April 16, 2025 • 29 mins
In the bookish space, readers tend to incorrectly categorize Black stories. It’s important that we understand the differences between genres and subgenres of Black literature. Join us for an great conversation with Aniya, known as the Well Read Pharmacist, as we break down the nuanced world of urban fiction, urban romance, Black contemporary romance, and urban erotica.
Aniya, also known as The Well Read Pharmacist, is a pharmacist and avid reader from New Orleans, Louisiana. She loves escaping into a good book, especially within the romance and thriller genres!
In this episode, we're discussing:
- Urban Fiction vs. Urban Romance: Learn the critical differences between these often-confused genres
- Discover why not all Black books are "urban" and why that matters
- Explore recommended authors across urban fiction, romance, and erotica subgenres
- Understand the importance of reading diverse Black literature
- Get insider recommendations from a passionate book lover and pharmacist
Expand your reading horizons by exploring these rich, diverse genres. Challenge your assumptions, support Black authors, and dive into stories that represent complex, multifaceted Black experiences.
CONNECT WITH ANIYA:
BOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED:
Instagram Post from The Well Read Pharmacist
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah (Amazon)
Carl Weber (Amazon)
Nikki Clarke (Amazon)
Vickie M. Stringer (Amazon)
The Cartel Series by Ashley and Jaquavis (Amazon)
Murder Mamas by Ashley and Jaquavis (Amazon)
T’Lyn (Amazon)
Shvonne Latrice (Amazon)
To The Only Thug I’ll Ever Love by K.L. Hall (Amazon)
My Little Love by Charae Lewis (Amazon)
When a Gangsta Calls by Lex C. (Amazon)
Alexandria House (Episode | Amazon)
Alex Warren (Amazon)
Christina C. Jones (Amazon)
Marlee Rae (Amazon)
Bailey West (Amazon)
Tiye Love (Amazon)
Dria Andersen (Amazon | Episode)
Natavia (Amazon)
Jade Royal (Amazon)
Katrina Jackson (Amazon)
Running list of books mentioned (Doc)
Thank you for listening to the We Read Smut Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag @WeReadSmut. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast.
Connect with Alesia:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Alesia Galati (00:00):
Urban fiction, urban romance, urban erotica.
(00:03):
Oh, my. We are talking all abouturban books today with Anaya,
also known as the well readpharmacist, we are going to be
diving into the differences, aswell as some great
recommendations for each ofthese sub genres today, listener
(00:25):
discretion is advised. Thispodcast contains mature content
intended for adult audiencesonly. Hello, Anaya, I am so
excited today on this show to behere. This is gonna be so much
fun. You are the well readpharmacist. And I told you when
(00:46):
we first got on, I've beenstalking you for quite some time
now, and when I thought of thispodcast and like how I wanted to
format it, I was like, I have tohave an eye on this show. So I'm
so excited that you said, yes.
So to get us started, if youcould let me know a bit about
your reading, your adult readingjourney, how you got into it.
(01:07):
I've always been a reader, evenas a child, but I kind of fell
off when I got to college,because I was a science major
and I had to study all the time,and when I got to pharmacy
school, reading was impossible.
There was no way to readanything but about drugs in
pharmacy school. So when Igraduated and I got my first
(01:29):
job, I was like,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (01:31):
I can read now. I can read in
peace. I don't have to study, Idon't do anything. I can just
read for fun. And I want to sayabout a year into being a
pharmacist, I was like, Maybe Ishould start something. And I
that's how the well readpharmacist was born, just under
my love of books with everyoneand meet people who also love
(01:52):
books.
Alesia Galati (01:54):
Yeah, when did was that around for you? So
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (01:58):
I would say about 2020. 2021, I so
I've been on Instagram for halfa decade. Getting up there, you
Alesia Galati (02:07):
know, feels like it, yeah, it's really
interesting. Because, like, Ithink back to when 15 shades of
gray first came out. And my momwas like, girl, you need to read
this. And I was like, Ill mom,like, I know what that's about.
Ew, read a book. Why don't
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmaci (02:28):
you?
I'm like, girl, you don't needto read stuff like that. Go get
you some women's fiction and sitdown.
Alesia Galati (02:35):
But I was so judgey. And then I feel like
around like 2019 to 2021. Iswhen a lot of especially
millennials, were like, Man, Ineed to read something. Let me
get back to my love of readingthat I had when I was little,
because this whole reading forself development is not it at
(02:59):
all.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (02:59):
Oh, I need to read for fun and to
get lost in the books. I want tobe in a different world. I don't
want to be present. I want to begone somewhere fictional,
probably with lots of action,hot action, little sex going on,
Alesia Galati (03:11):
all that stuff.
Yes, give me all this money.
Yes, I'm here for it. That's sogood. So you did a post, and it
was back in August of 2024talking through this difference
between urban fiction, urbanromance and contemporary
(03:32):
romance. What was the reasoningbehind you wanting to create
this post
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmaci (03:38):
just full transparency, like I was
just very annoyed with peoplecalling all Black Books urban.
They're not all urban, andthat's okay. Black people, we
speak in a certain dialect, soif they're speaking in A, A, B,
E in the books, and they couldbe a physician or a dentist,
they're not kingpins, they're aphysician or a dentist, and just
(04:00):
because they're black doesn'tmake them urban. So I just, I
try to see them on tick tock.
I'm like, oh my god, I'm aboutto pull my hair out. This is not
an urban romance. This is acontemporary romance. Like these
characters, nine to five, theygo home. That's it. They're not
in the streets for selling drugsdoing they're not doing any of
that. They're just going home,and that's all. I feel
Alesia Galati (04:23):
like you wouldn't see that so much on Bookstagram,
because I feel like we're alittle more professional over
here. Yeah, but book talk is awild wild west,
Aniya @TheWellReadP (04:35):
definitely.
That's why I saw the post that Iwas like, Okay, you guys like,
no, let's go to the beginning,and let's talk about these
differences, because y'all don'tknow them.
