Ariana writes Invisible to Whom, a newsletter centered around books and bookstore recommendations. Erin writes Notes from Erin a newsletter centered around books and music.
On Substack, one of the platform's best features is the community you can cultivate around your interests, which is how we came across one another. While we frequently chat through Notes, the more we connect and read each other, the more we have noticed overlaps between what we read and listen to.
With that in mind, we decided to try a swap.
Each of us picked three songs that we’ve had on repeat lately and handed them to each other to pair with a few books. Read on for our recommendations, plus a few books and albums we are looking forward to this Fall.
Erin’s recommendations and Ariana’s pairings:
I was thrilled, and slightly intimidated, when Erin reached out about potentially collaborating on a post together. Intimidated because Erin is a former MUSIC CRITIC and also writes eloquently about books. I can barely manage to string thoughts together about my favorite books. Anyway, this was fun to write even if I stressed over my choices as someone who doesn’t stay up to date with a lot of current music. Also, I want it on the record that she came up with her songs before me, but they all would have been ones I chose! If that’s not proof of synergy…well, I might have thrown in Rapsody’s “God Gotta Afro” too.
“Black Love” by Rapsody ft. Malice
I do have to give you credit, Erin; I hadn’t realized Rapsody was coming out with a new album this year until I read your post, so thank you. The album is great; I played it nonstop most of August.
My top choice for this pairing is Becoming Abolitionists. Rapsody talks about her cousin who was incarcerated for 12 years and seeing what that did to him. I also think believing in, and working towards, building a new world for our people is the highest manifestation of Black love. Part of that new world-building will involve divesting from systems of harm, such as the American carceral system, and investing in better resourcing for our communities. Purnell brilliantly guides the reader through her journey to becoming an abolitionist while also articulating the principles of abolition and how they apply to every issue we face today.
I also thought about Heavy, primarily because Kiese Laymon is one of those authors who unabashedly loves Black people in all our complexities, as does Rapsody. There’s also a line about “all the while Black girls are missing” that reminded me of We Don’t Talk About Carol, which I haven’t read but many of my friends loved.
Pairings:
Becoming Abolitionists, Derecka Purnell
Heavy, Kiese Laymon
We Don’t Talk About Carol, Kristin L. Berry
“Family Ties” by Cleo Sol
This song about familial estrangement is beautiful. It also has a slow beat that makes it a nice accompaniment while reading, even with the heavy lyrics.
I’ve read a lot of toxic-family books over the years, but The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman felt appropriate both because it’s fresh in my mind and because it aligns with Cleo’s lyrics about how someone you love can look you in the eye and lie. If you’ve read the book, you know Schar considers many people family who constantly lie to her, and she has to decide whether to keep putting up with it or choose herself.
We both liked Leave Your Mess At Home, another 2026 release about an extremely toxic family where the oldest daughter has been estranged from them for years and one day comes back. I didn’t love the ending, but it’s still one I’d recommend.
And of course I needed to include a backlist title; this year I read Mama’s Girl, which really demonstrates how “family can hurt you the most,” as Cleo sings. It’s a memoir by New York Times editor Veronica Chambers (published years before she acquired her current title) about her volatile relationship with both her parents, but primarily her mom. Parental neglect always breaks my heart, so you may have to steel yourself for this one.
Pairings:
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman, Deesha Philyaw
Leave Your Mess At Home, Tolani Akinola
Mama’s Girl, Veronica Chambers
“I Feel Hope Coming” by Alabama Shakes
I love this song; Brittany Howard’s voice is haunting, and then as the refrain kicks in, she soars, triumphantly, determinedly. This song reminds us that holding onto hope in these incredibly demoralizing times is one of the most radical things we can do. As Mariame Kaba says (quoting a nun she met), “hope is a discipline.”
All these novels share the commonality of main characters recovering from trauma (mass shooting, war, poverty) and maintaining, or finally realizing, hope as they move forward. They have to remember and practice it, over and over again. They also brought me to tears for different reasons, much like this song does.
Pairings:
Dèy, Edwidge Danticat
Keeper of Lost Children, Sadeqa Johnson
Solitaria, Eliana Alves Cruz
Ariana’s Recommendations and Erin’s Pairings
What I loved most about Ariana’s recommendations is that every song sent me somewhere I didn’t expect, and I listened to the lyrics more closely because they were being handed to me. This also made me finally listen to The Womack Sisters’ debut album, which is pretty good.
“Always Be Mine” by Syd featuring Jordan Ward
As mentioned, this song is on Syd’s latest release, Beard, and it’s one of my favorite songs from the album. From the title, you’d assume it’s a love song, and while it has elements of that, it also has other layers. In the song, Syd confesses she’s been chasing demons for the rush, keeping secrets, and, honestly, doing the most. Throughout the chorus, Syd pleads her case and asks her partner not to leave her. In Jordan’s verse, we get the other side of that desperation: someone who can’t stand being alone.
