’ve known each other for years. That is the magic of BRBF. It creates space for readers, writers, podcasters, narrators, vendors, and romance lovers to just be in community with each other.

And the community? Whew. The Black book girlies were outside. The assistants, authors, narrators, podcasters, content creators and even the husbaes and partners were outside too. Honestly, we loved seeing more men in the building this year, Samra even attended the “Men Love Romance Too” panel. A man who appreciates romance? Green flag. A supportive man carrying bags and swiping their card? Also green flag.

The whole weekend was a reminder that Black romance is not niche in the way people try to make it seem. It is vibrant, expansive, emotional, funny, spicy, soft, healing, and necessary. It deserves full rooms, long lines, sold-out tickets, and standing ovations.

And let’s talk about the organizers for a second. Because yes, there were some chaotic moments early on. The lines were lining. People literally sprinting in to the signing area. People were showing up two hours early for events, y’all weren’t tired?! But what stood out most was how quickly the BRBF team pivoted. By Sunday, things felt completely different. You could see the care, thoughtfulness, and love behind every decision, and that energy trickled down into the entire festival.

That is why BRBF feels warm. That is why it feels inviting. That is why you can walk up to an author you admire and somehow they are just as kind, funny, and excited to be there as you are. It is surreal to be talking to these giants in Black romance and have them be so chill, generous, and so willing to laugh with you.

And because we were blessed to be podcast partners again this year, we got to interview some incredible authors and narrators. In the bonus episode that dropped today, you’ll hear from people like Frederick Smith, Charlene Thomas, Elle Wright, J.Y. Kora, Jade Olivia, Tanvier Peart, Jessica Cage, Sharina Harris, Tember Sapphire, Gigi Reads, Tiye, Vanessa Miller, Aries Sky, Rona D, L.B. Gaines, and more.

Tune in here

We asked them everything from:

What book of yours would get us out of a reading slump?

Who in the Black romance space needs more shine?

What behind-the-scenes thing about writing or narrating romance would surprise readers?

What kind of character do you want to see more of in romance?

And, because we are us, what is the most unserious thing you’ve ever made a character do?

We also hit them with rapid-fire questions that turned out to be… not so rapid. Apparently “What trope would you delete forever?” is a harder question than we thought. Enemies to lovers caught a stray. Secret baby caught a stray. Friends to lovers caught a stray. And some people wisely said, “Actually, I’m trying to keep working, so I love all tropes.” Respect.

When we asked for one word to describe Black romance, the answers said it all: beautiful, magical, warm, necessary, loving, life, juicy, and love.

Exactly.

That is the heart of this episode. Yes, we are recapping the festival because hello, Lloyd, Pleasure P, J. Holiday, and Keri Hilson?!

But more than anything, this episode is a love letter to Black romance and the people who make this space feel like home.

BRBF is the kind of event you truly have to experience to understand. It is not just panels and signings. It is discovery. It is joy. It is readers finding authors who might become new favorites. It is authors being celebrated in real time. It is narrators getting their flowers. It is book clubs, podcasts, vendors, creators, and fans all existing in the same space and saying, “Yes, this is ours.”

And if you are already thinking about next year, please listen carefully: treat BRBF tickets like Beyoncé tickets. Get your card ready. Set the alarm. Stretch your fingers. Do not play around.

Also, BRBF is a nonprofit, so if you attended, loved it, and want to see it continue growing, consider donating and or sponsoring the event to support the work behind the scenes. Spaces like this do not happen by accident. They happen because people pour time, care, resources, and love into building something for us.

Donate Here

Sponsorship Opportunities

Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts, maybe you’ll leave with a new book, narrator, or author to obsess over. Also, make sure you’re following us everywhere @shewellread so you don’t miss the BRBF clips, recaps, and all the fun we captured.

Until next time baddies, stay booked, blessed, and hydrated.

XOXO,

Lana and Sam

Can you believe we’re already wrapping up Q1? Like… wasn’t it just January five minutes ago? 😅

We wanted to take a moment to look back on everything we’ve done so far this year and more importantly, put you on to everything we have coming up, because trust… we’re just getting started 🫡

📚 Q1 Recap: What We’ve Been Up To

This quarter has been all about consistency, community, and getting back into our reading groove because as you know, life really be life-ing sometimes.

We’ve been diving into some amazing ARC’s (advanced reader copies), dropping bi-weekly bonus episodes with some fantastic guests, and having the kind of conversations that remind us why we started She Well Read in the first place—making reading feel fun, accessible, and doable again, even with busy schedules.

And if you’ve been keeping up with us… just know we see you and we love you 🫶🏽

🗳️ Vote for Next Season’s Book Club Pick

Okay baddies, the time has come…

Our next season book vote survey is LIVE.

Every season, we read a book voted upon by you all, our listeners, and break it down chapter by chapter on each episode. So, we want to know what YOU 🫵🏾 want us to dive in to on the next season of the show coming this fall!

So go cast your vote and help us shape what’s coming next, takes less than 5min!

👉🏽 Book vote form

🎙️ Bonus Episodes: What We’ve Dropped + What’s Coming

We’ve been having soooooo much fun with bonus episodes! Lots of great guests have stepped up to the mic with us so, be sure to catch up on any you’ve missed.

Catch up on our bonus episodes → here

And we’re not stopping there. We’ve got more bonus content on the way that we cannot wait for you to hear! Heard the ladies of podcast are pulling up soon 🫣

✨ IRL: Tayari Jones Event

Major highlight of the quarter: attending an Art Lit book event at the Birmingham Museum of Art featuring author Tayari Jones!

Being in a space celebrating storytelling, Black literature, and the power of books was honestly so inspiring. Moments like that remind us that reading isn’t just a solo hobby, it’s a community experience.

If you haven’t read Kin yet, this is your sign to slide it up on your tbr 🙂‍↕️

📖 What We’re Reading (and What’s on Deck)

Here’s a little peek into our current reading lives:

Currently Reading:
Lana- I’ve been heavy in my audiobook bag, I’ve only read 1 book not on audio 😅 Currently listening to Don’t Tell Me How It Ends by Adrienne Thurman (thank you PRH audio!)

