This was a really interesting premise! I'm not sure all the storylines worked for me, but it was still a great read.

The pitch of "Get Out meets Devil Wears Prada" is spot on. The Other Black Girl a thrilling workplace drama filled with timely discussions about diversity in media and publishing. There's an uncomfortable feeling of suspicion and paranoia that weaves throughout the narrative and increases the reader's empathy for the main characters. That being said, there are a lot of different characters and plots to follow, and at times this can cause for a disjointed reading experience.

Fast paced, incredibly original from start to finish. I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending it to patrons.

I thought this was an interesting read. I did get a little confused at some points and had to reread some parts because I felt like it jumped around a little too much.

Akin to recent satirical tales like GET OUT and BAD HAIR, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL takes on the topics of race, gender, Misogynoir, and the venom beneath the surface of seemingly well intentioned white people and turns all of it into a taut and smart thriller. Harris has a slow burn of tension that comes from the racist work environment that our main character Nella works within, and it builds as Nella starts to realize that Hazel, her new coworker and only other Black employee in her department, may be gunning to remove her as competition in an environment that sees tokenism as acceptable. The metaphors for microaggressions and the weaponization of tokenism are abundant and smartly done, and as the story progresses the stakes get higher and more sinister. This book went to other places that I wasn't anticipating, and it was unpredictable and suspenseful as we see Nella slowly realizing the breadth and scope of the danger she is in. It sometimes gets a little caught up in the structure, as we would get extended flashback sequences in the middle of an action moment, but they were easy enough to follow and that's really just a small thing that hung me up. There are also some very funny moments and dialogue points, specifically thanks to Nella's best friend Malaika, and the commentary is on point and well executed both in the satirical sense and the blatant sense.

I really enjoyed THE OTHER BLACK GIRL and will definitely be waiting on pins and needles to see what Zakiya Dalila Harris comes up with next.

Privilege and racism are in the forefront of this timely title. Strong, rich characters and fast moving plot will navigate the reader through these social issues in a whole new way!

A modern day thriller that kept me on my toes to the very end. I have been plotting different scenarios of what else could happen after the book which is the sign of a good suspense novel. Enough to give you satisfaction but still leaving you with enough wonder to think about later on. One that provides more clarity on reading through a second time. It did take me until about 30% of the way through to really engage with the plot because it seemed to be moving slow. However when she got that first note I couldn’t stop thinking of motives behind whom had given it to her.

If, when scanning the description for this book, your eye was caught by The Devil Wears Prada comparison, I strongly suggest you move your eyes over a couple of words and take a good long look at the Get Out comparison. I can understand the temptation to compare The Other Black Girl to The Devil Wears Prada, as both are set in a cutthroat work environment and are primarily about women, but I think it could draw the wrong readers to this book. It is not a light feel-good comedy-drama in any sense.

It is a genre-defying mindfuck.

I mean this in a good way. The comparisons to Get Out feel truer to me, and there's no doubt this book takes a sinister turn, especially in the final 20% or so. I experienced a particularly brilliant HOLY SHIT moment when the book revealed itself to me.

It's not the easiest book to recommend or, I imagine, to market. It sits just outside the confines of several different genres, containing elements of contemporary drama, mystery/thriller, and horror. I ended up deciding I liked the book and really enjoyed the clever twists and turns the author took, but I think you could easily be forgiven for discovering this book is not for you. It requires you to enjoy both slower-paced office dramas and horror.

If a slower burn narrative is not your thing, I would skip this one. It spends a lot of time building on the office politics and microaggressions at the fictional publishing company, Wagner Books. There is a feeling of wrongness creeping into this setting early in the novel, but we spend a long time completely in the dark about what is going on.

I enjoyed it, though. It's not often that books take me so completely by surprise and do something as unique and creative as this one does. It requires some patience, but I think the payoff is worth it.

Nella Rogers is thrilled that another Black woman has finally been hired at Wagner Books, but why does it seem like they’re in competition to keep the white people happy? And who is leaving these notes saying GET OUT NOW on Nella’s desk? While I loved the story of Nella and backstabby Hazel, the slow pacing and the shifting perspectives back and forth in time and between different characters keeps this from being a waterproof thriller. At some point the narrative shifts to the first person perspective of a character named Shani, member (?) of a shadowy group (?) headed by the mysterious Lynn, who knows way more about what's happening than she’s willing to tell either Shani or the reader. There’s also a storyline from 35 years earlier about an editor from Wagner named Kendra Rae Phillips who is ostracized for an inflammatory article where she talked about the terrible white people at her publishing firm, and is basically the catalyst for all the nefariousness to come. Although something fishy is clearly afoot, nothing overt happens to explain the Other Black Girl phenomenon until almost three-quarters of the way through the book and by that point I feel like we're rushed towards the finish - yet another excruciating experience at Wagner for Nella, the terrible denouement, and then boom, over. I did really love how Harris did not pull any punches with her ending, but ultimately I wish that the storylines adjacent to Nella's fit a little more smoothly with hers and that the conspiracy had been given more room to grow.

