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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
It was fine. Interesting story, just not what I’m looking for right now I think.
3.5 stars
Nella is so excited to no longer be the only Black girl in the office. When she got her dream job at Wagner Books - known in part for publishing a revolutionary book written and edited by Black women - she didn't think it would be such an uphill battle to promote diversity. Hazel seems like she will be a kindred soul, but when Nella gets a note saying "LEAVE WAGNER NOW", she starts to think Hazel might not be so friendly.
Note: this book is very much about the experience of Black women, and I am a white woman, so I advise you to seek out the thoughts of Black reviewers as I cannot attest to the strength of the commentary as well as they may.
This thriller was definitely different than I had first anticipated, both positively and negatively. What did I like? The audiobook narration was great and included performers for each of the perspectives shown. Not only do we see from Nella's point of view, but interspersed are smaller perspectives from other Black women who are relevant to her current situation. These POVs added an unexpected larger scope to this story. Another of my favorite things is a spoiler so I can't be specific, but the slight genre shift was a total surprise that I loved. Then of course there's the huge amount of commentary that is the heart (and draw) of this book. All of the insight into the racism/pressure/microagressions/etc that Black women in particular face in the workplace was so well put. We see a progression of Nella as she's slowly discovering the truth of her circumstances, as well as her own biases and how her environment has affected herself and her Blackness. What was I not a fan of? I thought the pacing of this was glacial. It felt like the stakes/discoveries/what have you were static in scale for too long for me to feel compelled to continue. The ending definitely picked up, but I think there could have been some escalation or cutting in the middle.
Overall, this was an unexpected slow burn thriller that I'll definitely be recommending to others, particularly to fans of Ace of Spades.
Nella is so excited to no longer be the only Black girl in the office. When she got her dream job at Wagner Books - known in part for publishing a revolutionary book written and edited by Black women - she didn't think it would be such an uphill battle to promote diversity. Hazel seems like she will be a kindred soul, but when Nella gets a note saying "LEAVE WAGNER NOW", she starts to think Hazel might not be so friendly.
Note: this book is very much about the experience of Black women, and I am a white woman, so I advise you to seek out the thoughts of Black reviewers as I cannot attest to the strength of the commentary as well as they may.
This thriller was definitely different than I had first anticipated, both positively and negatively. What did I like? The audiobook narration was great and included performers for each of the perspectives shown. Not only do we see from Nella's point of view, but interspersed are smaller perspectives from other Black women who are relevant to her current situation. These POVs added an unexpected larger scope to this story. Another of my favorite things is a spoiler so I can't be specific, but the slight genre shift was a total surprise that I loved. Then of course there's the huge amount of commentary that is the heart (and draw) of this book. All of the insight into the racism/pressure/microagressions/etc that Black women in particular face in the workplace was so well put. We see a progression of Nella as she's slowly discovering the truth of her circumstances, as well as her own biases and how her environment has affected herself and her Blackness. What was I not a fan of? I thought the pacing of this was glacial. It felt like the stakes/discoveries/what have you were static in scale for too long for me to feel compelled to continue. The ending definitely picked up, but I think there could have been some escalation or cutting in the middle.
Overall, this was an unexpected slow burn thriller that I'll definitely be recommending to others, particularly to fans of Ace of Spades.
This book wasn't really what I thought it would be, in both good ways and bad ways. The story was about a woman named Nella, who works at an all-white editorial company. Until, the new black girl, Hazel is hired. Nella is excited to have another woman like her working in an all-white company. Well, Hazel isn't all she seems. Hazel has a mission to "convert" Nella to fit in and act as a white person in the company. This book was well done. It was really long and dragged out. It was hard to keep track of dates since it went to current and past. It is still a good read. It is really fitting and insightful to how it feels for a black person to be working in an all-white company and/or setting.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
WAIT!! WHAT?!?!
This started as an easy enjoyable read, before I quickly became upset as one black girl in the office was bringing down another. At times I wanted to throw my phone at the wall(did the audiobook), but it was entertaining enough that I couldn’t put it down. In the second half, I got annoyed with the “hair grease” mystery, but then I could see how it was a metaphor… then the last few chapters really picked up and I was simultaneously so angry I wanted to give the book 2 stars… and then the EPILOGUE!!!! I listened to the EPILOGUE twice and suddenly the entire book and the social commentary it was making came together. And I questioned if this is actually a 5 star book… So it was a roller coaster for me, and if you’re on the same roller coaster wanting to throw your book against the wall and not finish it, stay on. Read the epilogue. Tried not to put any spoilers here.
This started as an easy enjoyable read, before I quickly became upset as one black girl in the office was bringing down another. At times I wanted to throw my phone at the wall(did the audiobook), but it was entertaining enough that I couldn’t put it down. In the second half, I got annoyed with the “hair grease” mystery, but then I could see how it was a metaphor… then the last few chapters really picked up and I was simultaneously so angry I wanted to give the book 2 stars… and then the EPILOGUE!!!! I listened to the EPILOGUE twice and suddenly the entire book and the social commentary it was making came together. And I questioned if this is actually a 5 star book… So it was a roller coaster for me, and if you’re on the same roller coaster wanting to throw your book against the wall and not finish it, stay on. Read the epilogue. Tried not to put any spoilers here.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
You cannot change the whole plot and honestly the genre when you're more than two thirds of the way through a book?!
