Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she’s thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They’ve only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust. Then the notes begin to appear on Nella’s desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW.

This book is full of suspense, the type where you keep reading late into the night, desperate to find out what will happen to the characters you are so heavily invested in, In terms of the genre, it covers a bit of everything so it is a book you just have to take a leap of faith for and risk, overall it is worth it and enjoyable.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

I loved the first two thirds of this book and shamefully recognised many of the behaviours and practices outlined in its pages. Some of it could easily have been written by my Black colleagues over the years, and I saw within this novel some of their experiences. I was looking forward to recommending this book to friends and I loved the spicy, bitchy thriller aspects of the plot as Nella and Hazel's worlds collide. Also, the plot about the pretentious white author's book with a Black drug-using character named 'Shartricia' was priceless, particularly when he cried after Nella mildly challenged him! The last third of the book was not to my taste as the thriller elements ramped up, and two or three characters were introduced with similar names and backgrounds and not enough time to get to know them. I appreciate that this book represents a step forward in how we talk about race - it's inventive, daring and the satire is completely on the nose. I just wish the last chapters had stuck to the same formula as the first.

Was so excited to start reading this. Described as The Devil Wears Prada meets Get Out, this story is set in the starkly white New York publishing world. We meet Nella, the only black employee of Wagner Books who is exasperated by the micro-aggressions within the company. Then Hazel is employed, and Nella thinks change is being made, she finally has an ally and someone who understands her frustrations. Quickly however, things start to spiral out of her control, starting with sinister anonymous notes being left on Nella’s desk. A dramatic thriller that is keeping me hooked at every twist and turn.

Perhaps this is one of those many, many books I read all the hype about (and that I just HAVE to have afterwards) and that falls just a little bit short as a result. It's not bad, at all, I'm not saying that. I just had very high expectations and found that the story dragged a lot. The plot itself is original and it's definitely fun to read something set in a world that is so very familiar to my own. As I work in publishing (though not in the US) the world of publishing over here is just as white and just as middle class as you might expect. In this regard, there are many similarities and it really doesn't matter on which side of the pond you're on when you are reading it.

I deliberately avoided spoilers for this book, so didn't know 100% what I was getting myself into.
All in all, I struggled to get through this book. When tense moments and suspense happened, I did find myself glued to the pages, but those moments were scarce, unfortunately.

But the ending. My goodness!

I think it absolutely deserves the hype, very entertaining, creepy and original. Love books about publishing and the characterisations of white fragility, especially of the male big author is spot on.

Very different but flawed nonetheless. An original twisted tale about being black in today’s society, it reminded me of “The Power” and unfortunately I found it just as far-fetched and slow-paced. The message is a confused one and it failed to resonate with me even though it should have striked a cord. A disappointing read which overpromises and does not deliver.

*I will post this on my blog a week before publication date*

I was super excited to read The Other Black Girl after attending a Bloomsbury Night In with talks from a variety of authors, so when I was approved for this on NetGalley I started to read straight away.

The Other Black Girl follows Nella - the only person of colour working at a publishing firm. After many attempts to bring diversity into the workplace, she is excited to find out another black woman got a job there. And then she gets the note... LEAVE WAGNER. NOW. What follows is a series of twists and turns as we find out who is on her side, and who is not.

The book is described as The Devil Wears Prada meets Get Out, and that is the most accurate description I can think of. Whilst the book touches on serious topics such as diversity in the workplace, it also has a shocking twist that left me stunned.

I really enjoyed reading this, I would absolutely love to see it as a film and thanks to Harris's descriptive prose, could vividly imagine the characters and settings. I really recommend this to anybody who loves a suspense/thriller such as myself, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advanced readers copy of this in return for an honest review.

This is a fascinating insight into a young African American woman's experience in a predominantly white industry. The story is peppered with lots examples and real news stories which provide context. I was interested in the plot which promised a thriller where the main character Nella's position as the lone black voice at the publishing house she worked at would be usurped by another young, black woman who would become her competition, rather than her ally. However, the story wasn't the fast-paced thriller I was expecting. The sinister side to Hazel, the 'other black girl', is a slow reveal and, when we do find out what is going on, it was not what I expected at all. This is not so much a story of a vindictive and ambitious individual, but of a wider political underground movement which is driven by events that happened at the same publishing house almost thirty years before. Likewise, the promise that Hazel would 'become the office darling', while Nella would 'become public enemy number one' was just such an overstatement that I kept waiting for this to happen and before I knew it the book was over. While I found the concept very interesting, I felt that the blurb and description did not match the book I read.

