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Salt Don't Go In Tea: An African American Romance

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Amari thought getting pregnant and having a baby by a hood-rich industry goon would put her at the top and in his #1 spot. She imagined a life filled with money, fame, and all the perks of being tied to someone in the game. But instead of the dream, she got a cheating baby daddy who left her to raise their son on her own. Determined to make a name for herself, she jumps into the world of influencing, thinking her best friend’s success would make it easier. But this industry is cutthroat, and Amari quickly realizes that loyalty is rare. Is it already too late for her to break free?

Yara, a top influencer in Chicago, is engaged to the head of the city's hottest record label. On the surface, she’s living a dream life, but behind the scenes, it's chaos. Between juggling rumors of his infidelity and raising their kids alone, Yara’s on the verge of breaking down. And the whispers? They might not be just rumors—the other woman might be someone closer than she thinks.

Saint and Psalm are brothers, but they couldn’t be more different. Saint embraces the fame and attention, soaking up everything his career brings, while Psalm stays out of the spotlight, preferring a quiet life. But when Amari steps into their world, everything changes. Can these brothers survive the storm she’s about to unleash?

In this African American romance, nobody escapes the drama unscathed. Hood love, fake friendships, and betrayal set the stage for a wild ride where love is dangerous, and the tea always comes with a little salt.

If you're a fan of drama-filled hood love stories with cheating baby daddies, messy relationships, and fierce women, you’ll love "Salt Don’t Go In Tea" by J. Dominique—author of "Taken By A Rich Beast", "Alone In Miami At 3 AM", "Every Savage Deserves A Hood Chick", and "I Bought Every Dream He Sold Me."

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2024

445 people are currently reading
186 people want to read

About the author

J. Dominique

64 books197 followers

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5 stars
757 (78%)
4 stars
157 (16%)
3 stars
36 (3%)
2 stars
6 (<1%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
Profile Image for Ashanti Burton.
671 reviews13 followers
December 11, 2024
Messy messy messy. Chile ain’t nobody safe. The tea is hot and I just know it’s gonna get hotter. Mama Angel, Koi and Malice, ima need y’all to sit down somewhere. This had me entertained and invested but it ends on a cliffhanger.
Profile Image for Chele.
109 reviews
October 19, 2024
OUUUUU WEEEEEEEEEE

Babyyyyyyyyy you did yo big one with this!!!!!!!! Yo pen game in phenomenal and keeps me on the edge of my seat every time! I fall more in love with each book.

Amari was wrong. Although it initially wasn’t her place once she started constantly hanging out with Yara she should’ve spoken up. As a woman, sometimes you just have to be THAT person and say something. She’s really sweet tho and I hope everything plays out well for her cause she does deserve her happy ending.

When karma hits Koi, it’s goin be something crazy. She’s just a miserable person and sad thing is… there’s so many women like her out here. Fake and scheming from the beginning.

I don’t wanna see Yara with either guy fr. Just start over with someone completely new for her. Saint never valued her. I don’t feel like he ever will honestly.

Psalm… Free coming back was weird so I wonder if she’ll pop back up again. Unique just needs to accept things for what they were and leave him alone. They’ll always share a son together.

Can’t wait for part 2 😮‍💨🔥
Profile Image for TACORA MCCLUNEY.
2,531 reviews11 followers
October 18, 2024
A1 READ ALWAYS

Man this book is so good. I already knew I was gonna be all in when this book dropped. The title and book cover already peaked my interest so the first page didn't do anything but sucked me in till I got to the last page. That damn Koi is a piece of work that I'm gonna wish hell,fire and brimstones to incinerate her entire being. Not only is she a 💩 friend and all around despicable person, she's an unfit mother that I wouldn't let watch baby doll. Malice can jump in right beside her with his bitter dead beat azz. I hope what he said doesn't cause Amari's and Yara's friendship to end cause Saint has hurt her enough. Although I know Saint did a lot of dirt I kinda hope he can redeem himself but I may just feel like that cause I like his brother Psalm. I think Psalm and Amari can be good together but Unique may become a problem because of their history. I will be patiently waiting to see how all this plays out.💋💋
Profile Image for Kendyll.
64 reviews9 followers
November 27, 2025
This was the first book I read by this author and she came out the gate swinging!! I love a good hood drama. This had so much mess and so many twists. I've never met somebody as vindictive as Koi and I can't wait til she gets what's coming to her. I'm reading part 2 immediately!
Profile Image for Melise.
516 reviews56 followers
October 20, 2024
So the author did herself a big disservice with the summary. While yes the general premise is as described she really wrote this so much better than the summary. Like I’m not gonna hold y’all off the summary alone this was almost a skip for me cus I don’t like the messy friend trope at all, like I hate when every character is conniving and vindictive. Turns out it’s only one real shady mentally unwell hoe in this book.

