More Room: Taking Up Space and the Books That Remind You How

10 Black Romance Novels That Feel Like a Soft Place to Land

Your heart isn’t broken. It’s just tired — and tired has a reading list. This week on Culture Lit, Octavia shares 10 Black romance novels for healing your heart — stories where Black women are cherished, chosen, and loved well. From Kennedy Ryan’s new release Score to modern classics by Tia Williams, this is the soft-era reading list for anyone running on empty. Healing here doesn’t mean heavy. It means joy, tenderness, and a soft place to land. Find these and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop! [https://culturelitpodcast.com/bookshop] Score [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781538769652] — Kennedy Ryan Honey & Spice [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9780063141513] — Bolu Babalola Before I Let Go [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781538706794] — Kennedy Ryan By the Book [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781368053389] — Jasmine Guillory Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9780593482353] — Talia Hibbert A Love Song for Ricki Wilde [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781538726716] — Tia Williams Seven Days in June [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781538719091] — Tia Williams Real Men Knit [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781984806505] — Kwana Jackson Love Is a Revolution [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781547608621] — Renée Watson Black Girls Must Die Exhausted [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9780063137905]— Jayne Allen Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer. Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.com [CultureLitPodcast.com] Please follow the podcast via RSS [https://feeds.captivate.fm/culture-lit/], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-lit/id1597832230], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0F92KixAoHtmwJxa4SzsvY], Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/bxfoej8i] or wherever you listen to your podcasts! Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading. STAY CONNECTED Instagram: becomingoctavia [https://www.instagram.com/becomingoctavia] Threads: becomingoctavia [https://www.threads.com/@becomingoctavia?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie [https://www.facebook.com/BecomingOctaviaMarie] Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD A Subito Media [https://SubitoMedia.com] production

Nobody Knows You Exist (And That's the Problem). What is PR - And Why Black Women Entrepreneurs Need It Now

The visibility gap is real — and it's costing us. You're showing up. You're posting. You're creating. And somehow you still feel like nobody actually knows you exist. In this episode, Octavia pulls from her 20+ years in PR — spanning the NBA, Fortune 500 companies, music, film, and TV — to give you something the industry never made accessible to us: a real breakdown of how visibility actually works. This isn't a branding masterclass. It's a direct conversation about why Black women entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and creators keep getting overlooked — and what you can do about it without a $10,000-a-month retainer. Resources & Links Follow Octavia: Instagram & Threads @becomingoctavia Wellness & self-care: JayneandBloom.com The Visibility Architect Framework — subscribe to the newsletter and stay close, more coming on the podcast Find book recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop! [https://culturelitpodcast.com/bookshop] Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love, success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer. Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.com [CultureLitPodcast.com] Please follow the podcast via RSS [https://feeds.captivate.fm/culture-lit/], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-lit/id1597832230], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0F92KixAoHtmwJxa4SzsvY], Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/bxfoej8i] or wherever you listen to your podcasts! Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading. STAY CONNECTED Instagram: becomingoctavia [https://www.instagram.com/becomingoctavia] Threads: becomingoctavia [https://www.threads.com/@becomingoctavia?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie [https://www.facebook.com/BecomingOctaviaMarie] Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD A Subito Media [https://SubitoMedia.com] production

Your Spark Is Still There: Finding Your Way Back to Joy

Some seasons feel dim. Not broken — just quiet. Like the thing that used to light you up has gone somewhere you can't quite reach. That's where Octavia has been. And in this episode, she gets honest about coming out of a season that knocked her sideways — physically, emotionally, all of it. She talks about what it really means to lose your spark, why it happens to women who are doing everything right, and the small, unglamorous ways you start coming back to yourself. Plus — April was a moment for Black romance. She's reviewing two reads that helped her recenter: Big Girl Blitz by Danielle Allen (the perfect series closer) and The Art of Loving You by Natasha Bishop (a slow burn second chance romance about grief that will leave you feeling it all). In this episode: * Why your spark going quiet isn't a breakdown — it's a message * This week's affirmation for anyone in a season of reconnection * A full breakdown of Big Girl Blitz — the community, the angst, and the Aunt Addie scenes that will have you in shambles * Why The Art of Loving You is its own emotional experience and deserves to be met that way Books mentioned: * Big Girl Blitz [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781250331168] by Danielle Allen * The Art of Loving [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781638932741] You by Natasha Bishop * Curvy Girl Summer [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781250331045]by Danielle Allen (Curve series, book 1) * Plus Size Player [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781250331182] by Danielle Allen (Curve series, book 2) * If Only for the Week [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9781638932727] by Natasha Bishop (Forever Falling series, book 1) Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop! [https://culturelitpodcast.com/bookshop] Sponsor: Jayne + Bloom [https://jayneandbloom.com/collections/gift-guide] If you've been looking for a way to make your daily routine feel more intentional, check out my Clean Beauty Gifts With Purpose [https://jayneandbloom.com/collections/gift-guide] collection on Jayne + Bloom. Thoughtfully chosen sets for you and the women in your life — clean ingredients, real care, no compromise. Visit JayneandBloom.com [https://jayneandbloom.com/collections/gift-guide]. Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer. Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.com [CultureLitPodcast.com] Please follow the podcast via RSS [https://feeds.captivate.fm/culture-lit/], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-lit/id1597832230], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0F92KixAoHtmwJxa4SzsvY], Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/bxfoej8i] or wherever you listen to your podcasts! Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading. STAY CONNECTED Instagram: becomingoctavia [https://www.instagram.com/becomingoctavia] Threads: becomingoctavia [https://www.threads.com/@becomingoctavia?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie [https://www.facebook.com/BecomingOctaviaMarie] Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD A Subito Media [https://SubitoMedia.com] production

