The Other Black Girl
By: Zakiya Dalila Harris
Published Year: 2021
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 357
Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Get Out meets The Stepford Wives in this electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.
Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she’s thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They’ve only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust.
Then the notes begin to appear on Nella’s desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW.
It’s hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realizes that there’s a lot more at stake than just her career.
A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist.
First Impressions
I saw this on a list in January of books to look out for in 2021. The cover immediately caught my eye (the hair!) and then the summary sealed the deal. Being compared to Get Out and Devil Wears Prada just sounded so intriguing it immediately became one of the top books I was looking forward to this year.
What I thought
This was definitely as described and I enjoyed every minute of it, even if the ending felt a bit unsatisfying to me.
Nella is the only Black girl working at Wagner publishing house until Hazel gets hired. Nella thinks that she and Hazel will be able to band together and improve the environment at Wagner. She has dreams of hiring more Black girls and even publishing more Black authors that she can edit. But Hazel isn’t as she appears and Nella starts to question everything when she receives an anonymous note on her desk telling her to leave.
This book definitely made me a little anxious because I knew that there was something twisty that was coming, but it also kept me intrigued from the beginning. I admittedly wasn’t crazy about Nella. I found her to be a little bit naïve and ignorant and it grated on my nerves a little. Not in a “she got what she deserved” kind of way, but more of a “omg what can’t you see what’s in front of you?!?!?!” kind of way.
I really liked her friend Malakia and wish there was a little more of their interactions. I also wish there had been a little more of her boyfriend Owen. Hazel was irritating from the very beginning and I didn’t understand why Nella would want to be friends with her besides the fact that they were the same race and working in the same office.
The Get Out part of the storyline was definitely intriguing. I know it won’t be for everyone because it’s a bit fantastical but I thought it was interesting and could prompt a lot of conversations if you were reading this book for a book club. This book does have a lot of social perspective which I shouldn’t let get overshadowed. It talks a lot about race in the work environment and how Black people have to modify their behaviors to make white people feel more comfortable. I think this book gives a really interesting and helpful perspective that, hopefully, through the contemporary and unique storyline will reach people that wouldn’t typically read a book that targets such difficult topics.
My biggest gripe with this book was the ending. It left me unsatisfied. I am someone who likes when things are tied up in a bow and this book definitely was not. Maybe there will be a sequel?
This book was unique, well written, and though provoking. It was a quick read (I won’t say easy because there are a lot of difficult topics) and I enjoyed it from start to finish. If you’re looking for something that addresses very current topics but you also like some mystery, I highly recommend this book.