Sam- Blessings and Disasters: A Story of Alabama by Alexis Okeowo (Bama baddie!), Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight

On Our Radar / TBR:
Lana:

Upcoming releases- The Art of Loving You by Natasha Bishop, Struck Speechless by Tati Richardson, Score by Kennedy Ryan, The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest

Current TBR- Before the Streetlights Come On by Ashley Antoinette, Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney and new to me BRBF authors!

Sam:

Upcoming releases- Daddy Issues by Sofia Franklyn

Current TBR- Paused reading Boom Town by Nic Stone to focus on Big Girl Blitz by Danielle Allen, it’s time to circle back! and I want to up my fashion history so I picked up Betsey Johnson’s memoir called Betsey 💗

What’s on y’alls lists? 👀

💌 Coming Soon: Black Romance Book Festival

Black Romance Book Festival is almost here!! 🫨

We have the honor of being podcast partners for the festival again and can’t wait to celebrate all things Black romance!

We’ll be sharing lots of content and update you all on how it went post- festival on a bonus episode, will we see you there? 👀

Say hi if you see us out in the wild and mind ya business if you see us getting down at any of the parties (or join in!!) 🤣

💭 What’s Next for She Well Read

Q1 was the quiet before the storm and we’re about to be even more booked and busy with events, bonus episodes and getting ready for season 7 so, please pray for us 😅

If you’ve been here since the beginning or you just found us last week, we’re so glad you’re here 🥹

And if you haven’t already, send this to your friend who “used to love reading” and is ready to get back into it. We got em!

Share Well Read Baddie Corner

XOXO,
Lana and Sam

Please share this post. Please repost it. There are heavy conversations happening right now that deserve visibility. Silence creates distance. Community creates awareness.

This piece is written in memory of:

Kyle Bassinga
Marietta, Georgia

Dr. Linda Davis
Savannah, Georgia

Da’Quain Tre Johnson
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Keith Porter Jr.
Los Angeles, California

Each of these lives mattered. Each name represents a family, a community, and a future that deserved more time.

Some of these cases are still unfolding. What remains constant is that they were here. They were loved. They should still be here.

May they rest in power.

Hey y’all, I’m Samra. If you’re new here, I’m one half of She Well Read. And if you didn’t know, we dropped two podcast episodes featuring real life Black she-roes this February as part of our ongoing #Black365 series spotlighting all things US.

Let me break them down!

We Are Here Because You Were There

Featuring Eleanor Shearer

When we sat down with Eleanor to talk about Fireflies in Winter, we were talking about migration, survival, and what it means to be displaced by systems larger than you.

Her work centers the history of the Leeward Maroons and the Windrush legacy. It traces Jamaican communities under British colonial rule and the harsh transitions that followed emancipation.

Although the Emancipation Act of the 1830s declared freedom, formerly enslaved people were required to enter unpaid “apprenticeships” designed to ease the transition for the planter class. This mandate essentially stripped freed people of what was rightfully theirs.

Families were uprooted and relocated from warm, tropical climates to the cold of Nova Scotia. That shift was not only environmental. It was cultural. Emotional. Spiritual.

In the novel, the MC Cora’s isolation mirrors that rupture. The silence of winter. The shock of snow after sunlight. The slow understanding that survival requires adaptation even when the conditions are unfair.

Listen Now

As we talked, I kept thinking about how displacement is not confined to the past. My dad’s own story mirrors pieces of that culture shock. The forced transition from his native northeast African climate (70 degrees and sunny) to that of Minnesota (practically arctic) when he was 17. I still remember the stories - telling me he almost didn’t make it through those first two winters. As I now know, seasonal shifts do affect black bodies differently - shoutout to all my S.A.D.die baddies 🙋🏾‍♀️ Spring is coming!

Before we wrapped, Eleanor shared that she is reading What Storm, What Thunder by Miriam J. A. Chancy in her Haitian fiction deep dive. Purchase your copy from Bookshop.org to support our show and a small bookstore.

This is an affiliate link, which means if you purchase something through the link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Learn more:
on her Instagram

Love Is a Wild Ride

Featuring Liara Tamani

If Eleanor’s episode grounded us in history, Liara’s reminded me to breathe.

We talked about the constant state of emergency so many of us live in. The nonstop stream of news. The awareness of injustice. The way it can slowly disconnect us from our own bodies.

Liara spoke about intentionally listening to yourself instead of absorbing the noise of millions of opinions online. Preach!

“Your internal guide and system is the most important guide that you will have in your life.”

Liara Tamani

Then, our conversation moved into mental cages and the beliefs we carry about ourselves. The quiet limitations that shape what we think is possible. Liara’s work in YA expands what young readers believe about love, forgiveness, and their own capacity for growth.

Listen now

This episode felt like a warm hug. A reminder that love is active. Love is daily. Love is chosen.

Learn More:

on her Instagram

Holding both

This month required me to hold two things at once.

Grief and celebration.
History and present day.
Winter and fireflies.

The names at the beginning of this post are not separate from these conversations.

They are the reason these conversations matter.

Black history is not confined to February. It lives in families seeking answers. It lives in writers preserving diaspora memory. It lives in authors expanding what love looks like for us.

We are here because they were there.

And we are responsible for what we carry forward.

If you missed either bonus episode, you can listen here:

Eleanor Shearer: Find your podcast platform

Liara Tamani: Listen wherever you get your podcasts

Thank you for reading. And please, continue to say their names.

I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: I am unapologetically a lover girl. Always have been, probably always will be. I believe in love deeply. I believe in tenderness, intention, and connection that feels steady and affirming. That belief has grown with me, shaped by experience, reflection, and the people who love me well.

A few years ago, I shared on the show how my first real heartbreak impacted me. It stayed with me, and it clarified something important. Love should feel safe. Love should feel expansive. Love should never leave you questioning your worth. That understanding changed how I move through the world.