Alesia Galati (04:46):
So why don't you tell us, what are those
differences between the urbanversus contemporary so
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmac (04:55):
urban romance is like, basically, he's
a kingpin. He's adult boy. Hesells drugs. He's a stick up
kid. He does all these things,and he's on the streets day and
night. That's his role. But heis the most loving and caring
and protective male maincharacter ever, like he loves
his woman. That is his main goalof life, is to love on his
(05:17):
woman, but he will unalivepeople if necessary. And that's
what I love about urban romancecontemporaries, just like what I
just said, it's like they haveregular jobs. They're regular
people, but they just speak inAAVE. That's just it, just our
regular love for between black,between two Black main
(05:40):
character, that's all it is.
Alesia Galati (05:43):
Yeah, I think that's such an important
distinction, because justbecause the characters of black
or talk in a certain vernaculardoes not mean that it all of a
sudden gets slumped into acollection
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmaci (05:58):
box.
Yeah. No, it's not an urbanbook, it's not it's a
contemporary book. And that'sokay. We have different genres
for a reason. I just want peopleto be aware of that, because I
guess it's like generalizing allblack people, very
stereotypical, like use thembecause people talk a certain
way, they're uneducated, andstuff like that. And it's just a
(06:18):
it's a difference between thesebooks. And I think that if we
learned about the books that weread, learn what they're about,
their things, their genres,book, talk and book to them,
might be a better place. Justhave to go back to the drawing
board and let like you're nevertoo old to learn more about
(06:39):
stuff, and I'm constantlylearning every day, so for
Alesia Galati (06:43):
sure. So what are some you mentioned like in your
post, the fiction versus theromance? For the uninitiated,
like, Wait, urban has a fiction,but urban has a romance. What do
you
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmac (06:57):
mean?
It does have Alma fiction, soit's just like women's fiction,
not just like it, but like anexample. So urban fiction is
gritty history. It's drugdealers, it's gang bangers,
stuff like that. And there is noromance. These are not fairy
tale stories, and they tend tohave very heavy topics in them.
So I always tell people likejust be aware before you dive
(07:20):
in, because things that arewritten on page can be very
upsetting. But yeah, there's nolove. There are no spark flying
books. It's just Street. It'sjust greed. That's all it is.
Alesia Galati (07:37):
Yeah, and then romance has to have that happily
ever after romance, therelationship between the main
characters, however many theremay be, is the main point of the
storyline, and it would makesense that the fiction would be
different than the romance. Andcan you give us some examples of
(07:59):
if we're like, wait a minute,I'm interested in this urban
fiction where we're maybe not inthe mood for romance, but we
want that gritty. What are someexamples you might have of ones
that you read and enjoyed? Ialways tell everybody to start
with the coldest winter ever,like that is your foot in the
door to urban fiction, and it'sa heavy read, but if you want to
(08:22):
see what urban fiction is,that's the book to start with,
definitely
Aniya @TheWellReadPhar (08:26):
anything by Carl Weber, Nikki Clark,
Vicki Stringer, any of the olderurban fiction authors who were
hot like in the early 2000sthose even Ashley Antoinette and
her husband. Doc, cue this, likethe car child theories, like all
of those books, urban murder,mamas, anything like that, will
(08:48):
get you get your foot into thedoor where urban fiction
awesome,
Alesia Galati (08:52):
and then when you're thinking urban romance.
So I can't say I've read a lotof urban romance, maybe one or
two novellas sprinkled in hereor there. But I remember being
at soccer practice with one ofmy kids. This was like, maybe
over a year ago now, and I wastalking to another mom, and she
(09:15):
was like, Yeah, girl, I love toread. And I was like, what books
are you reading? She's like, Iread street romance, I was like,
Oh, I don't I read the otherstuff so I don't have any
recommendations, just becauseI'm always open to here, let me
give you recommendations forbooks. But then it got me
realizing that I wasn't readingany at all, and I was like, let
(09:38):
me go check out the top blackromances in Amazon, because I
know that there's going to besome, as she said, street
romance in there.
Aniya @TheWellReadPha (09:51):
Honestly, from like an envy perspective, I
will start with T win. All ofher books, the majority of them
are street romance to the core.
So. Definitely her Shavon,Latrice, any of her books, they
are hilarious, as well as streetromance. KL Hall has quite a
few. My favorite by kl Hall isso the only thug I've ever loved
(10:13):
that book is amazing. 10 out of10 my little love, by Cheri
Lewis, went against the calls byLexi. There are so many like, I
can go on and on, but I won't dothat today.
Alesia Galati (10:28):
No, I love that because, like, you're able to
just be like, off top your head.
Here you go, here you go, hereyou go. And then when I think
contemporary black romance, thatis probably one of my most read
sub genres last year, and whenwe say black romance, let us
clarify that both of the maincharacters are black. Yes, both
(10:50):
of them, because it's not ablack romance, if they're not
both black, exactly, that issomething that gets thrown
around. We're like, Oh yeah,it's a black Roman. It's and
it's like, one was the authorambiguous about what the person
(11:11):
looked like? Were they usinglanguage that you're like,
maybe, maybe
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (11:19):
not like? Are they not black?
Because I really can't tell.
Just so you guys, if a white manis on the cover with a black
lady, it's not a black romance.
That's it. It's not a person ofcolor with a black person.
That's not a black romance. Ifboth of the characters are
black, it's a what? It's a blackromance. Yes, that's another
(11:39):
issue bet we seem to be having,but hopefully people will learn
soon. I hope so.
Alesia Galati (11:46):
But it is learning right? Like I was
talking to a friend recently,and she had listened to one of
our episodes where I talkedabout tropes, and I was talking
about how we don't use the wordreverse trope anymore because
it's sexist, and instead, justsay it's an age gap and she's
older like you don't have to saya reverse age gap or a reverse
(12:08):
grumpy sunshine, because thenit's what about sexualities and
why? Why can't she be grumpy?
Man, I'm grumpy.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (12:16):
If I don't have coffee, do not talk
to me the entire day. Not speak.
To me.
Alesia Galati (12:24):
I had co workers.
I used to work in manufacturing,and I'd get in at 630 and I'd
have to drive an hour in, and Iwouldn't have my coffee until I
got to work. And so I'd get towork, I'd pour my coffee, I'd
sit at my desk, and the guyswould come around the corner,
and they'd peek and see, oh, no,she's working on her coffee.
