Books like 'On the Come Up'
Readers who enjoyed On the Come Up by Angie Thomas also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary african-american young adult black-mc first-person-pov
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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
An alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780062498533 can be found here.Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed...Categorized as:
black-mc first-person-pov young adult contemporary racism african-american high-school length-long -
![Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas]()
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 57 ratingsInternational phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords...Categorized as:
black-mc first-person-pov young adult contemporary african-american historical racism high-school -
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![The Low of Love by Love Belvin]()
The Low of Love by Love Belvin
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsThings went left when they met, and while they were able to form a bond of sorts, it wasn’t what either of them hoped for. Before this wayward love settles for the straight path, there has to be a low. Right?The wayward connection of Isaak and Kennedi is now under new terms. This new playing field has them both caught in a whirlwind... -
![Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg]()
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
It's first the story of two women in the 1980s, of gray-headed Mrs. Threadgoode telling her life story to Evelyn, who is in the sad slump of middle age... -
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![Loving the Legend by Kit Grey]()
Loving the Legend by Kit Grey
Since Pro basketball player Ty “Pretty Boy” Washington picked up a basketball, he’s only ever wanted one to make it to the pro league and win championships. As the number one pick in the draft, he defies the odds in his rookie year by beating the record of one of the greatest players in the league, Sid “The Wonder Kid” King...Categorized as:
first-person-pov black-mc sports m-m contemporary queer secret-relationship hurt-comfort -
![Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult]()
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 88 ratingsRuth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child...Categorized as:
black-mc mystery young adult african-american multicultural contemporary suspense length-long -
![We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds]()
We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsWhat’s more important? Knowing the truth or keeping the peace?Seventeen-year-old Avery Anderson is convinced her senior year is ruined when she's uprooted from her life in DC and forced into the hostile home of her terminally ill grandmother, Mama Letty. The tension between Avery’s mom and Mama Letty makes for a frosty arrival and unearths past drama they refuse to talk about... -
![The Crossover Graphic Novel by Kwame Alexander]()
The Crossover Graphic Novel by Kwame Alexander
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsKwame Alexander's The Crossover is brought to life as a graphic novel with illustrations by Dawud Anyabwile. "With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . . The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. ’Cuz tonight I’m delivering," raps twelve-year-old Josh Bell. Thanks to their dad, he and his twin brother, Jordan, are kings on the court...Categorized as:
black-mc sports young adult basketball contemporary african-american death length-short -
![Say Goodbye for Now by Catherine Ryan Hyde]()
Say Goodbye for Now by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsOn an isolated Texas ranch, Dr. Lucy cares for abandoned animals. The solitude allows her to avoid the people and places that remind her of the past. Not that any of the townsfolk care. In 1959, no one is interested in a woman doctor. Nor are they welcoming Calvin and Justin Bell, a newly arrived African American father and son...Categorized as:
black-mc historical anthologies multicultural christian young adult abuse contemporary -
![Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney]()
Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney
The second novel about a preacher's daughter in small-town Texas and her journey toward loving herself and her body.Monique is a preacher's daughter who detests the impossible rules of her religion. Everyone expects her to wait until marriage, so she has no one to turn to when she discovers that she physically can't have sex.After two years of trying and failing, her boyfriend breaks up with her...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult contemporary african-american historical usa north-america texas -
![Hot Girl by Dream Jordan]()
Hot Girl by Dream Jordan
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsIt's summertime in Bed-Stuy "Do or Die" Brooklyn, and Kate is feeling down in the dumps. Not only is she tired of her raggedy, tomboy image, but she's also missing her best friend, Felicia, who's away for the summer... -
![Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle]()
Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsHitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates.Prince Jones is the guy with all the answers—or so it seems...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult contemporary high-school african-american humor dual-pov length-medium -
![Black Girl Lost by Donald Goines]()
Black Girl Lost by Donald Goines
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsIn this shocking novel of a young girl alone on the streets, Goines delves into yet another facet of the ghetto experience-the dark, despair-ridden world of a black girl s soul! Sandra took to the streets when she was eight years old and tried to fight off the hunger pangs by shoplifting and moving into the profits of drug pushing. The she met Chink and discovered love and affection.. -
