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Selfish

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Sundae Monroe Banks was born into pain.

After losing her father and being handed over to the streets by her own mother, she learned love is dangerous, and emotions are a weakness she can’t afford.

While most girls her age are picking colleges and chasing dreams, Sundae’s out here chasing survival.
Now nineteen, cold-blooded, and wise beyond her years, she stacks money, uses men, and keeps her heart locked behind walls nobody can break through.
Trust is dead. Loyalty is strictly conditional.

But when people she thought were solid start switching sides—and the past she tried to bury claws its way back—Sundae is forced to confront the one person she’s been running from… herself.

Selfish is a raw, gritty urban fiction novel packed with betrayal, heartbreak, and survival.
If you love street lit, hood love stories, and Black coming-of-age tales with real emotion and shocking twists, Selfish is a must-read.

“Because love might heal…
But sometimes, being selfish is the only way to survive.”

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2025

509 people are currently reading
795 people want to read

About the author

KuTura B.

11 books50 followers

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5 stars
600 (64%)
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227 (24%)
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87 (9%)
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18 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
Profile Image for Shawnaci Schroeder.
519 reviews4,375 followers
October 21, 2025
4.5/5
- This is a book that I will literally never be able to forget! If you enjoy urban romance, this is such a great book to pick up. It’s probably the saddest book I’ve ever read!
- Love how Sundae had so much resilience throughout the entire book! I found myself having so much empathy for her and others that have similar stories to her in real life.
- Definitely go into this book with caution because it won’t be for everyone. It’s heartbreaking. It’s raw. The writing is similar to that of most urban romances. The story is like no other!
Profile Image for April.
586 reviews169 followers
August 26, 2025
Sometimes you have to be selfish to save yourself!

Lawd my baby Sundae! This book had me stressed out at 2%. The most important role a parent has is to protect your children, and Vicky failed the Sundae and Nikki in the worst ways possible and when you damage your kids childhood. They take all that unhealed trauma into their adult lives. Sundae was the classic example of “hurt people hurt people.” She simply couldn’t catch a break & my heart ached for her! But when I say her resilience was unmatched!!! Many people would have folded & gave up on life in general with everything she endured. But she hung in there & I was so proud of her by the end of this book!

I joke sometimes about getting too emotionally invested in fictional characters. But this one hit different, because sadly there’s a lot of Sundaes in the world. Moral of the story is, this book was raw and deeply emotional, but I would highly recommend if you’re not easily triggered! Sundae is going to sit with me for a minute & I hope to see more of her!

Profile Image for Jahda.
1,050 reviews309 followers
September 6, 2025
Ehh MID. It wasn’t enough to feel the connection with the love interest or her “found family” and the main character was going through it at 19. I get it … it’s realistic but damn.
Profile Image for Danielle Marcia.
117 reviews14 followers
June 5, 2025
Rating 3.75 rounded up to 4

Please be sure to read the trigger warning before diving in. This is a raw coming-of-age story filled with get-it-how-you-live energy, heartbreak, and betrayal. Sundae’s journey is heartbreaking at times, and while the story had its heavy moments, I was genuinely happy to see her finally find some peace!

The mall scene with her & Deja 🤣
Profile Image for ReadnliftwithShar.
1,854 reviews
October 12, 2025
whew 😥

4.5✨Selfish was such a gut wrenching story. It was raw, heavy, and emotional. Sundae dealt with so many hardships, just trying to survive. She dealt with heartbreaks and relationships that were doomed from the start. Her “mother” failed her; at an early age Sundae was doing grown up things and that’s never okay. And being in a constant state of survival and not living is a feeling that resonates with me. My heart poured out for Sundae but thankfully Onyx was there affirming her throughout.
Profile Image for Quiantra  McGhee .
71 reviews3 followers
May 29, 2025
Kutura B did her thing! I’m sooo happy I read this book because we all know a Sundae or was a Sundae. When reading this book I felt every emotion and couldn’t put it down. Onyx is BAE! He was sooo gentle but with the ish too. I can’t wait to read more from Kutura 🥰
Profile Image for Melise.
503 reviews54 followers
Read
June 1, 2025
DNF

This was a lot and while the trigger warning was there I don’t feel like it even begins to capture the level of horror the reader has to experience traveling on the journey with Sundae. Too many descriptive Rape scenes featuring a minor. I’m sorry it was just way too much I don’t think I’m the most sensitive person but this one turned my stomach.
Profile Image for Tina Sharane.
152 reviews8 followers
September 13, 2025
4.5 🌟

“I used to pour every piece of myself into people—even when it left me hollow.
I thought love meant breaking myself just to keep others whole.
I believed the pain was part of the promise... that if I bled enough, maybe they'd stay.
But now? I give on my terms.
I'm still selfish—but not in the way they warned me about.
Now, it's for the right reasons
Now, it's to save me.”

