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odrib's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Stalking, and Gaslighting
linesiunderline's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This taut, can’t-look-away, thriller offers a lot more than the usual run of the mill fare for the genre. I appreciated the social commentary, the unflinching portrayal of racial microaggressions, white privilege and gatekeeping in the publishing industry.
It’s edgy. You’ll be wondering what’s happening and loving the unsettled feeling the author creates. The sharpness is balanced with a surprising playfulness and undercurrent of humour which makes this book different, a little hard to characterize, but entirely absorbing.
I did see the big twist coming, the one that lots of readers said really shocked them. But that didn’t spoil things for me. I was just a bit surprised given that I’m not usually good at seeing what’s meant to stay hidden.
The audio is outstanding, if that’s your jam. I couldn’t stop listening.
It’s edgy. You’ll be wondering what’s happening and loving the unsettled feeling the author creates. The sharpness is balanced with a surprising playfulness and undercurrent of humour which makes this book different, a little hard to characterize, but entirely absorbing.
I did see the big twist coming, the one that lots of readers said really shocked them. But that didn’t spoil things for me. I was just a bit surprised given that I’m not usually good at seeing what’s meant to stay hidden.
The audio is outstanding, if that’s your jam. I couldn’t stop listening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Stalking
annabunce's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Read this book! Aside from the fact that this book is an amazing education in the Black experience in and of itself, it's a gripping thriller that keeps building with a cast of characters that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Definitely the best thriller I've read ever. Zakiya Dalila Harris is a fantastic writer exhibited for me in her ability to express that uncomfortable and confusing feeling of envry you can find brewing when someone similar to you enters a space you occupied alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Stalking, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Hate crime
evergreenreader's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Racism, and Stalking
rorikae's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
'The Other Black Girl' by Zakiya Dalila Harris, is an engaging thriller that explores the experience of being a black woman working in the publishing industry.
Nella has been working as an editorial assistant at Wagner Books for two years. She is the only Black employee until Hazel is hired as a fellow editorial assistant. But with Hazel's hiring comes a slew of strange events, including anonymous notes left on Nella's desk that warn her that she needs to leave Wagner immediately. As Nella begins investigating the notes, more strange occurrences come to light and she begins to suspect that Hazel isn't who she says she is.
This novel has been described as 'Get Out' meets 'The Devil Wears Prada,' which are the perfect comp titles. Harris expertly utilizes unsettling scenarios and a dash of something more to create a thriller that explores the real life horrors of being a Black person working in the publishing industry. Nella deals with microaggressions and more overt aggressions, especially when she dares to provide constructive criticism on a stereotypical Black character in one of Wagner's author's upcoming books. Harris creates a creeping sense of dread that permeates from the first note that Nella receives and that slowly escalates throughout the book until the climax. The story is populated by a cast of engaging characters with their own set of faults and virtues.
I am not quite sure how I feel about the ending of the story and would love to read more from the author about why she chose the ending that she did. I think it's an effective ending, even if it wasn't what I was expecting. This is a really engaging debut and I am intrigued to see what Harris writes next.
Nella has been working as an editorial assistant at Wagner Books for two years. She is the only Black employee until Hazel is hired as a fellow editorial assistant. But with Hazel's hiring comes a slew of strange events, including anonymous notes left on Nella's desk that warn her that she needs to leave Wagner immediately. As Nella begins investigating the notes, more strange occurrences come to light and she begins to suspect that Hazel isn't who she says she is.
This novel has been described as 'Get Out' meets 'The Devil Wears Prada,' which are the perfect comp titles. Harris expertly utilizes unsettling scenarios and a dash of something more to create a thriller that explores the real life horrors of being a Black person working in the publishing industry. Nella deals with microaggressions and more overt aggressions, especially when she dares to provide constructive criticism on a stereotypical Black character in one of Wagner's author's upcoming books. Harris creates a creeping sense of dread that permeates from the first note that Nella receives and that slowly escalates throughout the book until the climax. The story is populated by a cast of engaging characters with their own set of faults and virtues.
I am not quite sure how I feel about the ending of the story and would love to read more from the author about why she chose the ending that she did. I think it's an effective ending, even if it wasn't what I was expecting. This is a really engaging debut and I am intrigued to see what Harris writes next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Kidnapping
courtsbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Stalking, Racism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Police brutality
lorie336's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A warning, if you don't like a slow build thriller then this book isn't for you, but if you do like then this book will immerse you in its world.