I really liked Yara, Amari and Jazmine. I truly wish that Amari would’ve said something off top once she started chilling with Yara but I also know why she didn’t. I feel like she messed up by not saying anything once Yara revealed Psalms truth. I’m definitely eager to see how this all plays out in the next books. I will say hopefully Yara can be forgiving toward Amari but if not she gonna have to have the same smoke for Flex, Psalm and Saint if we keeping it real.

Psalm the only decent fella here so if y’all need more than one book bae lmao It’s not in this book. Saint is your typical have your cake and eat it to while not paying attention to who he’s attracting. Idk if the author gonna give him a redemption arc but I’m okay if he end up miserable and lonely.

Like I said the summary/synopsis will have you thinking this just a messy story with a bunch of users but in actuality it’s a lot different. It’s well written didn’t have any notable spelling or grammatical errors. Some of the formatting was a lil wonky but that just my personal preference where I don’t wanna see different povs on the same page but yeah this was Def a Five Star page turner to me
Profile Image for Jerrica (Mrsmar10Reads) Martin .
1,681 reviews10 followers
April 8, 2025
Oh the mess...

Baby where do I even begin? First off, how Malice putting Amari on blasts when he doesn't do anything for their son, messing with her best friend...his best friend baby mama, and he can't rap!!?? I love Yara and Amari's friendship because it was genuine. It's difficult sometimes knowing when to tell a friend that her man cheating because sometimes the messenger gets shot. It's just an awkward situation. Koi was getting her own bag, so why did she feel the need to chase behind a man with money? I'm confused by some women rationale. Saint and Psalm mama was messy, and I hope Yara and Amari come together and put her in her place! I just hope they can get through this friendship with the mess starting because Amari literally didn't know anything until the night her and Yara met. Maybe Psalm can be a go between.🤔 Running straight to book 2. Happy Reading Y'all!💋
99 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2025
Messssccceee omg

Malice is a menace, Yara is pitiful, and Saint wants his cake and eat it to. Why men cant have any restraint he shoulda through Koie out the bathroom that night and told his girl she was coming on to him. And Amari started her relationship with Yara so wrong, she should have told her what was up they day they became friends.
Now look what happened all the skeletons falling out the closet.
And Saint and Psalms mom is the messiest of them all. I would take my key back from her. And why is Psalms ex still claiming to be a baby momma, there isnt a baby anymore, she is just milking it to keep Psalm in her life. But its a good story i hope everything work out. Also the missing condom was never addressed, so is Amari gonna be preggers soon 🤔
133 reviews2 followers
October 21, 2024
OMG where is part 2

You did your thing once again I truly enjoy your books. I love Psalm for Amari. I knew she was going to break him down. That Saint was definitely for the streets he let that delusional jealous Koi embarrass Yara . I so wanted him and Yara to work out but that Koi has too much truth about him floating all around the internet. Angel and Unique had a lot of nerve especially Unique knowing she had been out the picture but his mother was so wrong in bringing her to his house. I can't wait for Malice Koi and Unique get what they deserve. Whew chile you gone have my stalking your page for part 2.
197 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2025
Great title
Lovely book cover
Good read
I love it when all of the above come together.

This book is about couples living their life on social media and the highs and lows of this.

Amari and Yara are influencers but they need to pray for discernment as both not great at sussing these guys and girlfriends out. They are both sweet, especially Yara but they’ve let men take liberties with them. I do like Saint and I’m hoping in book 2 he can really grow and change to be a better man for Yara.