What Your Body Already Knows with Aycee Brown on Embody Your Magic, Intuition & Healing

What if your body already knew the truth — before the doctors, before the diagnosis, before the breakdown — and you just weren't listening? In this episode, Octavia sits down with psychic medium, astrologer, Human Design expert, and author Aycee Brown to talk about her debut book Embody Your Magic (HarperOne, 2026). What starts as a deep dive into spiritual tools becomes one of the most personal conversations. They cover Human Design, the 80/20 soul blueprint framework, why religion is keeping Black women locked in the wrong 20%, what self-rejection looks like, and why honest desire — not vision boards — is the actual key to creating the life you want. In this episode you will: * Learn Aycee's 80/20 framework and why most of us are spending all our energy in the wrong 20% * Understand how self-rejection piles up in the small everyday moments — and how to stop adding layers * Walk away with one honest question that can shift everything: What does your body already know that you keep ignoring? Books mentioned: Embody Your Magic: Create the Life of Your Dreams Through Astrology, Numerology, Mediumship, Metaphysics, and Human Design [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9780063360341] Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop! [https://culturelitpodcast.com/bookshop] Episode Links * Follow Aycee on Instagram [ https://www.instagram.com/ ayceebrown/] * Follow Aycee on TikTok [https:// www.tiktok.com/@ayceebrown] * Listen to Aycee's podcast "Is My Aura on Straight?" [https:// podcasts.apple.com/us/ podcast/is-my-aura-on-straight/id1459927270] * Order Aycee's new book "Embody Your Magic" out now [https://bookshop.org/a/80851/9780063360341]: Loved this episode? Subscribe to Culture Lit and leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more Black women find this community. Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.com [CultureLitPodcast.com] Please follow the podcast via RSS [https://feeds.captivate.fm/culture-lit/], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-lit/id1597832230], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0F92KixAoHtmwJxa4SzsvY], Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/bxfoej8i] or wherever you listen to your podcasts! Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading. CONNECT WITH OCTAVIA MARIE Instagram: becomingoctavia [https://www.instagram.com/becomingoctavia] Threads: becomingoctavia [https://www.threads.com/@becomingoctavia?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie [https://www.facebook.com/BecomingOctaviaMarie] Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD A Subito Media [https://SubitoMedia.com] production Mentioned in this episode: You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy! Visit my bookshop! [https://culturelitpodcast.com/bookshop] If you're enjoying the show, join our community at culturelitpodcast.com. Visit my bookshop! [https://culturelitpodcast.com/bookshop]

RE-RUN: What Jahquel J Knew All Along

Octavia Marie talks with Jaquel, a prolific author in Black romance. They discuss Jaquel's extensive literary universe, the personal connections readers have with her work, and the dynamics of her characters, particularly in her latest release, Heart of a Goon. The conversation delves into reader reactions, character development, and the marketing strategies that have contributed to Jaquel's success. Additionally, they touch on the importance of self-care for writers and the authenticity of dialogue across different storylines. In this engaging conversation, Jahquel J. and Octavia Marie delve into the intricacies of character development, the writing process, and the balance between realism and hope in storytelling. Books Mentioned: Staten Island Love Story Capone 10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace (Caselli Family Book 1) Don Caselli (Caselli Family Book 2) Heart of a Goon Capri Find these and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop! [https://culturelitpodcast.com/bookshop] Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer. Subscribe to the Culture Lit Podcast Community here: CultureLitPodcast.com [CultureLitPodcast.com] Please follow the podcast via RSS [https://feeds.captivate.fm/culture-lit/], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-lit/id1597832230], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0F92KixAoHtmwJxa4SzsvY], Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/bxfoej8i], or wherever you listen to your podcasts! Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading. STAY CONNECTED Instagram: becomingoctavia [https://www.instagram.com/becomingoctavia] Threads: becomingoctavia [https://www.threads.com/@becomingoctavia?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie [https://www.facebook.com/BecomingOctaviaMarie] Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD A Subito Media [https://SubitoMedia.com] production