Women Authors that frequent my ‘Read’ Lists.
As we continue Women’s History Month, I’m sharing some of my favourite authors I haven’t yet featured on the blog. I’ve done spotlights on my all-time favourite, Christina C. Jones, my author of 2025, Taylor Jenkins Reid, my favourite literary romance author, Kennedy Ryan, plus many Black British romance writers I’ve loved along the way.
I combed through 700 books on my Goodreads to determine which authors appear most frequently in my top 10 most-read women authors. Interestingly, some authors I’ve read extensively aren’t necessarily ones I consider favourites—while others I’ve read less of have made such an impression that I recommend them without hesitation.
Through no deliberate choice on my part, nearly every author here is either a romance writer or a Black woman, and in most cases, both. I’m afraid it’s unavoidable—my apologies if you were hoping for a wider range. As I continue diversifying my reading towards other genres, I hope more of that can be shown in my recommendations, as I can only suggest something I know and love myself. That’s not to say that, though I’m discovering new authors every day, they can dethrone the women who hold my heart.
AshleyNicole
Self-published author
AshleyNicole is a bestselling romance author and self-proclaimed “lover of black love” with over 45 works spanning contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and suspense. Following Christina C. Jones, Ashley Nicole might be my second most-loved Black romance author I discovered on Kindle Unlimited. They both own Girl Have You Read—a platform promoting Black women writers in the romance space. Every time I promote Black romance, Ashley Nicole is almost always on that list. A former correspondent for “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” her books feature relatable characters and found families across the Mine, Montgomery Girls, and Mason Family series.
C.W. Farnsworth
C.W. Farnsworth crafts adult and young adult romance featuring sports themes and strong female leads. Based in Rhode Island, her emotionally charged novels explore second chances and first love. I have read the entirety of the Kensington Series—which is about six books and counting—and enjoyed them all very much. Fake Empire, the first in the series, is an arranged-marriage romance (and you all know how much I love the arranged marriage trope) between two billionaire heirs that readers praise for its perfect blend of spice and angst. While I haven’t read much else by her yet, she is an author I trust to deliver.
Asia Monique
Asia Monique is a Detroit-based romance author crafting love stories that centre successful Black men and celebrate Black love. Currently studying Creative Writing, she builds rich, character-driven narratives about people finding connection and purpose.
Another author I’ve read extensively—and who never fails to appear on my reading lists year after year—is Asia. I’ve talked about the Mafia Misfits series on this blog in various ways, and her novella Irrevocably in Love was one of my absolute favourites in 2024.
As a primarily Black romance writer, she blends so many walks of life into her stories, always with Black faces at the forefront, and that’s what I truly love about her work.
Peace Adzo Mezie
Peace Adzo Mezie is a Liberian-born Ghanaian scholar and award-winning author of His Only Wife which became a Reese’s Book Club pick. Her fiction explores modern marriage, class, and women’s lives in West Africa.She also publishes scholarly work on gender and politics at the University of Bristol . She is associate professor in politics at the University of Bristol and her research is at the intersection of African studies, women’s and gender studies, and international relations.
I went on a Jasmine Guillory reading spree when I was about 22, starting with The Wedding Date and devouring the entire series. She’s stuck with me ever since. Recently rediscovering her newer stories has me excited to dive back in—she’s another author who has been showcased on my read lists many times over.
A very introspective look at how there are always two sides to every story. I definitely recommend it. She has only written two books but I am excited to see what she comes out with next.
Stephanie Nicole Norriss
Self-Published Author
Stephanie Nicole Norris writes contemporary romance featuring passionate heroes and heroines finding all-consuming love. An Amazon and USA Today Bestseller, Stephanie penned her first novel in 2012. She went on to write a grin-inducing romance and has received multiple literary awards.
Author of the “In the Heart of A Valentine” and “Falling for a Rose’ series, she crafts stories filled with adoration and romantic fire that grip readers’ hearts from first page to last.
Stephani Nicole Norris was the first author I found on Kindle Unlimited and fell in love with. I proceeded to read everything she had written at that time, as I tend to. She is an author you will find in droves on my read list, and she will always have a special place in my heart as one of the first authors to introduce me to contemporary black romance.
Kimberley Brown
Self Published author
Kimberly Brown writes contemporary and urban romance that feels real and relatable. Her writing began in her high school days, and she turned to self-publishing in 2019. Her big break came in August 2021 with the release of “Pretty Caged Bird.”
With a degree in Psychology, she weaves mental health awareness into narratives about single parents, found family, and second chances. Her goal? To create stories you can see and feel as you read, offering both a getaway and a reflection of life’s ups and downs.
A.E. Valdez
Self-Published Author
A.E. Valdez writes slow-burn contemporary romance featuring BIPOC characters on journeys of self‑discovery. Her debut, All I’ve Wanted, All I’ve Needed, follows friends‑to‑lovers Harlow and Acyn in Seattle. Readers love her tender-hearted narratives and the swoon‑worthy character development she brings to every story.
She hasn’t written as many books as some of the other authors I frequently read, but I’ve genuinely enjoyed her work. Valdez writes a brand of romance that’s very sweet and heartwarming—sometimes softer than the grittier edge I tend to prefer in my romance novels. Nonetheless, her stories are consistently good, and she is a wonderfully talented writer.
Jasmine Guillory
Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies, including The Wedding Date. In April 2015, Guillory began transitioning to a career as an author.She participated in National Novel Writing Month, an annual writing project where she completed half of a book draft for her first published novel, The Wedding Date (2018).
I went on a Jasmine Guillory reading spree when I was about 22, starting with The Wedding Date and devouring the entire series. She’s stuck with me ever since. Recently rediscovering her newer stories has me excited to dive back in—she’s another author who has been showcased on my read lists many times over.
Wanda Morriss
Wanda Morris writes award-winning suspense and historical thrillers exploring race, justice, and family secrets. Her novels All Her Little Secrets and Anywhere You Run have earned Anthony Awards and critical praise. An Atlanta-based corporate attorney, she crafts gripping narratives about Black Female lawyers.
The only non-romance writer on this list, I loved Wanda Morris the minute I discovered her. As a corporate attorney herself, many of her stories centre on Black women lawyers and the often perilous journeys they navigate in the harsh corporate law world. I really enjoy a good thriller and have loved the two she’s published. I also really enjoyed What You Leave Behind and the supernatural elements involved in the story. A great intersection of systemic racism and thrilling storytelling.
I have loved and enjoyed the works of every author on this list, and I hope you all enjoy exploring them too. There is so much to choose from—something for every kind of romance reader. For those looking to enter the world of thrillers, Wanda Morris is a great place to start; she seamlessly blends social commentary with a riveting storyline.
On this entire list, Ashley Nicole is definitely the one who tops my favourites—alongside CCJ, I have read everything she’s written. I rarely check the synopsis before I read; as long as I see her name, I am there. She is followed by Asia Monique, with whom I have also formed a strong bond. She is someone I am always drawn to as well.
I hope you explore these authors, and I do hope to do another post in the future featuring non-romance authors I have fallen in love with. I have a couple of contenders; I just need some more time with them before I can recommend.
I hope you enjoyed this post and see you again soon.
Signed,