I know Koi and Malice will get what’s coming to them. Maybe Dola and Jaz will get together in book 2 too.
72 reviews
October 24, 2024
Messy

This book was so messy that I had to set up and finish it in one reading. The amount of mess that was in this book will keep you on your toes. Two people that were truly wrong in this scenario implicated everyone else around them. It’s hard line to walk when stuff is really none of your business and you don’t know how people are going to react when you tell them the truth. I would refer. I would recommend this reading because it’s so many different perspectives on a common problem in today’s world.
Profile Image for Author  J.A  Butler .
62 reviews7 followers
January 2, 2025
🔥🔥🔥🔥

First off I can’t believe she left us hanging with a “To be continue”😭😭😭. But let’s get to it, I read this book in one sitting while at work and could not stop reading. This isn’t your typical run of the mill urban fiction and I absolutely love that. No one dealing in drugs or none of that. However 😏… it’s still filled with the same spice and drama we all know and ❤️. Koi is a fake friend and is beyond delusional🙄. Yara and Amari I really like them they have they pro’s and con’s but no where close to koi. I definitely recommend giving this a read. #Butleronbooks
Profile Image for Darlene.
168 reviews2 followers
January 10, 2025
juicy reviewed it

First time reading J. Dominique, and I’m impressed! “Salt Don’t Go In Tea” grabbed my attention with its bold title and stunning cover—honestly, I picked it up just to find out why salt doesn’t go in tea. Spoiler: It doesn’t, but this story served up a cup full of juicy drama!
The story takes us into the messy world of social media influencers, YouTube beauty queens, and music industry moguls, and it did not disappoint. Amari was a standout character for me—her struggles as a single mom trying to make it in the cutthroat influencer world felt real, and the drama she stirred up kept me hooked. Yara’s chaos behind her picture-perfect life added another layer of drama, and the tension between the brothers, Saint and Psalm, was the perfect backdrop for all the messiness.
This book felt like watching your favorite reality TV show—messy relationships, fake friendships, betrayals, and family drama all rolled into one. It’s bold, addictive, and full of surprises. If you love hood love stories with fierce women, cheating baby daddies, and plot twists that feel like tea served hot with a little salt, you’ll enjoy this read. Four stars for this one!
Profile Image for Denia.
614 reviews5 followers
March 16, 2025
Koi was the shadiest friend and person besides Malik in this whole book. I can’t believe she wanted to sleep with everyone’s man in this book and talk so much mess about everyone. Amari was actually a genuine friend to her because she should have been beat up along time ago. Koi was really insecure and disliked herself so she sought gratification through a man or sex. She really needed therapy to heal to be a better mom to her daughter and be the best version of herself. Saint was foul the way he did Yara but he found out dealing with Koi wasn’t worth losing his family. Malik was a complete deadbeat and spending all his time trying to be a rapper when he should have gotten a job and been a dad to his son.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lexi.
396 reviews10 followers
December 29, 2025
Koi need her ass beat 😤 BADDDD & Malice deserves some kicks too. I like Yara & Amari. Hopefully they can keep their friendship intact. It wasn’t Amari’s place to let Yara know what was going on at first, but once they started developing a friendship, she should have been honest and laid it all out. Saint is trash 🚮 & while I hope Yara moves on to someone better, I doubt she will. Psalm is 50/50 with me. Sometimes I like him & other times ion know about him 😅 I’m curious to see how this all gets wrapped up now that shit has officially hit the fan!
775 reviews2 followers
October 30, 2024
Fake friends and the drama they create

Coy was toxic and she was a hater. Too bad Amari didn’t see that from day one when she never supported her dreams. Psalm and Saint the brothers that produced the music of Coy baby daddy and wouldn’t support Malik which is Amari bd had so much to do with the hurt and lies in this book. Where’s book 2 because omg I hate waiting on a good book to be continued
212 reviews2 followers
December 3, 2024
😱😱😱😱😱😱

Lord have mercy. I’m over Malice and Koi asses liked they so corny it ain’t even funny. I feel so bad for Yara because if Saint didn’t cheat her life wouldn’t be getting ripped to shreds now. I feel like Amari should have told her and explained the situation I mean I understand you didn’t want to hurt her especially if she end up back with Saint but now she look like a fake friend and clout chaser. I hope they could work through this because friends are hard to come by.
Profile Image for Lisa CUNNINGHAM.
786 reviews11 followers
October 24, 2024
Great read

Ugh i really cant stand men like Malice how dare him i hope they get his butt he mad he cant rap an broke. Koi is a messy broad an jealous of a real friend that is humble... im glad she got Psalm even though his intentions was bad at first. Ugh i hope they beat the brakes of Koi she a unfit mom an a shitty friend.


