Lex With The Text

Some books grab your heart from page one.
Zeal by Morgan Jerkins doesn’t just grab, it holds you tenderly and doesn’t let go.😍
 
I finished reading it in June and it’s still sitting with me. The kind of novel where you’ll keep turning pages b/c you NEED to know what happens, but also want to pause and just sit with these characters a little longer. 🥹
Spanning over 150 years, Jerkins traces two love stories, one rooted in 1865 Mississippi, the other unfolding in contemporary Harlem. Jerkins weaves a multigenerational tale about romantic love, ancestral love, self-love, and the hard-won, often incomplete love we try to give and receive through generational trauma.

We meet Tirzah and Harrison, newly freed, as they try to find each other again after emancipation. The circumstances that pull them apart are cruel but real. And then generations later, we meet Ardelia and Oliver, whose love story is tangled up in the echoes of that past. When Oliver gifts her a letter from his ancestor, that letter becomes the emotional bridge between centuries.
There are so many layers here. Black love, legacy, the cost of silence, the tenderness and trauma passed down through bloodlines. The writing is gorgeous but grounded, literary without being inaccessible. Every era felt authentic and alive. And the characters? So human. Flawed, loving, scared, courageous. Jerkins lets them be messy and beautiful and complicated, especially the women. You feel their ache and their agency.

If you’re someone who loves dual timelines, layered historical fiction with emotional weight, or stories that feel sacred, Zeal is absolutely for you. It reminded me why I love reading in the first place.

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

POLL: Have you read Zeal yet?

HOUSTON! I’m so excited to be moderating an unforgettable author talk with filmmaker this Monday, July 7 at 7 PM CST at the historic presented by my beloved bookstore!

We’ll be celebrating the release of his debut novel The Best Man: Unfinished Business, a continuation of the iconic Best Man film and TV series we all know and love. 🎬📚

This smart, sexy, and soulful book picks up with Harper, Jordan, Robyn, and the crew, offering a heartfelt reckoning with love, purpose, friendship, and second chances. Think grown folks love, plot twists, and emotional depth—with all the charm and humor you expect from this franchise.

📚 WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ In-person conversation with Malcolm D. Lee moderated by yours truly
✨ Each paid ticket includes a pre-signed copy of the book
✨ Signature cocktails by

🗓 Date: Monday, July 7th!
🕖 Time: 7 PM CST (Doors open at 6 PM)
📍 Location: The Eldorado Ballroom, 2310 Elgin St., Houston, TX
🎟 Tickets & details: Eventbrite via or thebestmanbooks.com

This is your chance to meet a legend, talk craft and culture, and celebrate the legacy of The Best Man, now entering its literary era. Bring a friend, bring the crew, and get ready for a night of nostalgia, love, and Black excellence. 🖤

POLL: you coming or nah?

How similar is our taste in books?

I finally joined the “How Similar Is Our Taste in Books?” challenge! I picked 36 books I loved or am excited to read soon.

+10 points if you’ve read it
+5 points if it’s on your TBR

Tally up your score and let me know in the comments! Which ones have you read? Which ones are your favorites?