I believe we all deserve love in all of its forms. Romantic love. Friendship. Community. Care that shows up consistently and softly. My friends have been some of my greatest teachers in this. Through them, I have learned what love looks like in practice. It looks like presence. It looks like encouragement. It looks like effort that feels mutual. Because of them, I know that if someone isn’t matching the energy I already receive in my life, it’s a no.

Black romance novels have my heart. They give me stories where Black women are loved without conditions. Where softness isn’t treated like a weakness. Where desire, safety, and joy exist on the same page.

These stories don’t just entertain me, they affirm what I already believe love should be. Black romance belongs in our collective story. Our joy, our tenderness, and our love lives deserve to be documented and celebrated.

As our resident lover girl, here are a few Black romance novels I have read and loved. These are the books I return to in conversation and recommend with confidence. I read probably about 90% of these on audiobook and highly recommend doing the same!

Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola

• Honey & Spice had been on my shelf for years and I finally read the audiobook and fell in love with this story. Getting to see them as adults and return to the mandem in Sweet Heat was such a treat! Oh and the HEAT is heatinggggg ok?! This can definitely be read as a stand alone but I highlyyyyyy recommend still reading Honey & Spice.

The Seven Month Itch by Tanvier Peart

• Imagine seeing your ex husband at the same singles retreat, jump scare 🫨 This one follows a divorced couple navigating their lingering feelings for one another while also still trying to heal and move on. They’ve both got an itch for one another and lets just say it gets scratched and then some 🌶️ Big lover of a second chance romance over here and this one delivers and then some! Can’t wait to read the rest of the Chance at Love series!

Colliding with Fate by A.E. Valdez

• Yea this one had me down bad foreal but in the best way. I laughed, I cried, and got weak in the knees at many points 😝 The way that A.E. Valdez writes such heavy themes woven in to each of the romance stories in this series should be studied. If you have not read the Rise and Fall series, highlyyyyyyy recommend getting in to it but be warned you won’t be able to put them down.

Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop

• Rome has been inducted in to my book boyfriend hall of fame. Yes we can fight over him, yes I will win 😙 This was my first book by Natasha Bishop and MAN have I been missing out! Counting down the days until The Art of Loving You is out in the world!

This Ain’t Our First Rodeo by Liara Tamani

• H-town holding it down! I have been in my YA bag recently and absolutely adored this story, I finished in 3 days! The story is so fun yet tackles so many real topics that are handled in such a way thats digestible for a YA reader. This is one I plan to give to my younger sisters and recommend giving to a young person in your life.

A Night with Ms.Grinch by Lauren Lacey

• Talk about a spicy novella 🥵 Such a sweet and tender love story. Ms.Grinch definitely got a great Christmas present this year in more ways than one, Holiday Hunching mhm🤭 A quick and warm read!

The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest

• This is the second book in the Greene sisters series and was by far my favorite! A very cutesy high school sweethearts story that kept me on my toes. Second chance, marriage of convenience, deep longing feelings oh my!

When Forty Blooms by Jacinta Howard

• Yes I know another second chance romance, what can I say I love to see them! This is a LOVE story ok?! The journey of healing between the two couples was so touching to see play out and definitely made me feel seen as someone who’s known for trying to keep it all together in spite of it all. Also, a Wesleigh Siobhan narration…that’s it that’s all.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

• The beauty that is this novel UGH! Such a beautifully written story and will completely change the way you think about the word soulmates. I loved the blending of magical realism with the overall love story. I listened to this one on audio (highly recommend) and loved it so much that I had to get a copy for my shelf.

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

• Yes yes I know this one is on everyone’s list BUT this really is the book that got me not only back in to reading more consistently but welcomed me in to the world of black romance novels. If I could give any author the chalk from chalk zone to write me the man God has planned for me it would be Kennedy!

Get your copies through our Bookshop!

Being a lover girl means believing in love that feels aligned with who you are and how you live with minimal edits, we love a MEANINGFUL compromise! It means choosing stories that affirm your values and remind you that tenderness is worth protecting and waiting for.

Romance novels, specifically black romances, continue to do that for me. I hope one of these stories does the same for you. So here’s to all of my fellow lover girls, I wish you much love and joy during this season and beyond! <3

With love,
Lana

As we close out Season 6 and inch toward a brand new year, we’ve been sitting with everything this season brought into our lives — the lessons, the resets, the hard moments, the joy, the lineage work, and the reminder to trust the process even when it doesn’t make sense in real time.

This was a season about rootedness. About remembering where you came from. About letting your gifts lead you. About being brave enough to start over when you have to.

And about knowing that when you operate with intention, the work will do what the work does.

A Quick Season 6 Wrap-Up

This season pushed us creatively, emotionally, and spiritually. From conversations around identity and belonging, to rediscovering our reading rhythms, to reconnecting with the joy of community storytelling — Season 6 felt like a homecoming.

We closed the season with our finale episode, “Let the Boulder Roll,” where we talked about hitting rock bottom, releasing resistance, and letting momentum work for you rather than against you.

Listen Here

Our 2025 Wrapped Episode

And because it wouldn’t be the end of the year without a little reflection and rambling chaos, we’re also dropping our 2025 Wrapped Episode today.

We cover our upcoming break, overall reflections for the year and whats coming next for us and the show in 2026, Season 7!!! Six sevennnnn…anyways XD

Listen Here

A Beautiful Long-Form Reflection on Happy Land

(You Don’t Want to Miss This)

To close out the year, Samra wrote a gorgeous long-form blog post on our website digging into Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez — our book of the season. She explores the history, the land, the archives, the themes, and why this story felt like the perfect final chapter for our year. Lana literally wept (in the best way) while reading so be warned!

Read the blog here

Our It’s Lit Literary Award Win

Last but not least, we also want to take a moment to celebrate something huge — She Well Read won an It’s Lit Literary Award!

We truly would not be here without this community. Thank you for listening, sharing the show, voting for books, leaving reviews, joining us on social, and championing us in ways seen and unseen. You showed up for us, and we feel it.

