New Year, New You: 4 Books by Black Authors for 2026

Welp–we made it to the new year. Yes, we know the vision boards and planner meetups and savings jars are popping right now, but what about when it starts warming up and you are tempted to eat out more? Or you end up doom scrolling after midnight when you promised yourself you would go to bed earlier this year? If 2026 is really going to be YOUR year, we need a plan for success. So here are four books to help you stay on track with your 2026 goals long after MLK Day.

Also–you know we love our Black owned book stores, so at the end of this article we have a list of places to buy from these incredible Black authors.

Your paycheck got you questioning your career choices? Read Successful Failure by KevOnStage

Who would have thought that a chapter called Doo Doo would offer the best advice for your new year? Whether you know him as Kevin Fredricks, KevOnStage, Melissa’s husband, or Kevon Stage, this Black man brings something a little different to the world of autobiographies. You can really hear his voice when you read through his (plentiful and hilarious) failures on the road to becoming the guy who put so many of our favorites on.

This is the book you need to read in 2026 if you’re looking for more joy in your new year.

Need to love your body more in the new year? Open up Good Sex by Dr. Candice Hargons

Published during Black history month in a year where DEI was dismantled and women’s bodily autonomy has been threatened, Good Sex came at a time when we really need it. Emory University professor Candice Hargons breaks down sexual freedom in this powerful book. During the pandemic, her Black Lives Matter meditation for healing racial trauma made national news and has been accessed by thousands of people seeking culturally relevant self help alternatives. Similarly, her debut book Good Sex offers insights on what it means to engage in intimate justice. Make Good Sex part of your “new year, new me” routine for 2026.

Caught in a messed up situation? Try Monsters We Make by CoryXkenshin

Comic books and manga aren’t usually on these sorts of self help or empowering book lists, but just hear us out. Beyond the action/adventure is an inspirational affirmation about sacrifice. What does it mean to lose yourself for a greater cause? How do we reconcile our responsibility with our dreams? What ways can our ego stop us from reaching our potential? These are all questions that CoryXkenshin addresses in his series. Volume one follows a Black boy named Jabari Booker as he uncovers a disturbing reality about the world he lives in.

Ready for a revolution in the new year? Get into Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Parable of the Sower follows Olamina–a Black woman whose superpower and possibly greatest weakness are hyper-empathy. Sound familiar? Unlike other tales of her time, Butler’s work is transformative. Her philosophy on change and power constructs is revolutionary. Before The Matrix or Hunger Games or 40 Acres ever hit the big screen, Parable of the Sower demonstrated post-apocalyptic scenery in a way that had never been done before. Butler’s descriptions of love, autonomy, anxiety, and power give us a glimpse into how we can bring our vision boards to life in a more meaningful way than just juice cleanses and planning vacations (although there’s nothing wrong with either one of those things).

If the theme for your new year is about becoming more steadfast in your faith or improving your health, then Parable of the Sower is a beautiful, yet tumultuous journey that can uplift that future version of yourself that you aspire to.

Above all, we want to see you win this year. What are some of your favorite books by Black authors? We’d love to hear about the books that got you through a tough time or made you laugh until you cried. Share your favorite books with Taji Mag and be sure to follow us for recommendations throughout the year.

As promised, here are a few Black owned bookstores:

• Sankofa Video Books & Cafe
• Word Up Community Bookshop
• Mahogany Bookstore
• Cafe Con Libros
• Da Book Joint
• Reparations Book Club

You can also check out this directory for more great Black owned bookstores: https://aalbc.com/bookstores/index.php

Happy new year!