I also found the switching between timelines and characters disorientating, particularly as the vignettes interspersed throughout the book which were not part of the main story but were either flashbacks or introducing other characters, were really confusing and unclear. I also found the author's style of writing jarring. She would begin a scene from the main story line where some time had passed since the previous scene and then have Nella think back over the events of the intervening time before bringing us back into the scene again. If the intervening time contained important events, I would just prefer a linear structure to present them rather than this constant flicking back and forth. While I enjoyed the book and concept, the confusing structure, the slow pace and the unexpected plot twist made this a 3 star read for me.

Really compelling book: the description of corporate life, rivalries, the tickbox 'diversity initiatives' that really are nothing of the sort. Very sharply observed, very witty. I think describing this book as The Devil Wears Prada meets Get Out is not really doing it any favours: it is neither a comedy nor is it a thriller. In fact, the conspiracy and suspense elements of it were the least successful or necessary to my mind. I'd quite happily have settled for a less 'surreal' explanation of things. But I really enjoyed the characters, the dialogue, the social critique.

I must be more British than I thought because I struggled with some of the American cultural references. However, I would recommend this to anyone interested in reading a caustic satire on the American publishing industry and the lip service paid to diversity. With thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read an advance copy..

I was very pleased to be approved to read The Other Black Girl as I thought the blurb sounded excellent. Due to work pressures I ended up reading it across a number of evenings although, had I had more time, I would happily have read it in one or two sittings as I found the storyline fascinating. Nella is an interesting character and someone who I cared about from the start and became invested in her story. Having never really had an office based job, I found the scenes in office to be entertaining and something I could imagine as part of a tv show.

The writing style is not fast paced but there is an element of suspense and wondering which kept me interested and eager to find out where it was going. The direction of the story didn't quite match what I was expecting but this isn't a criticism, just an observation. I enjoyed the change in pace and I liked being surprised. There is a lot more to this story than meets the eye.

For two years, Nella has worked at the predominantly white Wagner publishing house. But now there’s a new girl. And she’s Black. Initially Nella is thrilled to see another Black girl conquering a white environment, but things quickly go down hill, when Nella’s instincts tell her something is off about Hazel. And things worsen when Nella starts receiving intimidating notes telling her to Leave Wagner, now.

The Other Black Girl blends levels of psychological horror with satirical and contemporary tones to deliver a hypnotic tale that’ll make everyone think twice about their workplace, colleagues, ambitions and institutional racism.

What a punch this book packs. Two words for my reading experience of this: curiosity and chills. My curiosity of where the story was going only intensified the more the plot unfolded. I think the author captured a blurring of lines between office politics and race remarkably. It demonstrates how race is weaponised despite one’s best efforts. It was uncomfortable and honest, and I have no shadow of a doubt it will ring true for many BIPOC.

I thought Nella was quite a dry character overall, but I really felt for her conflicted emotions about supporting a fellow Black woman in a predominantly white sphere, but also struggling with being left behind and even collateral damage. This tug and pull feeling was almost suffocating and palpitating as the plot developed. I was holding my breath and even hand covering my mouth in shock. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t THAT twist. In a way I felt tremendously stupid for not foreseeing it, especially when the book is dubbed something akin to Get Out and I can think of other stories with similar operations, but all the same I was surprised.

My primary issue was the book’s structure. The book unfolds in a nonlinear way, which, didn’t work for me. I didn’t like jumping back and forwards in time, then also back and forward in different perspectives. I understand why this was necessary, and in actuality appreciated it toward the book’s end, but in the first half it didn’t feel fleshed out well. This ultimately impacted my investment in the story as it put me off a little.

However, as much as that was irksome, the book’s pace was excellent and I devoured it within a day. I’ll be thinking on this book for sometime, and I doubt I’ll be alone in that. I wish the story’s progression had been smoother but I’m still sure it’ll be a hit with bookworms. The Other Black Girl is smart, powerful and truly chilling by the story’s end.

Thank you kindly to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've just finished The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris. Set in a top New York publishing house, Nella is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and the micro-aggressions, she's thrilled when Hazel joins the company. They've only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events cause Nella to become Public Enemy Number One and Hazel, the Office Darling. Then the notes begin to appear on Nella's desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW.

I found the insight into publishing fascinating and it certainly raises a number of really important questions about the industry I work in. I'm conscious of giving away spoilers so all I'll say is that it's a brilliant, super twisty debut that you should definitely look out for this summer. It's been billed as Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada, but I saw sparks of 1984 too.

Nella is trying to make it as a Black millennial in an extremely white industry – publishing. Having landed her dream job at prestigious New York publishing house Wagner, she’s worked hard to gain recognition as an editorial assistant. Sure, she has to put up with microaggressions on a regular basis – but for working under some of the country’s most eminent editors, it’s a price she’s willing to pay.