I enjoyed how we journey with Nella from being a hopefully upcoming black editor for Wagner, we see her hanging out with her friend Malaika discussing their jobs, current news about police brutality and the injustice their race is going through as well as discussing Jesse Watson who is an outspoken young man with a podcast, and then Nella's life with her white boyfriend, Owen, from what Nella says isn't your typical white guy.
She is living the good life with the exception of the micro aggressions that she faces at the office and we are given examples of it, but they also try these diversity town halls and people attend, yet after a while it dwindles. It shows how white people don't care because they are privileged, being in Nella's shoes broke my heart at what she and others go through everyday.
Then Hazel enters the picture and Nella is excited because she'll have an ally in her because she's the other black girl and she'll have her back. Needless to say, the longer Hazel works there, the more Nella feels ignored by everyone because of certain incidents.
Meanwhile, someone wants Nella to leave Wagner and she doesn't know who it is, but she has a suspect in mind as she receives more notes.
We do get other perspectives scattered throughout the book which is nice because we are privy to things Nella will not learn until later and then we watch in horror at what happens until that epilogue where there's a bit of a twist that I knew was coming, but I was hoping it wasn't. Loved this book and immersive, I had to know what was going to happen next.
I enjoyed how we journey with Nella from being a hopefully upcoming black editor for Wagner, we see her hanging out with her friend Malaika discussing their jobs, current news about police brutality and the injustice their race is going through as well as discussing Jesse Watson who is an outspoken young man with a podcast, and then Nella's life with her white boyfriend, Owen, from what Nella says isn't your typical white guy.
She is living the good life with the exception of the micro aggressions that she faces at the office and we are given examples of it, but they also try these diversity town halls and people attend, yet after a while it dwindles. It shows how white people don't care because they are privileged, being in Nella's shoes broke my heart at what she and others go through everyday.
Then Hazel enters the picture and Nella is excited because she'll have an ally in her because she's the other black girl and she'll have her back. Needless to say, the longer Hazel works there, the more Nella feels ignored by everyone because of certain incidents.
Meanwhile, someone wants Nella to leave Wagner and she doesn't know who it is, but she has a suspect in mind as she receives more notes.
We do get other perspectives scattered throughout the book which is nice because we are privy to things Nella will not learn until later and then we watch in horror at what happens until that epilogue where there's a bit of a twist that I knew was coming, but I was hoping it wasn't. Loved this book and immersive, I had to know what was going to happen next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Racial slurs
lackadaisical_ally's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall I liked this book. I think the premise is good and I was satisficed with the execution. The beginning of the book is very slice-of-life, before Nella gets the note. While I enjoy stories like that, I understand some people want more action and were probably bored. I also know Nella herself was unenjoyable for some people. I found Nella to be relatable; honestly to me she read like she had some anxiety issues, especially pertaining to her job/job environment, which, you know, I feel like being the only black person in your workplace is bound to be anxiety-inducing. I liked that her relationship with Hazel hovered in this weird space of admiration and jealousy, that felt really real to me.
My main complaint is I wanted more. The readers are given some explanation about the goings-on in the book, but overall we don't get that much and I just wanted a little more. I feel conflicted about the ending. All I will say is the ending felt appropriate butdamn, I really wish Nella didn't become one of them. I also left wondering what happened to Malaika and Owen. And just the workings of the Other Black Girl organization; like do the girls totally leave their life behind when they try to recruit someone? I also would have liked more clarity on the whole Richard thing. I didn't necessarily understand his involvement or his motivation for involvement. Also there is some POV switching in the book and in the beginning, it can be somewhat confusing how it all fits.
My main complaint is I wanted more. The readers are given some explanation about the goings-on in the book, but overall we don't get that much and I just wanted a little more. I feel conflicted about the ending. All I will say is the ending felt appropriate but
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Stalking and Toxic friendship
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Racism, and Gaslighting
chinama's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The writing was fresh and engaging, characters were all interesting and well-developed. The book's conspiracy theme is one that's been popular lately (think Get Out, Bad Hair, Sorry To Bother You), but still managed its own original take. All the twists and turns had me hooked. Plus, it's always great to see Black experiences centered like it was in this novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Racism, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying and Police brutality