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.

The Other Black Girl hooked me in with its tagline 'Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada' and it certainly lived up to that description. Zakiya Dalila Harris's debut novel gives a searing look at race, corporate racism, activism and the lack of diversity in the publishing industry.

For a book which is at its core a thriller, the drive of the plot is built on strong foundations of social critique. Through the character of Nella, the only Black employee at Wagner Books, we see the everyday conflict of advocating for racial justice in workplace whilst being forced to appease and soothe the egos of white colleagues and clients. One particular scene in which Nella tries to offer a justified critique of a heavily stereotyped black character is palpably tense, with every line of dialogue emphasising how much she has to lose by being outspoken.

I'm still kind of torn on the pacing of this book- some people have said that it doesn't really pick up until the second half, and then a lot of revelations come at the end and feel quite rushed. There is some truth in that, which is a shame, but I do think there is something to be said for the way Zakiya Dalila Harris builds her characters in a more realistic mode before the book becomes more darkly satirical and slightly dystopian/supernatural. If you're looking for a more traditional thriller full of twists and turns, you won't get this from The Other Black Girl, which feels more like a gradual uncovering of a core secret.

For me, the book becomes most powerful when it examines the burden of being Black in the corporate and wider world, and in its exploration of Black hair, which comes to signify ethnic authenticity, as well as reflecting how Black people must constantly suppress and 'tame' their identities to be acceptable to white society.

The execution may not have been note perfect, but as far as its ideas and themes go, I found The Other Black Girl sharp and compelling.

(Posted on my Instagram)

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!

So I read a few reviews of this and I had the impression that they were a bit mixed and opinions about this book differed widely. This had me intrigued so I read it! It turned out that I really, really liked this book. I must preface that I read an e-proof on Netgalley, and there were some editorial problems, mainly names of colleagues being mixed up. I do not know if these have been ironed out. But on the other hand they weren't that big of a deal and I was also starting to wonder if maybe they are part of the satire bit of the plot? (Since white people have a tendency to lazily get non-white people confused with each other, so this was turned around? Let me know if you have any thoughts on this theory!)

The plot shows us the workplace problems that come with being the only black person in a very white working environment, and specifically the only black girl in a very confidently white publishing house, even one that vaguely tries to be woke and thinks it encourages diversity. Even though I am trying to be aware to these problems, I found this eye-opening as a white person navigating overwhlemingly white spaces - it is easy to forget how it feels for someone else and good to remind ourselves. Along the course of the book, the plot takes a turn and becomes more thriller-y, and eventually even veers into sci-fi/horror/dystopian territory. Don't get me wrong, it's not like there are suddenly space ships, or zombies wielding chainsaws, but the premise is quite suprising! I really enjoyed this turn into the unexpected, as I love a books that aren't straight up realist, but I thought this turn was particularly interesting in it's implications. I couldn't help but draw a line to the recent trend in feminist distopian/sci-fi (The Power by Naomi Alderman, or Vox by Christina Dalcher) and thinking that this is the much needed intersectional/anti-racist answer to those.

I can't wait to see what Zakiya Dalila Harris comes up with next!

A spine-tingling, imaginative read that keeps you guessing until The very last chapter. The other Black Girl is a must-read for anyone in an industry dominated by the white middle class, but especially those within the book industry..

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!

Really enjoyed this story of ... wow how do I even describe it? Suffice to say the "Devil Wears Prada" comp is really misleading.

This is more along the lines of [Get Out meets The Stepford Wives meets The Firm (hide spoiler)]. So much tension!

The portrayal of microaggressions is sharp and cutting, and the dual timeline narrative added suspense and mystery to the story. It felt like the book was two different stories--a corporate political thriller to start, and then at the end became a sort of fantasy caper, and there were a couple questions left unanswered with regard to character motivations and final conclusions, but overall this was an enjoyable and most importantly a really thought provoking read.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The writing style for this was so engaging. The setting is tried and tested in a publishing house but the end in particular was anything but tried and tested. Highly enjoyed.

The write-up for this novel describes it as 'The Devil Wears Prada' meets 'Get Out', but the end product actually surpasses the hype. It is a rollercoaster ride and has you hooked from early on, with a shocking twist that you 100% won't see coming.

First of all, this is a story that lays bare the white-dominated world of publishing, with superficial people paying lip service to colleagues in order to get one step ahead of the person at the next desk. As happens to ambitious Nella Rogers, when a new colleague, Hazel, arrives at Wagner Publishing.

Nella thinks that Hazel will be on her side because, like her, Hazel is black; however, within a short timeframe, Hazel has everyone at Wagner in her pocket and Nella fighting to keep her head above water. And then there are the notes, telling Nella to 'Leave Wagner. Now'. As Nella struggles to find out the truth, it seems Hazel is always one step ahead.

Secondly, there is the linked narrative of Kendra Rae Phillips, employed by Wagner Publishing in the early 1980s, who knows exactly what is happening to Nella because it happened to her and others. This adds an extra layer and dynamic to the story as we see how her and Nella's experiences pull together.

This is a sharp and incisive piece of writing by Zakiya Dalila Harris. As a social commentary, it doesn't pull its punches and challenges the reader's perception of how race is perceived in the workplace and the lengths some will go to in order to get ahead. There is also an element of psychological thriller to it, as we witness Nella's struggle to keep hold of her job and her sanity.

I was sent an advance review copy of this book by Bloomsbury Publishing, in return for an honest appraisal.

I cannot exaggerate how much I am in love with this book.

The Other Black Girl is a heart-pounding exploration of racism, colourism and micro-aggressions in the publishing industry and other white-dominated spheres. The book itself gaslights you through constant manipulation and doubting. You’re not even sure if it is a real conspiracy or if you’re seeing things that aren’t there. There’s some really illuminating passages on microaggressions and ‘subtle’ racism that were incredible to read. Overall, I adored the writing style and how beautiful the word choice felt often. This is a writer who is sure of themselves, who has confidence in their overarching vision and you and see that passion manifest itself in incredibly riveting and rich writing.

It would be remiss of me to not mention how wonderfully complex the narrative voices on display are. I love the interweaving characters and how their voices often contradict one another. There’s always a sense of unease in every page, setting you on edge and meaning that while you may empathise with certain characters, you never truly trust them. In that way, the characters feel slightly distant from you, but I really liked this.

Rarely does a book leave me genuinely gobsmacked. The Other Black Girl pulled this feat off, with twists and turns galore. For me, my favourite kinds of twists are those that immediately make you want to reread the story to see the tiny details you missed and here there were plenty of them. It was just so cleverly executed. Throughout, there’s a gradual buildup of tension and a claustrophobic atmosphere, but you are left unsure as to the full cause of it. The slow drip of suspense sent shivers down my spine and encapsulated everything a good mystery should have. When the curtain finally drops, it is a masterpiece.

The Other Black Girl was just such an excellent book that I can only implore you to pick up immediately.