Black Girls Must Die Exhausted: A Novel

Drawing from her own experiences as a Black woman navigating the nuances of identity and societal expectations, Allen immerses her work with authenticity and depth. Through her characters, she explores the intersections of race, gender, and class, demonstrating the multifaceted experiences of Black women in America. On her website, Allen describes her work as “Chocolate Chick Lit with a conscience” (Allen, Jayne. “About the Book—Black Girls Must Die Exhausted.”). Tabby, Allen’s protagonist in her debut novel, confronts issues concerning mental health, substance use disorder, and pregnancy loss, all while maneuvering through a passionate and complex romantic relationship.

Allen's work advocates for diversity and representation in literature. By centering the experiences of Black women in her novels, she challenges the uniformity of mainstream publishing and amplifies voices that have traditionally been marginalized in literary spaces. Allen also uses social media platforms to champion other BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People/Person of Color) authors, amplifying transcultural voices and stories. Her personal and professional experiences of uplifting her friends and colleagues have inspired the creation of characters like Laila Joon, Alexis, and Lisa Sinclair. Within the context of the novel, Tabby observes tangible positive changes that are initiated by the actions of her friends and coworkers.