This thriller set in a publishing house started getting buzz last summer when conversations around lack of diversity in publishing really peaked. I got an early copy of it and I can say it’s definitely going to be a big book of the summer. To me, the best bits were the gripping and insightful ways that Harris depicted micro-aggressions and the ways Black employees at predominantly white institutions are conditioned to doubt their instincts. The pacing was on the slow side for a thriller and some of the plot lines felt confusing and convoluted, but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. It’s a fun read that gets at some essential problems that need to be addressed in fiction. I’m excited to take part in all of the conversations that will undoubtedly happen around this book come June.

This book was so trippy in the best way! I was actually drawn into reading it because I wanted to read about racism in publishing, which is a topic that really needs to be addressed and I think that this book did a really great job on touching that topic, especially about the microaggressions faced by Black people in the workplace. Now for the horror aspect of this book (yes, I am calling it a horror especially due to the Get Out comparison on the blurb). It is so fascinating to watch what is going on between Nella and Hazel and trying to figure out what the end game is. The twist is just a slight one but it is a good one. I think this book will be well loved and will make a lot of people necessarly uncomfortable.

Nella is the only black person working at Wagner publishing. Until Hazel shows up. Nella is relieve and thinks she and Hazel can form a bond over working in a dominantly white workforce. However some things start to turn uncomfortable. Is Nella overreacting? She can't be... especially when she receives threatening notes telling her to leave her job.
There was a lot going on in this book, it reminds me of "When No One is Watching," in the fact that it starts as a sort of social commentary and then blows your mind at the end with something you do not expect. I would definitely recommend this to other readers.

Calling this "The Devil Wears Prada" meets "Get Out!" is basically accurate, but doesn't nearly do this amazing, inventive novel enough justice for how blisteringly original, timely and topical it is. The only thing stopping it from being completely perfect to me is my burning desire to dig deeper at some of the unresolved mysteries, but otherwise this novel is totally unexpected and unputdownable. I hope everyone can go in knowing as little as possible.

Wow. This book was different than I was expecting it to be, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. Though the first half of the book was kind of slow going, it picked up and was hard to put down. The blurb about the book said that it is Get Out meets Devil Wears Prada, but in the book publishing industry, and that is somewhat accurate. I was expecting it to be more Devil Wears Prada, but it was much more like Get Out meets The Stepford Wives in NYC. I love a book that I can’t figure out right away. I really didn’t know how the book would unravel. This book kept me guessing up until the end.

I’ll try to write a short synopsis because I don’t want to give too much away. Nella is a young, Black, editorial assistant at Wagner Books. For the entirety of the time that she has worked there, she has been the only Black woman and one of few WOC in the office. Tired of constantly dealing with microaggressions and awkwardness caused by her white coworkers and bosses, she is relieved and excited when a new Black girl starts working at Wagner Books. Hazel is seemingly perfect and quickly becomes the #1 editorial assistant in the eyes of the administration, especially after a particularly uncomfortable confrontation between Nella and one of the publisher’s most famous (and profitable) authors. Nella soon starts getting notes left on her desk telling her to leave Wagner Books immediately, though, and from there things quickly spiral downward for Nella.

This story was told from several women’s perspectives over time. It all mostly came together at the end, but for a good chunk of the story I was confused about who was supposed to be speaking and why they were related to the story. I felt that there were a few loose ends with other characters that weren’t tied up very well and/or were neglected to focus on Nella’s trajectory. I thought that The Resistance angle didn’t pay off. We were introduced to them, but it was never explained who they were, who Lynn was, how they formed, and how Kendra Rae was connected to them. Kendra Rae, Shani, and Malaika had a lot more story in them that wasn’t explored enough for me. There was a lot of build up, but it left several unanswered questions at the end. The novel was more a vehicle for social commentary and the actual story sometimes took a backseat. You should read it though if just for the honest and sometimes distressing commentary on contemporary Black women’s lives and issues they face in a white-dominated workplace.

Overall, I did like this book and I will likely recommend it to people when it comes out. This novel is Harris’ debut, so if her first effort was this good, I am looking forward to seeing what she does next. One final thing; I liked the ending. It was depressing as hell, and I (guiltily) love a book that doesn’t have a happily ever after ending.

Micro aggressions in the office environment and rising discrimination, marginalization of coworkers at the publishing industry! Wow! What a realistic, whirlwind, impeccably analyzed concept and excellent choice for a debut author!

When I see the blurb tells me this book’s story between Devil Wears Prada meets Get Out, I screamed I’m all in! Even though the story I read is nothing as it’s advertised but I still enjoyed the mysterious narration, the jaw dropping surrealist turn of the story’s direction whether it’s a little complex, confusing, opaque and slowed down the pace, it was still original and reflection of extraordinarily unique mind of the author.