Looking Ahead to Next Year

As we head into the new year, we’re dreaming bigger. Resting deeper. Getting clearer. And preparing to return next year with:

• new books

• new authors

• new conversations

• and new ways to expand the Well Read Baddie universe

We’re excited to lean even more into our mission: storytelling, community-building, and reclaiming the joy of reading on our own terms.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading, listening, supporting, and growing with us.

We’ll see you in the new year — rested, rooted, and ready.

With so much love,
Lana & Samra

So this November, we’re slowing down a bit. Taking a minute to breathe. And being intentional about how we spend—our time, our energy, and yes, our money too.

The Vibe — Intentional Shopping

This year, we’re keeping our carts full of community — prioritizing small businesses, indie bookstores, and creators we love.

Because here’s the truth: small businesses and indie authors deserve their Black Friday shine too.

When we shop small, we’re investing in people—not corporations. We’re helping someone pay their team, keep their storefront open, or print their next book. And that’s worth way more than another 40% off code from a brand that won’t remember us next week.

What’s in Our Carts

Here are a few of the small businesses we’re showing love to this season-

• The Professional Homegirl coloring book

• Pounded Yam Productions- A new to us stationery and gift company celebrating the beauty of African art and culture at home and in the diaspora. You can also use code WellRead20 at checkout for 20% off your entire order, check them out!

• Local bookstores- Thank You Books, The Little Professor, Enjoyer Books, Boomarked Papier

• Be Rooted- If you listen to the show then you know we go way back with them and love their stationary products, Lana gets her planner from them every year! They are also long time partners of the show, use code SHEWELLREAD for 15% off at checkout

• Bookshop.org- Our go to Amazon alternative that gives back with every purchase on the site to financially support independent bookstores. Use code SHEWELLREAD for 10% off at checkout

• Libro.fm- For all of our audiobook baddies, they are the perfect company to use that also gives back to local bookstores. Use Code SHEWELLREAD for 3 audiobooks for the price of one when you start a new membership; this link applies the code automatically

  Also, check out this threads post full of Black Owned brands and products to shop from!

  

We’ll also be watching for author deals—because so many writers drop discounts on their books and merch around this time. If you’ve been eyeing a new release or a signed copy, check your favorite indie author’s site first before heading to Amazon. It’s a small shift that makes a big difference.

Small Business Saturday — Our Turn

Now here’s the part where we put our money where our mic is.

As two independent podcasters, She Well Read really is our small business. Every edit, caption, and ad read comes straight from us—no team, no network, just a lot of love (and a lot of coffee).

This Small Business Saturday, we’re asking our Well Read Baddies to support us directly by joining our $5 Substack Tier.

There’s no secret content or extra perks—just a simple, meaningful way to contribute to our work. Your support helps us cover production costs, maintain the show, and continue creating thoughtful, independent content.

And honestly? $5 a month is cheaper than most people’s coffee orders 👀☕️

We also have to give a special shoutout to Lauryl, our very first paid subscriber! Thank you so much for your support, it means the absolute world to us 🥹

If you’ve ever listened to an episode or seen one of our posts and thought, “I love what these girls are building,” this is your way to help keep it going.

→ Join or upgrade to our $5 Tier

Wrapping It Up

So, for whatever you’re shopping for this season—consider giving your dollars to the people who actually feel it. Shop small. Share your favorite indie authors. And show love to the businesses that make your world feel like home.

If you’re reading along with us, sharing episodes, or shopping small this season — thank you. Your support helps keep She Well Read indie, intentional, and always growing.

👉🏽 Join our $5 tier to support the show and help us keep bringing book club energy to your feed.

Thank you for listening, reading, and believing in this community. We’re so, so grateful for y’all.

Share Well Read Baddie Corner

XOXO,
Lana & Sam

And here’s the best part: this summit isn’t just for Latinas. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt ignored or overlooked in podcasting (or—let’s be real—in life!) and who’s ready to change that.

✨ You can sign up here to join the summit and catch my session called Tik Tok for Dummies.

Sign up here

Affiliate Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link, which means if you register using it, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

our fall tbr 🍂

If you listen to the pod, you know we’ve been talking about how excited we are for fall for weeks now lol. Fall always feels like the perfect time to reset—shorter days, cozy vibes, and the best time to sink into a good book. Here’s what’s on our list this season:

Lana

• Deja Brew by Celestine Martin

• Boo’ed Up (Hot Holiday Hookup Novella) by Danielle Allen

• A Perfect Stuffing (Hot Holiday Hookup Novella) by Danielle Allen

• The Full Picture by Jessica Carmichael

• What a Match by Mimi Grace

• The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson

• Hear My Heart by Tay Mo’nae

• Boom Town by Nic Stone

• Groove and Fever by Bernice McFadden

  • I’ve already started Groove and OMG already about 2/3 of the way through and HIGHLY recommend. It’s giving early 2000’s, Girlfriends, and Harlem vibes!

Sam

• Deja Brew by Celestine Martin (round 2)

• Play it Forward by Frederick Smith

  • Loved One and Done and can’t wait to see what Smith has in store for me

• Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

  • Bought this a long time ago. Short and sweet coffee table read. NBD.

• Boom Town by Nic Stone

  • P-valley meets Gone Girl - sold!

• Soldiers of Love: Beautiful Scars by by N’Tyse & Untamed

  • Cheers to a black romance that hooked me from just the cover. We love N’Tyse in this house!

As always, we’ll be updating y’all on our progress during the coffee break segment of our episodes.

beyond the books: what we’re getting into

We’ve been talking a lot about fall not just as a reading season, but as a season to reset. But here’s the twist: instead of just “locking in” for the next three months, I (Alana) have been focusing on building sustainable lifestyle changes—things that feel realistic enough to last beyond fall and become part of my everyday life.

That means less pressure to overhaul everything all at once, and more energy put into small shifts that add up. For me that’s looked like cooking at home more, creating more sustainable daily routines, taking my vitamins (y’all need to add Vitamin D3 K2 to your routine, here’s the one I use) and RESTING.

