Reviews with content warning for Hate crime - The Other Black Girl

Really like Nella’s storyline, up to and including the end. Loved how Hazel’s character evolved (from ambiguous to sinister). I also liked how Nella was never the “perfect” black girl and was very aware of all the ways she might be seen as “less black” because of her upbringing, who she dated, when she started thinking about social issues, etc. given all of that, I️ wish we’d seen her struggle a bit more with Hazel’s question at the end rather than it being skipped over directly to the epilogue. What went through her mind? Did she really consider it? For how long? What was the turning point?

I️ also had trouble following the storyline of the writer/author pair of women and the resistance— pretty much everything outside of Nella’s story, the chapters were interesting on their own but found it difficult to follow on how they all connected. Ultimately, I️ just accepted them for their high level message (“something is not right, got it”), and kept reading. Thinking back I️ wonder what would be lost if those scenes weren’t included? They made things more confusing which isn’t the same as making the mystery more interesting.

Overall, Harris did a great job delivering on what was promised: a sharp thriller that explores the dynamics (and fears) of what it’s like to be a black woman in the workplace.

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emily_koopmann's review against another edition

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3.5

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babayagaofficial's review against another edition

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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

4.5

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thebakerbookworm's review against another edition

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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

I really enjoyed this slow-burn of a thriller! It certainly feels like a contemporary fiction read for most of it, but things slowly start to feel creepily wrong until the tense climax.

I'm always interested in a book set in the publishing world (or a movie or show), even though they never reflect my actual experience in publishing. It's really not that glamorous haha. But I liked this take on publishing and reading about Nella's experiences and the discussion the book was having about diversity in publishing (it really is very very white).

Nella was a great lead, easy to root for, and I loved seeing her growth over the story, especially her struggles with sticking up for herself. There are some great side characters too, particularly Nella's friend Malaika, but most of the side characters were (intentionally) cringeworthy.

While most of the plot does feel like an office drama, the climax through to the end will keep you on your toes. And the very ending.... *blinks in shock*

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annabunce's review against another edition

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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.

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