These are a few of my favorite things (I hope you hear the r&b version of this song when you read that, bonus points if it’s Luther or MJB).

2025 was much like last year, it took a lot more than it was supposed to, but I feel like I had more balance, more quality time with my family.

I didn’t put any reading goals on myself and a rarely made any TBRs. Just going wherever my heart, randomness, and mood takes me.

I also didn’t create as much content this year., which feels a little strange but more like right because I really let myself rest and focus on some other areas in my life without too much guilt or fear of missing out. I did poke my head out every now and then (and y’all was scrapping on threads every time I logged in lmao but that’s a talk for another day at the table).

Even with the pause in my output tempo, me and Black Romance are still locked tf in. My love for reading and Black romance has grown even deeper.

Soooooo What are we doing here?

Answer: I wanted to create a substack BAD but I was meticulously reviewing my finances this year because I GOT SUBSCRIPTIONS AT HOME (domain: $14 per year, Squarespace: $32 per month, canva: $13 per month, etc. so we are making a ConnoisseurStack at the house lol).

So here we go, this list is an extension of my Year of Favorites, which I also shared on Instagram. Because this is The Connoisseur’s Table, several additional favorites are included here that aren’t listed anywhere else. We Exclusive, my baby.

& You're a romance lover so I know you like communication and clearly expressed intentions so this being my Stack, The Connoisseur’s Table exists as both a blog on my site and a newsletter delivered via email if you want me in your inbox.

My Black Romance Favorites of the Year:

Zeal by Morgan Jerkins

Treason's Temptation by Kaylyn

The Crownless King by Dria Andersen

Maybe in this Lifetime by Asia Monique

A Love of Her Own by Bettye Griffin

The Art of Loving You by Natasha Bishop

Hear My Heart by Tay Mo'Nae

Our Vicious Oaths: A Dark Romantasy by N.E. Davenport

Lost In Your Presence by BriAnn Danae

Beguiled by Eboni Snoe

Solomon Dark by Erick S. Gray

Trouble Don't Last Always by Francis Ray

Somebody's Husband by Robbi Renee

Forbidden: An Anthology by Brookelyn Mosley

His 1-800 Wife by Shirley Hailstock

Books Featured on my IG Post (Left to Right)

**Departures & Arrivals** by **Nicole Falls**
**#Currently Untitled** by **Tia Love**
**Dr. Bell** by **M. Monique**
**No Ordinary Love** by **Myah Ariel**
**Clara’s Promise** by Shirley Hailstock* *out of stock* (another later talk for the table)
**In the Meantime…** by **Love Belvin**
**Sinful King** by **Asia Monique**
**Love Lessons** by **Leslie Esdaile**
**The Art of Loving You** by **Natasha Bishop**
**João** by **A.H. Cunningham**
**When Forty Blooms** by **Jacinta Howard**
**Calculated Risk** by **DL White**
**Are You Going to Love Me?** by **Aubree Pynn**
**Emergence and Ascendance** by **K.C. Mills**
**Lock You Down** by **Shae Sanders**
**Forever His Favorite** by **Charae Lewis**
**A Million Boss Kisses** by **Lakia**
**The Illusion of Power** by **J. L. Seegars**
**A Taste of Sin** by **J. L, Seegars**
**Definitely NOT a Thing** by **Christina C. Jones**
**The Dreamer & The Deep Space Warrior** by **T. K. Tucker**

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At The Table

I’m reading Love from the Cosmos by Mowa Badmos, What if a beautiful being from the cosmos wanted to be your dating coach to help you find your soulmate—who may or may not be HIM. On the music front, Something Real by Jaymin has been on repeat so much so that I used it as the background music for my aesthetic video for how to melt a snowflake by Joanna Kimber . Also, I'm listening to the exclusive Grey Day ‘26 interview w/ Grey Huffington, hosted by the incredible Talia Cadet (we love a list around here!). For art, I’m in love with A Lover’s Kiss” by Nesstolgia her take on Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" and you guessed it EVERYTHING LOOKS BETTER IN BLACK.

Explore the works of these amazing creatives:

Debut Black Romance Author, Mowa Badmos
Something Real by Jaymin
Talia Cadet
Grey Huffington’s Catalog
Artist, Nesstolgia

Please note: Some links in this post are Amazon Affiliate links. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting this page <3