Not really sure what this whole thing was even after I'd finished reading it... The pace was so slow and it dragged throughout, too much extraneous stuff that filled in rather then get to the heart of the story, and then when it did get there, it was so close to the end, and everything just felt rushed, so much so that the epilogue didn't make a lick of sense to me... Wasn't an enjoyable reading experience, unfortunately

I wanted to like this book as I've heard so much about it, but I'm in two minds. Firstly, the author's boldness in narrating the story with authenticity is admirable; however, the slow pace and delayed plot twist was a turn-off.

I was really looking forward to reading this book going by the back cover description. Unfortunately I think this book just was not for me. I’m not sure if it’s because, to me, it wasn’t what I was expecting from a thriller or if it was the main character that I struggled with. Probably both.

I’m giving it a 3 start rating in fairness as I did not finish the book.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I've been debating what star rating to give this so I settled on a three star.

Check out own voices reviews there are a lot of great reviews of this book.

Nella works for Wagner publishing house when one day a new women is hired, another black woman. Nella is glad to see someone else there that understands her struggles in a mainly white dominated world of publishing but as Nella begins to receive notes telling her to leave Wagner and the new girl Hazel begins to become more popular could she be the person sending her the notes?

Firstly I really wasn't a fan of Nella I get what the author was trying to do by having her come from a money privileged background to show that even money privileged black people suffer too, however the character really didn't acknowledge much from her peers that she was privileged in that way that she has came from money wither some of her other black friends had came from working class back grounds.
Also there were parts in this story were Nella should have just outright asked Hazel instead of all the wondering if it was her or not.

Then there was the plot twist, I think it was pretty silly if you ask me but then again that's just my opinion.

Overall I think this book had some good things to say about racism and the pacing was good.

Wow....gripping. Love the storyline and outstanding plot twist. I really didn't know what to expect. This turned out to be a thriller and not just a story about working in an office. Can't wait to read her next book.

The Other Black Girl is a book I had been so excited to read. The cover is beautifully eye catching and the book description sounds like me ideal novel.
I enjoyed learning more about working in the New York publishing industry but I did have a hard time finishing the book.
I found Nellas character hard to like or root for, the threats and mystery weren't enough to grab my attention and it did seem like nothing really happens for most of the book.
Whilst the last few chapters are exciting and have the action in the big reveal was just too far fetched and bizarre.
I'm so disappointed to have not enjoyed it and to not be able to give more positive feedback.

I loved the building tension and the sense of fear that the flashbacks created especially.

The characters were vibrant and relatable

A well written book which has much to say on attitudes to wards black women and sisterhood.

I was perplexed by the turn the plot took with the notes left and then the hair oil/product. I am not sure that theses strands worked for me although I admired the ambition of the author.

I feel like I’m the last person on Earth to read this buzzy book, so there’s no point recounting the plot, which initially is reminiscent of Luster by Raven Leilani but morphs into its own thing as Nella realizes her rivalry with Hazel, her new Black colleague at Wagner Books, is evidence of a wider social experiment. The prose is hip, bringing to mind Queenie and Such a Fun Age. It was a fun road trip read for me, but I could have done without the silliness of magical hair care products.

[Alas, I found some unfortunate errors that no proofreader caught: “ringer” instead of wringer (as in, put through) x 4 and “grill” instead of grille x 3.]

The first half of this book was really interesting, and I thought that it was a great way of showing microagressions in a workplace, especially for white readers who won't have experienced them. Also very interesting that it was based in the world of publishing, which is the industry I work in. I thought the book had a lot of potential, but the seemingly random switch to a more sci-fi genre at the end felt strange and unnecessary. And the message it gave was weird too – was it telling us that this is what Black people *should* be doing in their place of work, pandering to their white colleagues? There's loads of great conversations that reading this has brought up, which I think is brilliant. But the genre was a miss from me, I think it tried to do a little too much.

A thriller/horror steeped in social commentary, we follow editorial assistant Nella Rogers, the only Black employee at Wagner Books. When a new Black employee, Hazel, starts there Nella is excited - only for it to start rapidly going awry as Hazel becomes the office darling and Nella's reputation starts plummeting.

What I Liked:
- social commentary aspect, especially on code-switching and the whiteness of the publishing industry. Very eye-opening.
- unlike anything else I've read
- definitely went to unexpected places
- smart throughout, with enjoyable characters (even when unlikable)

What I Didn't Love:
- poorly paced
- it was a mystery by virtue of keeping the reader entirely in the dark
- all of the action and plot ramp is in the VERY last bit, it was kind of a slog until then
- most of the other POVs had the same voice

Overall this was an unexpected, smart, definitely enjoyable thriller. I just wish it had had a stricter edit so the pacing was more even throughout.

