Wasn't a fan of this book, I found the characters immature and annoying.
I have read other reviews by fans of this that enjoyed it, I just wasn't one.
Thank you for my netgalley.

This book was good. I liked how it explored black women in the publishing world. I thought it moved slowly until the end. Then I was on edge. I did get confused bt the plot sometimes. I can picture this to be adapted into a movie.

Was not able to finish this book or the review before its release, but it was super popular in our store.

The writing in this book was lyrical. It flowed nicely and it was easy to read. The imagery was great and I enjoyed the descriptive sentences. The story seemed to just chug along without any moments of tension. I felt more like it was a office drama up until the end.

Would read this author again.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really wanted to like this book: it had promise as it was touted as Devil Wears Prada vs Get Out, but I felt this was a stretch. I also generally love books about books, or in this case, a story about working in book publishing, but again, I didn't love this. I'm not sure if it's because I felt like nothing happened until the very end, or because it was the longest book to get through ever. I didn't find anything about the plot to be suspenseful or have me on the edge of the seat, anxious to find out what happens next. There was only one chapter where Nella is snooping in her coworkers bedroom that had me tense, but that was it. The ending, the "twist", seemed so ridiculous when I read it, but now that it's been several weeks since I finished it, I guess I can appreciate what it was trying to accomplish. Another review mentioned that this book is black satire, a genre they realize they do not like, and maybe that's where this book went wrong for me (and possibly over my head).

This was fantastic!
It's so messed up in too many ways.
I don't want to say much, because the number of questions running through my brain while reading... only made my experience better.
Much love to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Atria Books for my copy.

This was an odd book for me... It opened my eyes to such an incredible perspective being written from a black woman's point of view in the publishing industry, however it had so many moving parts that it felt like 2 books were written and halfway through the book, I thought the voice of the narrator had shifted and I was reading some other book, not leaving me with loving the book if I'm honest.

Unfortunately I know the underlying message was a powerful one, but because of the way it was delivered in the style of writing (if that's the correct way to describe it?) this book missed the mark for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review. Please excuse my tardiness in posting my review as my TBR list continuously grows and I keep finding so many book with so little time! So much gratitude for this copy shared with me, always xo

**Additional Note I wanted to include: I had this ebook version from NetGalley as well as the audiobook via my library. I was also part of a Tandem Collective Readalong for this book in July - which was a bit of a disappointment as the physical book with reading card prompts to photograph and post on Instagram did not arrive until AFTER the readalong was complete. That experience wasn't pleasant and I thought I would share it as the communication was not great with Tandem and I was sadly left with a sour taste in my mouth with the Readalong experience that I was excited to take part in, at the time.**

A great psychological thriller that touches on some topics like workplace racial alienation, white-washing, etc. This book kept me up for a while! Things I didn't like much was the time shift between past and present, and also the ending. The ending was a bit underwhelming. Overall, it's a good read!

Thank you to @simonschusterca and @tandemcollectiveglobal for my #gifted copy.

The Other Black Girl is making waves for its unforgiving and honest spotlight on the publishing industry and it’s transparent lack of diversity. In addition, it characterizes the inherent loneliness and exhaustion that comes from being the only Black woman in the workplace.

The Other Black Girl begins as a thriller. Then about halfway through, there is an obvious shift to the narrative. It feels like two separate novels in its attempts to be many things. It strays a little too far from a thriller in to the satirical and Twilight Zone territory and it is in this deviation where the brilliance and believability of the message somewhat got lost for me.

In addition, too many secondary characters blended together and were underdeveloped, making them difficult to follow along with.

Despite its many oddities where the author takes some artistic license in the latter half, I ended up enjoying the novel as a whole. Whether that is due to the writing or the discussions, I can’t be sure, but I do think it is an important voice to be witness to and create a dialogue around.

The message about how Black women must ultimately choose between remaining true to themselves or code-switch in order for a better chance at success is a powerful and effective one to be left with. I sure hope the publishing industry - and society - take notice.

wow. this book. WOW. It started out slowly, with Nella at Wagner Books, the only Black girl there, getting micro-aggressions all day long < sigh > . Then Hazel comes to work there, and it's great. Or is it? Nella is getting weird notes, messages, there's definitely some sort of strange mystery going on. And then BAM !! the action starts, and you are thrown about willy-nilly, this is happening, that is happening, OH MY !!! and then wait......what ?? WHAAATTT ???

this was such a flip-up, it was shocking. I had absolutely no idea that was what was coming. WHAT A GREAT TWIST !!!

this would make a fantastic movie.

thanks to netgalley for a review copy, I am in no way influenced by them in my review

This was an interesting read and was actually way different than what I was expecting - but a good surprise. I took time to deal with my frustrations as I read the racism in the story and then became thankful that this story addressed it the way that it did. These stories need to be in your face for folks to really get it, to really see that this is real and happens to people every day. If you are not on the receiving end of racism, you probably don't see the microaggressions and you may even be contributing to them. What I enjoyed about this story was that it is a new twist to bringing this very real issue into the forefront.