(12:46):
Okay? And they'd walk away.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmaci (12:49):
They just have to give you some time
like, oh, let's, let's let herenjoy her first cup of the day.
And then we can ask her anything
Alesia Galati (12:56):
that sometimes, if I was having a really bad
day, and it was clear becauseeverybody was getting the
business, I would find aSnickers on my desk.
Unknown (13:08):
Did it work? Did I help?
Alesia Galati (13:10):
It? Did it did help? I was like, Thanks, guys.
Appreciate it. But yes, I couldbe grumpy too. It's fine, but
like, she's been in the onlinespace and the Bookstagram space
and reading for a long time, butjust never really realized that
this is something that we wouldhad shifted in the way that we
(13:32):
talk about these things. And sothat's why I want to have these
conversation is because I feellike so often, a lot of these
conversations happen betweenbookish people in the DMS or in
the comments, and then youreveryday readers like, Oops, I
didn't mean it. I didn't know Idid it wrong. Yeah, so trying to
(13:57):
help them out, but that's whywe're here so black contemporary
romance. We're talking a lot ofKennedy Ryan, not all right,
which is important, not all, buta lot of it all. And Alexandria
house,
Aniya @TheWellReadPh (14:14):
Alexandria house, Alex Warren, Christina C
Jones, even some that y'all maynot know. I have Marley Ray, I
have Bailey West, I have Tylove. There are so many. Again,
I could go on. No,
Alesia Galati (14:30):
there's so many good authors. And I think that
one, it's important to readdiversely, right? And to read if
you are black and that's yourculture, read your people, and
then, if you're not, read thosepeople as well, yeah, that's
all. It's so stinking important.
And I find that so often peopletend to go toward the more
(14:53):
interracial. But I think thatthere's so much. Beauty in
finding those black romances.
And I was talking about thiswith Drea about her books. Drea
Anderson, we were talking abouther before we press record, that
one thing I love about her booksis that her men always have
(15:15):
their shit together before theyget to their woman. And I was
like, Why did you do that? Andshe told me, and I was like, I
also think that it's goodbecause it shows that black men
can have their shit together,right? So we can see this
reflected in such a reallypowerful way that the girl can't
be a bit messy, and it doesn'thave to be the guy trying to get
(15:38):
his shit together, and thatthere are great black men in the
world, because there are, yes,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (15:46):
I think Black romance tends to
show that side of black people,like we are all worthy of love,
we are all worthy of kindness,love, respect, princess,
treatment, whatever, we alldeserve it. And I'm happy that
these books can showcase that,because some people think that
black people don't deserve allthis, but we do. We deserve our
(16:08):
fairy tales like everybody else.
Alesia Galati (16:10):
Yeah, and that's the power of reading fiction and
romance, especially becauseobviously we love romance here,
but reading things that are notbased in quote, unquote, real
life, because you can get intothe mind of the person's lived
experience. Yes, and especiallyif it's written by a person
(16:33):
who's sharing their own culture,their own story. It's an Own
Voices book, then you're goingto get even a deeper level of
this. And that's why a lot ofthe times when I'm looking and
I'm seeing, Oh, there's acharacter on that cover that is
black, cool, let me go check outthis author's backlog. Always,
(16:53):
because I'm like, is it thefirst black person they wrote?
Or do they tend to write? Yeah,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmaci (16:59):
that is, I tend to stay away from
those. I got other thingsbefore. Yeah, I'm gonna go read
the people who've been writingback. Yes,
Alesia Galati (17:10):
I think that it's so, so important. But yes, you
gave some great recommendationsfor those contemporary ones. I
love that there's also erotica,right, which you mentioned in
your post, and I was trying toexplain erotica to my husband,
(17:30):
Mr. We read smut. He's acelebrity here on the show, as
well as on my Instagram. Peoplelove him because he's a
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmac (17:39):
funny guy. He's a funny guy. Yes, I
saw those text messages, sir. Isaw those messages
Alesia Galati (17:46):
every but I tell him beforehand, hey, I'm sharing
these. Or is that okay? And he'slike, Yeah, everybody can know
my business, but I was trying toexplain to him the difference
between romance and erotica. Sofor our listeners, could you
give us the lowdown
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (18:02):
or so erotica? Great and simple.
It's just sex. It's sex out thegate. There is no plot. The plot
is sex. On the second page,they're probably having sex.
There is no build up. There's nodating. These people are going
to hunch immediately that that'serotica in a nutshell.
Alesia Galati (18:24):
Yes, I like to think of it, and this is the way
I explained it to him, is inromance, you can take the sex
out and still have a great lovestory, absolutely. Whereas if
you take the sex out of erotica,you have no story.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (18:42):
We have nothing. It's never like,
Oh, hey, hi. You know the bookis over. Like, no, which sounds
boring to me. Definitely soundsboring. It's like, what the hell
is this? We've
Alesia Galati (18:54):
got some erotica as well. Are there any urban
eroticas? So keeping that kindof words together, urban
meaning, they are drug dealers.
They've got that thug life goingon. And then erotica. What are
some good recommendations forthat combo?
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (19:14):
Oh, I would definitely recommend
Nicole Jackson's urban eroticasDefinitely and they're messy.
Oh, they're gonna get hunchingand mess. Okay, let me give you
two of my favorite by her. It'scalled take it down. It's a two
part series. And also, we haveyou ever made love to thugs? By
(19:35):
Misha, nice. He just gets out ofjail. They're into BDSM. It's a
good time.
Alesia Galati (19:43):
I do love BDSM good time. So we got some
recommendations there as well.
If someone is hesitant to dabblein because they're like, Oh,
I've maybe only read.
Contemporary, and I thought Iwas reading urban honey.
(20:03):
Weren't, but they're interestedin starting to dabble in what is
like. One author that you'relike, This is a good starter
author, I would say maybe
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (20:13):
try with Talena Tillman first. Okay,
anything by her. Try with SelenaTillman. But if you want the
mess, just keep reading. Juststart with her and just go
forth. It'll unlock a whole newworld of authors for you.
