Celestial | Friday Black
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Friday Black
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
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A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“An unbelievable debut, one that announces a new and necessary American voice.”— New York Times Book Review
The acclaimed debut collection from the author of Chain Gang All Stars; a piercingly raw and, at times, heartbreakingly satirical look at what it’s like to be young and Black in America.
From the start of this extraordinary debut, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s writing will grab you, haunt you, enrage and invigorate you. By placing ordinary characters in extraordinary situations, Adjei-Brenyah reveals the violence, injustice, and painful absurdities that Black men and women contend with every day in this country.
These stories tackle urgent instances of racism and cultural unrest, and explore the many ways we fight for humanity in an unforgiving world.
In “The Finkelstein Five,” Adjei-Brenyah gives us an unforgettable reckoning of the brutal prejudice of our justice system.
In “Zimmer Land,” we see a far-too-easy-to-believe imagining of racism as sport.
“Friday Black” and “How to Sell a Jacket as Told by Ice King” show the horrors of consumerism and the toll it takes on us all.
Entirely fresh in its style and perspective, and sure to appeal to fans of Colson Whitehead, Marlon James, and George Saunders, Friday Black confronts readers with a complicated, insistent, wrenching chorus of emotions, the final note of which, remarkably, is hope.
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Posts about this title from Celestial
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 15
what’s your favorite episode of Black Mirror?
💭 what’s your favorite episode of Black Mirror?
here are some dystopian, science fiction style stories that feel like they could be adapted into Black Mirror episodes at any moment!
📚 books mentioned: - These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma - Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
👗💄: - dress is from Farm Rio, rented from Nuuly - earrings are from Art by Mesoma - eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite and Ellis Atlantis Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics - eyeliner is Vegan Longwear Eyeliner (Minty) from Pacifica Beauty - lip combo is Lassi Lips Staining Lip Liner (Chellam) and Lass Lips Staining Lip Oil (Sweet) from Kulfi Beauty - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Mariner Books for the gifted copy!
#blackmirror #scifibooks #dystopianbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @marinerbooks @erewhonbooks @farmrio @blendbunnycosmetics @glamlite @kulfi.beauty
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Nov 26 2025
welcome to your bookish holiday gift guide!
welcome to your bookish holiday gift guide! featuring some books that don’t get nearly as much love and appreciation as they should.
📚 books mentioned: - The Coven Tendency by Zoe Hana Mikuta - Arc of the Universe by Nikki Alexander - Detained: A Boy’s Journal of Survival and Resilience by D. Esperanza and Gerardo Iván Morales - Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - Love Be Damned by Briana Garrett - The Necessity of Rain by Sarah Chorn - Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us by Anna Malaika Tubbs - Blood Orange by Yaffa As - Death’s Country by R.M. Romero
👗💄: - dress is from CeliaB, rented from Nuuly - eyeshadow is The Grinch Shadow Stix duo from Colourpop - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Disney Hyperion, The Nerd Fam, Atria/Primero Sueño Press, Ingram, Flatiron, and Peachtree Teen for the gifted copies!
#readergiftguide #holidaygiftguide #bookrecs #bookrecommendations #fantasybooks #horrorbooks #nonfictionbooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #TheNerdFam #atriapartner #FlatironPartner #PeachtreeTeenPartner @disneybooks @thenerdfam @atriabooks @primerosuenopress @marinerbooks @ingramsparkbooks @flatiron_books @merajpublishing @peachtreeteen @nuuly @celiabdesigner @colourpopcosmetics
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Sep 13 2025
recommending books using their opening lines!!
recommending books using their opening lines!!
📚 books mentioned: - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei - The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs - Heavyweight by Solomon J. Brager - Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa - The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez - Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - When Among Crows by Veronica Roth - The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero
👗💄: - sweat set is from @comfrt - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Flatiron Books, Heartdrum, William Borrow, Berkley, Tor Books, and Peachtree Teen for the gifted copies!
#bookrecsfromfirstlines #bookfirstlines #firstlines #fantasybooks #horrorbooks #scifibooks #BerkleyPartner #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram @erewhonbooks @flatiron_books @harpercollins @williammorrowbooks @berkleypub @torbooks @marinerbooks @peachtreeteen
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Dec 7 2024
book recs to gift your horror loving reader friends!
book recs to gift your horror loving reader friends!
📚 books mentioned: - Ghostroots by ‘Pemi Aguda - The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs - I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones - Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova - Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison - Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine - Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas - The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
and before you all ask, the incredible Bunnicula shirt is from Out of Print. yes, you all need one, too!!! @outofprint
#horrorbook #horrorbookrecs #horrorbooktok #outofprint #gifted #outofprintpartner #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 18 2024
if you need to be catipulted out of reading slumpy numbness, try this short story collection! it won’t disappoint.
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 23 2024
it’s time … for more pickle book recs! 🥒 a pickle book is a book that leaves you with a sour aftertaste … but in a positive way.
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jan 20 2024
one star reviews of books i loved!
which one convinced you the most? 😉
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Posts about this book from across Bindery
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 15
what’s your favorite episode of Black Mirror?
💭 what’s your favorite episode of Black Mirror?
here are some dystopian, science fiction style stories that feel like they could be adapted into Black Mirror episodes at any moment!
📚 books mentioned: - These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma - Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
thank you to Mariner Books for the gifted copy!
#blackmirror #scifibooks #dystopianbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @marinerbooks @erewhonbooks @farmrio @blendbunnycosmetics @glamlite @kulfi.beauty
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Nov 26 2025
welcome to your bookish holiday gift guide!
welcome to your bookish holiday gift guide! featuring some books that don’t get nearly as much love and appreciation as they should.
thank you to Disney Hyperion, The Nerd Fam, Atria/Primero Sueño Press, Ingram, Flatiron, and Peachtree Teen for the gifted copies!
9 books
2
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Sep 13 2025
recommending books using their opening lines!!
recommending books using their opening lines!!
👗💄: - sweat set is from @comfrt - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Flatiron Books, Heartdrum, William Borrow, Berkley, Tor Books, and Peachtree Teen for the gifted copies!
9 books
Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Feb 17 2025
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Black Authors Who I Think History Will Remember
I started this post as a Bluesky thread a few days ago, but I realized I needed more space than a social media post would allow. So here are some of my favorite Black authors! Enjoy!!!
27 books
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Dec 7 2024
book recs to gift your horror loving reader friends!
book recs to gift your horror loving reader friends!
and before you all ask, the incredible Bunnicula shirt is from Out of Print. yes, you all need one, too!!! @outofprint
#horrorbook #horrorbookrecs #horrorbooktok #outofprint #gifted #outofprintpartner #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 18 2024
if you need to be catipulted out of reading slumpy numbness, try this short story collection! it won’t disappoint.
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sunny thoughts\ \ Sunny\ \ • Mar 20 2024
Join for free
\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://sunnythoughts.binderybooks.com/item/1hqIAtlFRMrS3Q0SPtVS/)
book recs if you like Black Mirror
hi Bindery friends!! hope you enjoy this rec list video :)
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 23 2024
it’s time … for more pickle book recs! 🥒 a pickle book is a book that leaves you with a sour aftertaste … but in a positive way.
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jan 20 2024
one star reviews of books i loved!
which one convinced you the most? 😉
9 books