Book picks similar to
Goodfellas by Carl Weber


african-american-fiction
crime
carl-weber
fiction

BITTER


Shakela James - 2017
    That was the reason I studied so hard in school, didn’t hang out with the popular kids, and didn’t rebel against my parents. When I turned 17 years old and became the Valedictorian of my class, I knew I was on the right track. I was ready to go to college and embark on my journey towards becoming a corporate lawyer. Never in a million years did I think that by the time I was eighteen years old, I would be pushing out a baby. Never did I think my life could change so drastically. I had no degree, no career, no house, and no husband; but I had a daughter. I still remember the night everything changed between us. Or maybe things had already changed, and it was the first time I noticed it. I know for sure that it was the first time I had ever accepted the fact that I was truly just a “baby mama” and Flip had no real plans of making me his wife. I remember feeling so many emotions that night. I was hurt, angry, confused, disappointed, and betrayed. But I was still very much in love. I loved him too much to hate him so quickly, so I resented him and I hated myself for being so naiive. It didn’t take long for that resentment to magnify because once the truth is out, you begin to connect the dots to every lie you’ve ever been fed and it makes you wonder if any of it was ever real. The moment you lose respect for someone, everything changes. The love is still there, but it’s not the same. You become guarded, you become defensive, and sometimes you just want to hurt them the way they hurt you. That’s when they start to call you bitter. I never pictured myself becoming a bitter baby mama, but you know what? Maybe they’re right. Maybe I am bitter but I feel like I have every damn right to be. This is my story.

Finding A Loyal Love


A'zayler - 2015
    It’s been a jagged and tiring road with her longtime boyfriend Smoke. In the beginning she thought maybe he had been the one for her, but now she’s not so sure. From dealing with baby mama drama to random females on the side, Lay-Lay has had enough. Not only has she grown tired of Smoke’s cheating ways, but she’s finally ready to move on. In the back of her mind she knows she deserves better, but letting go is entirely too hard. Although Smoke’s reckless behavior plays a major role in Lay-Lay’s decision to move on, that isn’t the only reason why she’s ready to call it quits. Kyle Taylor, is and has been the most constant male figure in her life for as long as she can remember. When thinking of her fairytale ending her is who she would see as her knight in shining amour. The only problem with this is, he has a girlfriend. Fed up with the constant fussing and fighting, Lay-Lay isn’t sure whether or not Kyle is worth leaving behind the love and history she has with Smoke. Torn between the man she loves and the man she deserves, Lay-Lay is forced to make a decision.

My Brother's Keeper


Jade Jones - 2012
    Intelligent. Respectful. Considerate. At only nineteen he already has a promising future ahead of him. Nothing can deter his bright path to success. Not even his twin brother, Chance, who has consistently dragged Wisdom into his own drama since childhood.Meet Chance. Crude. Hot-headed. Reckless. Dropping out of high school at an early age, Chance has already accepted the fact that he's destined to be a "screw up." Unlike his brother, Chance finds solemn running the streets of Philadelphia. His reckless behavior ultimately leads to some bad decision making that will change his life forever.Spring break has arrived, and Wisdom decides to return home after an entire year of avoiding doing so. During this short amount of time, their love and respect for another is tested after Chance makes some reckless mistakes that ultimately leaves a loved one dead.My Brother's Keeper is a fast paced, gritty, Cain and Abel like tale that will leaving you wondering just how far you'll go to protect a loved one.

Blind Ambitions


Lolita Files - 2000
    The place people go to fulfill their dreams. But its reality is a cruel one: Opportunities are few and the competition ruthless. Innocent hearts can suddenly turn dark, and the most loyal of friends can become bitter enemies. Desi, Sharon, and Bettina are three black women struggling to make names for themselves amid the glitz, glamour, and deception. Before each woman can be swept away by the intrigue and intensity of the entertainment industry, they must answer to the desperate calls from the ghosts of their pasts. But if they do, will the shadows of infidelity, abandonment, and murder destroy everything they've worked for?

FeMALE TRAITS "The Trilogy"


Lurea C. McFadden - 2011
    She is married to a successful, loving husband but somehow she requires more attention than this fine upstanding man can offer. She plays hard; in fact she is a playa in her own right. But Grace forgets that Game recognizes Game when she runs into Sonia, her husband’s best friend. This is the tale of Grace’s extra-marital love affair, love and support of good friends, and lessons learned along the way.

Diary of A Young Girl


Mark Anthony - 2010
    Urban favorite Anthony returns with a gripping tale of a young woman who is forced to confront the dangerous lies she told as a teenager, and come face to face with some ugly demons.

His Streets & My Heart


K.C. Mills - 2015
    That was until he laid eyes on Kenzie. From the second he saw her face he knew that she was going to be his.The only problem was that he wasn't sure if his life was something she could handle. Only time would tell, but as far as Dre was concerned, they would have to figure it out because Kenzie was already his.Gun sales and family secrets play a role in their fate but Kenzie and Dre are determined to find a way.