Alesia Galati (20:30):
I love it. I'm curious. Now, is there any and
no, we have the genre, the subgenre, urban fantasy, which does
not have to do with the streetsat all, which is something
another phrasing that we use,which has to do with a fantasy
(20:51):
setting that is in our moderntimes. So think something like
Percy Jackson, where it'smystical and it's fantastical,
but it's set in a modern societyof what we know. And of course,
there's tons of erotic books andromance books that I could
recommend based on that. But arethere any that you know of that
(21:14):
are the urban we're talkingabout, but dabble into other sub
genres like paranormal orfantasy.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (21:24):
I'm glad you asked that there are
quite a few paranormal books. Ihave a post for that too. I
would say natavia is a reallygood author to start with. I
love natavia. You can do bloodbully, vampires, roars. Shape
shifters, Jade royal, anything,hair catalog. Shape shifters.
(21:50):
Nikki Clark, alien lovers again.
Shape shifters, whatever youwant. Christina C Jones also has
a vampire book. Nice KatrinaJackson has one, but it's like
the main characters making loveto her husband's ghost. So there
are plenty of books written byblack authors that you may or
(22:16):
you may not know, like theydabble in everything, like we're
not a monolith. You will findeverything you're looking for in
a black author. Honestly,
Alesia Galati (22:26):
it's so true. And I honestly having black authors
being the most that I've read inthe last year, because I track
all that stuff, because I liketo be super aware of what I'm
reading and where I'm spendingmy money and my time that I have
not missed reading a lot of theother authors that I did read
(22:50):
back in say, 2020 2021 even 2022I do not miss those authors as
at all, and I see them come outwith new books, and I'm like,
no, maybe later, maybe never.
It's fine, like some of them.
And I think that's one thingthat I have where I am not
(23:12):
someone who can reread a book.
So I see my friends do that.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (23:17):
I have not friends do it too. I
just, I can't I have to read. Ijust have to keep going. I can't
go backwards. I have to goforward.
Alesia Galati (23:25):
Yes, and there's authors that I want to reread,
right? I want to rereadELIZABETH STEVENS and Alexandria
house and just reread all theirbooks. But I'm like, okay, maybe
I listened to the audiobookinstead of reading the book,
because I read it the first timearound. Now I can listen to the
audiobook. I don't know. We'llsee what I do. But I also have,
(23:45):
like, tons of books on my TBRthat I want to get through.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (23:48):
PBR is never ending. It's never
done. Yes, I actually
Alesia Galati (23:52):
deleted my TBR at the beginning of this year, and
it was quite a relief, honestly.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharma (24:00):
That's honestly a good idea. I'm a mood
reader, so I just go where thewing goes. One day I could be in
the mood for, like, romance. Thenext, I'm like, oh, let's read
about serial killers. You justYou never know with me, you just
never know. I
Alesia Galati (24:12):
love that. Yeah, I'm a mood reader, but mostly
for romance. And so I am readingthree books right now. Oh, one
is a and I'm so what I'm readingon my phone, and that is Bedlam
by Jack Whitney. That's a whiteauthor, but it's a sapphic
romance, and it is a stalkerwho's also her bodyguard with a
(24:35):
rock star drummer, and it's verymessy with addiction, and
because it's rock and roll, alot of stalking, there's a
little bit of suspense in thebackground, like there's another
person who's doing stuff, whoyou're like, what's going on,
but it's 700 pages, so I'mreading that on my phone, I
(24:56):
know, and I don't like to readbig books, but Jack, right? Such
good books, so I have to readthis book. So that one I'm
reading on my phone. I'm at theend of darling Nicky by Kenya,
gory bell. And that one is aColombian and no, sorry,
Brazilian and white male maincharacter and a black female
(25:19):
main character. And he is avillain. He is terrible, and
she's just trying to exist inhis world. And it is so good and
messy. And then I'm reading, orsorry I'm listening to you made
a fool of death with your beautyby a walk. It em messy. I'm
(25:43):
butchering the name terribly,and I apologize if you're
listening, but that one is avery popular book, and so I
borrowed that from the library.
Very different, like, genres,right? Like, so that's my thing,
is that, like, I can't bereading two of the same types of
books? Oh,
Unknown (26:03):
no, absolutely not.
Yeah. Because then
Alesia Galati (26:05):
I start Wait, well, where were we and who's
doing what? Okay, so,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmac (26:10):
like, I'm reading an urban thriller
right now. It's like urbanerotic and thriller almost I'm
reading, I'm actually reading abook by a white author, a Marnie
man, the Playboy. It's reallygood. And what else am I
reading? I think I'm gonna starta historical fiction book
tomorrow. Not really sure. We'llsee. We'll see who's it by. What
(26:32):
are you thinking? So I actuallyhave an arc for Dolan Perkins
Valdez her upcoming novel HappyLand. I love her, so I'm excited
to dive into that. So I willprobably start that this week
sometime. But the eroticthriller I'm reading is called
the hunt. The mailman character.
He's a serial killer. Okay,spoiler alert, serial killer who
(26:52):
analyzed women during sex afterthe orgasm. It's very dark.
Yeah, very dark. Read thetrigger warnings. But when I
first started, I was like, Whatthe hell is this? What have I
got into?
Alesia Galati (27:11):
I'm curious now, so you mentioned reading
thrillers. You mentioned readingjust a lot of variety. What is
your favorite genre, a curse subgenre across that. Oh,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (27:25):
my goodness, that's such a hard
question. Jesus, what's yourcomfort?
Alesia Galati (27:30):
How about that?
So as a mood reader, what's yourcomfort? I would definitely
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (27:34):
say maybe urban romance. Because,
like, anytime I'm like, I don'tknow what to read. I'm like, oh,
take them to the streets withsomebody who's gonna un alive,
another person on behalf of hiswife, that that that's me. Yep,
yes. Let's see some of that onpage.
Alesia Galati (27:53):
I love it. Yeah.
