If you're a big fan of romance novels, then there's a pretty big chance that you've read or heard of Jasmine Guillory. Her debut novel, The Wedding Date, became an instant hit, and soon earned ...

With every release, New York Times bestselling author, Kennedy Ryan is raising the bar– and still fighting to prove that stories about Black love belong front and center. Kennedy Ryan doesn’t just ...

See 26 books we can’t wait to curl up with this year below. The “Vocal Bible” looks back on a life of recording riffs, showcasing resilience and inspiring generations of young Black girls to frame ...

Outside of what we see in our own homes, our perception of love and relationships is shaped by experience and, just as powerfully, by what we see on screen. For many Black viewers, the depictions of ...

This story is featured in the July/August 2025, 55th anniversary issue of ESSENCE. ESSENCE has long been attuned to what Black women want and need—especially when it comes to conversations about sex.