Urban Fiction Books That Made Our Teen Years Lit (Even Though We Had No Business Reading It)

Remember the days of spending hours in your room after school, head first in a good book that you probably had no business reading as a teen? These were many of our adolescent realities, which helped to spark lifelong interests in urban literature. Then, there was the feeling of finishing a captivating book and then passing it on to your friend group or classmates. In some ways, this created a unique bond, which was highlighted by lengthy discussions of each character and movie-like storylines. This simple act of sneaking novels away from your mom’s bookshelf and sharing them didn’t only keep us entertained, enriching our school days with literary camaraderie.

While the urban fiction genre may not be as mainstream as it once was, many avid readers grew up on stories of love, sex, street life, and entering adulthood straight from the pages of Black authors such as Wahida Clark, Vickie M. Stringer, Sister Souljah, Zane, and many others. Several upcoming Black authors of today have attributed their interest in writing to the work of these authors. Though we may have had no business reading much of this mature content, there is no doubt that these works of art sparked our love of reading. Let’s take a trip down memory lane to a few of our favorites. 

Vickie M. Stringer – “Let That Be the Reason” (2002)

“Let That Be the Reason” follows the tale of Pamela Xavier, who goes by the moniker, Carmen, who resorts to drug trafficking and a call girl service after being left to raise her child alone. 

Sister Souljah – “The Coldest Winter Ever” (1999)

Originally released in 1999, “The Coldest Winter Ever” serves as one of Sister Souljah’s most recognized titles. The story follows the life and downfall of drug lord Ricky Santiaga and his family, which includes street-savvy Winter Santiaga. 

Zane – “Addicted” (1998)

“Addicted,” originally released in 1998, follows African-American businesswoman Zoe Reynard, as she searches for sexual pleasure, leading to an insatiable sex addiction. 

Kimberla Lawson Roby – “Reverend Curtis Black Series” (began in 2002)

The “Reverend Curtis Black” series followed the life and secrets of a popular pastor as his many scandals came to light. To date, there are now 15 books in the series. 

Kiki Swinson – “Wifey Series” (began in 2004)

Kiki Swanson’s “Wifey” series began in 2004 with salon owner Kira, who was married to drug dealer Ricky. The series follows her life as a boss, wife, and entrepreneur while she creates her own identity.