The Other Black Girl: The bestselling book behind the major 2023 TV series
Jun 2021 · Bloomsbury Publishing
4.4star
8 reviewsreport
Ebook
368
Pages
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
About this ebook
**NOW A MAJOR HULU ORIGINAL SERIES, AVAILABLE TO STREAM ON DISNEY+**
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOLLINGER EVERYMAN WODEHOUSE PRIZE FOR COMIC FICTION
'One of the biggest reads of the summer, and for good reason' INDEPENDENT
'Enormously fun . . . A joyous thrill ride of a book' VOX
'Candice Carty-Williams' Queenie crossed with Jordan Peele's Get Out . . . Slick and addictive' METRO
_________________________
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 the micro-aggressions, she's thrilled when 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 cause Nella to become Public Enemy Number One and Hazel, the Office Darling.
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 realises that there is a lot more at stake than her career.
Dark, funny and furiously entertaining, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist.
_________________________
THE BOOK EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT:
'One of the books of the year . . . Will blow your mind' STYLIST
'Super-smart, dryly funny' RED
'Page-turning, toe-curling, thrilling. You won't put this one down' BLACK GIRLS BOOK CLUB FOR REFINERY29
'Sharp, satirical and fun' DAILY MAIL
'Bright and funny . . . You will turn page after page in your eagerness to unravel this novel' OYINKAN BRAITHWAITE, NEW YORK TIMES
'The funniest, wildest, deepest, most thought-provoking ride of a book' ATTICA LOCKE
'The year's most buzzed-about debut more than lives up to the hype' i
'Very, very funny and acutely observed' ELIZABETH DAY
'It should be at the top of your summer reading list' WASHINGTON POST
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOLLINGER EVERYMAN WODEHOUSE PRIZE FOR COMIC FICTION
'One of the biggest reads of the summer, and for good reason' INDEPENDENT
'Enormously fun . . . A joyous thrill ride of a book' VOX
'Candice Carty-Williams' Queenie crossed with Jordan Peele's Get Out . . . Slick and addictive' METRO
_________________________
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 the micro-aggressions, she's thrilled when 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 cause Nella to become Public Enemy Number One and Hazel, the Office Darling.
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 realises that there is a lot more at stake than her career.
Dark, funny and furiously entertaining, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist.
_________________________
THE BOOK EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT:
'One of the books of the year . . . Will blow your mind' STYLIST
'Super-smart, dryly funny' RED
'Page-turning, toe-curling, thrilling. You won't put this one down' BLACK GIRLS BOOK CLUB FOR REFINERY29
'Sharp, satirical and fun' DAILY MAIL
'Bright and funny . . . You will turn page after page in your eagerness to unravel this novel' OYINKAN BRAITHWAITE, NEW YORK TIMES
'The funniest, wildest, deepest, most thought-provoking ride of a book' ATTICA LOCKE
'The year's most buzzed-about debut more than lives up to the hype' i
'Very, very funny and acutely observed' ELIZABETH DAY
'It should be at the top of your summer reading list' WASHINGTON POST
Ratings and reviews
4.4
8 reviews
Grace J. Reviewerlady
- Flag inappropriate
June 1, 2021
So very different and, at times, a bit strange and unsettling! Nella Rogers works in publishing at Wagner Books where she feels very much the token black girl. She’s fed up with never really feeling a part of things so when the other black girl turns up in the cubicle next to hers, Nella is delighted. Just as a friendship begins to bloom, there is a succession of things which leave Hazel as everyone’s best friend and Nella as public enemy number one. Then Nella begins to receive little notes telling her to leave Wagner; is Hazel really going to be that obvious in her take-over, or is there more to this than meets the eye? Who knew the world of publishing could be so cutthroat? Everyone I deal with is always so nice! There are more than one narrators in this book, and for quite some time I didn’t know what the connection was. On several occasions I was reading on assuming I was still with one person when I suddenly realised it was someone else now. It’s really hard to put this one aside; it’s a compelling read and one where I was almost afraid to miss a word in case it altered something and I missed it! For a long time I wasn’t really sure what was going on, then it got even more complicated and by the end I was left wondering what happened to some of the characters. From time to time I had the chilling feeling of glimpses of The Handmaid’s Tale and the Stepford Wives. Weird and sinister with an almost futuristic feel to it, it was strangely enjoyable. I thought I had hair problems – I shall look at anyone with black hair with a new admiration from now on! A spirited, potent read and one I’m sure will make this author one to note for future. For me, I’m happy to give this one 4*.
4 people found this review helpful
Simplybeeda
- Flag inappropriate
September 12, 2021
This book was not what I was expecting at all. It starts out the way you think but makes a big twist. Without spoiling anything, this book had me in my feelings about a lot of things. I'm guessing there will be a sequel based off the ending and I hope it gives us closure.
About the author
Zakiya Dalila Harris spent three years at Knopf before leaving to write The Other Black Girl. Prior to working in publishing, she received her MFA in creative writing from the New School and she currently teaches writing to children at Writopia Lab. Her work has appeared in Guernica and she reviews for The Rumpus. She lives in New York.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