Oh, that's so good. This hasbeen awesome. Anaya. Thank you
so much for being on andeducating us on these
differences. I appreciate it,and I know people are gonna get
some one some greatrecommendations from this
episode, but also some moreinformation that they probably
(28:16):
didn't know before around thesedifferences. So if someone's
like, Yes, I need morerecommendations like this. Where
can they find you? Get to knowyou and hang out with you on
social media.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (28:31):
You can find me on Instagram at the
well read pharmacists. And I'malso on threads. The same name I
like to talk, so I'm always onthreads. If you want to talk to
me. Just send me a littlethread, or you could DM me. I
don't care, I'll be there.
Alesia Galati (28:47):
Yes, I love checking out the things that
you're sharing on threads,because you always have an
opinion on it. And I'm like,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmac (28:52):
Yeah, I agree. Unfortunately, I cannot
shut up. So y'all will continueto get these opinions. I tried
to be quiet, but I'm like, Youknow what? No,
Alesia Galati (29:03):
somebody's got to say it.
Unknown (29:06):
I'll say it. I'll be the one I don't care.
Alesia Galati (29:09):
Love it. Thank you so much. I appreciate you.
Unknown (29:12):
No problem.
You.
Urban fiction, urban romance, urban erotica.
(00:03):
Oh, my. We are talking all abouturban books today with Anaya,
also known as the well readpharmacist, we are going to be
diving into the differences, aswell as some great
recommendations for each ofthese sub genres today, listener
(00:25):
discretion is advised. Thispodcast contains mature content
intended for adult audiencesonly. Hello, Anaya, I am so
excited today on this show to behere. This is gonna be so much
fun. You are the well readpharmacist. And I told you when
(00:46):
we first got on, I've beenstalking you for quite some time
now, and when I thought of thispodcast and like how I wanted to
format it, I was like, I have tohave an eye on this show. So I'm
so excited that you said, yes.
So to get us started, if youcould let me know a bit about
your reading, your adult readingjourney, how you got into it.
(01:07):
I've always been a reader, evenas a child, but I kind of fell
off when I got to college,because I was a science major
and I had to study all the time,and when I got to pharmacy
school, reading was impossible.
There was no way to readanything but about drugs in
pharmacy school. So when Igraduated and I got my first
(01:29):
job, I was like,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (01:31):
I can read now. I can read in
peace. I don't have to study, Idon't do anything. I can just
read for fun. And I want to sayabout a year into being a
pharmacist, I was like, Maybe Ishould start something. And I
that's how the well readpharmacist was born, just under
my love of books with everyoneand meet people who also love
(01:52):
books.
Alesia Galati (01:54):
Yeah, when did was that around for you? So
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (01:58):
I would say about 2020. 2021, I so
I've been on Instagram for halfa decade. Getting up there, you
Alesia Galati (02:07):
know, feels like it, yeah, it's really
interesting. Because, like, Ithink back to when 15 shades of
gray first came out. And my momwas like, girl, you need to read
this. And I was like, Ill mom,like, I know what that's about.
Ew, read a book. Why don't
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmaci (02:28):
you?
I'm like, girl, you don't needto read stuff like that. Go get
you some women's fiction and sitdown.
Alesia Galati (02:35):
But I was so judgey. And then I feel like
around like 2019 to 2021. Iswhen a lot of especially
millennials, were like, Man, Ineed to read something. Let me
get back to my love of readingthat I had when I was little,
because this whole reading forself development is not it at
(02:59):
all.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (02:59):
Oh, I need to read for fun and to
get lost in the books. I want tobe in a different world. I don't
want to be present. I want to begone somewhere fictional,
probably with lots of action,hot action, little sex going on,
Alesia Galati (03:11):
all that stuff.
Yes, give me all this money.
Yes, I'm here for it. That's sogood. So you did a post, and it
was back in August of 2024talking through this difference
between urban fiction, urbanromance and contemporary
(03:32):
romance. What was the reasoningbehind you wanting to create
this post
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmaci (03:38):
just full transparency, like I was
just very annoyed with peoplecalling all Black Books urban.
They're not all urban, andthat's okay. Black people, we
speak in a certain dialect, soif they're speaking in A, A, B,
E in the books, and they couldbe a physician or a dentist,
they're not kingpins, they're aphysician or a dentist, and just
(04:00):
because they're black doesn'tmake them urban. So I just, I
try to see them on tick tock.
I'm like, oh my god, I'm aboutto pull my hair out. This is not
an urban romance. This is acontemporary romance. Like these
characters, nine to five, theygo home. That's it. They're not
in the streets for selling drugsdoing they're not doing any of
that. They're just going home,and that's all. I feel
Alesia Galati (04:23):
like you wouldn't see that so much on Bookstagram,
because I feel like we're alittle more professional over
here. Yeah, but book talk is awild wild west,
Aniya @TheWellReadP (04:35):
definitely.
That's why I saw the post that Iwas like, Okay, you guys like,
no, let's go to the beginning,and let's talk about these
differences, because y'all don'tknow them.
Alesia Galati (04:46):
So why don't you tell us, what are those
differences between the urbanversus contemporary so
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmac (04:55):
urban romance is like, basically, he's
a kingpin. He's adult boy. Hesells drugs. He's a stick up
kid. He does all these things,and he's on the streets day and
night. That's his role. But heis the most loving and caring
and protective male maincharacter ever, like he loves
his woman. That is his main goalof life, is to love on his
(05:17):
woman, but he will unalivepeople if necessary. And that's
what I love about urban romancecontemporaries, just like what I
just said, it's like they haveregular jobs. They're regular
people, but they just speak inAAVE. That's just it, just our
regular love for between black,between two Black main
(05:40):
character, that's all it is.
Alesia Galati (05:43):
Yeah, I think that's such an important
distinction, because justbecause the characters of black
or talk in a certain vernaculardoes not mean that it all of a
sudden gets slumped into acollection
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmaci (05:58):
box.
