Fall Reads… But Make It Black
Black Authors Releasing in October
Keeping it cozy, keeping it fun, with just the right touch of thrill — these are the five books that should be at the top of your October TBR.
Grab your blanket and your matcha (yes, matcha is for every season — and don’t you dare add any pumpkin to it), and let’s read our way through.🍁
— Jordanaé
1. Beneath the Harvest Moon: A Small Town Romance — L.B. Gaines
Publication: October 3, 2025
Vibes: 🍂 Fall vibes galore. Single mom. Slow burn. Healing. Empowering. Love that perseveres. SA Survivor.
Synopsis:
Sade Morgan, the owner of a cute pumpkin farm in Statesville, North Carolina — and a devoted single mom — reunites with her high school sweetheart just in time to face old secrets and clear up a few long-standing rumors in their small town.
⚠️ Check trigger warnings before reading.
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2. The Scammer — Tiffany D. Jackson
Publication: October 7, 2025
Vibes: Psychological thriller. College life. Manipulation. Cult vibes.
Synopsis:
Pre-law freshman Jordyn just wants the full college experience — new friends, new memories, a fresh start. But when her roommate’s friendly ex-con brother moves into their apartment, things start to feel… off. His influence grows, his suggestions get bolder, and before long, Jordyn realizes she may be witnessing the rise of a cult — right in her home.
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3. Heartsick — Kristina Forest
Publication: October 7, 2025
Vibes: 💔 Young love. Coming of age. Fast-paced. Forced-Proximity.
Synopsis:
Margot is interning at a company that’s developed a pill to erase heartbreak overnight. Still nursing her own, she puts on a brave face — until she spots her ex coming in to forget her. But when they uncover the company’s dark secrets, the two must team up to expose the truth before it’s too late.
4. I Accidentally Hired a Shadow Walker (Accidents Happen #3) — Jessica Cage
Publication: October 14, 2025
Vibes: 🪄 Romantasy. Romantic comedy.
Synopsis:
The third installment in Jessica Cage’s Accidents Happen series follows Jericha Brown, a no-nonsense security firm owner whose latest contract takes a wild turn when she accidentally hires a Shadow Walker — a really hot Shadow Walker, by the way.
5. Huntsman: A Mafia Romance— Naima Simone
Publication: October 21, 2025
Vibes: Unhinged FMC. Fairytale reimagining. Dark romance. Mafia romance.
Synopsis:
Naima Simone reimagines a classic fairytale — only this time, the damsel in distress is no victim. When Eshe’s wicked aunt sends the Huntsman to “handle” her, Malachi expects another helpless heir to the throne. Instead, he finds a fierce woman who might just become the greatest love — and challenge — of his life.
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Have you read any of these? If not, check out my top five fall reads and let me know what you think!