The Literally Black Book Club is one of the experiences inside The Cookout, our membership community. Your membership helps cover curated book selections, virtual events, cultural activities, and the time, effort, and creativity it takes to make this space feel like family. Literally Black is a one-woman business—I personally curate, design, and run every part of it.

Your membership isn’t just paying for access, it’s supporting a Black-owned business and sustaining a community rooted in Black joy and found family.

Aunties get the full spread. Each month you’ll receive a hand-picked book shipped to your door, plus access to all book club meetings in The Gazebo, our private Zoom space. Aunties also unlock Nightcap Sessions with special guests, the Group Chat on the Bookclubs app, and Lawn activities—like family cook dates, movie nights, and more.

Cousins get all the community vibes without the monthly shipped book or Nightcap Sessions. You’ll have access to book club meetings in The Gazebo, the Group Chat on the Bookclubs app, and Lawn activities like family cook dates, movie nights, and more.

If you join the Aunties’ Table, Cookout Selections ship at the start of each month. To be included in that shipment, you’ll need to sign up before the 15th of the previous month.

Each shipment is for the book we’ll be reading that month.

• Sign up before the 15th → you’ll be included in the next month’s shipment.
  
• Sign up after the 15th → you’ve missed the cutoff, so your first Cookout Selection will ship the month after next.
  

Example: Join on September 10th → your first book ships October 1st (the October Cookout Selection).

Example: Join on September 19th → you’ve missed October’s cutoff, so your first book ships November 1st (the November Cookout Selection).

Cousins’ Table members do not receive shipped books.

You do not have to be Black to join the conversation or shop with us. We simply ask that you join with an understanding of who we are and what we do. The Cookout is centered on celebrating Black voices and experiences. We will not entertain trolls or anyone who comes in to disrupt.

Yep! You can pause or cancel your membership anytime before your next renewal date. Just log into your account to manage your subscription directly. No hoops or hard feelings.

We don’t re-ship past Cookout Selections, but you might still find them available in the shop while supplies last. If it’s in stock, you can grab it and support a Black-owned bookstore at the same time. You won’t be able to join the old convos since the community has moved on, but the book will still be waiting for you whenever you’re ready to read.

Once you sign up, you’ll receive a welcome email with all the links and details you need to access the Group Chat and our Zoom sessions in The Gazebo. Please allow a short buffer after subscribing, since access isn’t always instant. Everything you need will land in your inbox—just keep an eye out and check your spam or promotions folder if you don’t see it.

I’m always open to hearing from Black authors, but please know that Cookout Selections are chosen carefully and not every book will be a fit. At this time, I’m not accepting children’s books or non-fiction self-help titles for the monthly read.

If you’d like to be considered, please email me at team@literallyblack.co with the subject line “Cookout Book Submission.” In your message, be sure to include:

• Your book title and a short description of what it’s about
  
• Where I can find the book (link or location)
  
• Wholesale pricing if you’re interested in me purchasing copies

Please send a professional inquiry with all of the above. Messages that just say “I’m a Black author” or “I wrote a book” without details won’t be considered.

For social media features, book tours, or ARC reader opportunities, you can also email me at the same address—just note that’s a separate type of collaboration.