Raven Leilani
Raven Leilani is an American author whose debut novel Luster was met with widespread critical acclaim. Born in the Bronx and raised in a religious household, Leilani studied fine arts and later pursued writing, earning her MFA from NYU. Luster, published in 2020, is a sharp, intimate, and often darkly humorous exploration of race, sexuality, art, and millennial disillusionment. Leilani’s writing is noted for its vivid prose, emotional candor, and unflinching honesty. Her work marks her as a distinctive and powerful new voice in contemporary fiction, earning her several literary awards and inclusion on numerous "best of the year" lists.
In her bold and provocative debut, Raven Leilani tells the story of Edie, a young Black woman navigating art, sex, and identity in New York City. When Edie enters into an open relationship with an older white man and becomes entangled with his family, she’s thrust into a web of power dynamics and emotional complexity. Luster is a raw and sharply observed novel about millennial disillusionment, racial tension, and precarious womanhood. Leilani’s prose is electric—darkly funny, intimate, and piercing. The novel captures the chaos of early adulthood and the search for meaning in a world of instability and inequity.