Other things we’re getting into:

Lana

• More football 😉

• Catching up on TV (any good recs?)

  • Abbott Elementary (Hulu), Reasonable Doubt (Hulu), Call the Midwife (Netflix), The Pitt (HBO Max)

• Sabrina Carpenter Concert!

Sam

• Real estate license 👀

  • Can’t believe I was brainwashed into this by this season’s book,

    Happy Land…XD No, really. I’m enamored by the power of land in this country and hell, over all the world.

• Watching Mad Men

  • That vintage lover in me is fed, let me tell you. ;)

• Running

  • Ya girls on Straya… anyone else? It’s been clearing my head and I’m obsessed!

And of course, we’ll keep sharing these reflections in our episodes—because being a Well Read Baddie is a lifestyle.

🍁 So, that’s our vibe for the season! We’d love to know: what’s on your fall TBR? And what are you doing to take care of yourself this season? Reply back or drop a comment—we’re always looking for inspiration from our fellow baddies.

XOXO,

Lana and Sam

If you know us, you know being well read isn’t just about books—it’s about the conversations, too. And since September is Sexual Health Awareness Month, we’re spotlighting two episodes we were a part of surrounding this topic.

First, we joined our girl Chid over on the But What Do I Know? Podcast for a deep dive into Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah’s The Sex Lives of African Women. From pleasure as a part of self discovery to sister wives to queer love on the continent, we discussed several stories from this very spicy, very necessary book.

Check it out here

Then, on our own show, we interviewed Renee Bracey Sherman and Regina Mahone, authors of Liberating Abortion. Their work is a reminder that reproductive justice is about legacy, resistance, and creativity.

Tune in to the episode

We’ll also be giving away two copies of their book over on our Instagram so, be sure you’re following us @shewellread to enter when it drops next week!

Also, we’re already about halfway through Season 6….crazy!! Let us know, what have been some of your highlights of the season so far? Fire up the comments!

Catch up on Season 6!

And since this is dropping on International Podcast Day, it only feels right to celebrate the space that makes these convos possible.

If you’re looking to fill your queue, here’s a few for your consideration:

• Black People Love Paramore

• The Pop Culture Playbook

• But What Do I Know

• Be Well Sis

• Pretty Private

• Boss Babe Reset

• Pour Minds

• Jokes on You Podcast

• Dates and Mates with Damona Hoffman

• Peas in a Podcast

• Healing not Hiding (airing tomorrow 10/1!)

• The A Files

• Tha Monthly

• The Newsworthy

• Don’t Call Me White Girl

• The Stoop

• Small Doses

• Soul Podcasting

• TomFoolery

• …But Make it Books

• Stories and Spoilers

• Refined and Ratchet

• My Baddie Can Read

• Black and Published

• Reed, Write, and Create

• The Stacks

• Coco’s Corner

• The Lit Library

From sex to liberation, from books to pods—we’re grateful to be in community with y’all through every medium.

XOXO,

Lana and Sam

The wait is over—season 6 of our bite sized book club podcast called She Well Read kicked off earlier this week on #wellreadwednesday August 27th! If you haven’t already tapped into the first episode, consider this your official reminder: queue us up today and join the conversation!

Listen Here!

This season, we’re starting strong with our book pick (voted by you, our well read baddies!) : Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. It’s a powerful, thought-provoking novel that we can’t wait to unpack with you chapter by chapter. Haven’t grabbed your copy yet? You can support us and independent bookstores by shopping through our Bookshop.org link or listening on Libro.fm link. We actually have a giveaway with Libro.fm happening right now on our IG where you can win 3 free audiobook credits so be sure to enter! Giveaway ends 9/2.

✨ National Black Book Club Day
Today, August 29, is National Black Book Club Day—a holiday founded by Sistah Girls Book Club to honor the power of Black readers and reading communities.

Black book clubs have always been about more than reading—they’re about affirmation, joy, discovery, and dialogue. From the living rooms of friends passing around novels to digital spaces like ours, these clubs remind us that reading is both personal and collective. It’s where we find ourselves, challenge ourselves, and celebrate ourselves.

In the spirit of the day, we want to spotlight a few other Black-led book spaces that are doing the work of keeping us reading, thinking, and connected:

• Book Clubs

  • Sistah Girls Book Club

  • Cover2Cover Book Club

  • The Reading Black Girls

  • Black Women Read Too

  • Literally Black

  • Eclectic the Book Club

  • Diverse Spines Book Club

  • No Name Book Club

  • Black Kidds Read Too

  • Mocha Girls Read

  • Well Read Black Girl

• Book Podcasts

  • TomFoolery

  • …But Make it Books

  • Stories and Spoilers

  • Refined and Ratchet

  • My Baddie Can Read

  • Black and Published

  • Reed, Write, and Create

  • The Stacks

  • Coco’s corner

  • Mahogany Books Podcast Network

  • The Lit Library

(And of course, we’re always looking for more recs—drop your favorites in the comments so the whole crew can find them!)

We’re so grateful to add She Well Read to that legacy and to celebrate this day with you, our community of Well Read Baddies.

So press play on our season opener, snag your copy of Happy Land, and join us in honoring National Black Book Club Day. Let’s keep building a space where Black stories and voices are celebrated—every single day.

Here’s to another season of books, culture, and community.

XOXO,
Lana & Sam

We’re officially halfway through 2025 (!!!), which feels like the perfect time to pause, stretch, sip your coffee, wine or take a shot (no judgment), and take a look at how your reading goals are going so far this year.

If you’ve been around for a while, you know we’re not about perfection over here. We’re about finding joy in reading wherever we can get it—between work emails, on a lunch break, or in that 15-minute window before bed when you’re trying not to scroll.

✨ Big News! We’re Co-Hosting a Virtual Book Club Event

We’re teaming up with the But What Do I Know? podcast for a special virtual book club event featuring romance author Danielle Allen!

