The Other Black Girl is a tense social commentary thriller about what happens when a New York publishing house gets a second Black girl in the office. Nella is in her twenties and trying to make it at Wagner Books, but as an editorial assistant and the only Black person in the office, it isn't easy. When Hazel joins the company and the desk near hers, it seems like a chance to have an ally, but they've barely had a chance to bond before it starts to seem like people like Hazel a lot more than Nella, and notes begin to appear on Nella's desk telling her to leave Wagner now.

Going into the book having seen it being compared with Get Out, I was aware something was going to be up, but this slow burn novel lingers on the edge, occasionally cutting to another narrative that you're waiting to intersect with the main one, but mostly showing Nella in the office as she tries to improve her reputation at work and work out what's going on with the notes. Without wanting to give spoilers, it is a clearly done concept that provides a sly take on Black people's success in predominantly White spaces.

The characters are mostly there to keep you guessing about whether they might be friend or foe, especially at Wagner, and the way the book ends means you don't necessarily get answers. Nella's best friend Malaika provides some much needed outside perspective, especially as you don't see much of her boyfriend Owen (which may be for plot reasons), and the mysterious side narrative shows a bit of the wider picture without taking it too far away from Nella's story. Though some people might like more depth into some of these characters and plotlines, it's easy to see why the narrative was written this way, adding a shadowy, sinister side even to the ending.

This is undoubtedly a debut novel that people will be talking about, combining thriller with elements of satire and also a look at microaggressions in an office environment. Even if you feel like you're not interested in books about toxic work environments or read too many, this is something different, original and clever and with lingering dread.

The Other Black Girl is one of the most original, authentic and smart reads that I've picked up in a while.

Publishing people love to tear apart the far fetched portrayals of 'life in publishing' as shown in TV and film, so to see it rep'd in this book with such acute accuracy was hugely refreshing. But quickly, it also becomes soul-crushingly depressing, as we join Nella: an editorial assistant, and the only black employee at Wagner Books, navigating her way through an industry that is overwhelming white, with no real rush or desire to change its status quo.

The Other Black Girl offers up an analysis of race and the racial disparities in life, the media and the workplace that could be easily applied to many an industry, and yet is unlike anything I've ever read before. Most likely down to the way in which the book's plot sneaks into the mystery/thriller arena, adding an intensity that grips you early on.

With an incredibly relatable protagonist, brilliant ensemble cast and villains that make your hairs stand on end, Dalila's debut was a brilliant read.

A slow-burning thriller that will have you racing through its pages, horrified as each piece of the rigged puzzle suddenly starts to fall into place.

The Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada comp was genius and so so spot on.

This was everything it was hyped up to be and better, the writing was astounding and I ate it up in two sittings. This is definitely one to read for anybody in the industry, particularly those in more senior positions should like to read it - it might be the wake up call they need.

Will certainly be buying a physical copy and re-reading on publication!

The Other Black Girl is a slow-burn thriller with an original concept.

Harris has a real knack for capturing painful moments of microagression, and she crafts a clever commentary on race which takes you to some unexpected places. Nella is a likeable protagonist: her voice has that believable balance between self-awareness and self-doubt that you need to carry off a thriller like this. Without giving anything away, the build to the denouement is perfectly paced, and there is an almost tangible sense of impending dread.

The Other Black Girl is a smart thriller, equal parts sharp social commentary and gripping page-turner.

This is such a well written, intelligently conceived and deftly-plotted book, and I was so excited to see where it was going to go. I was really rooting for Nella, and racing through the pages, totally engaged...and then it all went wrong. I can see why it has been compared to "Get Out", but for me the plot twist that comes two thirds of the way through was so ludicrous and underdeveloped that it derailed the whole thing, Reading other reviews here, I think I'm definitely in the minority, and I can see that there are a lot of things to like about this novel, but for me personally, the plot twist tanked it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing a free ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a lovely insight into the publishing world, but also representative of other industries and how hard it can be when you're one of the only few Black people in the office.
Nella is the only Black worker at Wagner (i.e she doesn't work in the mailroom or anything like that) and is pleased when she sees another Black girl interviewing for a role and then getting the role. Nella is so pleased to have another Black girl in the office and quickly tries to get to know Hazel. Through their interactions and throughout the course of the novel we find out more about Nella and her background. There's definitely a case of both girls being from two different backgrounds, although it's not the case than one is wildly rich or anything like that, just comfortable.
Alongside this storyline of Nella and Hazel is another storyline of a former Wagner employee, the timeline for this story starts about 20 years before the story of Nella and Hazel. Eventually, the storylines meet and you see how they intertwine.
What I liked about this book were the things it touches on and includes, it focuses on racism in general and in the publishing industry, microaggressions, conforming in the workplace and the bonding of black girls through hair. I thought the book really tackled how things like microaggressions work in offices, but also really created a wonderful safe space for the black characters in the book in regards to how they bond (through cosmetics etc).
However, I was unsure about the overall sinister aspect of the story. The book builds you up to it, even has chapters from other people to build up the suspense and then quickly takes the problem away. The way this is structured makes me think there may be a part 2 to this story, however, if there is not, then I find it weird that this part of the story wasn't explored more, or removed entirely. I think this was the most thriller part of it and it was quite a letdown.
That said I really loved the ending and the discussion around conforming.
I also LOVED the use of the cosmetics in this story, I'd guessed it but I also think it's SO clever given how we as Black women love our hair care.