First of all, the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous and I will be getting a physical copy just because of that tbh... But I did NOT expect to annotate sooooo much reading this, but so much of what Sundae was feeling, thinking and going through was so relatable to the younger me and I honestly wish my teenage self had read books like this growing up because so much unintentionally wisdom and guidance was given that I could've benefitted from when I was in my teens.

Also, I peeped the inspiration taken from the hood classic movie “Players Club” and I'm not mad at it; I feel the author did it justice! And I can also appreciate how well the ending was wrapped up with no storylines left unconcluded. Although, I wish a little more time was given to Sundae and Onyx's romance, I'm happy to see Sundae (and Nikki) finally got some sorta HEA... Hopefully that's not a spoiler!

All in all, this was exactly the fast-paced, messy, addictive, engaging read I needed to avoid a book slump and I will definitely be reading more from this author sooner than later! Her pen game is nice imo. 10 out of 10 recommend adding this one to your TBR if you're a lover of urban fiction / urban romance!!!
Profile Image for Courtney Holden.
30 reviews
November 4, 2025
I felt immense sympathy for Sundae; no one should have to endure the life she was given. Moments in the book were so immersive I felt like I was right there at the Pynk in P-Valley! Other parts, however, made me want to throw the book across the room. It provided a harsh perspective on how your environment and the people in it can crush you. The only way to break free, it showed, is to prioritize yourself and be "selfish."
Profile Image for Tonya Terry.
91 reviews
September 13, 2025
4.5⭐️. I knew it would be Onyx. He was so patient and kind. He waited for the right time. Sundae the horrible childhood. Vicki was pure evil. The things she said were just horrible unforgivable strung out or not.

Sundae never gave up she made some wrong decisions but she still held on to her dreams. In the end she ended up with a small circle but it was a circle she could trust.
Profile Image for Tamekia .
396 reviews15 followers
June 20, 2025
Sundae

This book was so good! First read from the author and it was a great read! The end had me tearing up!! Cheers to the girls who made it out!
Profile Image for Onesty.
14 reviews
September 16, 2025
This book is def an emotion roller coasters and teaches you a lot about trust. I can say though that EVERY character got on my nerves at a point even the FMC but I cut her slack due to every that that happened to her. Onyx the man of the hour is so sweet and patient and that’s what sundae needed especially with the chaos that was going on. PLEASE check your triggers if you do end up reading this.
Profile Image for Kyla.
162 reviews8 followers
July 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Profile Image for Ambra | ambreadbooks.
449 reviews15 followers
November 11, 2025
4/5
- This was a heavy read and I felt for Sundae throughout this whole story. Sundae was just trying to survive with the cards she was dealt.
- I experienced different emotions while reading — anger, empathy, and even happiness during some portions. Read the trigger warning before jumping into this raw coming-of-age story.
Profile Image for UrFaveBaddieREADS.
53 reviews3 followers
September 7, 2025
Healing!!

I loved this book so much! I wanted to whoop sundae and hug her at the same time. No child should experience the things she did. Trauma, bad relationships, bad friendships & personal growth is what it gave! Deja was a typical snake friend who was the type of friend of convenience only! With a friend like Deja, who needs enemies! Onyx, Onyx!! You did that! He was exactly what Sundae needed. He loved her without judgement. Cracked them walls right on down, and cracked sis back to! I’m just so happy things worked out the way they did. I was scared for a moment the way Trae had my sis moving! 10/10 read for me! Great read
Profile Image for Kourtney J..
29 reviews12 followers
November 9, 2025
4.5⭐️

I ate this book up!! This is a story that’ll stick with me because it was such an intense roller coaster. I was so happy that Sundae was able to have her peace because sis couldn’t catch a break!!

The story was paced well & I really enjoyed the writing bc the language was one I could relate to. I did feel like we could’ve had more of Onyx.. I didn’t get to know too much about him & I wasn’t a fan how he’d always pop up at the “right” moments. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. Would def recommend!
Profile Image for Teya &#x1f90d;.
63 reviews15 followers
June 4, 2025
Sundae ♥️

My girl sundae went through it in this book but she was a rose that grew from concrete. After the rain there's a rainbow. So glad that she found some peace & joy in her life
Profile Image for Maresha Braswell.
142 reviews12 followers
August 24, 2025
perfect story

