Description

Six critically acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning authors bring the glowing warmth and electricity of Black teens in love to this charming, hilarious, and heartwarming novel that shines a bright light through the dark.

A summer heatwave blankets New York City in darkness. But as the city is thrown into confusion, a different kind of electricity sparks…

A first meeting. 

Long-time friends. 

Bitter exes. 

And maybe the beginning of something new.

When the lights go out, people reveal hidden truths. Love blossoms, friendship transforms, and new possibilities take flight.

Beloved authors—Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon—celebrate the beauty of six couples and the unforgettable magic that can be found on a sweltering starry night in the city.


Six couples find love in six interconnected stories set during one unforgettable night:


  • Friends to Lovers: Two best friends get locked in the New York Public Library overnight and must finally confront the truth about their feelings.
  • Second Chance Romance: A pair of exes have no choice but to walk from Harlem to Brooklyn together, forcing them to face why they broke up in the first place.
  • LGBTQ+ Romance: From a chance encounter in a senior living facility to two boys trapped on a subway car, this collection celebrates Black queer love stories.
  • Forced Proximity: From a tour bus to a Ryde share, sparks fly when strangers are thrown together by the city-wide blackout and find connection in the chaos.
  • An All-Star Author Lineup: Six beloved, award-winning authors—Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon—team up for the first time.

About the author(s)

Dhonielle Clayton is the New York Times bestselling author of the Belles series and The Marvellers and the coauthor of The Rumor Game and the Tiny Pretty Things duology, which was made into a Netflix original series. She is COO of the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books and the owner of Cake Creative.

Tiffany D. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of AllegedlyMonday's Not ComingLet Me Hear a RhymeGrownWhite SmokeThe Weight of Blood, and The Scammer. A Margaret A. Edwards Award and Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe New Talent Award winner, the Brooklyn native is splitting her time between the South and the borough she loves. You can visit her at writeinbk.com

Nic Stone is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the William C. Morris Award finalist Dear Martin, NAACP Image Award finalist Dear Justyce, Dear MannyChaos Theory, and Clean Getaway and the Shuri novel series with Marvel Comics. You can find her online at nicstone.info.

Angie Thomas is the author of the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling Nic Blake and the Remarkables series, The Hate U Give, On the Come Up, and Concrete Rose as well as Find Your Voice: A Guided Journal for Writing Your Truth. She is also a coauthor of the bestselling collaborative novels Blackout, Whiteout, and Breakout. A former teen rapper who holds a BFA in creative writing, Angie divides her time between her native Mississippi, and Atlanta. You can find her online at angiethomas.com.

Ashley Woodfolk is the award-winning author of over ten books including the highly acclaimed novels The Beauty That RemainsWhen You Were Everything, and Nothing Burns As Bright As You. A publishing professional for over a decade, Ashley is now a full-time mom and writer who spends the majority of her time drinking coffee, running after her children, and making up stories she sometimes writes down. She lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Nicola Yoon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star, both of which have been adapted into major motion pictures. She is a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book recipient, and a Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner. She's also co-publisher of Joy Revolution, a Random House young adult imprint focused on love stories starring people of color.

Reviews

"Each author brings an unmistakable voice to the humorous, lighthearted storytelling, affirming that Black people are not a monolith. Every character and every chapter celebrates Black culture through language, fashion and individuality." - Shelf Awareness

"Rich with intersectional queer representation and light with banter, humor, and even philosophy, this beautiful collaboration hits different from your typical romance novel, ultimately evoking the warmth of greater connection, community, and belonging." - Booklist (starred review)

"Working together to deliver a fantastic mix of humor and romance, these authors offer something fun and lighthearted that is welcome during the continuing pandemic and that will bring joy long after it’s over." - Kirkus Reviews

"Six stories of romance from six Black young adult authors set this collaborative novel apart, with the tales, all set during a (fictional) summer blackout affecting all of New York City, intertwining as the characters make their way toward a block party in Brooklyn... An easy, entertaining summer read, with each author taking advantage of the premise to write into the underserved space of Black young adult rom-com." - Horn Book Magazine

"There’s plenty to smile, sigh, or swoon at here, and readers will happily keep the lights on to see these charming romances to the end." - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

"Readers in search of joyful stories of young Black love will adore Blackout." - Bookpage (starred review)

"In Blackout, young Black love with all its insecurities, mistakes, emotion, honesty, and humanity makes for a lush read. Even amidst their fears, these characters are wonderfully respectful of each other's choices. You will root for them all to find their own right love at their own right time. And though it was written for young adults, Blackout is a must-read for all generations." - NPR

"Young Black love glows throughout this collaboration by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, which follows six couples through a summer blackout in New York City... As each teen makes their way home, this joyful collaboration brings a necessary elation to stories of Black love, queer love, and alternative forms of affection, all of which are all tenderly highlighted in these narratives." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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More Romance

More Young Adult Fiction

More African American & Black

More United States

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More Lifestyles / City & Town Life

More LGBTQ+

More Emotions & Feelings

More Social Themes

More Religion & Faith

More Coming of Age

More Friendship

More Religious

More Dating & Sex