Yeah. No, it's not an urbanbook, it's not it's a
contemporary book. And that'sokay. We have different genres
for a reason. I just want peopleto be aware of that, because I
guess it's like generalizing allblack people, very
stereotypical, like use thembecause people talk a certain
way, they're uneducated, andstuff like that. And it's just a
(06:18):
it's a difference between thesebooks. And I think that if we
learned about the books that weread, learn what they're about,
their things, their genres,book, talk and book to them,
might be a better place. Justhave to go back to the drawing
board and let like you're nevertoo old to learn more about
(06:39):
stuff, and I'm constantlylearning every day, so for
Alesia Galati (06:43):
sure. So what are some you mentioned like in your
post, the fiction versus theromance? For the uninitiated,
like, Wait, urban has a fiction,but urban has a romance. What do
you
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmac (06:57):
mean?
It does have Alma fiction, soit's just like women's fiction,
not just like it, but like anexample. So urban fiction is
gritty history. It's drugdealers, it's gang bangers,
stuff like that. And there is noromance. These are not fairy
tale stories, and they tend tohave very heavy topics in them.
So I always tell people likejust be aware before you dive
(07:20):
in, because things that arewritten on page can be very
upsetting. But yeah, there's nolove. There are no spark flying
books. It's just Street. It'sjust greed. That's all it is.
Alesia Galati (07:37):
Yeah, and then romance has to have that happily
ever after romance, therelationship between the main
characters, however many theremay be, is the main point of the
storyline, and it would makesense that the fiction would be
different than the romance. Andcan you give us some examples of
(07:59):
if we're like, wait a minute,I'm interested in this urban
fiction where we're maybe not inthe mood for romance, but we
want that gritty. What are someexamples you might have of ones
that you read and enjoyed? Ialways tell everybody to start
with the coldest winter ever,like that is your foot in the
door to urban fiction, and it'sa heavy read, but if you want to
(08:22):
see what urban fiction is,that's the book to start with,
definitely
Aniya @TheWellReadPhar (08:26):
anything by Carl Weber, Nikki Clark,
Vicki Stringer, any of the olderurban fiction authors who were
hot like in the early 2000sthose even Ashley Antoinette and
her husband. Doc, cue this, likethe car child theories, like all
of those books, urban murder,mamas, anything like that, will
(08:48):
get you get your foot into thedoor where urban fiction
awesome,
Alesia Galati (08:52):
and then when you're thinking urban romance.
So I can't say I've read a lotof urban romance, maybe one or
two novellas sprinkled in hereor there. But I remember being
at soccer practice with one ofmy kids. This was like, maybe
over a year ago now, and I wastalking to another mom, and she
(09:15):
was like, Yeah, girl, I love toread. And I was like, what books
are you reading? She's like, Iread street romance, I was like,
Oh, I don't I read the otherstuff so I don't have any
recommendations, just becauseI'm always open to here, let me
give you recommendations forbooks. But then it got me
realizing that I wasn't readingany at all, and I was like, let
(09:38):
me go check out the top blackromances in Amazon, because I
know that there's going to besome, as she said, street
romance in there.
Aniya @TheWellReadPha (09:51):
Honestly, from like an envy perspective, I
will start with T win. All ofher books, the majority of them
are street romance to the core.
So. Definitely her Shavon,Latrice, any of her books, they
are hilarious, as well as streetromance. KL Hall has quite a
few. My favorite by kl Hall isso the only thug I've ever loved
(10:13):
that book is amazing. 10 out of10 my little love, by Cheri
Lewis, went against the calls byLexi. There are so many like, I
can go on and on, but I won't dothat today.
Alesia Galati (10:28):
No, I love that because, like, you're able to
just be like, off top your head.
Here you go, here you go, hereyou go. And then when I think
contemporary black romance, thatis probably one of my most read
sub genres last year, and whenwe say black romance, let us
clarify that both of the maincharacters are black. Yes, both
(10:50):
of them, because it's not ablack romance, if they're not
both black, exactly, that issomething that gets thrown
around. We're like, Oh yeah,it's a black Roman. It's and
it's like, one was the authorambiguous about what the person
(11:11):
looked like? Were they usinglanguage that you're like,
maybe, maybe
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (11:19):
not like? Are they not black?
Because I really can't tell.
Just so you guys, if a white manis on the cover with a black
lady, it's not a black romance.
That's it. It's not a person ofcolor with a black person.
That's not a black romance. Ifboth of the characters are
black, it's a what? It's a blackromance. Yes, that's another
(11:39):
issue bet we seem to be having,but hopefully people will learn
soon. I hope so.
Alesia Galati (11:46):
But it is learning right? Like I was
talking to a friend recently,and she had listened to one of
our episodes where I talkedabout tropes, and I was talking
about how we don't use the wordreverse trope anymore because
it's sexist, and instead, justsay it's an age gap and she's
older like you don't have to saya reverse age gap or a reverse
(12:08):
grumpy sunshine, because thenit's what about sexualities and
why? Why can't she be grumpy?
Man, I'm grumpy.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (12:16):
If I don't have coffee, do not talk
to me the entire day. Not speak.
To me.
Alesia Galati (12:24):
I had co workers.
I used to work in manufacturing,and I'd get in at 630 and I'd
have to drive an hour in, and Iwouldn't have my coffee until I
got to work. And so I'd get towork, I'd pour my coffee, I'd
sit at my desk, and the guyswould come around the corner,
and they'd peek and see, oh, no,she's working on her coffee.
(12:46):
Okay? And they'd walk away.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmaci (12:49):
They just have to give you some time
like, oh, let's, let's let herenjoy her first cup of the day.
And then we can ask her anything
Alesia Galati (12:56):
that sometimes, if I was having a really bad
day, and it was clear becauseeverybody was getting the
business, I would find aSnickers on my desk.
Unknown (13:08):
Did it work? Did I help?
Alesia Galati (13:10):
It? Did it did help? I was like, Thanks, guys.
