Overall, I enjoyed reading this and thought that it was an important topic. Often a person of color or of a certain religion is the only one in the room. This book showcased workplace racism and what probably does happen in many places. The storyline was easy to follow although parts of this book were very repetitive, and I would listen to parts of this and think that I had somehow gone backwards in the book. The characters were well developed and most grew throughout the story. There was more romance in the story than expected, I was hoping most of the story would focus on the workspace.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio.

WOW! What a great book! I loved this story! The narrator did great also! Kept me interested

I enjoyed Gen’s story and seeing her find her voice and go after what she deserved.

This book was so relatable because I’ve been the only black girl in the room and let me tell you it’s hard. Needless to say this book did a great good of highlighting some of the micro-aggressions and racism while also adding an interracial slow burn romance just to shake it up and I’m here for it…

Very good book. Audio kept my attention and I wanted to keep listening. everything really flowed well together with this one.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, I couldn't. Although there are some really valid points about being a person of color, specifically a woman of color in the workplace, in this book. It felt repetitive and very in your face. For that reason, this is a great book if you don't understand workplace racism but this book did give off more cliche vibes and not being apart of the popular work group more than racism.

I knew there was going to be romance, but I was hoping it would lean more toward women's fiction, but it was definitely a second chance romance with a subplot of workplace drama. It didn't sit well with me that the main male character was a rich white man. It gave off white savior the whole book and really took away from her achievements as black women when things were handed to her from her white partner. I'm in an interracial marriage, and I did appreciate the mentions of struggle for that topic, but I feel for a book about the black women workplace experience. Black love would have pushed the point across better, in my opinion.

I did love all the small business and supporting voices of color that were in the book, but again, I wish there was more of that and less romance.

* Very real and felt seen being that I’ve been in Genevieve shoes being the only black girl in a lot of rooms that I’m in
* this book underlines racism in the workplace which needs to be talked about more
* Having to be on your best so that your not seen as an aggressive, mean black woman this hurts but true and is portrayed well in this book
* This book makes me feel like I’m in her head trying to find my way
* She has to work with her ex in order to get her break through what could go wrong lol
* Seeing people that look like you in books, tv, etc is so important
* Some parts felt long / dragged which made me not as into the story at times
* We love a second chance romance
* Loved seeing the sides (good and bad)of an interracial couple
* I relate to wanting to be seen romantically, professionally
* This was raw and beautiful book
* This book shows that change starts with one person it can be done 👏🏾

This was a great story but I can’t lie it made me mad at times. I hated how Gen was treated as the only black girl in her workplace and on her team. It really made me think of how hard I tend to work because I am black I feel I have to work 10x harder at times just to be given a chance. The story was realistic and I love that it wasn’t so romance focused but more in regards to her career and the drama that came with it.

Genevieve Francis, a 25-year-old Black reporter, assumed she’d go into her fourth year at her newspaper job with a bigger story than the latest seasonal ice cream flavor. Instead, she’s relegated to doing copy edits and sensitivity reads on the articles her white colleagues write. So when Gen finally gets the opportunity to cover a prominent CEO’s gala, she leaps at the chance—this will be her biggest assignment to date. The only problem: The CEO is her ex, Jude, whose marriage proposal she publicly rejected four years prior.

Following their awkward run-in, Jude personally requests Gen to write the first ever authorized profile of him. The potential for scandal, if anyone digs into their past, is high, but Gen decides to risk it—if she proves herself with this profile, it could jumpstart her dream of writing articles centered on Black voices. But between the racist backlash from her colleagues and her conflicting feelings toward her ex, Gen soon realizes she’s in way over her head. And it may be more than just her career on the line.

4.5⭐ (audio) I listen to tons of audiobooks - it's my favorite way to read! I'm typically a happy camper as long as the narrator doesn't do anything to pull me out of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed Joniece Abbot-Pratt's performance here. I love when a narrator pulls me into a great story!

4.5⭐ (story) This was a beautifully written emotional book. As a white middle-aged woman, I try to read widely about different people's experiences. Of course, this is fiction, but most fiction is based on someone's reality. It was frustrating to see how much crap that Gen put up with, the big and small ways people discriminate, even if they don't mean to.