📅 Thursday, August 21st at 7PM EST
💬 A fun, unfiltered chat about love, storytelling, and the writing process
💻 It’s free, virtual, and open to all Well Read Baddies

Whether you’ve read all her books or are just curious to hear from Danielle, you’re invited to pull up, sip something cute, and join the convo.

Register Here

Lana’s Mid-Year Reading Update

My reading goal for the year was 12 books and I’m officially on #12!!

• Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen

  • Listen. If you're not already on the Danielle Allen train, hop on immediately. Aliyah’s story and dating journey was so relatable and I loved the unapologetic energy from this FMC. This one also came in SWINGING with the spice ok?!

• The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

  • Kristina Forest really said, "let's make this emotional AND swoony." And she delivered. This was the last book in the Greene sister series and while I’m sad to see it end, I think Iris’s story was the perfect ending to their chapter!

• Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan

  • Whew. Kennedy Ryan never misses, y’all know how much I stan her. This book was raw, real, and so sexy I had to take reading breaks. Like… hydration was needed. These characters went through it, but the payoff? Perfection. Definitely one of my faves this year. And yes, I was crying my eyes out at 12:36 am lmao. This was the end of the Skyland series but I’m so excited to see what’s next!

• All I’ve Wanted All I’ve Needed by A.E. Valdez

  • This was my first A.E Valdez book and I am officially OBSESSED. This one felt like a warm hug. It’s all about healing, loving yourself, and allowing love in—even when it's scary. It gave cozy, spicy, and motivational all in one.

• Losing Sight by Tati Richardson

  • This one is for the ones who don’t get to see for free! I’ll never forget my junior year of high school when I first started having a hard time reading the board and was told I needed glasses, I was not thrilled. I fell so hard for the main characters and loved how their connection was built. Super cute!

• Plus Sized Player by Danielle Allen

  • Another banger from the queen! This book was giving sexy, confidence, and just FUN. This one is book two in the curve series and we see Nina’s story. I love how Danielle writes curvy women to be seen like the love interests we’ve always been.

• Only For the Week by Natasha Bishop

  • Rome. That’s it, that’s the tweet lmao. Ok, I originally heard about this one at the Black Romance Book Festival (BRBF) and immediately started listening to it when I got home and babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Mhm go ahead and add it to your list.

• No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel

  • This one was one that I saw a lot of the booktok girlies raving about and they were spot on! Reading this felt like I was watching a movie and idk why it made me think of Beyond the Lights so much? Either way I enjoyed her!

• The Beginning of Forever by A.E. Valdez

  • So plot twist, I did not know there was a book with the same MC’s from All I’ve Wanted All I’ve Needed so I immediately started listening lmao. I feel like it’s so rare that we get a second book of the same MC’s, I was so excited to find out about this. And before y’all start yelling, yes I’m still going back to read the others in the series lol

• Free to Love by Kennedy Ryan

  • This novella is short and sweet. I got this one on Juneteenth when our gracious queen was offering it for freeeee! Kennedy just gets it every single time.

• When Forty Blooms by Jacinta Howard

  • After interviewing Jacinta at BRBF, I was so excited to see this as an available title through the libro.fm ALC program (s/o to libro!!). It’s so grounded in self-reflection and emotional growth and I loved the mental health representation, it was such a great balance! I’m starting to realize how much I like a second chance romance!

Currently reading a physical copy of The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory and Reel by Kennedy Ryan on audio, we’ll see which I finish first to be #12 haha!

Sam’s Mid-Year Reading Update

• The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann

  • This is such a fun summer beach romance read! Happy to see asexual representation. Happy to see TWO dark skin main characters. Claire's writing reminds me of a black cat... the duality of the way she purrs (strings her words together) keeps you flipping pages yet she can also cozy up and cuddle with you for hours (characters and tropes and setting let me relax - I knew I was in good hands). She lets you fall into her writing and I was just honored to be along for the ride. Would recommend!

• The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

  • Still listening to the audio book but I love his advice! If you're into creativity hacks, this one is for you. Also, deep AF

• One and Done by Frederick Smith

  • OMG I needed this co-workers to lovers romance in my life so bad. I wanna be friends with the MCs.

• The Relationship Mechanic by Karmen Lee

  • Very much delivered. I love a get right to it spice novel and felt all the feels! A perfect beach read and lighthearted enough to escape into the small town, big city romance of it all. 😉 I WANNA LIVE IN PEACH BLOSSOM.

What About You?

We want to hear from you:

✨ What has been your favorite read so far in 2025?
✨ What book do you want to pick up next?
✨ Did you DNF anything guilt-free? (y’all know it’s no judgement over here!)

Drop your reading updates in the comments so we can celebrate your wins and build out our TBR piles for the rest of the year together.

A Few Things We’re Eyeing for the Rest of 2025

Lana

• FOOTBALL SEASON 🏈

• You Have A Place Here Too: An Anthology of Black Love Stories Set at HBCUs featuring stories by Elizabeth Acevedo, Jasmine Bell, Carla Bruce, Aaron Foley, Kai Harris, Ebony LaDelle, Kiese Laymon, Christine Platt, Farrah Rochon, Kennedy Ryan, Dawnie Walton, and Nicola Yoon coming 8/12

• Heartsick by Kristina Forest coming 10/7

• Sweat Heat by Bolu Babalola coming 9/2

Sam

• Getting back to reading post Love Island lol

• Wildflower by Aurora James

• Love In All The Haunted Places by Claire Kann

• Play it Forward Frederick Smith

• Mechanics of Love by Meka James
  
  

And of course, we’re both anticipating the first #wellreadwednesday of season 6 starting Wednesday, August 27th. We’ll be discussing Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, our first historical fiction novel on the show!

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Whether you’ve read 20 books already or are still on book #1, we’re proud of you for showing up for yourself and finding joy in stories however you can.

Here’s to a rest-of-the-year filled with stories that make you feel seen, stories that challenge you, and stories that help you slow down.

XOXO,
Lana & Sam

It’s official: She Well Read just turned 6 years old! Six years of reading together, making you laugh in your car, and growing this bookish community into something we’re so proud of.