Appreciate it. But yes, I couldbe grumpy too. It's fine, but
like, she's been in the onlinespace and the Bookstagram space
and reading for a long time, butjust never really realized that
this is something that we wouldhad shifted in the way that we
(13:32):
talk about these things. And sothat's why I want to have these
conversation is because I feellike so often, a lot of these
conversations happen betweenbookish people in the DMS or in
the comments, and then youreveryday readers like, Oops, I
didn't mean it. I didn't know Idid it wrong. Yeah, so trying to
(13:57):
help them out, but that's whywe're here so black contemporary
romance. We're talking a lot ofKennedy Ryan, not all right,
which is important, not all, buta lot of it all. And Alexandria
house,
Aniya @TheWellReadPh (14:14):
Alexandria house, Alex Warren, Christina C
Jones, even some that y'all maynot know. I have Marley Ray, I
have Bailey West, I have Tylove. There are so many. Again,
I could go on. No,
Alesia Galati (14:30):
there's so many good authors. And I think that
one, it's important to readdiversely, right? And to read if
you are black and that's yourculture, read your people, and
then, if you're not, read thosepeople as well, yeah, that's
all. It's so stinking important.
And I find that so often peopletend to go toward the more
(14:53):
interracial. But I think thatthere's so much. Beauty in
finding those black romances.
And I was talking about thiswith Drea about her books. Drea
Anderson, we were talking abouther before we press record, that
one thing I love about her booksis that her men always have
(15:15):
their shit together before theyget to their woman. And I was
like, Why did you do that? Andshe told me, and I was like, I
also think that it's goodbecause it shows that black men
can have their shit together,right? So we can see this
reflected in such a reallypowerful way that the girl can't
be a bit messy, and it doesn'thave to be the guy trying to get
(15:38):
his shit together, and thatthere are great black men in the
world, because there are, yes,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (15:46):
I think Black romance tends to
show that side of black people,like we are all worthy of love,
we are all worthy of kindness,love, respect, princess,
treatment, whatever, we alldeserve it. And I'm happy that
these books can showcase that,because some people think that
black people don't deserve allthis, but we do. We deserve our
(16:08):
fairy tales like everybody else.
Alesia Galati (16:10):
Yeah, and that's the power of reading fiction and
romance, especially becauseobviously we love romance here,
but reading things that are notbased in quote, unquote, real
life, because you can get intothe mind of the person's lived
experience. Yes, and especiallyif it's written by a person
(16:33):
who's sharing their own culture,their own story. It's an Own
Voices book, then you're goingto get even a deeper level of
this. And that's why a lot ofthe times when I'm looking and
I'm seeing, Oh, there's acharacter on that cover that is
black, cool, let me go check outthis author's backlog. Always,
(16:53):
because I'm like, is it thefirst black person they wrote?
Or do they tend to write? Yeah,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmaci (16:59):
that is, I tend to stay away from
those. I got other thingsbefore. Yeah, I'm gonna go read
the people who've been writingback. Yes,
Alesia Galati (17:10):
I think that it's so, so important. But yes, you
gave some great recommendationsfor those contemporary ones. I
love that there's also erotica,right, which you mentioned in
your post, and I was trying toexplain erotica to my husband,
(17:30):
Mr. We read smut. He's acelebrity here on the show, as
well as on my Instagram. Peoplelove him because he's a
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmac (17:39):
funny guy. He's a funny guy. Yes, I
saw those text messages, sir. Isaw those messages
Alesia Galati (17:46):
every but I tell him beforehand, hey, I'm sharing
these. Or is that okay? And he'slike, Yeah, everybody can know
my business, but I was trying toexplain to him the difference
between romance and erotica. Sofor our listeners, could you
give us the lowdown
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (18:02):
or so erotica? Great and simple.
It's just sex. It's sex out thegate. There is no plot. The plot
is sex. On the second page,they're probably having sex.
There is no build up. There's nodating. These people are going
to hunch immediately that that'serotica in a nutshell.
Alesia Galati (18:24):
Yes, I like to think of it, and this is the way
I explained it to him, is inromance, you can take the sex
out and still have a great lovestory, absolutely. Whereas if
you take the sex out of erotica,you have no story.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (18:42):
We have nothing. It's never like,
Oh, hey, hi. You know the bookis over. Like, no, which sounds
boring to me. Definitely soundsboring. It's like, what the hell
is this? We've
Alesia Galati (18:54):
got some erotica as well. Are there any urban
eroticas? So keeping that kindof words together, urban
meaning, they are drug dealers.
They've got that thug life goingon. And then erotica. What are
some good recommendations forthat combo?
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (19:14):
Oh, I would definitely recommend
Nicole Jackson's urban eroticasDefinitely and they're messy.
Oh, they're gonna get hunchingand mess. Okay, let me give you
two of my favorite by her. It'scalled take it down. It's a two
part series. And also, we haveyou ever made love to thugs? By
(19:35):
Misha, nice. He just gets out ofjail. They're into BDSM. It's a
good time.
Alesia Galati (19:43):
I do love BDSM good time. So we got some
recommendations there as well.
If someone is hesitant to dabblein because they're like, Oh,
I've maybe only read.
Contemporary, and I thought Iwas reading urban honey.
(20:03):
Weren't, but they're interestedin starting to dabble in what is
like. One author that you'relike, This is a good starter
author, I would say maybe
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (20:13):
try with Talena Tillman first. Okay,
anything by her. Try with SelenaTillman. But if you want the
mess, just keep reading. Juststart with her and just go
forth. It'll unlock a whole newworld of authors for you.
Alesia Galati (20:30):
I love it. I'm curious. Now, is there any and
no, we have the genre, the subgenre, urban fantasy, which does
not have to do with the streetsat all, which is something
another phrasing that we use,which has to do with a fantasy
(20:51):
setting that is in our moderntimes. So think something like
Percy Jackson, where it'smystical and it's fantastical,
but it's set in a modern societyof what we know. And of course,
there's tons of erotic books andromance books that I could
recommend based on that. But arethere any that you know of that
(21:14):
are the urban we're talkingabout, but dabble into other sub
genres like paranormal orfantasy.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (21:24):
I'm glad you asked that there are
quite a few paranormal books. Ihave a post for that too. I
would say natavia is a reallygood author to start with. I
love natavia. You can do bloodbully, vampires, roars. Shape
shifters, Jade royal, anything,hair catalog. Shape shifters.
(21:50):
Nikki Clark, alien lovers again.
