The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Narrator: Aja Naomi King, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Heather Alicia Simms, Bahni Turpin
Pages: 357
Published by Atria Books
Publication Date June 1, 2021
Source: Libro.fm
Genres: General Fiction
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
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.
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.
It’s hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realizes that there’s a lot more at stake than just her career.
A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist.
I read The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris for my book club, and while it did make for good discussion, I have mixed feelings. I really enjoyed the Devil Wears Prada vibe I was getting. However, I found the characters to be unlikeable. Therefore, I developed little interest in the outcome of their story.
The author could have used an editor, as the story dragged and became repetitive. However, Zakiya Dalila Harris does have a knack for building suspense, and the novel held my attention until the end. Unfortunately, the build-up led to a meh ending. The idea of The Other Black Girl was intriguing, but the ending was a little more Heathers than I would have liked and ultimately put a damper on the novel as a whole.
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