Big thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Bloomsbury for the e-ARC!

Absolutely loved this book. A cross between Luster and Dietland, telling the story of a young black editor at a publishing company and what happens when the company employ another black woman. - and the presence of a secret society fighting racism.

Detailing the obvious aggressions and micro-aggressions she experiences and the competition of her colleague, this is not an easy read but it is an excellent read. I cannot recommend it enough.

It made me think carefully about what it means to be actively anti-racist, how to be an ally and how to bring about change.

I also just loved it as an enthralling novel that kept me gripped to the very end

Thought provoking, at times hilarious, at times terrifying. A frank and honest new voice - highly recommend!

The Other Black Girl is essential reading. There is no other way to describe it. A no-holds-barred look at an industry that needs to change. This book should be given to everyone in the industry. A powerful read that shows that change must happen and it must happen now!

I loved this. It's not often that a book takes you completely by surprise - original, creative and completely unique. This a dark and thought provoking read which does require some patience sometimes. But I think the payoff was completely worth it.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for the ARC! Will be shouting about this, especially working in publishing myself, to everyone I know.

The Other Black Girl By: Zakiya Dalila Harris
Narrated by: Aja Naomi King, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Bahni Turpin, Heather Alicia Sims is not a book I would of chosen to read or listen to, but so glad I did, It was an enjoyable read/listen to. I enjoyed listening to all the narrators However, I wasn’t a big fan of the ending, and had to listen it again to make sure I’d heard it correctly. It just didn't fit with the rest of the book at all! it seems to me it was rushed! and really diminished the power of the story for me. :(

Big thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and Bloomsbury UK Audio for an ARC via NetGalley

This book was a bit of a puzzle to me. I felt like I was missing a vital piece of information to understand the story most of the way through, and then the ending seemed rushed and to be honest a little out there and unrealistic.

I found it difficult to connect with the main character and then felt let down that the ending didn’t fully explain what happened to her. I also felt that the sub plots led nowhere which was a real shame as the storyline held potential.

Well, this was one crazy whirlwind of a debut! This author has created something truly original, a genre-spanning novel which tackles big issues and gives a new perspective on being a black woman in a modern, cut-throat and predominately white industry. But, it’s definitely a little out there – and it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Nella is a twenty-something publishing assistant at Wagner Books. She’s been in her role a couple of years, and she’s good at it. As the only black employee she’s tried to be a spearhead for diversity in the office but her efforts have been met with lukewarm enthusiasm and misunderstandings.

Then, one day, Hazel turns up at the office. Another black editorial assistant working at the desk opposite her own, Nella thinks she could have found a strong potential ally. But there’s something strange going on.

“Something rotten resided within Wagner’s walls, and she’d been tracking that rotten something around since day damn one.”

Suddenly Nella starts receiving mysterious notes telling her to leave Wagner, and there’s something off about her new colleague. Hazel seems nice as pie to Nella’s face, but she’s undermining her in the office environment. And how has Hazel become the office darling got the company to do more for people of colour in a few months than Nella has in years?

I actually quite liked Nella, but I’ve seen other reviewers who had some issues with her. She does feel a tad naive, and she struggles to find her place in the white world, but she feels plucky, hard-working and genuine. She’s subjected to micro aggressions in the office all the time, and things only worsen when someone who was supposed to be an ally seems to make things worse for her. I felt for her. I felt her frustration, hurt and humiliation.

In the final third of the book, things get weird. This story is pitched as Devil Wears Prada meets Get Out, and that’s a really accurate description. But maybe there’s a reason that combination sounds so strange? It’s because it is. The plot twist is very out there and the reveal felt too sudden. There are a few chapters set in the past, but they didn’t really help things make sense for me personally, and didn’t really add much.

But, there’s a lot to appreciate about this story – it’s a very well-written debut, and it makes a strong statement about being a black woman in a white industry. It made me think. I did like Nella, it was eye-opening and very original. I think this one will divide opinions, but I’m glad I took the time to read it.

A dark, satirical book, with important and relevant issues that are applicable still to this day. I found myself relating to the main characters a lot, especially in terms of office politics and micro-aggressions in the workplace. I would definitely recommend this book to friends.

I found this book an intriguing concept and most of it lived up to this. I did find that sections of the story dragged a little, and the change of narrative perspectives were not always clear.

Nella works in a publishing office in New York and has struggled with being the only black employee for years. She has campaigned for equality and effectively been told this is just not needed in their office. In comes Hazel, who manages to move the business forward much faster. Nella's internal thoughts show the struggles of a black woman who wants to make a difference, but realises that to keep their job they have to stick to the status quo.

The mystery element is not as strong as I had hoped, but there are enough tendrils to keep you guessing and interested!