Wow, I absolutely loved reading this book. A very ambitious, fast paced, original and timely novel about being Black in a predominantly white environment: the book publishing industry. Up-and-coming editorial assistant Nella loves it when she finally gets a Black colleague, but why does it feel that she's adjusting better to the many quirks of the prestigious publishing house and its employees?

I expect a lot of aspects will resonate with people in the book trade as there is a lot to recognise - even for white people - and will hopefully also be a wake up call for many in charge. Harris is very successful in getting the details just right, whilst not letting the ambitious plot get away from her.
I had not expected this level of social consciousness in a novel that was also so well written. It reminded me of Such a Fun Age from Kiley Reid. I am confident there will be a lot of buzz around this book on its release next year.

Not only a must-read for book trade 'insiders', but for everyone who wants to read a captivating, engrossing novel about social justice.

Thank you Bloomsbury & NetGalley for the ARC.

Well this was quite a ride! And a tricky book to review without spoilers.

Set in the world of publishing I was i was initially unsure if those outside the industry would find it alienating but the themes that run through it are universal. At heart it deals with systemic racism within so many organisations, and this really did give me that insight into what it must truly feel to be the only black woman in the workplace. Also tackled however is perceived competition between women in the workplace. This is all too real throughout life and this is brilliantly dealt with. Finally, ( through admittedly extreme methods!) this novel looks at the attempts made to control black women, to control black voices, by trying to make them “ fit in” to their white surroundings, making them more compliant., whilst publicly and outwardly claiming to champion diversity. This to me was the most interesting theme, and although an extreme depiction in this novel should not be overlooked.

Powerful messages told in a unique genre defying way.

Wow! The hype is real when it comes to The Other Black Girl. This is a must-read for anyone who works in publishing - Harris exposes so much of what is wrong with the industry on every level, but with such style and flair, I was laughing out loud and rooting for Nella, even whilst my blood was boilng. This had me guessing until nearly the last page, which I reached very quickly because I could not put this book down. An excellent debut, I can't wait to read what Zakiya Dalila Harris writes next!

For work, I recently re-activated my NetGalley account (which has not been used in a long time) and requested a proof copy of The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris from the publisher, as I had seen so much hype about this book online already.

On the whole, I really enjoyed this book! It's a bit difficult to talk about without spoilers, but I raced through it and found it unputdownable, read-it-in-one-go fiction. I loved the main character Nell - a young black woman working in a New York publishing house, an overwhelmingly white industry - and was totally gripped by her character arc. The book explores a lot of issues around racism: the systemic racism endemic to the publishing industry, the many microaggressions that Nell experiences on a daily basis and the importance of diversity and representation in literature, to name a few.

However, the secondary narratives (which flashback to the 80's) I found a little hard to follow and there is a twist about 75% of the way through the book which I found very frustrating! It uses a kind of pseudo-scientific plot device which felt like a bit of a weird genre shift. That said it did leave me thinking about it for days afterwards - especially the ending - and as a whole it is a bold, quirky and original story.

I would recommend this book to a customer or a library user and I would be really interested in reading whatever the author writes next.

Just - wow! I’ve seen so much hype on this online (excellent marketing and proof campaign) and was blown away by The Other Black Girl. I work in publishing and it was as if the author had dropped real-life work moments into the book. Honest, truthful, and looking at the really, very big problem in the industry, this book is essential reading. It’s the book we’ve been waiting for for a long time.

'The Other Black Girl' is a Devil Wears Prada-esque, slow-burn thriller.

