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A review by suzyq436
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
2.0
I was so excited for this book but unfortunately this was not a good read and I could not wait to reach the end.
Firstly, how this book can categorise itself as a thriller is beyond me. The pacing is slower than a slug in mud. Nothing thrilling happens until about the last 100 pages of the book and did not even make much sense then.
Secondly, using dramatic irony in 'thrillers' hardly works for me because we as the reader know things before the main character does thus taking away from the suspense and element of surprise that usually encompasses a thriller.
Thirdly, Nella as a character was not enticing in the least. It felt like this character was struggling to to determine what type of personality she wanted to be.
And lastly, half-baked plots in this story made me furrow my brow more times than I could count. Where was Owen and Malaika in all this? Why were they not featured more in Nella's 'conversion' if you will. Why were told instead of shown how much everyone loves Hazel? Being told instead of shown made it less believable. What about Shana and Kenny's plan to save Nella? I felt we got one half of that plot and the rest was forgotten about. Things would happen and then Nella would just shrug it off and go about her day. That's not thrilling! What happened to Nella?!
This could have been brilliant if just executed differently but unfortunately this fell very flat for me.
Firstly, how this book can categorise itself as a thriller is beyond me. The pacing is slower than a slug in mud. Nothing thrilling happens until about the last 100 pages of the book and did not even make much sense then.
Secondly, using dramatic irony in 'thrillers' hardly works for me because we as the reader know things before the main character does thus taking away from the suspense and element of surprise that usually encompasses a thriller.
Thirdly, Nella as a character was not enticing in the least. It felt like this character was struggling to to determine what type of personality she wanted to be.
And lastly, half-baked plots in this story made me furrow my brow more times than I could count. Where was Owen and Malaika in all this? Why were they not featured more in Nella's 'conversion' if you will. Why were told instead of shown how much everyone loves Hazel? Being told instead of shown made it less believable. What about Shana and Kenny's plan to save Nella? I felt we got one half of that plot and the rest was forgotten about. Things would happen and then Nella would just shrug it off and go about her day. That's not thrilling! What happened to Nella?!
This could have been brilliant if just executed differently but unfortunately this fell very flat for me.