Author Profile: Raven Leilani

Raven Leilani’s debut novel Luster was the talk of the town in 2020, as it took a dive into the different hardships a black woman could face at any moment of her life. The critically acclaimed novel follows Edie, a black woman living in New York City, as she tries to navigate her life in her twenties. She works in an administrative job and clearly does not enjoy this particular position. In enters Eric, a white man in his forties who is in an open marriage, and quickly after their sexual relationship begins. However, things become even more complex as she befriends his wife and their adopted black daughter Akila. Eventually, Edie somehow moves in with the whole family!

Luster tackles an array of topics such as capitalism, sex, race, misogyny, and more in a way that can only be defined as raw and naked. It bares it all and lays it on the table like a full house in poker. The dark humor and dollop of sexual escapades make this book a hot page-turner as this book truly signifies desire.

This novel may be a debut novel but it contains all the elements of a seasoned veteran author. Leilani showcases bold and captivating wordings that puzzle the mind and has you catechizing the society we live in. The choice of words and how Leilani is able to paint a picture in our minds with her rhetoric is utterly immaculate. The way she expresses yearning and intimacy is poetic yet vigorous.

Leilani attended an arts high school and has an MFA degree. As a visual artist, this influenced her writing as well as her love for comic books, poetry, music, and her own life experiences. Leilani has also written for numerous publications like Vogue, The Cut, and Esquire.

Luster was awarded the 2020 Kirkus prize for fiction, 2020 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, 2020 John Leonard Prize at the National Book Critic Circle Award, and many more. Thanks to the wide range of positive reviews Luster has continuously been talked about and it was recently announced in October 2021, that the book will be made into a series produced by Hollywood actress and producer, Tessa Thompson, and to be televised on HBO. No word on who will be playing the characters yet, but we will keep you posted as soon as we find out for ourselves. Fans of the book can look forward to seeing the characters of Luster come alive very soon. Have you read Luster yet? If not, it’s time for you to go and grab a copy now!

Article edited by Lola Lujan.