Whew! Can we all take a collective sigh of relief? 2024 is finally coming to a close, and I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready to kick that dumpster fire of a year to the curb.
Now, I know a lot of us had “read ten books by the end of 2024” on our New Year’s resolution list. And if you’re anything like me, that particular goal might have…slipped through the cracks. Zero judgments here. It’s been one hell of a year.
But guess what? The start of a new year is the perfect time to hit reset. And I’ve got the ultimate reading list to help you kick off 2025 on the right note.
Below, you’ll find 8 BookTok picks guaranteed to quiet your overthinking, massage your brain, and empower every Black woman who cracks them open. Trust me, you won’t want to put these down.
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The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom by Paris Woods
Do you often feel overwhelmed by finances, budgets, mortgages, basically anything girl math? Have you been pulling your hair and nails trying to follow the complicated instructions offered by financial whizzes?
Well, you can finally take a breath, my love, because, in The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom, Paris Woods takes all the guesswork out of wealth-building and presents a plan that anyone, and I mean anyone, can follow.
Firstborn Girls: A Memoir by Bernice L. McFadden
If you’ve been doom-scrolling all year, you already know #firstborndaughters has been trending like crazy. And girl, as a firstborn myself, I can tell you, it ain’t always easy on this side of the family tree.
The pressure, the expectations, the sheer amount of generational trauma we’re expected to carry…it’s a lot. But in her brilliant memoir, Bernice L. McFadden helps us set ourselves free.
But in her raw and beautiful memoir, Bernice L. McFadden gives us a window into how those of us who share this experience can start to understand – and maybe even heal – from it.
With lyrical prose and profound honesty, Bernice reflects on her journey as the eldest daughter, her relationship with her mother, and the psychological weight of the expectations placed upon her.
Her story gives us a space to reflect, honor our past, and gently move toward healing, all while understanding the complexity of what it means to be a firstborn girl. It’s a story that will resonate deeply and stay with you long after you close the book.
Related: How To Move On From Tiny But Heart-Wrenching Criticisms From Your Mom And Aunties
How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy
If you’re aiming to be more intentional with your time, space, and mind in 2025, How to Do Nothing is the book to pick up.
In an era where addictive platforms and technologies are practically designed to hijack our attention, taking a step back and doing nothing? Now, that’s the real radical act.
Jenny Odell serves up a super-easy action plan to help us break free from the hustle culture, regain control of our lives, and reconnect with the people who matter most.
Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King
How can you learn to truly love yourself? How can you transform negative emotions into positive ones? Is it possible to find lasting happiness?
Good Vibes, Good Life, Vex King gives us the blueprint for overcoming toxic energy, romanticizing your life as a Black woman, cultivating positive lifestyle habits, overcoming fear, flowing with the universe, and inviting great opportunities into your life.
The best part? King isn’t here to lecture you or act all high and mighty. He’s got the perfect balance of wisdom and realness that makes this book feel like a conversation with your best friend who’s got all the good advice.
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr. Julie Smith
Getting snowed in at a beautiful, rustic mountain chalet sounds idyllic. That’s until you realize you’re trapped with no way out. Panic sets in, emotions spiral, and your usual coping tricks just aren’t cutting it.
Sound familiar?
That’s exactly the kind of mental blizzard Dr. Julie Smith helps us navigate in Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? With practical tools and compassionate guidance, this book is your survival kit for life’s unexpected storms—teaching you how to manage stress, ease anxiety, and find balance even when everything feels like too much.
It’s the perfect pick for the girlies who can’t afford therapy, don’t think they need therapy, or are feeling some internal resistance about going to therapy.
Related: 3 Symptoms You Didn’t Know Were Lowkey Signs Of Stress And Anxiety
Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
If you’re craving a romance book as steamy as it is emotionally rich, Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan will have you hooked from page one.
Hendrix Barry has everything. A thriving business, a close-knit family, and a life that could be on the cover of your vision board. But love? She has no time for it. Caring for an aging parent is challenging enough, and she’s never met a man who can keep up with her ambitions.
That’s until Maverick Bell steps into her world. A tech mogul with knee-weakening charm and an eye for Hendrix. He sees her in a way no one else has, but he’s completely off-limits. As sparks fly, the question becomes: is forbidden love worth the risk?
Ryan masterfully weaves passion, vulnerability, and deep emotional connection into this book, creating a romance that proves why she’s one of the finest romance authors of our time.
FYI: It’s set to be released in March 2025, so you can pre-order a copy on Amazon now. For now, enjoy This Could Be Us.
Related: The 8 Steamiest, Spiciest Books By Black Authors You Need On Your List Right Now
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
We’re always racing against the clock, so much so that we forget to pause and breathe. But what if the chaos isn’t the world around us but the noise in our minds?
In The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, Haemin Sunim offers a refreshing perspective on slowing down to find inner peace amidst the madness. As a Buddhist monk, he shares wisdom on topics like love, relationships, self-compassion, and spirituality, helping us reconnect with what truly matters.
With serene illustrations and simple yet profound lessons, this book invites you to embrace stillness and realize something beautiful: when you slow down, the world slows down with you.
Reclaiming The Black Body by Alishia McCullough
The Black body has been policed, exploited, and misunderstood for far too long. Reclaiming the Black Body by therapist and somatic healer Alishia McCullough challenges those narratives and offers a transformative guide to embracing and celebrating what society has tried to diminish.
Through moving client stories, meditations, journaling prompts, and her own journey with disordered eating, McCullough provides a safe space for Black women to feel seen and validated.
It’s the perfect pick for anyone looking to reclaim their power, heal generational wounds, and find peace within their skin in 2025.
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
If you’re in the mood for something that radiates good and chilled vibes, this coming-of-age memoir by the brilliant Dolly Alderton is a must-read.
Dolly hilariously recounts falling in love, finding a job, getting wasted, getting dumped, and realizing that Ivan from the corner shop might be the only reliable man in her life and that no one can hold a candle to her fabulous besties.
Glittering with wit, insight, heart, and humor, this book weaves together personal stories, satirical observations, a series of recipes, and other vignettes that will strike a chord of recognition with any young woman trying to figure it all out.
Reading it feels like catching up with your bestie over brunch, swapping messy stories, and laughing until your stomach hurts.
