The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris (available this month) is marketed as Jordan Peele's Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada. I knew I had to read it immediately. It starts off as a fairly simple office drama set against the glamorous backdrop of the NYC publishing world (hence the The Devil Wears Prada reference), but then it spirals into an unexpected, horror-adjacent thriller. It following twenty-six-year-old Nella, an editorial assistant and only black woman working at the prestigious Wagner Books. She puts up with a lot from her boss and colleagues, so when she learns Wagner has hired another black woman, she breathes a sigh of relief. Maybe this new editorial assistant will be her new comrade in the battle for diversity in publishing? Unfortunately, the new hire only seems to ratchet up the tension in the office – and may be gunning for Nella's job. The Other Black Girl is a bit of slow burn, but I really enjoyed it and desperately hope Jordan Peele will consider adapting it for film.

The Other Black Girl starts off as your usual office drama, which I was definitely here for. However, as the story begins to unfold and you start to encounter different POVs, you realize not is all as it seems, and there is something much darker going on beneath the surface.

Thank you to NetGalley, Zakiya Dalila Harris and Simon & Schuster Canada for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled a bit with this one since it was so hyped up. It was a good story of sabotaging a coworker but it just didn't really work for me. I can see this one being a bestseller and super popular among readers though!

Unexpected, suspenseful, and addictive; The Other Black Girl is not only a thriller, but also a view into the world of work-place micro-aggressions. I loved the glimpse into life as a literary assistant and the politics of publishing too. Thank you NetGalley for this amazing debut by Zakiya Dalila Harris.

This genre-bending debut novel offers an incisive literary take on systemic racism in the workplace. I couldn’t put this book down - the concept was unique and impactful, and I appreciated the POVs of multiple interrelated characters. That said, the storyline pacing felt a bit off. The first 75% of the novel was a slow build-up, while the last 25% rushed to a conclusion that left me wishing for more depth. Nonetheless, I’d recommend this book for its thought-provoking workplace commentary, particularly for readers who enjoy creative approaches to genre; this one blended literary fiction, satire and mystery/thriller with a touch of sci fi and horror! I also really enjoyed Zakiya Dalila Harris’s writing style and look forward to reading future work of hers. Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to reading this book because the description was so engaging but the author is trying to do too many things and so instead of one compelling page-turner we get bogged down with three competing narratives.

Fantastic read - very well written, unexpected, and full of twists. A little bit more sinister than I expected - kept me up until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. Cannot wait to read more from Harris!

Nella is the only Black person working at Walden Publishing, she's an editorial assistant and she's following the mantra 'you have to be twice as good' - and she is.

In waltzes Hazel; she's also Black and Nella is excited to have an ally - to not feel so alone or like she has to fight all of the battles or deal with the micro-agressions by herself. Hazel supports her in standing up and calling out an author that has created a horrible caricature of a woman of colour that embodies all of the worst stereotypes. But then, she turns on Nella and publicly throws her under the bus. It doesn't stop there.

3.5/ 5 stars

The Other Black Girl is an interesting debut novel. I would say that it is General fiction with a bit of a mystery aspect.

The story is about Nella and "the other black woman", Hazel.

Nella is an editorial assistant at Wagner Books in New York City. Hazel shows up and Nella is no longer the only black person there. However things begin to happen that Nella cannot understand.

Nella is the main narrator. But we also get some other POVs. And some of the story is set in 1983.

Is Hazel good or bad? And does the story from 1983 somehow tie into Nella's world?

This book is super unique. And definitely not like anything that I've ever read before. But I didn't love the extra POVs. And overall the story for the most part was just okay for me. I really think that the description sounded incredible. The mystery had so much potential. But I didn't love where the story ended up. And I wasn't satisfied by the reveal. Although the epilogue was pretty interesting.

Nella is an aspiring editor. She is smart, witty, and curious. Her passion for editing is influenced by her idol who, like her, is black and helped to bring a prominent black author’s work to light and subsequently the best sellers list. For Nella this is a feat she strives to replicate while working at Wagner, a dominantly white publishing house that would rival today’s top 5. In walks Hazel. A new editorial assistant who is also looking to make a mark on the publishing industry. Being the only two black women at Wagner the two illuminate microaggressions, concerns with speaking up and fear of reprisal, assuaging white coworkers’ feelings while applauding their involvement in disbanded town halls on diversity, navigating with trepidation and frustration at the barriers of being black in a white environment - all the while trying to navigate and discover whose behind threatening notes left for Nella and pits the two against one another.

This read has a little bit of everything. It had elements of The Devil Wears Prada, mixed with the Whisper Network with a touch of Black Mirror. There were moments of psychological suspense, satire alongside literary critical reflection, and everyday doldrums interspersed with workplace drama/sci-FI. It’s a view into the world of publishing that goes beyond editorial nuances to behind the curtain where glass ceilings are polished and shiny white pillars stand erect creating a barrier where microaggressions keep diversity “in-check.” And, failing through the use of hair products to chemical alter one’s ambition. I found this to be a slower paced novel and it was confusing at times with the various POV’s and timeline and shifts in genres. However, the ending ramped up considerably where the conspiracy revealed itself.