(I’m a bit late with this one.)

4.25 stars

To say that this one surprised me would be an understatement. It certainly wasn’t what I expected, but it was pretty great. Much of the story just lulled me into a nice, false sense of security, and then, so slowly I didn’t realize what was going on until it had actually happened, we were at the end…and what an ending. I’m conflicted about the epilogue, but it’ll keep me thinking, that’s for sure. I wish I would’ve gotten to this one sooner!

I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt it was a very well written narrative, I was able to learn so much as I was reading through the eyes of a black woman and how she felt in a predominantly white work place. It was hard to believe that is is Harris's debut novel. The story is mostly told from the main characters Nella's point of view but with a few other's sprinkled throughout the book. I did find the ending to be a bit more open ended than I would of liked.

In the story we follow Nella, a 26 year old that is the only black woman working as an editorial assistant at Wagner Books. Nella is trying to climb the career ladder in this white work place. No matter how hard it seems that Nella is working she is still subject to daily microaggresions. Then Hazel another black woman is offered a job and Nella is thrilled, that she won't feel so lonely in the work environment anymore. However with Hazel on the scene things start to change, and not the way Nella had hoped. Instead of being alienated by the white coworkers Hazel befriended then in no time. Hazel begins to undermine Nella, and Nella is feeling that her job is in the line. If that isn't enough Nella starts to receive some threatening messages. As Nella tries to uncover who is sending the threatening messages she makes some shocking discoveries that might put her future in danger.

3.5 STARS

Get Out meets The Stepford Wives in this electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.

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I was very excited to learn that I had been picked to join the @tandemglobalcollective read along for THE OTHER BLACK GIRL. I'd seen this one floating around the 'gram and was instantly drawn in by the gorgeous cover art and synopsis. A synopsis that honestly doesn't do the book justice because this book was not at all what I expected.

Although it is marketed as a thriller slash office drama, there were also elements of horror, fantasy and literary fiction. Several sub-plots were also included, however, I didn't feel that they wove into the story as well as they could. At it's heart, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL is a book that makes you question whether authenticity and success can go hand in hand - especially in a world that still highly praises "whiteness."

Overall, I was intrigued by the plot and taken in by the well written prose. However, I felt that THE OTHER BLACK GIRL was "trying on" different genres in nearly each section of the book and eventually it took me completely out of the book. Do I recommend it? Yes, but with the caveat that you have absolutely no preconceived notions going in.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my ARC!

Very unique read for me. I thinks this author can really write and I would be interested to read more from her. My only complaint is that I felt not a lot actually happened in this book and I think I expected more from the ending. Although the ending was definitely unique and will probably have me thinking about it for awhile.

I really wanted to love this one. I loved the cultural discussions behind the plot, I loved seeing a workplace from a different point of view from my own, and I loved the writing style. I ended up not loving it overall though because I felt like it moved at such a snail's pace. I wish there was more action like the ending or at least more of the drama strung along for the pacing to live up to the name thriller.

The Other Black Girl
3/5 ⭐️

Thank you @netgalley & @simonandschuster for an ARC! This one came out on June 1st and things have been hectic! I’ll save you the synopsis and jump right in to the review because this one is all over bookstagram.

I loved where this story ended but I did not enjoy the whole journey. I’d say the first 40% was a bit draggy and dull. However, fast forward to the last 40% and wtf. I knew something was going on with Hazel but THAT is not at all what I expected. A bit Get Out-esque.

For a debut novel this psychological thriller is complex! I’m on the fence about upping the star rating just because of the ending.

#theOtherBlackGirl #ZakiyaDalilaHarris #debutnovel #thriller #psychologicalthriller #arc #netgalley #simonandschuster #currentlyreading #summerreading #readinggoals #audiobook #books #bibliophile #goodreads #bookish #bookworm #booknerd #nsbookstagrammer #canadianbookstagrammer

I have honestly never read a book like this. I started reading thinking I knew where it was headed but was blown away by the unexpected turns the story took. For fans of The Devil Wears Prada and Get Out!

This book was a solid winner for me (and likely resonates with anyone who has ever worked in publishing in any capacity) although I do think the Devil Wears Prada comparison does this book a disservice. This book has a slow build, pulling you in with characters and their experiences and what amounts to a (hopefully) somewhat satirical look at publishing before hitting you with some Big Plot late in the story. This book is so timely as a social commentary and I hear its being adapted by Hulu for the screen, where I'm going to bet it's going to do even better than it did as a novel. It read as more of a "quiet" book than I was expecting from the buzz, but I'll definitely be recommending it.

Being hailed as Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada, this brilliant novel is unputdownable. Harris delivers a character-driven account of what Black women experience in the workplace—it, is a thoughtful examination of race, class, and power. The publishing world will be turned on its head much like it is in the book.

Thought-provoking and filled with twists, this is an incredibly original and timely read. Already named a most anticipated book of 2021, this powerful debut has something for everyone: acerbic wit, horror, mystery, and a contemporary edge.

Razor-sharp, biting, and authentic, The Other Black Girl is utterly electric.