This story had me angry, sad, laughing, emotional and happy. If you have ever seen or lived this life then you know exactly how sundae feels. This was a really good book and I need it on my shelf asap because wow being selfish to save yourself is deep
Profile Image for ShayShay.
3 reviews3 followers
June 16, 2025
Wheew chile… this book?! It had me locked in from start to finish
this was a good read ‼️‼️
26 reviews
October 6, 2025
I liked the story overall, but I feel like there is something missing. I needed more of the MMC and the development of their relationship.
Profile Image for Monica DeRenan.
36 reviews
November 16, 2025
This book was so good. If you like players club, read this book. I loved this ending.
Profile Image for J.
79 reviews
June 25, 2025
This book is heavy. If you’re looking for something light and fluffy, this isn’t it. The female main character goes through nearly every heartbreaking and traumatic experience imaginable—it’s intense. And that’s coming from someone who usually doesn’t even check trigger warnings.
Profile Image for Alisha Benjamin.
289 reviews22 followers
July 31, 2025
This is the first book I’ve ever read by Kutura B, and whew… it won’t be the last! Selfish had me crying, angry, and cheering all at the same time. The way the author makes you feel the pain and betrayal these characters went through will lock you in from page one.

Deja? Fake friend energy all day. Trae wanted his cake and to eat it too—glad Sundae finally let him go! Vickie, her mother, was the devil in disguise, and my heart broke for Niki just trying to survive. But what I loved most was Sundae’s journey. She went through hell, yet she found her strength, went back to school, and got her life back. God was truly on her side.

And Onyx? Book bae forever. The way he loved Sundae for exactly who she was, baggage and all, melted my heart.

This story was raw, emotional, and unapologetic. It’s about survival, betrayal, and realizing that sometimes putting yourself first is the only way to stay alive. If you love gritty urban fiction that makes you feel every emotion, this is a must-read. 🔥💔
Profile Image for BetweentheCoversLiterary .
1,511 reviews32 followers
July 17, 2025
Bruh Sundae couldn’t catch a break to save her life and that damn Vicky just got added to the trash ass mommas list for book mamas… I think all them damn sickos got off way to easy that shit was terrible… I was glad to see Nikki turn around and become whole again it was sad to see her fall down that rabbit hole as if her future was already marked to be as fkdup as Sundae and Vicky… Onyx was definitely the best thing she never knew she needed… I loved him and I want more of him and his brother I know they have a story to tell. Overall this was a good coming of age story but hunny adhere to those trigger warnings. This my first read by this author and I look forward to more
Profile Image for Nee.
308 reviews67 followers
June 26, 2025
🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️

KuTuraaaa!!! You snapped when you wrote this book! 🔥🔥🔥This read was so good had me gone from the moment I started reading this book! 😩😍😍 this book had me feeling all type of emotions 😩 and I loved every minute of it! Sundae - her unwavering strength, loyalty to those she love spoke volumes! I love Onyx too! They are a perfect match for one another! I just want to say you never know what a person story is or what they had to overcome.. so many lessons was taught through reading this book I’m so happy Sundae finally got the peace, love, joy, and happiness she deserves!🥰🥰🥰
Profile Image for Sunflower.
80 reviews13 followers
October 8, 2025
Locked in from start to finish! My girl Sundae went through it all,from abuse and childhood trauma to straight, up betrayal. The way she finally got to experience genuine love with Onyx had me cheesin’… he’s definitely giving Duke Dennis vibes 🫦. I had a weird gut feeling about Deja the moment I peeped how man, crazy she was, shawty was wildin’ for real. And Nikki?? Nahhh, that scene had me shook. Just imagine walking in on your 15-year-old sister doing the unthinkable.. NASTY work!

Overall, this was a good coming-of-age story. Fast money ain’t always good money, and in the end everybody who did Sundae dirty got exactly what they deserved 🙂‍↕️

10s across the board, Ms. M’am 🫰🏾⭐️
68 reviews
June 18, 2025
“I thought if I kept pushing, I’d be okay,” I whispered. “But I've been surviving so long… I forgot what it feels like to live.” — I don’t think she knew what it felt like to live. This nineteen year old girl spent her whole life surviving. She took so many licks man and made decisions that she thought was best for her and would get her far away from the life her mother lived. I didn’t fault her for any of the decisions she made even while scared and hoping at every turn she would change her mind and/or trust her gut. I think Sundae is going to live with me for a while.