What I love about the song is that we never learn whether the person stays. That uncertainty made me think about books that sit in the same purgatory, and three come to mind. The first is An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, where Roy asks Celestial to hold on through the hardest thing imaginable, while the novel makes painfully clear what waiting costs her. The second is Normal People by Sally Rooney, which also lives in that in-between space, with two people who keep circling back to each other without ever quite knowing where the other stands. Another book that lives in that same uncertainty is After the Dance by Jan Gaye and David Ritz. In this book, Jan details her years with Marvin Gaye and knows exactly what it costs to hold on.
Pairings:
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Normal People by Sally Rooney
After the Dance by Jan Gaye and David Ritz
“My Sisters And Me” by The Womack Sisters
I was happy to see this song on the list because, aside from the lead singles “Chauffeur” and “If I Let You,” I haven’t really had a chance to immerse myself in the album yet. I am fascinated by their family background: they are the granddaughters of Sam Cooke and the nieces of Bobby Womack; it’s quite the messy story, which I will spare you, but these women are dynamic and pay homage to their lineage through their sound. This song comes at the end of the album and runs for barely two minutes. Much of the album is about romantic relationships, and this one, while still focused on a relationship, speaks to the sisters' relationship. For the trio, who grew up on the road, nowhere was home, but they found home and solace amongst each other.
For pairings, three books come to mind: The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Kin by Tayari Jones, and Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan. In The Color Purple, men pass through Celie’s life, some causing havoc, but the bond that runs throughout the book is the relationship between Celie and Nettie, who are separated for decades and still find their way back to each other. Kin follows Annie and Vernice, two motherless girls who become each other’s sisters and chosen family. I think of Waiting to Exhale more than I should, but I thought of the book/movie when I heard the song's lyrics. In Waiting to Exhale, Savannah, Bernadine, Robin, and Gloria go through men who come and go, but what lasts is the bond and relationship between the four of them.
Pairings:
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Kin by Tayari Jones
Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan
“Joy” by RAYE, Amma and Absolutely
This song makes me want to dance really fast, which is completely not the point of this recommendation, but I just wanted to mention it. In this song, RAYE opens by letting go of whatever holds her back, and that continues through the verses from her sisters, Amma and Absolutely. In the song, each sister is somewhat sharing their struggle, whether it’s keeping everything buried inside. The song has an optimistic, almost spiritual undertone: whatever your struggles may be, you can always make it through, knowing joy comes on the other side. I will say that if Ariana hadn’t recommended this, I’m not sure I would have paid as close attention to the lyrics.
In the same vein, I would pair it with The Light We Carry and The Revelations of Dionne Daphne. With The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama, while I wouldn’t say it was as good as Becoming, I appreciated that it focuses on navigating uncertainty, anxiety, and difficult periods while finding ways to reconnect with yourself, others, and a sense of hope and optimism.
More recently, and while this book is somewhat heavy and has kept ringing in my head, I read Mara Brock Akil’s debut novel, The Revelations of Dionne Daphne. In the book, Dionne is going through so much: anxiety, anger from holding on to her past, and also anxiously waiting to learn her fate. At the end, after all the tears, anxiety, and uncertainty, we see her find joy and clarity, which is essentially the “joy” found in the song.
Pairings:
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
The Revelations of Dionne Daphne by Mara Brock Akil
What we’re looking forward to this fall
Ariana
I’m looking forward to The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford, which is about to come out. I was obsessed with Nafissa Thompson-Spires’ short story collection, so I have high hopes for this. University of Chicago Press is also reissuing Era Bell Thompson’s memoir American Daughter, which I read an old copy of last year and loved. It will include an introduction by Natalie Moore who is one of my favorite journalists and nonfiction writers, her book The South Side is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand Chicago and it’s fitting because Era Bell eventually ends up in Chicago working for Ebony. I really hope more people pick it up, she spent most of her time living in North Dakota in the early 20th century and as you can probably imagine there weren’t a whole lot of Black people around. Although it does get sad, Era Bell is absolutely hilarious, and I was highly entertained while reading.
Music wise I have no idea what’s coming out except that Victoria Monet released a new album a few weeks ago that I am eager to listen to soon.
Erin
On the book front, similar to Ariana, I am also looking forward to The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford. I'm also looking forward to reading Every Goodbye Ain’t Gone by Dana Renee Green and Nanny Nanny by K. Chiucarello. Currently, I am also trying to make my way through Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, which I am enjoying, and also The Disappearers by Marlon James.
Music-wise, I'm most excited for the deluxe edition of Mariah Carey’s Glitter soundtrack. I am one of the few people who enjoyed the movie Glitter, but I loved it because of the soundtrack. Say what you want about the movie, but that soundtrack is so good. With the digital deluxe version coming out this week, I’m looking forward to 15 new songs. Will leave you with my favorite song from the soundtrack:
That’s it for now. Let us know your favorite book and music pairings in the comments.