Shape shifters, whatever youwant. Christina C Jones also has
a vampire book. Nice KatrinaJackson has one, but it's like
the main characters making loveto her husband's ghost. So there
are plenty of books written byblack authors that you may or
(22:16):
you may not know, like theydabble in everything, like we're
not a monolith. You will findeverything you're looking for in
a black author. Honestly,
Alesia Galati (22:26):
it's so true. And I honestly having black authors
being the most that I've read inthe last year, because I track
all that stuff, because I liketo be super aware of what I'm
reading and where I'm spendingmy money and my time that I have
not missed reading a lot of theother authors that I did read
(22:50):
back in say, 2020 2021 even 2022I do not miss those authors as
at all, and I see them come outwith new books, and I'm like,
no, maybe later, maybe never.
It's fine, like some of them.
And I think that's one thingthat I have where I am not
(23:12):
someone who can reread a book.
So I see my friends do that.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (23:17):
I have not friends do it too. I
just, I can't I have to read. Ijust have to keep going. I can't
go backwards. I have to goforward.
Alesia Galati (23:25):
Yes, and there's authors that I want to reread,
right? I want to rereadELIZABETH STEVENS and Alexandria
house and just reread all theirbooks. But I'm like, okay, maybe
I listened to the audiobookinstead of reading the book,
because I read it the first timearound. Now I can listen to the
audiobook. I don't know. We'llsee what I do. But I also have,
(23:45):
like, tons of books on my TBRthat I want to get through.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (23:48):
PBR is never ending. It's never
done. Yes, I actually
Alesia Galati (23:52):
deleted my TBR at the beginning of this year, and
it was quite a relief, honestly.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharma (24:00):
That's honestly a good idea. I'm a mood
reader, so I just go where thewing goes. One day I could be in
the mood for, like, romance. Thenext, I'm like, oh, let's read
about serial killers. You justYou never know with me, you just
never know. I
Alesia Galati (24:12):
love that. Yeah, I'm a mood reader, but mostly
for romance. And so I am readingthree books right now. Oh, one
is a and I'm so what I'm readingon my phone, and that is Bedlam
by Jack Whitney. That's a whiteauthor, but it's a sapphic
romance, and it is a stalkerwho's also her bodyguard with a
(24:35):
rock star drummer, and it's verymessy with addiction, and
because it's rock and roll, alot of stalking, there's a
little bit of suspense in thebackground, like there's another
person who's doing stuff, whoyou're like, what's going on,
but it's 700 pages, so I'mreading that on my phone, I
(24:56):
know, and I don't like to readbig books, but Jack, right? Such
good books, so I have to readthis book. So that one I'm
reading on my phone. I'm at theend of darling Nicky by Kenya,
gory bell. And that one is aColombian and no, sorry,
Brazilian and white male maincharacter and a black female
(25:19):
main character. And he is avillain. He is terrible, and
she's just trying to exist inhis world. And it is so good and
messy. And then I'm reading, orsorry I'm listening to you made
a fool of death with your beautyby a walk. It em messy. I'm
(25:43):
butchering the name terribly,and I apologize if you're
listening, but that one is avery popular book, and so I
borrowed that from the library.
Very different, like, genres,right? Like, so that's my thing,
is that, like, I can't bereading two of the same types of
books? Oh,
Unknown (26:03):
no, absolutely not.
Yeah. Because then
Alesia Galati (26:05):
I start Wait, well, where were we and who's
doing what? Okay, so,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmac (26:10):
like, I'm reading an urban thriller
right now. It's like urbanerotic and thriller almost I'm
reading, I'm actually reading abook by a white author, a Marnie
man, the Playboy. It's reallygood. And what else am I
reading? I think I'm gonna starta historical fiction book
tomorrow. Not really sure. We'llsee. We'll see who's it by. What
(26:32):
are you thinking? So I actuallyhave an arc for Dolan Perkins
Valdez her upcoming novel HappyLand. I love her, so I'm excited
to dive into that. So I willprobably start that this week
sometime. But the eroticthriller I'm reading is called
the hunt. The mailman character.
He's a serial killer. Okay,spoiler alert, serial killer who
(26:52):
analyzed women during sex afterthe orgasm. It's very dark.
Yeah, very dark. Read thetrigger warnings. But when I
first started, I was like, Whatthe hell is this? What have I
got into?
Alesia Galati (27:11):
I'm curious now, so you mentioned reading
thrillers. You mentioned readingjust a lot of variety. What is
your favorite genre, a curse subgenre across that. Oh,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacist (27:25):
my goodness, that's such a hard
question. Jesus, what's yourcomfort?
Alesia Galati (27:30):
How about that?
So as a mood reader, what's yourcomfort? I would definitely
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (27:34):
say maybe urban romance. Because,
like, anytime I'm like, I don'tknow what to read. I'm like, oh,
take them to the streets withsomebody who's gonna un alive,
another person on behalf of hiswife, that that that's me. Yep,
yes. Let's see some of that onpage.
Alesia Galati (27:53):
I love it. Yeah.
Oh, that's so good. This hasbeen awesome. Anaya. Thank you
so much for being on andeducating us on these
differences. I appreciate it,and I know people are gonna get
some one some greatrecommendations from this
episode, but also some moreinformation that they probably
(28:16):
didn't know before around thesedifferences. So if someone's
like, Yes, I need morerecommendations like this. Where
can they find you? Get to knowyou and hang out with you on
social media.
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmacis (28:31):
You can find me on Instagram at the
well read pharmacists. And I'malso on threads. The same name I
like to talk, so I'm always onthreads. If you want to talk to
me. Just send me a littlethread, or you could DM me. I
don't care, I'll be there.
Alesia Galati (28:47):
Yes, I love checking out the things that
you're sharing on threads,because you always have an
opinion on it. And I'm like,
Aniya @TheWellReadPharmac (28:52):
Yeah, I agree. Unfortunately, I cannot
shut up. So y'all will continueto get these opinions. I tried
to be quiet, but I'm like, Youknow what? No,
Alesia Galati (29:03):
somebody's got to say it.
Unknown (29:06):
I'll say it. I'll be the one I don't care.
Alesia Galati (29:09):
Love it. Thank you so much. I appreciate you.
Unknown (29:12):
No problem.
You.
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