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A review by rorikae
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
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, Racism, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Kidnapping