The beginning was great and wonderfully written but not much was actually happening and then, waaaay too late, suddenly everything changes and you're just left confused AF
The beginning was great and wonderfully written but not much was actually happening and then, waaaay too late, suddenly everything changes and you're just left confused AF
I really liked the first 200 pages, but I didn’t connect with the different perspectives, and the grease was rushed so seemed the magic-cookie esque despite the metaphor of conformity it was trying to portray
3.75
3.75
There are times when you start a book and you have a preconceived idea that this book is going to be about one thing and one thing only... And then the author says "not so fast" and turns your idea completely upside down and side ways. Zakiya Dalila Harris, did exactly that!
Nella works for Wagner, a well respected publisher in New York. She is the only black woman in the office until one day, in walks Hazel, The Other Black Girl. Hazel is everything that Nella isn't, and Nella starts to realize just how sneaky Hazel is. Nella thought she had an ally, but eventually she realizes there is something more going on at this publisher.
Y'all know by now, that I don't give away the plot. I will say this... This book is so different than what I expected...and though it threw me for a loop, I do get what the author was trying to do. 3.5⭐
Thank you to Atria Books and Zakiya Dalila Harris for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Nella works for Wagner, a well respected publisher in New York. She is the only black woman in the office until one day, in walks Hazel, The Other Black Girl. Hazel is everything that Nella isn't, and Nella starts to realize just how sneaky Hazel is. Nella thought she had an ally, but eventually she realizes there is something more going on at this publisher.
Y'all know by now, that I don't give away the plot. I will say this... This book is so different than what I expected...and though it threw me for a loop, I do get what the author was trying to do. 3.5⭐
Thank you to Atria Books and Zakiya Dalila Harris for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
2,77/5 - Aprobado.
Tengo que clasificar este libro en tres partes diferencias porque es como me he sentido con él: en una noria de sentimientos encontrados.
La premisa del libro me ha gustado, me ha parecido que era muy interesante y, la verdad, yo con este libro estaba muy a favor porque quería leer algo desde el punto de vista POC, contando por una escritora que no intentara hacer el cupo y ya.
El punto es que pese a que Zakiya me tenía comprada totalmente con la visión de las vidas negras en un mundo de blancos (hello reality) dentro del sector editorial. Me tenía intrigada la perspectiva de la vida de Nella intentando encajar y lidiar con los problemas raciales de su empresa, etc. Pero el misterio brillaba por su ausencia y durante las 100 primeras páginas he estado conectada con la historia.
Al llegar a la página 200 me he dado cuenta de que no tenía ni idea de lo que realmente me quería contar la autora o porqué se consideraba que este libro era de Misterio. Porque solo una cosa era misteriosa y tampoco se incidía mucho en ello. Así que, la última parte del libro, las casi 200 páginas restantes me costaron leerlas.
Y, sin embargo, llegado a la página 300, Zakiya ya me volvía a tener comprada porque empezaba a meterse realmente en el asunto del misterio. Lo que realmente me quería contar. Pero ese final... me ha dejado mal sabor de boca.
Siento que la historia, por un lado, debería tener menos puntos. Pero, al mismo tiempo, es un libro que está bien escrito y que, no siempre, me ha tenido intrigada en la trama. Estoy en ese punto de indecisión en el que el libro no tengo claro que me haya gustado del todo, pero tampoco lo he odiado.
Eso sí, creo que la historia se tendría que haber contado de otra manera para que tuviera sentido, sin ser tan compleja para su comprensión.
Si creéis que lo que he dicho es enrevesado y no tiene sentido, estáis en lo cierto. Así es como me he sentido durante toda la lectura JAJAJA.
Tengo que clasificar este libro en tres partes diferencias porque es como me he sentido con él: en una noria de sentimientos encontrados.
La premisa del libro me ha gustado, me ha parecido que era muy interesante y, la verdad, yo con este libro estaba muy a favor porque quería leer algo desde el punto de vista POC, contando por una escritora que no intentara hacer el cupo y ya.
El punto es que pese a que Zakiya me tenía comprada totalmente con la visión de las vidas negras en un mundo de blancos (hello reality) dentro del sector editorial. Me tenía intrigada la perspectiva de la vida de Nella intentando encajar y lidiar con los problemas raciales de su empresa, etc. Pero el misterio brillaba por su ausencia y durante las 100 primeras páginas he estado conectada con la historia.
Al llegar a la página 200 me he dado cuenta de que no tenía ni idea de lo que realmente me quería contar la autora o porqué se consideraba que este libro era de Misterio. Porque solo una cosa era misteriosa y tampoco se incidía mucho en ello. Así que, la última parte del libro, las casi 200 páginas restantes me costaron leerlas.
Y, sin embargo, llegado a la página 300, Zakiya ya me volvía a tener comprada porque empezaba a meterse realmente en el asunto del misterio. Lo que realmente me quería contar. Pero ese final... me ha dejado mal sabor de boca.
Siento que la historia, por un lado, debería tener menos puntos. Pero, al mismo tiempo, es un libro que está bien escrito y que, no siempre, me ha tenido intrigada en la trama. Estoy en ese punto de indecisión en el que el libro no tengo claro que me haya gustado del todo, pero tampoco lo he odiado.
Eso sí, creo que la historia se tendría que haber contado de otra manera para que tuviera sentido, sin ser tan compleja para su comprensión.
Si creéis que lo que he dicho es enrevesado y no tiene sentido, estáis en lo cierto. Así es como me he sentido durante toda la lectura JAJAJA.