‘She could see the thread that ran between the cultural faux pas of major corporations and the major faux pas of police offers all over the country.’

When Harlem-bred Hazel starts working for Wagner, Nella is initially delighted to have another colleague of colour. But things start to grow uncomfortable as Hazel’s star rises and she begins to infringe upon projects and relationships promised to Nella. To her face a solid ally, Hazel soon becomes her worst nightmare.

This novel is so sharp and clever, with biting social commentary about race in contemporary America and, more specifically, how this plays out in workplaces across the country. It’s probably because Publishing is my jam that I found the Wagner setting so compelling and spot on. Harris addresses the very visible lack of diversity in the industry in an accessible and clear-eyed way that makes it patently obvious just how a) out of touch and b) legitimately bad for business it is to have the same old people uplifting the same old perspectives time and time again.

‘Her coworkers could publish books about Bitcoin and Middle Eastern conflicts and black holes, but most of them couldn’t understand why it was so important to have a more diverse publishing house.’

Anyway, off my soapbox.

Things start to turn very sinister when mysterious notes show up on Nella’s desk, telling her to leave Wagner. Rather than report the threats, Nella determines to get to the bottom of it. But the encroaching sense of dread is dialled up as Hazel continues on her upwards trajectory, going so far as to get the head of Wagner, Richard, to donate a hefty sum to her non-for-profit start-up supporting Black poets. Nella’s self-assurance and sanity takes a hit, and she begins to question her relationships with those around her and her ability to do her job.

‘Her spiralling sense of self-worth had started to encroach upon her sanity; her sanity, upon her sleep; and her sleep; upon her ability to be a functioning human being at work. A functioning human being who was able to forgive and forget the fact that a colleague had mistaken her for a dreadlocked girl who was four inches taller than her.’

But then things go…a little south, narrative-wise. Honestly, this might just be because this is an early copy that needs more aggressive an edit – but there were some key plot points in here that had me scratching my head in confusion. I won’t give anything away, but there’s a sub-plot with an underground resistance movement, and some truly bonkers hair products, and although I’ve not got anything against a kooky turn, I really didn’t know what was going on in the latter 25% of this book – I put it down feeling genuinely confused. I am very much hoping these issues will be ironed out prior to publication, because this really is a compelling, bold and timely novel – and I don’t want readers to be put off by the opaqueness of some key plot points.

A hilarious, satirical novel that allows the reader to fully immerse themselves into the murky world of publishing. Zakiya Dalila Harris' writing is fluid, biting, and kept me hooked throughout. I would definitely recommend.

Excellent commentary on things that white people just don't see.

Insightful, charming and thrilling all at the same time.

Zakiya is brilliant.

Well to start with, the marketing department should be given a gold star for making me want to read this book - a thriller with undertones of Get Out? Yes please! However, deduct that star, because unfortunately this is not a thriller, and in no way is comparable to the edginess of Get Out. I don't know how to classify this book, other than saying it's an insider's critique to racism within the publishing industry. The author has made it known that this is semi autobiographical, so she has all the facts, but unfortunately the story doesn't seem to know what to do them. If you took out the weird part of the book (I guess this is the part where the loose comparison to Get Out comes in) and the disappointing ending, and just stuck with more plot and character development, I might have enjoyed it more. The storyline became too confusing when too many characters from different timelines were introduced. My favourite character was the best friend Malaika - she spoke a lot of sense, it was a shame that Nella didn't listen to her more.
An underwhelming book that started readable, but then got long and wordy. Nella's decision making was frustrating. The premise of the story was interesting, but the twist was ridiculous, and the ending not believable.

Wowee !! this book was incredible and a ride. I fell in love with Nella and kept reading to see the dynamics between her and Hazel. Once things started to get twisty, i was simply intrigued as to where the ending would go. I was massively surprised with the ending and found it so poignant and insightful as well as cleverly written. Just like the get out and Queenie - mixed with her own incredible writing ability.

I wanted to like this book- I’m so happy that there’s finally more diversity in literature- but the protagonist was so Unlikeable and the workplace setting (a publishers) was so much like many other novels. I felt like I was being talked at. There’s a big buzz around the book already so I think it will do well and I hope it paves the way for even more diversity in books, but for me I felt like getting through this was a bit of a slog.

An enjoyable read that did remind me of the Devil Wears Prada but set in the book world. I wanted to discover more about this industry and how diversity should be better. I did discover that but the book was very different to what I thought it would be. The two black girls seemed to be enemies which I found disappointing. It was quite a strange read but that ending!