This book scared me from KuTura’s note. I was so worried about Sundae. From the start of her life there was pain. Her father died from a drug overdose and her mother was an addict who did drugs in front of her. Her mother sold Sundae’s body to grown disgusting men for money and security.
Sundae tried to protect her heart so she wouldn’t feel the pain and letdown that she knew would follow love. She started out dating multiple men for a little bit of money and no love. She decided to give one of her men a chance to be there for her. I was fearful that she would end up broken. She didn’t want that and I hoped that would not happen.
As the book progressed my fear changed and increased. Sundae was making decisions that could lead her down a destructive path with more pain than heartache. This girl was making decisions to make quick money that could have left her dead. Her boyfriend Trae convinced her to set up men so he could rob them. They completed one which didn’t end well, but they got the money. Trae convinced her to do one more.
The dude was Ced, a man who she said was a “certified killa— and freak”. She said women who were seen with this man seemed to go missing. She went to the private room with this man who had power and clout. Sundae felt in her gut that something was wrong, but she thought the money would be worth it. I kept wondering why she thought it was okay to set up a freak and killer. I kept hoping she would follow her gut.
I was also wondering why she was risking her life for money with Trae and Deja her best friend. Their relationship was rocky at best and she should not have been putting her trust in them. I know she wasn’t thinking about their current relationship, but I was so nervous for her.
It was at that decision of hers that made me want to flip to the last three pages of the book to make sure she didn’t end up dead or addicted to drugs. I was willing to end the book early if it bad. I did not want to be heartbroken. Thankfully I did not succumb to my anxiety. I read the book though and more bad things happened to my girl Sundae before she got her happy ending.
That woman deserved to be happy and to start living the life she wanted.
4/5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for ShybutRude92.
154 reviews
September 9, 2025
Sundae has been dealt a horrible hand. And she’s still very young but at the same time use your got damn common sense! Any man that’s asking you to help him set niggas up is not about shit! That’s a fuck boy. What Future say on Squares Out Your Circle??
“You got people that surround you They gone try they best to down you
Keep them squares up out your circle
What don't kill you gone hurt you
And it's only gone get worser…”
Hell what did Rocko say
“Pray the Lord to help me spot my foes
Next thing you know I started losing friends”
Gotta keep your eyes open and spot the fakes! They always show their true colors! I’m glad that Sundae got it together in the end. And she did it by and for herself! You are enough all on your own! You can stand on your own! That’s why we have our own brains!

The following are all the thoughts I had while reading this book so it may contains some spoilers:

Does Sundae eventually become a stripper? If not i’m confused as to why there’s a picture of a woman on a stripper pole and a stripper shoe.

Sundae cussing Toni out like Jazmine Collins did Rachel. 🤣🤣🤣 iykyk

Yeah Trae is a lame! Not trying to get you to set niggas up! Only broke dudes suggest something like that! Leave his ass alone!

If i’m going to commit such a crime i’m doing that shit myself! You going to do it and he going to be taking most if not all the profit.

Then you have unprotected sex with him. Smfh.

If you’re making $1000 a night why do you have to hit a lick? That is so stupid!!! Especially if you doing it for your man! Make that mofo get a job!!! Smfh

You should have just said forget what Trae talking about. You clearly making money off the vip dudes. A huge knot put into your garter belt and that’s just one dude.

Idk what’s going to happen but greed and jealousy are a bad combo. Everything’s all good until it ain’t. Smdh!!

Laying low means just that! It does not mean hitting another lick! Especially after one of the people who hit the last lick done got caught AND shot! I would have agreed to get that nigga out my house. But told him no at the club.

“Nikki really tried to rob me.” She DID rob you.

Do yall proofread your work? You say “I pulled out the outfit I’d been saving just in case something like this happened.” Literally the next sentence is “I settled on a black backless bodycon dress with a high slit, running up the side of my thigh.” How do you pull out an outfit you’ve been saving and then say you settled on said outfit???

Eight years of friendship?? I thought they had been friends since 3rd grade? Since kids? I don’t feel like going back to look. If she’s currently 20 that…nvm let me just finish this damn book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Crissy.
2,795 reviews5 followers
June 3, 2025
Selfish is one of the grittiest, raw and realist reads I have read this year, and it did not disappoint. It is a true masterpiece in my eyes. This is my first book from this author and after reading this book I want to read every book she has ever written. Sundae has been broken in more ways than one and that hurt, and betrayal came from those closest to her. Never love or trust and most importantly, don't catch feelings. No matter what happens surviving, fighting and continuing is the way of life and she's determined to go on. There comes a time when she lets her heart and guard down and it comes back to bite her, showing her that in order to survive her life she has to be selfish. The one thing she did that was wrong was not listen to her instincts and that proved wrong and almost cost her dearly. As the saying goes...never left your right hand know what your left hand is doing and most importantly never let outside people get involved. Hell, when it comes to this story, never risk your life for anyone else's. There will be characters you love and those you dislike to the max, but when it comes down to it, true colors will show, and betrayal is at the forefront. I will say that I absolutely loved Onyx, not for what he could do and give Sundae but because he was a man that meant what he said and said what he meant. I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that when it comes to this story it's best to heed the authors warnings. This story has rape, abuse, drugs, struggles, drama, fighting, robbing, stripping, greed, betrayal, mistakes, regrets, hope, love, support, fighting and facing demons, therapy, surviving and continuing. It was emotional, heartbreaking and heartfelt but for readers that do read this story, the one thing I think it won't be is disappointing.
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