While this was, at its heart, a romance, it was more about Gen finding her voice and her way in the world. I really enjoyed the romance part, but I wish Gen would have learned to stand on her own faster. Overall, excellent read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audio copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

This was a great debut! The audiobook was well-read, entertaining, and real life! Genevieve didn't always make the right decisions, but she handled it the best she could. I love that she saw people for who they were but I wish she stood on that a little more. One thing with the audiobook was not being able to tell what she said out loud versus what was just an internal thought. There were times I thought I hope she didn't say that and other times where I hoped she did but it was hard to tell. Jude's glow up was the real treat! Anytime he was on page I was thoroughly engaged. I loved the message in the story as well and would recommend this for all the girls who's been the only black girl in the room and especially the girls who's been in the room with them.

♡ Audiobook Review ♡
♤ Release May.7 ♤
•5 🌟
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•interracial romance
•second chance romance
•workplace racism
•mid-20s coming of age
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•If judging a book by its cover was a person, it's ME because this COVER is gorgeous!
•HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
•The Only Black Girl In The Room is Alex Travis women fiction debut book. This audiobook held my attention from the beginning to the end. The narrator, Joniece Abbot-Pratt, did a phenomenal job bringing this story alive.
•I enjoyed this book a lot, and it's very relatable for bipoc women in the workplace, because it definitely shows how a bipoc woman in the workplace is treated and how sometime you deal with people who doesn't even know or act like they don't know they're using racism as a way to communicate with bipoc females.
•Genevieve Francis, a 25-year-old Black reporter, assumed she’d go into her fourth year at her newspaper job with a bigger story than the latest seasonal ice cream flavor. Instead, she’s relegated to doing copy edits and sensitivity reads on the articles her white colleagues write. So when Gen finally gets the opportunity to cover a prominent CEO’s gala, she leaps at the chance—this will be her biggest assignment to date. The only CEO is her ex, Jude, whose marriage proposal she publicly rejected four years prior.
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♡ Thank you, Netgalley, and Brilliance Audio for giving me the ALC - Audiobook for my honest review.

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Alex Travis, Brilliance Audio and NetGalley.

This is primarily a mid-twenties coming-of-age: professional career edition story with a second-chance romance plot running concurrently. The romance is handled lightly and is part of the main storyline without becoming the sole focus of the story. Genevieve (Gen) is a lovable, smart, funny, and relatable Black mid-twenties junior reporter for a small town newspaper. Her career has stalled since her initial hiring almost four years ago directly out of college. She is in a demoralizing and frustrating work environment in which her talents are ignored and her coworkers are petty with a side of antagonism. There's an opportunity for a junior reporter to interview the CEO of an important local large family owned business which could offer Gen the chance to turn her career around. The CEO who requested her specifically is her ex-almost fiancé, Jude. Jude is a white man from an extremely wealthy, privileged family. Gen is from a more average middle class Black family. Jude and Gen met through their mutual friend, Oliver, in high school. They were a couple for 6 or so years, well into college, before breaking up in a dramatic public manner. It's four years later and this is Jude's first publicly published piece on his role as CEO. This story is a huge win for Gen's small local paper and an amazing opportunity for her career.
This novel deftly manages Gen's ongoing struggles with racism professionally and personally. This is delicately managed without leaning into preachiness or a lecturing tone . At times I felt frustrated as a reader with situations which serves as an excellent indicator of how thoroughly this subject is explored. I appreciate that the romance isn't the only story being told here because it allows this novel to avoid the third act breakup awkwardness. I quite liked both Gen and Jude which also helped. I'd consider Jude a cinnamon roll hero love interest.
The conclusion to the multiple storylines is so incredibly satisfying. Whew! I was not prepared to enjoy this as much as I did. This does directly address racism with an overall tone that I deeply enjoyed and appreciated.
This is funny, relatable, handled microaggressions in the workplace perfectly, and I liked that Gen really understood her worth as both an employee and a love interest. I will definitely follow this author so I can read their next book.

The narrator of this audiobook is Joniece Abbott-Pratt, one of my favorite narrators. Her voice is rich and lyrical and just immediately immerses you into the story. I'm not surprised I liked Gen with Joniece narrating her.

Thank you to Alex Travis, Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.