![Fast Life by Cassandra Carter]()
Fast Life by Cassandra Carter
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsCaught up in a world of easy money,designer labels and drug-dealing boyfriends, sixteen-year-old Kyra Jones is living life on the fast track. But when her single mom is offered a job that takes Kyra away from her old Chicago neighborhood, and the drugs and gang violence that go along with it, she finally realizes that there's more to life than Gucci, Prada and ghetto-fabulous bling... -
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![Exposed by Raven St. Pierre]()
Exposed by Raven St. Pierre
Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B00KOIW1T6. Walking away seemed like her only option. Letting go was the one thing he couldn’t do. Sam and AJ have spent the last five years trying to get over their painful breakup. Both have moved on, but neither has fully healed from the wounds of the past...Categorized as:
black-mc contemporary young adult multicultural new adult bwwm east-asian-mc african-american -
![You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson]()
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor...Categorized as:
black-mc first-person-pov young adult contemporary humor f-f high-school african-american -
![Hurricane Summer by Asha Ashanti Bromfield]()
Hurricane Summer by Asha Ashanti Bromfield
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsTilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica.When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him... -
![The Long Run by James Acker]()
The Long Run by James Acker
Two track and field athletes find an unexpected but powerful love in this unapologetically blunt and unforgettably real YA debut. Sebastian Villeda is over it. Over his rep. Over his bros. Over being "Bash the Flash," fastest sprinter in South Jersey. His dad is gone, his mom is dead, and his stepfather is clueless. Bash has no idea what he wants out of life. Until he meets Sandro...Categorized as:
first-person-pov young adult contemporary sports m-m friends to lovers high-school dual-pov -
![Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé]()
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Gossip Girl meets Get Out in Ace of Spades, a YA contemporary thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé about two students, Devon & Chiamaka, and their struggles against an anonymous bully. When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start...Categorized as:
black-mc first-person-pov young adult mystery contemporary suspense racism high-school -
![Hurricane Summer by Asha Ashanti Bromfield]()
Hurricane Summer by Asha Ashanti Bromfield
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 27 ratings* One of Indigo Canada's Best Books of 2021 ** One of New York Public Library's Best Books for Teens 2021 ** One of YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, "The Best YA Novels to Read This Summer"THE NEW YORK TIMES, "13 Y.A... -
![Indigo Summer by Monica McKayhan]()
Indigo Summer by Monica McKayhan
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsFifteen-year-old Indigo Summer's world finally seems to be going in the right direction: She hooks up with the star linebacker on the high-school football team, gets a date for homecoming and makes the high-school dance squad all in the same week. But sometimes things are just too good to be true... -
![All I've Wanted All I've Needed by A.E. Valdez]()
All I've Wanted All I've Needed by A.E. Valdez
Harlow Shaw feels naïve for believing in happily ever afters but she craves a love that lights her up.She thought she had it all with her boyfriend. Until his promising baseball career overshadows their relationship and he asks her a life changing question. It causes her to wonder if what they have is all she ever truly wanted.Harlow is yearning for more than the curated life she is living... -
![Chaos Theory by Nic Stone]()
Chaos Theory by Nic Stone
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsThe #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin, delivers a gripping romance about two teens: a certified genius living with bipolar disorder and a politician's son who is running from his own addiction and grief. Don't miss this gut punch of a novel about mental illness, loss, and discovering you are worthy of love.Scars exist to remind us of what we've survived... -
![The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons]()
The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsFifteen-year-old Spencer Harris is a proud nerd, an awesome big brother and a Messi-in-training. He's also transgender.After transitioning at his old school leads to a year of bullying, Spencer gets a fresh start at Oakley, the most liberal private school in Ohio...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult contemporary sports m-m high-school friends to lovers from hate to love -
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![Between Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey]()
Between Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsBestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey's creations “have enough sultry self-confidence to suggest, at their best, a Prince song on paper” ( The New York Times ). Now, he puts a twist on the love triangle in this sexy, searing, and wise novel.Nicole made a bold move by dumping her fiance at the altar...Categorized as:
black-mc african-american contemporary love triangle young adult other-man-woman m-f-f poly -
![Jux Season 2 by Karma Monae]()
Jux Season 2 by Karma Monae
Rated: 4.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJux Season 2 picks up right where part one left off. With Tan’s life hanging in the balance, Ru attempts to pick up the pieces of his shattered life and puts his best foot forward to carry the load of his family. Just when he thinks things can’t get any worse, RJ’s paternal grandparents file a petition with the court for visitation rights, threatening his security as a father... -
![Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson]()
Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsJason is a basketball star and one of the most popular guys in school. Brainy Kyra isn't, but she doesn't much care what other people think. Under normal circumstances, Jason and Kyra would live in their separate worlds until graduation. But fate intervenes, and the unlikely duo is paired up for a class project... -
![All I Need is You by M. Malone]()
All I Need is You by M. Malone
ALL I NEED IS YOU is the fourth book in M. Malone's USA TODAY bestselling contemporary romance series: The Alexanders . He'll do whatever it takes to protect her. What he won't do...is fall in love... Kaylee Wilhelm is tired of always being a good, respectful Southern belle. So when the man she loves leaves town after their steamy kiss, she's done...Categorized as:
black-mc humor young adult suspense multicultural open-door sweet heroine single-mother -
![Chasing Destiny by Eric Jerome Dickey]()
Chasing Destiny by Eric Jerome Dickey
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsKnown on the streets for her beauty and impressive motorcycle, Ducati discovers that she is pregnant just before her boyfriend decides to return to his wife, a situation that is complicated by a threat from her boyfriend's wife, the disappearance of her boyfriend's teenage daughter, and an attempt on Ducati's life. By the author of Genevieve. 100,000 first printing... -
![Tethered by L.D. Davis]()
Tethered by L.D. Davis
“You were born to be mine and I was born to be yours.” Donya Stewart’s chest filled with the soft beating wings of butterflies when she first met Emmet Grayne’s green eyes at the ripe age of five... -
![Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson, Malik "Malik-16" Sharif]()
Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson, Malik "Malik-16" Sharif
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsIn this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he's still alive. Brooklyn, 1998. Biggie Smalls was right: Things done changed...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult contemporary mystery historical african-american death length-long -
![Gravity by Raven St. Pierre]()
Gravity by Raven St. Pierre
Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B00GIUBQVI. A chance meeting reshapes the lives of two strangers who soon learn that we don't always choose who we fall in love with; sometimes life chooses for us...Categorized as:
black-mc contemporary young adult multicultural love triangle new adult other-man-woman cheating -
![Lil' Baby Cuffed A Street King by Tnesha Sims]()
Lil' Baby Cuffed A Street King by Tnesha Sims
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLoVonna Lewis is a smart, beautiful, humble, and fierce young woman who will soon be off to college. Her parents do everything to set her up for success in her future. While she’s enjoying life and doing everything she’s supposed to, her ex-boyfriend, Musiq, tries his hardest to sing his way back into her life. It would be easy if someone else didn’t have their eyes on her... -
![Lifted by Nia Forrester]()
Lifted by Nia Forrester
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhat if your soulmate could never be your bedmate?Tessa Denison knows who she is—she never has and as far as she’s concerned, never will date men. Though she struggles with coming to terms with the loss of her parents at a young age and her very protective and overbearing brother, Trey, her sexuality and free-loving lifestyle have never given her a moment’s pause.Tyson Clark is a screw-up...Categorized as:
black-mc african-american contemporary young adult multicultural queer length-medium -
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![Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk]()
Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsFive starred reviews! From New York Times bestselling author Ashley Woodfolk, Nothing Burns as Bright as You is an impassioned stand-alone tale of queer love, grief, and the complexity of female friendship. Two girls. One wild and reckless day. Years of tumultuous history unspooling like a thin, fraying string in the hours after they set a fire. They were best friends. Until they became more...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult contemporary f-f african-american friends to lovers high-school bisexual -
![Maame by Jessica George]()
Maame by Jessica George
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 67 ratingsAn alternate cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.It’s fair to say that Maddie’s life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s... -
![When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk]()
When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsFor fans of Nina LaCour's We Are Okay and Adam Silvera's History Is All You Left Me, this heartfelt and ultimately uplifting novel follows one sixteen-year-old girl's friend breakup through two concurrent timelines--ultimately proving that even endings can lead to new beginnings."Stunning...Categorized as:
black-mc contemporary young adult high-school african-american betrayal length-medium -
![When Stars Rain Down by Angela Jackson-Brown]()
When Stars Rain Down by Angela Jackson-Brown
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsThis summer has the potential to change everything.The summer of 1936 in Parsons, Georgia, is unseasonably hot, and Opal Pruitt can sense a nameless storm coming. She hopes this foreboding feeling won’t overshadow her upcoming eighteenth birthday or the annual Founder’s Day celebration in just a few weeks...Categorized as:
black-mc historical african-american christian racism young adult contemporary length-medium -
![Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke]()
Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThe swoon of Nicola Yoon meets the emotional punch of Elizabeth Acevedo in this breakout debut novel that answers big questions about identity, family, and love. High school junior Michie is struggling to define who she is for her scholarship essays, her big shot at making it into Brown as a first-generation college student...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult contemporary sports african-american multicultural dystopian length-medium -
![A Taste of Reality by Kimberla Lawson Roby]()
A Taste of Reality by Kimberla Lawson Roby
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsKimberla Lawson Roby returns with another moving and triumphant novel about a woman who, against all odds, battles the most blatant kind of workplace discrimination while dealing with a crumbling marriage and a trusted friend's betrayal...Categorized as:
black-mc african-american contemporary christian humor historical young adult length-medium -
![Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling by Elise Bryant]()
Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling by Elise Bryant
Delilah always keeps her messy, gooey insides hidden behind a wall of shrugs and yeah, whatevers. She goes with the flow—which is how she ends up singing in her friends’ punk band as a favor, even though she’d prefer to hide at the merch table.Reggie is a D&D Dungeon Master and self-declared Blerd...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult contemporary african-american high-school humor dual-pov glimpses-kisses -
![What a Match by Mimi Grace]()
What a Match by Mimi Grace
Sometimes what you’re looking for is right under your nose.Meticulous and driven Gwen Gilmore knows what she wants… especially in a man. She is newly single and doesn’t have time for lackluster chemistry or mixed signals. But the dating scene proves to be slow and unserious, and she realizes she may need some help.Professional help.A matchmaker, to be more specific... -
![Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon]()
Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 24 ratings"Baby, the first thing I need to know from you is do you believe I killed my father?"So begins Upstate, a powerful story told through letters between seventeen-year-old Antonio and his sixteen-year-old girlfriend, Natasha, set in the 1990's in New York...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult african-american contemporary high-school new adult mystery length-medium -
![Played by Dana Davidson]()
Played by Dana Davidson
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhen one of Ian's boys dares him to get plain-faced Kylie Winship to sleep with him in just three weeks, he thinks it'll be a breeze. Tall and fine, with honey-colored skin and eyes, Ian is used to getting what he wants from girls. And if he succeeds in playing Kylie, he'll be down with the most popular crew in his high school...Categorized as:
black-mc contemporary african-american length-short young adult m-f high-school plain heroine -
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![Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles]()
Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 26 ratings"Hysterical. I couldn’t put it down.” (Nic Stone) "I laughed, I gasped, I church grunted through every chapter." (Tiffany D. Jackson) "Heartfelt and hilarious on every page!" (Justin A...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult contemporary african-american humor high-school multicultural usa -
![Love You Forever by Christina C. Jones]()
Love You Forever by Christina C. Jones
Two years after leaving the neighborhood to pursue an opportunity she couldn’t pass up, Sydnee Scott is back. She’s smart, sassy, and maybe a little bit spoiled, but she’s ready to reclaim her place in her family, and in the family business… Or not. That spot is currently filled by Harlan Ramsey, head manager...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult contemporary african-american new adult humor angst from hate to love -
![Girls with Bad Reputations by Xio Axelrod]()
Girls with Bad Reputations by Xio Axelrod
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAll her life, Kayla heard the same Don't be so loud. Don't act so wild. Don't take up so much space. Now she's the beating heart of an up-and-coming rock band…and the whole world is going to know her name. Once upon a time, the pressure to be the perfect daughter nearly broke Kayla Whitman...Categorized as:
black-mc contemporary african-american young adult new adult humor found-family length-long -
![Standing Against the Wind by Traci L. Jones]()
Standing Against the Wind by Traci L. Jones
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIn her debut novel, Traci L. Jones presents a girl with grit she never knew she had, and a boy so inspired by her that he begins to take pride in his own abilities.Patrice dreams of a first-class education, but right now she's just got to survive the walk to school.Patrice Williams was happy living in Georgia with her grandmother...then her mother lured her to Chicago and ended up in jail... -
![Jackpot by Nic Stone]()
Jackpot by Nic Stone
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsFrom the author of the New York Times bestseller Dear Martin-comes a pitch-perfect romance that examines class, privilege, and how a stroke of good luck can change an entire life.Meet Rico: high school senior and afternoon-shift cashier at the Gas 'n' Go, who after school and work races home to take care of her younger brother. Every. Single. Day...Categorized as:
black-mc young adult contemporary high-school african-american mystery length-medium -
![Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola]()
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
Introducing internationally bestselling author Bolu Babalola's dazzling debut novel, full of passion, humor, and heart, that centers on a young Black British woman who has no interest in love and unexpectedly finds herself caught up in a fake relationship with the man she warned her girls aboutSweet like plantain, hot like pepper. They taste the best when together..
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