Personably, I love thrillers and sci-FI and literary fiction. I would love to see this book pulled apart into three plots - deeper into Kendra Rae; an exploration about publishing and white fragility and breaking through overt and subversive oppression; and the Sci-FI theme of assimilation. Deconstructed - those are pretty great plot lines!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my review.

Are cultural similarities a reason to bond with someone?

I feel like this is something that is explored so well in this book. The story follows Nella, the only Black woman who works in a well to do publishing company. The only one, until Hazel joins. She instantly picks up on their mutual Blackness and become 'friends'. Or do they? Hazel becomes the centre of attention and is loved by everyone, even when she doesn't always deserve the credit. To add to that, Nella starts receiving threatening letters to quit Wagner Books. Although it's hard to imagine Hazel being behind these letters, Nella can't help but connect the dots when they lead them straight to her!

I really liked the instances of race, micro aggressions, white privilege, class etc that were brought forth in the novel. I did however feel that the starting of the book was slow. The suspense building and character development was personally very slow and it took me a while to get through the book. However overall, there are so many different things that could be discussed and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and suspense it brought! I felt like some of the middle sections really dragged on and weren't needed and the conclusion could have been more comprehensive. I thoroughly enjoyed the story overall and definitely recommend it!

I was fascinated with this book from the description and given the racial context, and I ended up really enjoying it. I think the main character is very relatable to all women and the story was unique and intriguing. I think the ending felt a little rushed and left me with many questions, but I would still recommend this book for those wanting to explore something a little different.

I unfortunately had to give up on this book after reading roughly 100 pages of it. I found all the characters unlikeable and the suspense elements of the book did not intrigue me at all.

Nella is the lone black girl working for a large publishing house in New York City. Aside from small micro aggressions, Nella is content. She has a healthy life work balance, spending time with her boyfriend Owen and her best friend Malaika regularly. She is interested in activism and in her black roots and identity.

Then one day she smells a familiar scent. Someone in the office is wearing the same hair product she uses to keep her natural hair smooth. Enter Hazel the new girl in the office and fellow young black woman. It isn’t long before Hazel is befriending Nella and inviting her to social events outside of work. When Hazel is offered some work in the office that should have gone to Nella, Nella’s guard is up and she feels threatened.

When Nella receives an anonymous note on her desk telling her to leave the company she can’t sort out the who or the why she is receiving this note. Nella begins spending more and more time at work trying to show herself while her and Malaika try and figure out who Nella can trust.

The author has subtly and overtly commented on the racism present in publishing both in its’ representation within and what it puts out. This book was timely and important in that way.

This book has been compared to the Devil Wears Prada. While the book takes place in a setting perhaps similar to that of DVP it does not have the same atmosphere and the comparison is pretty bare boned. Comparisons to Get Out! and The Stepford Wives is more in line with the premise of this story. There is an ominous feeling that slowly creeps up on the reader in a clever way.

I generally liked this book and the messages it put forth but was bothered by the slow pacing of the story. Very little happened in the first 60% and the story only really comes together in the last 20%.

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Other Black Girl comes out June 1, 2021.

Thank you @simonschusterca for my gifted copy to read and review.

Pub day: June 1, 2021

When I saw this book was described as Get Out meets The Stepford Wives and set in the punishing world, I knew I wanted to read it!

This debut is a cleverly constructed book that uses satire to explore systemic racism and Black female identity in the very white New York publishing world. I’m a big fan of satire and it’s definitely important to know going into the book that it’s satire vs. a thriller.

Nella is the only Black girl at publishing house, Wagner, until Hazel arrives. At first Nella is excited. But things start to change. Hazel becomes the firm favourite and makes some questionable moves. Nella receives threatening notes that tell her to leave Wagner and make her look deeper into her new friend and the publishing house.

I loved Nella’s POV and character arc. I was also really interested in Kendra Rae and Diana (especially in the past) and could have read a book just about them! And the setting in the publishing world was a total win for me.

At times, I struggled to keep track of the different timelines and connections between all the characters. And it is a slower paced book. Less action, more day-day lives and character interaction.

But that being said, the book totally kept my attention and I read it all in one day. And the ending 🤯. Definitely read it a few times!

I also encourage you to seek out #OwnVoices reviews of the book.

I wanted to love this book, but it felt like the beginning of a great story with a lot of missed opportunities. I spent the first 70% of the book waiting for something to really happen. Then things happened so fast, but without any explanation at all. There were a lot of people who seem very important to the plot (Kendra, Richard, even Hazel) that I didn't understand how they were involved, why they were involved, what role they played, how they did it.

We could have spent less time setting up Nella's life and more on the meat of what was happening and how deep it went.

It's unfortunate because I think there is an amazing idea here. And I loved the end scene, it gave me chills.

I was really excited to read this one! It was a somewhat twisty, intriguing read and the tension increased as I read on. I liked getting the insight into the world of publishing, but it took me some time to get into it (I was confused by the different perspectives and timelines).