Felicia
932 reviews13 followers
October 27, 2024
The Jealousy Is Real…

Baby the tea was piping hot in this book.. Amari is a cool chick who was surrounded by snakes and had no idea how treacherous they were until that explosive cliffhanger. When I say I can’t wait until part 2 drops because I need some people to get their karma asap..
11 reviews
November 6, 2024
short and sweet but in desperate need of part two

This jawn was good. It was a little on the shorter side, but got the job done just as well. She was able to build up the story give me some background and jump straight into the drama without having 200+ pages. But also Miss ma’am, where is part two? I’m desperate I’m feigning, and I just can’t wait!
1,034 reviews5 followers
January 1, 2025
The Tea Is Too Salty For Me!

I waited patiently for "Salt Don't Go In Tea 2" to be released before reading part one. Amari had been put through the wringer with her trash boyfriend Malik. The would-be rapper seemed to care for neither her nor their son. During a coerced outing with her "best friend," she meets Psalm, and it doesn't go well...at all!
Profile Image for Arianna Celeste.
20 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2025
WOULD recommend

The DRAMA! The twist! The turns! Like where to start?! Once I started this book there was Noooo way I could put it down! Saint ain’t sh*t and I can’t wait for Yara to boss tf up on his @ss! The cliffhanger?!?! I’m hoping Yara and Amari’s friendship doesn’t get wrecked
Profile Image for Faith.
594 reviews
January 29, 2025
Wow

Getting ready to start pt 2 ASAP! Loved the developing relationship between Psalm & Amari. Yara need to grab her kids & get far away from Saint. Koi & Malice need to be put under a jail for being so trifling. This was my first read by this author, but I will definitely be looking for more after I read pt 2.
277 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2025
Drama!!!

Not really liking any of the characters in this first book,the guys: Saint and Psalms are so immature and selfish.The ladies: Amira and Yara were not prepared for the likes of Koi,which is crazy considering that the signs were slapping them in the faces. Koi’s will be reaping what she sow very soon,right along with Malik.
Profile Image for Shonda Thompson.
197 reviews
April 6, 2025
Whew!!

When I say top tier drama!! This is it and I freakin love it!! Koi and Malice somebody needs to bring them down a notch or 3!! My girl Yara im praying she wins in the end!! I feel like Amari has already shown who she is and i hope her jaz and yara are the ones to make Koi suffer!!!
Profile Image for Latonia Butler.
Author 4 books16 followers
October 19, 2024
Review

Wow! What an ending! Bitter friends hating friends! Bitter baby daddies! With a friend like Koi you surely don’t need enemies! Can’t wait for book two ! I hope Yara know the Amari is not like that!!
Profile Image for christina hood.
593 reviews
November 6, 2024
Messy

Chile listen please go ahead and drop part 2 because if a bum baby dad had a picture Malice is it. I can't believe the tea he is spilling just like a woman. Smh. You should know what type of man he is because he does nothing for his son. Next book like asap.
Profile Image for Bo'Tina Jackson.
1,084 reviews8 followers
November 10, 2024
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥😱😱😱😱

It started out slow but as I continued to read you set this book on 🔥 cause friends like koi smh and she was sleeping with her sorry ssa baby daddy but karma is going to spin the block on both of them I can’t wait to see what happens next
Profile Image for B G Y.
99 reviews
November 16, 2024
Wow

I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed the story and you really have to be close off with your heart these days. Hurry up with the series. I usually don't read a book unless it is a completed series but this was an exception.
64 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2024
This is Long Island Type Tea

This book was/is all hot mess
I would for SURE beat Koi's Ass.
Question why for men ALWAYS risk their "forever"
love for a piece of A$$ then say it was nothing. Only to become unhinged when that person gets interested in someone else.
Smdh
Profile Image for Shelby.
2,439 reviews5 followers
December 12, 2024
🔥🔥🔥

This was soo good and I can’t wait to see what will happen next cause Amani should have been told Tara when the shit came out and Saint knew this girl was gone be a problem I do like Amani and psalm together
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews

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