Silent Cries


Sonovia Alexander - 2013
    It’s not the life that she would choose for herself, but she knows that she cannot put her family to shame. China and her girls Ryder, Q, and Jewels are four of the most notorious chics in Queens. Growing up in the same part of town they were known for cutting and shooting chics and dudes when pushed to the limit. They had looks to kill and could draw in any man. Unbeknownst to her, when China hooks up with a pimp, the reputation that she has tried so hard to upkeep is tested. When thinking with your heart and not using your head, you fall victim to things that are clearly a task that you can’t handle. China is put in a situation where her friendships, family and relationship is at risk ending with her losing some of her loved ones. Find out what Silent Cries is really about as you go inside China’s twisted world of betrayal

Love From a One Night Stand


Trinity - 2015
    Until one night she meets Ghost a bad boy rapper with a play boy image. A one night stand with him changes her life forever. Kevin (Ghost) Jackson is a bad boy rapper who loves the party lifestyle and dealing with different women. He never thought he would settle down, until he gets Angel pregnant and is forced to slow down. Everyone disapproves of his relationship with Angel including his mother who makes him choose. Embark on the journey with Angel and Ghost as all the odds are against them to find true love. Will they become a family? Or will they allow people to get in the way of their true happiness?

Ain't Nothing Like A Brooklyn Bitch 2


Kellz Kimberly - 2015
    Royal doesn't know who she can and can not trust anymore. All she knows is that she has to find a way to survive for the sake of her sister Paige. To make matters worse, Aria, Royal's mom is back, but is she back for good? Or, is she just trying to stir up some more drama for Royal? Take this trip with Royal and find out if Pharaoh is really dead. If he isn't could him and Royal ever be together again? A Brooklyn Bitch is what Royal is, but will she be tough enough to make it out alive?

SECRETS OF A KEPT BITCH


Ambria Davis - 2014
    She had to fend for herself at a young age; life was hard from the get-go, and she must figure out a way to get herself out of the poverty stricken environment. Unlike other girls her age, young Mimi wants more out of life; she wants a way out of the ghetto. Fate intervenes on her behalf when she meets one of New Orleans’ biggest dope boys. She instantly falls in love with this mysterious stranger; everything in her life changes for the better and her future seems brighter. She will soon learn however, that being a hustler’s wife comes with serious consequences. Years later, Mimi decides to move to Atlanta, where she has it all; a beautiful family, fast cars, the finest clothes and everything that she’s ever dreamt about. How can a woman that has so much going for herself be so unhappy? With a man that’s constantly cheating and her past rapidly catching up to her, she must figure out a way to get all these secrets out in the open—without taking a loss. Take a ride on this roller coaster with Amina Washington and uncover the SECRETS OF A KEPT BITCH.

Snatched Up by a Bad Boy


Prenisha Aja' - 2019
    Now at the age of 25, she has done just that. Big house, dream job, and even engaged to her college boyfriend. She has it all, but she is consistently left wondering, am I really happy? Is my life complete? After getting into it with her fiancé Troy, about the one thing she desires so desperately, she decides that it is time to let her hair down and escape reality for a while. But what she isn’t prepared for is the person she finds herself bumping into. Sawyer McKnight, the neighborhood’s bad boy, is now the hood’s hottest rapper. He went from the slums to the mansion but still, he is missing someone to share it with. In this love tale, you have two people from the same background but different walks of life. Can the two be what the other truly needs or will they just settle for what they’re already used to?

I Jus' Wanna Leave This Nigga


Mesha Mesh - 2015
    She was brought up to believe that no matter what you stick by him, even if it means that he cheats, or beats you to a bloody pulp. Lyric falls in love with a man who she thought was her Prince Charming. Ty helped her get through one of the most traumatic events in her life and she feels that she owes him. At the time when he met her she was on the verge of going crazy, lost all hope, and had given up on life. He stepped in when she had no one else in the world and helped build her up, only to tear her back down.He fulfilled all of her heart’s desires with every materialistic thing she could think of. From romantic dinners, to shopping sprees, to the big fancy home that she always knew she would have. All was good in their relationship up until the night they got married. On that night, she was faced with an ugly truth about her husband that she didn’t see coming. Lyric realized then that God answered her prayers and she got everything that she wanted except the one thing that mattered the most… A loving husband!Ty is the guy every woman wants to have. He’s handsome, successful, and most of all, a ladies man. What the women don’t know about him though, is that Ty is a womanizer, a woman beater, and a spoiled brat. He feels that everything should go his way and if it doesn’t he has no problem taking things out on his gorgeous wife with his fists.Blessing, her best friend’s brother, has loved Lyric since they were kids, and he wants nothing more than to have her as his. His thuggish demeanor and handsome looks draw women to him, but he only wants Lyric. Will Lyric leave before it’s too late?Will Blessing be the man she always wanted?orWill Ty seek help to save his marriage and keep his wife?

Female Hustler Part 3 (Female Hustler All I See Is The Money...)


Joy Deja King - 2016
    Believing the person responsible for her husband's demise is none other than Nico Carter, she orders a hit on him. Will Angel realize Nico is her father before it is too late or will he die without her ever knowing the truth? Angel brings in a partner to oversee her lucrative business, Angel's Girls while she focuses on getting revenge but will the new partnership prove to be the worst decision Angel has ever made. Find out in Female Hustler Part 3.

Outlaws


Kevin Sampson - 2001
    Gun law is out of control. Organized gangs are fighting for supremacy in clubland and the lucrative supply of narcotics. Younger, more ruthless gangs are moving in. Ged, Moby and Ratter, three South End villains, are old-fashioned highwaymen with two decades of meticulously planned jobs behind them. But times are tough. It’s Christmas and Ged is planning a job to see the boys through until spring. As usual, he won’t give them any details until the morning of the job. Until then, they have to stay off the street and keep out of trouble.But Moby loves to go out – girls love him, guys send drinks over – he could live like this forever. And Ratter wants out – he’s invested his loot in the booming property sector. As the heist approaches, Ged needs to summon all his street savvy and killer instinct just to survive.