💫 Book Review 💫
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

Comparing this book to ‘The Devil wears Prada’ didn’t make sense the further I got into the book and if I could sum it up in a couple sentences it would be to say that it’s a satirical spotlight into the publishing world. With a creepy vibe sneaking into the words towards the end.

Nella is a 26 yr old woman working as an editor at Wagner Publishing. She’s comfortable being the only black girl and yet not. She’s a complex girl who grew up within a white community but also always felt like she didn’t quite fit in anywhere. Until a new gal arrives. Enter Hazel, a charming, unique and gorgeous woman from Harlem who befriends Nella. What begins as a connection about the lack of diversity and movement within the publishing world turns into something much more.

A unique book about what I’m positive is based on a very real experience, as a black woman within a very white publishing community. The Other Black Girl is a debut book simmering in satire and peeling back the layers of social constructs built within the publishing world.

My criticism of this is more that it could be a lot shorter. It seems like it had a lot of “excess” which didn’t need to be there which led to the slow build of the novel. The hype that you see for this one happens in the last 1/4 .

I was very excited to read this book! The marketing of it has really been successful in making it a must read book. However I would argue that the description of “ The Devil Wears Prada” meets “ Get Out” does not accurately describe this book. If the reader is expecting the humour from the Devil wears Prada, they will be disappointed.
The story is told mostly by Nella Rogers, the only black employee at a prominent publishing company in New York- however there are a few other chapters told by another character and at times I found it to be a bit confusing. Early in the book a new assistant is hired by the publisher, Hazel-May, who as it happens is also black. Unfortunately Nella’s excitement over her new office friend quickly diminishes once it seems as though Hazel- May’s goal is to undermine and even mock Nella. There is a bit of excitement when it seems like Nella is going to stand up for herself to the executive staff. Also there’s a little bit of a twist that kept this a little exciting towards the end of the book.
Overall I did enjoy this book- however I do feel that it left me with more questions than answers. I feel like it jumped around and at times I had trouble following the different story lines.

This is the story of Nella, the only black employee at Publishing, a place where staff think that being left-handed or being nearsighted are examples of diversity. Naturally, Nella is excited when another black woman, Hazel, is hired. She confides in Hazel about the racism in one of the books that she is helping to edit and Hazel encourages her to speak up about the racist tone of the book. Nella follows the advice and offends both the author and editor. Hazel then sweeps in to support the author, effectively throwing Nella under the bus. Around this time, Nella starts receiving mysterious notes telling her to leave Wagner Publishing.
The story starts slowly and the first 75% of the book builds on the workplace environment, while having flashbacks to events from the 1980’s. The final 25% of the book increases in tempo and starts to morph into the vibes of “Get Out” (a great movie). At points, the pace increased so much that I found myself flipping back to remember characters and their place in the story. Overall, it was an interesting read, a little long, but hopefully will cause some people to ponder race relations in the workplace.
Thanks to NetGalley for offering me a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Other Black Girl, speaking as a Black girl, both was and wasn’t what I expected.

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris, is about an ambitious editorial assistant, Nella Rogers, who is the only Black employee at Wagner Books. So she is thrilled when another Black woman, Hazel McCall, joins her. But quickly Hazel starts to pass Nell on the corporate ladder. Everyone loves her, her ideas are not only listened to but they are respected and implemented. In the weeks Hazel was there she was already able to have herself heard more than Nella had been in all her years there. Then Nella starts getting notes telling her to “Leave Wagner Now”, and that sends her down a road of suspicion as to who wants her to leave.

First of all as a Black person this book is infuriating, and I think it should be. Nella’s world is built on microaggression, structural racism, and so so many white tears, and it 100% reflects the world we live in. Almost every situation Nella has had to face, I have had to face a similar issue in a workplace. And I’m almost positive the author, Zakiya Dalila Harris, a former editorial assistant, took a lot of her lived experience and put it in this story. The book is toted as Get Out meets The Stepford Wives, and I can say that midway through the story I thought “This story could be about something supernatural afoot, BUT it can literally be about the most aggressive *code switching I’ve ever seen”.

For me the plot was great but the problem was pacing. I love a good slow burn, but it got to this point where the burn was too slow. I feel like a good chunk of this book could have been edited down or just straight up cut. The last 15% of the book things really started to ramp up, and I think that would have been made more impactful if the story had clipped along a bit faster. And I wish that we got more answers at the ending, but at the same time, maybe it was the authors intent to to make me sit in that discomfort at the end. Because not everything needs to sit in a comfortable place.

I’ll end with I think it’s important to understand that the book will not read the same if you are white. It just won’t, and that’s ok. And if you are Black, and you have worked/lived in any mostly white environment, there’s a lot of this book that will frustrate you, and that’s ok too. Either way I say give this book a go. I look forward to seeing more of what Zakiya Dalila Harris does in the future!

*The story covers code switching but for those who don’t know, code switching is essentially changing how you act around white people in order to either advance in the world, or as just straight up protection.