What’s Your Plot? ft. Abby L.
@_Abbylovely_ on Instagram
“I read for the chance to live a thousand lives through the characters I meet.”
What’s Your Plot? is an interview series featuring Thickerplots community members celebrating their personal life libraries—the reasons they read, the books that shaped them, and the stories they’d recommend to you.
Why do you read?
I read for the chance to live a thousand lives through the characters I meet, experiencing everything from joy and laughter to those audible gasps (and they’ll be loud, whew!). Beyond the stories themselves, reading has grounded me in the real world by fostering genuine connections through book club. Thank you for Thickerplots, Nahtyka <3 (psst. you’re so welcome!)
Who are your must-read authors?
Kennedy Ryan, Tia Williams, Bolu Babalola, J.L. Seegars, Kristina Forest
What's your genre of choice and why?
Romance! I LOVE love. I especially enjoy stories featuring Black women experiencing genuine, warm love and unwavering support. There is something so restorative and powerful about reading narratives centered on Black joy and emotional safety.
Think back to the first book that truly moved you. What did that moment feel like?
In college, I read What Is the What by Dave Eggers, and it didn't just move me emotionally—it nearly moved me physically. I was so captivated by Valentino Achak Deng’s journey that I planned to head to South Sudan myself (much to the horror of my parents, who definitely aged a decade that week). Beyond the impulse to help, that book opened my eyes to the profound strength of those seeking a better life. I’ve seen this same strength in my own family who emigrated from Jamaica. Those stories—and this book—have stayed with me ever since.
What’s the most memorable book you’ve ever read?
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams changed my brain chemistry. The story is so breathtakingly beautiful that by the final page, I was boohooing crocodile tears of joy. It also made me view aging in a positive, new light. It’s one of those rare books that stays in your soul long after you finish it. Now I want to read it again!
What are your top titles that everyone should read?
What Is the What by Dave Eggers, How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams, Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