Two black women cannot climb the career ladders at the same work environment when there’s ruthless competition and the pressure of white privileged executives who watch their each steps and wait for them to fail.

Nella, young, aspiring, hard worker, black girl wants to succeed at Wagner Books. Unfortunately she was the only colored person who works as editorial assistant. When Hazel is offered a job, assigned to work at the desk next to her, she gets excited. She isn’t going to suffer from loneliness at the work space. This could mean she gets an ally but sooner she realizes she cannot be so wrong because the competitions acts of Hazel who gets the attention of her executes, leaves Nella in the dust. As Hazel becomes rising star, Nella also starts to deal with threat messages which advise her to quit her job unless she wants bad things happen!

Then the book gets an unexpected turn make your jaw drop so fast! But I was okay with that! I love to deal with unexpected and surprising progress.

I wish I could say the same about the ending. Because it was way too much open for my taste. There are so many unresolved issues, unanswered questions! I think I needed more drama, scream, earth shattering revelations , tying up of loose ends. But it was solid, a little blunt ending for my taste!

I still loved the plot idea ( it was a little fantasy and sci-fi vibes version of Devil wears Prada with surrealist touches), inequality and unfairness at work space and micro aggressions theme. The characterization was also good even though some characters still needed more detailed back stories. The ending was dissatisfying.

But overall I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 different, creative, mind bending, shocking, creepy, dark, well researched stars!

Special thanks to Mimi Chan and Goodreads team to share the NetGalley widget of this unique reviewer copy and I also thank to Atria Books for this amazing experience.

I found this book a bit troubling since it tells the story of competition among women. I hate seeing this feeling of distrust rather than solidarity.

It’s an interesting read, but I don’t know if I would recommend it to all my older readers. I think it will appeal to a younger demographic.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Something was truly bothering me as I read this book, but I didn't figure it out until after I'd finished it. It's described as "Get Out" meets "Devil Wears Prada," and it really is. It's a bit too derivative of "Get Out" at times - but I appreciate that this was acknowledged. Knowing this going in allowed me to set aside the urge to be critical as I recognized those similarities. What hit me later, however, is that this book is derivative of another story - it's "The Stepford Wives" set in the corporate world. It's almost a carbon copy - both are about white males being so uncomfortable with strong, assertive women that they find a way to "make" them assimilate. The Stepford men wanted agreeable wives; in OBG, white employers have convinced others that everyone wants agreeable black women in the workplace. That's a pretty clever twist, and this story is a much better version of "Stepford" ... but it's not different enough to make this an original story. I have to give it three stars for this reason.

To be positive: in spite of how derivative this is to those other books, the story is pretty fast-paced and engaging. I loved the publishing house setting, especially in terms of the fact that all these people promoting "diversity" in literature were really working overtime to maintain stereotypes and promote assimilation. The actual plot doesn't hold up to a ton of scrutiny, but there are lots of really good ideas and topics for discussion: how assimilation is oppression, the dangers of "going along to get along," and how women play a role in supporting each other (or not supporting each other).

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I enjoyed reading it, but was just a bit disappointed in the comparisons I was able to draw to the previously-told tales.

What begins as a workplace drama, compounded with racial tension, develops into something on a whole other level. The creepy/scary atmosphere in this book really builds to a chilling finale. I enjoyed this book, and I imagine it will inspire much discussion. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In The Other Black Girl, Harris disarms readers by welcoming us into this story the same way we (Black women) often welcome each other upon first meeting: Hair talk. Whether natural, relaxed, in braids or a weave, hair talk amongst Black women drives down the defenses and gives the women speaking common ground upon which to stand. Whether that conversation is one of hair woes or hair love, in some cases, hair talk is our handshake. In The Other Black Girl, Harris dreams up a world in which the disarming, bond inducing topic of hair is exploited.

Harris's debut novel is an interesting social commentary and a lightning-fast read, despite its almost 400 pages. The book is rich with turns of phrase, cryptic little breadcrumbs she drops for the reader, and in some places, sadly, picks them up herself before the reader has a chance to connect the deeper meaning with the story. I wondered more than once if this was done to help readers who wouldn't "get it" to be in the know - like the remark about Boston being "cold".

This was a pretty good book and a solid debut. I imagine The Other Black Girl as a cross between Linden Hills by Gloria Naylor, The Witches by Roald Dahl, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. A spooky chick's dream book! I'm excited to read more from this author.

So so good! Keeps you on the edge of your seat. In the capable hands of Harris, readers begging to understand the true horrors of tokenism, While there is an underlying framing of humor, and parts that are laugh out loud funny, you never truly shake the horror of how racism and white privilege operates in this nation. Well written and absolutely worth a read.