There's a lot of different things happening in the book to combine into quite a reader's buffet. The prologue teases, leaving you wondering how it weaves in. There's the backstage view of an established publisher in New York - delicious and depressing in equal measure (the author has a background in publishing, so is qualified to write about it in this sense!). The dynamics between Nella and her seniors and co-workers (with some sly digs at how women can help or hinder each other, let alone when race comes into play). The racial micro-aggressions.

I enjoyed the sense of steadily building foreboding, and readers in their 20s/30s in particular will probably feel their own anxiety resonate with Nella's as she fears to lose the job she still loves despite everything. I don't want to give anything anything, but I was satisfied with how the past (from the prologue) and the present tied together, and the ending managed to be despairing, bittersweet and hopeful all at the same time.

I've given 4 instead of 5 stars as I felt the book could've been a little shorter, a little pacier; I also wasn't too sure about the "diva" male writer, who seemed to be more of a caricature-ish straw man, but that's a fairly small quibble.

(With thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review)

What a thrill! I tore through this book in the space of a few days, and at no point guessed what was going to happen next. I suspected everyone! I would have loved more of the Kendra Rae and Diana backstory (or more details on what was there, which was great!) but I guess that means I can wish for a sequel!

This was pitched to me as both a total must-read, and a mix between Get Out, The Devil Wears Prada and The Stepford Wives - suffice to say I was sold from the outset! I binged this book very quickly as I was so desperate to know how things were going to play out. I quickly and firmly came to care deeply for main character Nella, the writer carefully build the tension in this slowburn and we're giving a lot of reason to worry about her.
The workplace dynamics were fantastically handled and very-well rendered, the micro aggressions, gaslighting and code-switching surrounding Nella being the only black employee at her publishing house were deservedly sharp and satirical, painfully realistic and believable.
Where I struggled with this book was, as the blurb says, 'the sinister forces at play' - these felt less deftly handled to the point of frustration. The references to them are too scattershot and underdeveloped, the reveals and twists felt underdeveloped, with the ending feeling rushed and with too many threads left hanging. It kept feeling like I'd missed something, but upon reflection I think they could have been built-upon and integrated more effectively.
However, in terms of a work place satire this is a total page-turner must-read, even if the psychological part of this thriller is tad anti-climatic.

Sadly I didn't connect with this book. I felt very distanced from it. I didn't enjoy the writing style which seemed to go off in a world of its own at one point and was very slow going.. I didn't get the obsession with hair products-I do feel as though I missed the point big time but not that it was necessarily my fault.
A bit of a shame as the blurb sounded really good and the prologue promised much

I was drawn to the premise of this book, Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada. This pitch had me hooked!!!!

This opens in the 1980s and we follow a woman named Kendra who is leaving the city following a disastrous expose. Who is this woman? And what happened that she is running away?
Decades later we are now in 2018 and follow Nella, a young black woman who works at Wagners, a prestigious publishing company. This publishing world is elitist and white, and Nella suffers microaggressions on a daily basis. Nella has been an assistant to Vera, for nearly 2 years, and dreaming of becoming promoted. One day she discovers that the company has hired another black young woman named Hazel. Hazel could be the accomplice that Nella has dreamed of, but Hazel is so much more confident than Nella, and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed...

This is a tricky book to review without giving any spoilers. I highly enjoyed this pacy, character-driven read that touches on topical issues and succeeds in entertaining. This is a scorching look on microaggressions and unconscious biasness. I will stress though that this isn't quite the thriller one would expect, this is more of a slow-burn and a character driven read. While I found the twist interesting and different, I did feel like the ending was rushed and ended abruptly. I wish the twist was fleshed out a bit more as I was left with more questions and some of the plot strands weren't tied up. On the whole this is a refreshing read that touches on relevant issues. The absurdity of the story did remind me of Bunny by Mona Awad, this debut is quirky, original and highly entertaining.

Well, that wasn't at all what I expected from the blurb, but the difference is good. Turns out this is one of the most original storylines of recent years that is both timely and absolutely of the moment as Harris tackles the question of race in the overwhelmingly white world of Manhattan book publishing. There's an authenticity to the work scenes and the kind of detail that proves Harris knows what she's talking about - but there's also a bold and somewhat bonkers surreal turn to the plot that is both weird and yet tackles issues of compromise and selling out in a figurative or symbolic way. I can see why there are comparisons made with The Devil Wears Prada but I was also thinking The Stepford Wives...

There are a few places where the writing gets florid, and the surreal strand is a little too enigmatic and opaque for too long - these are probably rookie mistakes but my, this is bold, sharp and unashamedly in your face. Definitely a book you'll want to talk about with all your friends and one to watch for summer 2021.