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bootsmom3's review against another edition
challenging
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: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, and Stalking
seawarrior's review against another edition
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'd been waiting to read this book for a while so maybe it was inevitable that it didn't live up to my expectations as a mystery novel. However, I don't regret having spent time with it and absorbing what it had to say.
In creating the political environment of Wagner Books and Nella's personhood the writing was strong and sharply observant. Nella felt like a person who could feasibly exist and it was easy to empathize with her motivations and anxieties as she navigated routine microaggressions from her coworkers and the strangeness of Hazel's possible sabotage attempts. Yet the numerous times facets of her personality and viewpoints were revealed through extended flashbacks was disorienting, which I also felt from the book as a whole. It was difficult keeping up when the chapters switched perspective to a different woman, and wasn't sure if this was meant to be a deliberate effect on the reader or not.
My other primary issue was that the final reveal of the conspiracy each of these women were involved in, and that Hazel was using against Nella, was stunning but not necessarily satisfying. By the time its secrets were unraveled, this overarching conspiracy felt almost silly in comparison to the realistic tone the novel already established. Regardless, it does serve to well illustrate not only the ruthless competition that Black women encounter in the workplace, but the exhaustion of enduring it and maintaining agreeable even when encountering massive insensitivity from white coworkers.
The Other Black Girl may not be a debut with perfect execution, but it has a point to make that is worth paying attention to. I would still recommend reading it and look forward to Harris' future works.
In creating the political environment of Wagner Books and Nella's personhood the writing was strong and sharply observant. Nella felt like a person who could feasibly exist and it was easy to empathize with her motivations and anxieties as she navigated routine microaggressions from her coworkers and the strangeness of Hazel's possible sabotage attempts. Yet the numerous times facets of her personality and viewpoints were revealed through extended flashbacks was disorienting, which I also felt from the book as a whole. It was difficult keeping up when the chapters switched perspective to a different woman, and wasn't sure if this was meant to be a deliberate effect on the reader or not.
My other primary issue was that the final reveal of the conspiracy each of these women were involved in, and that Hazel was using against Nella, was stunning but not necessarily satisfying. By the time its secrets were unraveled, this overarching conspiracy felt almost silly in comparison to the realistic tone the novel already established. Regardless, it does serve to well illustrate not only the ruthless competition that Black women encounter in the workplace, but the exhaustion of enduring it and maintaining agreeable even when encountering massive insensitivity from white coworkers.
The Other Black Girl may not be a debut with perfect execution, but it has a point to make that is worth paying attention to. I would still recommend reading it and look forward to Harris' future works.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Racism, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Murder, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Slavery
rwalker101's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The blurb on this book has changed from "Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada" to "Get Out meets The Stepford Wives", and frankly I find this second blurb a much more apt comparison. The first thing you have to know is that this is a fantastic slow-burn book, and most of its narrative has Nella feeling very deep and very personal feelings about many complicated issues. These are necessary to understand, if you are going to comprehend the horror of the ending.
In my recent review of Coraline, I mentioned how I had watched the Stepford Wives, and how I had found the concept of betrayal in horror deeply affecting. The Other Black Girl scratches that same itch, but it comes from a slightly different place. Instead of drawing horror from betrayal of a personal nature, Harris draws on the horror of not receiving help or guidance from members of your community. The book hinges on this concept of minority community; members of your same demographic are supposed to look out for you, to share knowing glances with you and be an empathetic shoulder to lean on when it all gets to be too much. The villains of the book weaponize this commiseration, using it to draw in innocent black women and make them party to their darker, but ultimately sympathetic schemes. The ultimate question Harris poses is this: is it better to sacrifice your minority identity so that you may be better accepted by the majority? Or is it better to speak your mind, even when it turns almost everyone in your life against you?
In my recent review of Coraline, I mentioned how I had watched the Stepford Wives, and how I had found the concept of betrayal in horror deeply affecting. The Other Black Girl scratches that same itch, but it comes from a slightly different place. Instead of drawing horror from betrayal of a personal nature, Harris draws on the horror of not receiving help or guidance from members of your community. The book hinges on this concept of minority community; members of your same demographic are supposed to look out for you, to share knowing glances with you and be an empathetic shoulder to lean on when it all gets to be too much. The villains of the book weaponize this commiseration, using it to draw in innocent black women and make them party to their darker, but ultimately sympathetic schemes. The ultimate question Harris poses is this: is it better to sacrifice your minority identity so that you may be better accepted by the majority? Or is it better to speak your mind, even when it turns almost everyone in your life against you?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racism and Stalking
lyricallit's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
3.0
Slow burn, really picks up halfway through. I'd be interested to consider how well this story could work independent of the time flashbacks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Toxic friendship
alisonvh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I had some minor quibbles about the writing, but it is her first novel, and the story and characters were so intriguing that I gobbled this book up and was sad when it ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
kellyofcali's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a super engaging page-turner - I really wanted to know WHAT WAS HAPPENING, and it really waits a while to reveal itself, teasing out the ending. I did struggle a bit more with the denouement, which felt rushed...I wanted more explanation, more information on the twistier parts of the book. Made for a great book club discussion, however!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs and Alcohol
libbyhb's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was such a ride! I was constantly tensed up trying to anticipate what would happen next. The plot felt slightly too convoluted (the parts involving the different “networks” never felt fleshed out enough), and the pacing a little jarring, but I really liked the writing style and the characters. Nella is such a compelling main character that makes you want to follow her story at every step. I ended up mostly liking this, although the ending is something I’m still not sure about! Definitely interesting, though. Will read more by Zakiya Dalila Harris for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Toxic friendship
sunsetcity's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Racism, and Toxic friendship
bookishnatalia'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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Gaslighting, and Stalking
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Sexism
yunsq's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
4.25
I still don't really know how to feel about this book. I love everything it addresses and spotlights I LEARNT SO MUCH about Black culture and sufferings. But I AM LEFT WITH SOOO MANY QUESTIONS about the characters after finishing the book.
I am giving in 4.25 stars because I think the plot and the twists were BRILLIANT and I REALLY got spooked out by the last bit of the epilogue. I did get Get Out alike chills. Ahhhhh Nella T___T
I am giving in 4.25 stars because I think the plot and the twists were BRILLIANT and I REALLY got spooked out by the last bit of the epilogue. I did get Get Out alike chills. Ahhhhh Nella T___T
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic friendship