We started this podcast because we wanted to get back into reading, and y’all have turned that simple goal into something bigger—friendship, learning, accountability, and fun, all wrapped up in a TBR list that never stops growing. Whether you’ve been here since Season 1 or you found us last week, thank you for being here.

And what’s a birthday without a little celebration? We’re hosting a 6-Year Anniversary Giveaway over on Instagram!

But that’s not all. We also dropped a brand new bonus episode today, so you can celebrate with us while you’re folding laundry, on your hot girl walk, or ignoring your responsibilities (we won’t tell).

🎁 About the Giveaway

We’re giving one lucky Well Read Baddie:

• A $50 gift card to either Bookshop.org or Pango Books!
  

How to enter:

1️⃣ Follow us on Instagram @shewellread
2️⃣ Find the giveaway post and follow the instructions there

The giveaway ends on July 13th and the winner will be announced July 14th, so make sure you’re following and have your notifications turned on!

Thank You for 6 Years

Whether you’ve read along with every book pick, binged our back catalog, or just love hearing us chat about reading, pop culture, and the chaos of adulting—thank you. We’re so excited for what’s next, and we’re so grateful you’re part of it.

Don’t forget to check out the new bonus episode today wherever you get your podcasts.

Here’s to many more years and many more books <3

XOXO,
Lana & Sam

It’s Samra here!

I started my Pride Month by moderating an incredible panel at the Black Romance Book Festival: Pride & Passion – Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Love Stories. Sitting in a room filled with Black queer storytellers and readers, I felt a type of joy I want to carry with me long after June ends.

As we wrap up Pride Month, I’ve been reflecting on what it meant to share that space, to learn, to listen, and to witness Black queer love celebrated out loud and in community. Pride Month is about visibility, but it’s also about reminding ourselves that these stories deserve to be centered, celebrated, and shared every single day.

🖤 What Black Queer Romance Means to Me

If you’ve been here for a while, you know I’m always on a journey of figuring out who I am and how I want to show up in the world. Reading Black queer romance has become a part of that journey for me—and it’s a journey I only started recently.

There’s something deeply comforting about reading stories that reflect your softness, your curiosity, your questions, your joy. Stories that remind you that you deserve to see yourself on the page, loving and being loved, flawed and still worthy.

Black queer romance matters because it exists. Period.

And as a reader, it’s become a reminder of why we started She Well Read in the first place—to celebrate all types of reading journeys, all identities, and all the many ways stories help us discover ourselves.

🌈 The Authors Who Made This Month

Moderating the Pride & Passion panel was a gift. It gave me a front-row seat to the brilliance of these authors, who are creating space for Black queer love stories to thrive. Here’s a little love for each of them:

💖 Meka James

Writes sapphic romance that feels like a warm hug and a late-night phone call with your best friend. Meka’s stories are full of heart and heat, reminding us that queer joy is a story worth telling.

Books: Love and Sportsball

💖 Claire Kann

Claire’s books center asexual Black girls, tender moments, and queer love that feels authentic and true.

Books: The Romantic Agenda

💖 Aria Daze

Aria’s stories are cozy, sweet, and full of characters you want to root for. She creates worlds where queer Black girls can just be.

Books: One For The Team: A Happy Holiday Short

💖 Frederick Smith

Frederick’s writing explores Black gay love with nuance and care, making space for characters to be fully themselves.

Books: One and Done

💖 Karmen Lee

Karmen’s stories are flirty, joyful, and unapologetically queer, reminding us that romance can be a form of freedom.

Books: The Relationship Mechanic

🎧 Keep the Celebration Going with #Pride365

We created a #Pride365 playlist featuring She Well Read episodes that center queer joy and storytelling, because Pride doesn’t end in June.

Listen to conversations that made us laugh, cry, and feel a little less alone—and let them be reminders that you deserve softness and love, too.

💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Thank you to the authors, the readers, the panelists, and to you—for making space for these stories, not just during Pride Month, but always.

What does Black queer romance mean to you? Drop a comment below, reply to this email, or tag us on socials @shewellread with your favorite reads, quotes, or reflections.

Let’s keep the love going,

Samra

Being the official podcast partner for this year’s festival was an unforgettable honor. As an indie podcast still growing, learning, and figuring it out in real time, we’ve had more than a few moments of imposter syndrome. But this weekend? We felt held. We felt seen. And we felt home.

From the moment we walked through the doors, the love was real. The energy was loud and warm. And everywhere you looked, you saw readers, writers, and creatives showing up for Black love stories with pride, passion, and purpose. We got to connect with so many of you—attendees, authors, vendors, content creators—and we left inspired by every single moment.

Tune in to our bonus recap episode

Let’s be clear—publishers need to be paying attention. Black readers aren’t waiting to be invited in. We are the culture. We show up, we show out, and we do it loudly in support of authors who pour love and nuance into our stories—especially indie authors who are building their own tables and laying the foundation.

Throughout the weekend, we got to sit down with some of the most thoughtful, funny, and brilliant authors in the game. We talked about what inspires them, how they build love on the page, and which books we all need to add to our TBRs. Make sure you tune in to our bonus episode featuring some Q&A and rapid fire questions we asked but in the meantime, here are just a few of the book recs that they gave us-

Question: What’s the last book you read and loved?

Shameka Erby- Sinful King by Asia Monqiue

D.L. White- Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen

Celestine Martin- Frequent Flyer by Noue Kirwan

Kristina Forest- I Think They Love You by Julien Winters

Meka James- Losing Sight by Tati Richardson

Ayla Cox- Island of Us by Rielle Knight

Danielle Allen- The Problem with Players by Brittainy Cherry

Kennedy Ryan- Gold Coast Dilemma by Nana Malone

Jacinta Howard- Happily Ever by Nia Forrester

We created a bookshop.org list with all of their recommendations.

Shop their recs here

We’re deeply grateful to the festival organizers for not only putting on such a powerful, intentional event—but for giving us the opportunity to be part of it. This space matters. Black romance matters. And Black readers matter. We show up. We support indie authors. We move culture. And again if publishers weren’t paying attention before? Now’s the time.

Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the magic. And thank you for making room for us.

XOXO,

Lana and Sam

And here’s the twist: you pick the book.

Every season, we host a vote where our audience chooses the title we’ll be reading and unpacking together. Whether you’re a lifelong bookworm or just getting back into reading, we’re here to read with you, not at you.

Season 6 drops this August, and the book vote is officially live through May 31 (with a slight grace period because life be lifing). Cast your vote now—and tell your group chat to do the same.

Vote Here

Here’s what’s on the ballot this time around:

📘 Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez- We actually had the pleasure of having Dolen on the show and this book is giving Wakanda IRL!

More about it here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/happy-land-dolen-perkins-valdez/21633975?ean=9780593337721&next=t

📕 Loud by Drew Afualo- You all were LOUD on Tik Tok and nominated this one to be on added to the list so let’s see…

More about it here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/make-a-grown-man-cry-drew-afualo/20502130?ean=9780374614058&next=t

📙 We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry- We found this one on a list of up and coming anticipated novels for 2025 and the premise caught our attention!

More about it here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/we-don-t-talk-about-carol-kristen-l-berry/21780044?ean=9780593974438&next=t

📘 Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie- We’ve seen this one circulating all over bookstagram and was recommended to us as well!

More about it here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/dream-count-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/21828365?ean=9780593802724&next=t

📗 The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami- This one was actually recommended to us by Dolen Perkins-Valdez on the bonus episode we mentioned and sounds like a very timely read…

More about it here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-dream-hotel-laila-lalami/21805978?ean=9780593317600&next=t

📕 Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson- Another bookstagram and booktok pick, lots of mixed reactions for this one!

More about it here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/good-dirt-charmaine-wilkerson/21494088?ean=9780593358368&next=t

📒 Matriarch by Tina Knowles- Need we say more lol

More about it here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/matriarch-a-memoir-tina-knowles/21683544?ean=9780593597408&next=t

📘 Herculine by Grace Byron- This one was recommended to us by fellow well read baddie Karintha Parker over at Saga Press and we were immediately intrigued by the cover and premise!

More about it here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/herculine-grace-byron/22265422?ean=9781668087862&next=t

🗳️ Ready to vote?
Click the button below to make your pick!

Vote here

New season. New energy. Same well read baddies.

XOXO,

Lana and Sam

Every year when the Met Gala rolls around, the fashion girlies, the timeline philosophers, and the critics in the group chat all come alive. But this year’s theme—Black Dandyism—hit different.

Not because we were surprised (Black people are the moment, always have been). But because for once, the world’s most exclusive carpet was forced to acknowledge something that’s been true forever: Style has always been a tool of survival, rebellion, and joy in our communities.

Dandyism, especially in a Black context, is layered. It’s not just about being “dressed up.” It’s about being seen—on your own terms. From the Harlem Renaissance to HBCU homecomings, from Dapper Dan to your favorite TikTok fashionista, Black folks have used clothes to say what society wouldn’t let us say out loud. That we’re brilliant. That we belong. That we are art.

And yet, even with Black Dandyism as the theme, it was clear who understood the assignment—and who didn’t even open the syllabus.

While some attendees clung to the bare minimum (another plain black suit? really?), the Black community turned the carpet into a masterclass. From Teyana Taylor to Zendaya, we saw references, risk-taking, and real respect for the roots of the theme. Every feather, ruffle, and exaggerated lapel told a story. It was giving Harlem Renaissance meets futuristic royalty—and it reminded us that nobody brings imagination to the runway like we do.

But that contrast? Loud. It exposed the gap between honoring Black culture and just wearing it. Between showing up for the theme and showing off for the camera. Because Black Dandyism isn’t just about getting dressed—it’s about legacy, rebellion, and flair with purpose. Some people walked the carpet. We walked in history.

This week on the pod, we sat down with Olivia Anthony—designer, tastemaker, and founder of A Vibe Called Black, a Black tie affair celebrating Black joy and legacy in the heart of Birmingham. We unpacked ~kind of~ the Met theme, why getting dressed is always deeper than clothes, and how we’re creating our own spaces where the vibe isn’t just invited—it is the event.

This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to dim their light to fit the dress code.
Spoiler alert: you don’t.

🎧 Listen to the full episode below and hear why the culture deserves a seat at every table—especially the ones we build ourselves.

Listen Here

See y’all on the steps (or the dance floor),
Lana & Sam

Lately, life has been… a lot. Not in a bad way, but in a life is changing and I’m trying to keep up way. We’re finding ourselves in that weird space where old habits don’t fit, new ones are still forming, and consistency feels like a moving target. You wake up one day and realize you’re not in your early 20s anymore. You’ve got new goals, new boundaries, and a version of yourself you’re just starting to get to know.

That’s where we’re at right now. One of us is power-walking through the neighborhood (hi, it’s me Lana), trying to hit 10K steps before the day even really begins. The other is elbows deep in spring cleaning (hey, it’s me Sams), sifting through piles and trying to make sense of what’s worth keeping. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real. And honestly? It’s starting to feel good.

Because the truth is—growth doesn’t always feel like a transformation. Sometimes it’s just small, daily decisions. The ones no one claps for. Like choosing to stretch instead of scroll. Or going for a walk instead of overthinking the day. Or simply cleaning your damn space so your brain can breathe.

We're learning that glow-ups don’t always happen in public. A lot of them are quiet. A lot of them are messy. But they’re happening.

So if you’re in a season of shifting—mentally, emotionally, physically—you’re not alone.
And if you’re still trying to figure out how to make space for joy, for reading, for creativity, for yourself?
Same.

We talked more about this and more on our latest bonus episode, but whether you listen or not, we hope you’ll give yourself a little more grace today.

🎧 And if you do want to hear the full convo, you can listen at the link in our bio.

We’re all works in progress. But she’s looking better every day.

XOXO,

Lana and Sam