An engaging story that has beautifully complex characters, family drama, grief and secrets all working together to pull you in and keep you engaged until the last page. One of the best books I've read in a long time.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Publication date: February 1, 2022

Date read: September 30, 2022



Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares the story of her childhood in the Caribbean, her escape from the island, and a mystery of a long-lost daughter. As their mother’s story unfolds, Byron and Benny try to make sense of what they thought they knew about their family, as well as attempt to repair their once-close relationship.

I first want to say that I misunderstood the NetGalley/Goodreads plot summary for this book, and I assumed it was going to be Byron and Benny traveling, trying to figure out something from their mother’s past. But it was actually a split timeline story, with Byron and Benny listening, in the present day, as their mother told her story. Not bad, just not what I was expecting.

Byron and Benny weren’t super likable characters, but I liked following their stories as they found things out about their family that they weren’t expecting. Eleanor’s story took a lot of unexpected turns, and while I wasn’t all that invested at first, I soon got sucked in. I really liked Eleanor as a young woman.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable historical fiction story about a woman who has to reinvent herself. It takes a lot of twists and turns that kept it interesting and fun to follow. I didn’t love the present day characters as much, but did like the way they kept the story grounded. This is a very well-written and interesting book that I think anyone who likes historical or contemporary fiction will enjoy.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Content warning: death of a family member/loved one, rape, character forced to give up a child, police profiling, racial discrimination

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Loved this novel and felt transported by it. The island scenes, California scenes and characters all were so well written and seemed so authentic. Can’t wait to see what Charmaine Wilkerson writes next. What an amazing debut!

While I can appreciate the theme and major premise of <i>Black Cake</i>, there was just a lot to unravel and keep track of. The book tells the tale of a brave woman's upbringing through to the secrets leading her to her current day life as her children knew her. Upon her death, she shares her story via recordings she left for them. As I mentioned, there's a lot to analyze through all the detail given and it is overwhelming. There is struggle, heartbreak and deception mixed with lots of love and perseverance.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this mult-generational book... I was so immersed in the story and the characters. I could not put down this book and I am grateful to have received this book through NetGalley.

Oh my goodness, I did not know the emotional rollercoaster I was in for when I read this one. It is fantastic, the audio is brilliant and I recommend it if you can do it, but I was a mess at several points throughout this one. I loved the storyline, the twists, the characters, and the format of the book which moved from present day to the past letting us slowly get caught up with all that had happened in these characters’ lives that got them where they are today. This is beautifully written, and I love how it is centered around food, specifically black cake that is made by the family’s matriarch and has a long and rich history and special meaning for each of them.

I am so glad I went into this one blind, even if it caused me to unexpectedly cry a few times, and this will be in my top reads of the year for sure. If you have not read this one yet, I highly recommend you do so soon, you will not regret it.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the digital copy to review.

Everyone seems to enjoy this one online but I really couldn’t get into the story. Overall good but just not a story that I would pick up or gravitate toward

I really enjoyed discovering the family secrets at the same time as the children. My only issue was I feel like I missed things because I had a hard time paying attention at the beginning. Thanks to Net Galley and William Morrow for the ARC.

“I hope that you won't be afraid to make the same kind of choice again, if you feel that this is what you need to do to survive. Question yourself, yes, but don't doubt yourself. There's a difference.”

Siblings Benny and Byron have been estranged for years but with the death of their mother, they reunited to fulfill their mother's last wishes. Loved being transported between the past and the present. Thank you so much to the publisher for granting my wish with this eARC!

A beautiful story about tradition, mixed races, family secrets, ...and cake 🤤

The layers and depth of Charmaine Wilkerson's writing in this debut novel is unmatched.

Sharing how the characters were mixed race and their struggles in dealing with racism resonated with something in me.

My grandmother was Puerto Rican and my grandfather was American. They lived in the States and growing up, my dad was either "not white enough" or "not black enough." He never learned to speak Spanish (my grandfather's family forbade my grandmother teaching it to her kids 🙄) so he was clearly "not hispanic enough."

My mother also experienced racism growing up in the age of busing in the 1960's.

Because of their experiences, both of my parents raised my brother and me to always be open to racial and cultural differences and never judge someone by the color of their skin. Bless them for that.

BLACK CAKE dives so deep into the tradition of family recipes and how they are passed down throughout the generations, connecting those from the past, present, and future. Such a simplistic concept but deeply special.

BLACK CAKE is a must-read. It's a book that will stick with me forever.

This multi-generation family saga was exceptionally well-written. I thought it tackled complicated family dynamics quite well. It portrayed complex topics such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and sexual abuse in an honest and authentic way. The audiobook was fantastic and the narrator really brought the characters and story to life. If you are in the mood for well-written literary fiction with complex characters and an intriguing plot, this is perfect. I loved the short chapters as well. I thought this helped moved the plot along and kept me reading.

This book will easily be a top favorite of 2022. I only wished I read it sooner!

The author, Charmaine Wilkerson, is truly a talented author. So many important topics were covered in such a brilliant way… Black Cake is a novel of family and belonging, mystery and sacrifice, love, identity, hope, and freedom. I was completely blown away by the writing and impeccable storytelling. The fact that this is a debut makes it that much more amazing.

I loved the characters. However flawed they may be, they felt real and their stories felt real. I am really looking forward to reading more from this author!

I think this book would be a perfect choice for a book club discussion. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys family sagas or literary fiction.

Thank you so much to @randomhouse and #netgalley for my advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I've picked this up a couple of times and couldn't muster the oomph to finish until this time. While Wilkerson's writing is solid and left no holes by the time we hit the end, this one just didn't connect with me.

Such a beautiful story with a great message on controlling your own life. From beginning to end I was engaged and impressed with the character development.

Brilliant! Black Cake by debut novelist Charmaine Wilkerson touched my heart in so many ways! I laughed! I cried! I found myself speaking out loud to the characters….. Wilkerson has written a family drama steeped with family issues as well as social issues in the life of Eleanor Bennett and her family. Eleanor passed away and left an eight-hour recording with her lawyer for her son Byron and Benny to listen to together. She also left a Black Cake in the freezer for them to share at the appropriate time. Byron and Benny have not seen each other for seven years. There was a family squabble about Benny’s lifestyle and she did not come back after her father’s funeral. Benny has been very successful and Bunny has struggled on the opposite coast.

Eleanor takes us back to a Caribbean island where she was born. We learn about her beginnings on the island, the struggles she faced, and why she left. Lots of social issues are intertwined throughout. I have found a new “go-to” author! I did keep a chart of the characters and the time frame! I loved the audio which I used with an advanced e-copy. This is a definite recommendation for book clubs as there is so much to discuss. I know that I already want to read-listen to this story again.

This book was so beautiful. I love a work that includes inter generational stories and shifting perspectives.

This is such a beautiful book. It has everything. The culture, the friendships, the hurt, the loss, and the love make this a book that readers will think about and will never forget. I believe everyone can enjoy this book if they give it a chance. Will definitely recommend to people who love beautiful tales.

As children, we cannot conceive of our parents having lived before we were born, or having lives that don’t include us. B and B, as their mother called them, come to find out through a recording their mother left them upon her death, that their mother lived an incredible and dangerous life before becoming their mother. Benny and Byron, estranged for a good number of years, are forced to reckon with all they do not know about their family, and to decide how to live their own lives with the new found knowledge of their rich and complicated history. I especially appreciated the skillful way Wilkerson described the changing relationship between two siblings who are so fundamentally different from one another. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Random House/Ballantine for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson is a beautiful character driven book. Beyond that the prose is exquisitely chosen to enhance every action and scene. Excellent debut novel.