Hey, beautiful readers! It’s been a minute, ain’t it? First of all, if you are reading this, I appreciate you. And if you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, well, let’s just say I’ve been having a little fallback era – and it’s been liberating. So, pull up a chair, grab your favorite drink, and let’s talk about why I’ve pretty much DNF’ed the social media game.

First things first, let’s address my last Tiktok video (or not because I SAID WHAT I SAID). It really was a joke, but have you ever felt like you’re stuck in a loop, seeing the same book recommendations on that app over and over again (no matter who you follow btw)? Or was it just me? Don’t get me wrong; I love diving into a good read, but it started to feel like people were all reading from the same shelf (especially in the Black Fantasy genre, but more on that in a later post). And speaking of shelves, where’s the diversity? It’s disheartening to scroll through popular book lists (Goodreads) and see such a blatant lack of Black representation. Our stories matter, and it’s past time for our voices to be heard.

But let’s get real for a minute – posting on Instagram and TikTok just ain’t hitting the same anymore. Remember when it used to be fun, like a virtual hangout with your besties? Now, it feels more like a chore, with the pressure to curate the perfect aesthetic and churn out engaging content non-stop. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of living up to unrealistic standards and competing with fakeness. What happened to the authenticity? Where’s the raw, unfiltered (and non-performative) content?

So, what’s next for me? I’ll be here at She Reads Black Books, but will definitely be embracing life beyond the confines of social media. I’ll be reading the Blackest books I can find, discovering and rediscovering hobbies that bring me genuine joy, and reconnecting with the world around me. And let me tell you, so far it has been empowering. Besides interacting with my followers, I really don’t miss social media at all.

To my followers, I see you. I hear you. I’m here for you. And I will still have the superior Black book recs for you. Because our voices are powerful, our stories are beautiful, and our presence is enough.

So here’s to living life on our own terms, unapologetically and unbothered. Cheers to my fallback era – it’s been amazing, but I won’t stay away too long. And who knows? Maybe I’ll see you around, spreading love and positivity in the real world. Until then, stay blessed, stay beautiful, and stay true to you.

With peace and love,
Cherree (@ireadblackbooks)