This is definitely one of the best books of the year. I love the brother/sister drama. It’s nice to see how different they were and how they handled the revelations. I felt really connected to the characters. The writing was succinct yet also descriptive enough to really provide an adequate picture.

A great debut novel, Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson, explores family dynamics, family secrets and overcoming obstacles to be your authentic self. Estranged siblings Benny and Byron are re-united when their mother, Eleanor, dies and leaves an audio version of her will for them to listen to together. Eleanor has several secrets to share with her children to fully understand their mother and heritage. A tale woven through multiple points of view in the past and present, Black Cake portrays Caribbean food and culture, obstacles as a woman, dirty family secrets, finding true love, and what one will do to erase their past.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Although I finished reading Black Cake nearly a month ago, I still remember the vividness of all the characters–a family including a mother and father (recently deceased) with secrets and their children; estranged siblings who lead very different lives in the present.

The book moves back and forth between present day and the past in a way that’s pretty masterful. I think most college-educated adults could identify with either the brother or sister. There’s Benny, the sister who’s still figuring herself out as a fully-grown adult, and her brother, Byron, who lives a much more conventional life, though he’s pretty unfulfilled throughout, just like his sister.

Family rituals (cooking, thus, the titular Black Cake) are depicted well. It was deep. I loved it. If this were the 60s or 70s I’d say I dug it.

Looking forward to more by Charlaine Wilkerson.

Black Cake is a multigenerational story, a sifting and searching back and forth through time to piece together the story of a life, of a family, of traditions and connections. After Eleanor Bennett dies, her two children, Byron and Benny, are gathered together by their mother’s lawyer to listen to a recording their mother prepared, which tells the real history of her life, and her identity. The story is beautifully written, the characters well defined, but at times, the story gets bogged down with the addition of a multitude of social issues, from forced adoption, police brutality against Blacks, environmental issues, domestic abuse, gambling, work-place rape, abandonment, racial discrimination, gay and lesbian issues, and arranged marriage, sometimes weakening the thread of a solid, intriguing story line. Overall, a promising debut which could have benefited from some restraint, Black Cake is about tradition, and family, the importance of being true to who you are, and honoring the things that connect us and carry us forward.

BLACK CAKE completely took me by surprise and it gave me all the feels! It's such a beautifully complex story about legacy, family, and resilience. I flew through this book in 2 days, but don't get me wrong -- it's not an easy read -- but Wilkerson approaches these triggering topics so delicately and purposefully.

HIGHLY recommend both the physical and audiobooks versions of this story!

What an intriguing read! Eleanor Bennett reveals deep secrets on her deathbed and her children's lives begin to unravel. This is not your typical matriarch's gentle descent into eternity but a story that will not allow you to stop until the end.
The plot is so well presented and the characters so vibrant. The customs and intricacies of Caribbean life are so well described that you can feel the action and boisterousness pulsing throughout the story. The story itself contains all those elements that make life so complex. The hardship, perseverance and need to succeed comes through so definitively. A great read!

This is one of the most beautifully written, moving novels I have read in a very long time. Wilkerson has deftly created a book with memorable characters, gorgeous prose and a plot that kept me interested and engaged. Five stars for this exceptionally memorable debut!

I am not sure that I have ever read another book as beautiful as this one was. Don't get me wrong, there was a lot of pain (trigger warning on sexual assault), but the love, family, culture and friendship made the heartbreaking moments all the worthwhile...a mirror of life itself.

I loved this multi-generational story. It explores family, friendship, parenting, loyalty, racism and race relations, Caribbean culture, and family traditions. It's definitely a page turner. I was sad when I sat down to read and realized I had finished the book. It's also a fascinating trip through history.

One of the best books I've ever read - best book of the 20's so far for me! I don't even know where to begin, other than you NEED to read this! It was just wonderful. I received a free digital review copy through NetGalley and immediately went out and purchased the hardback to have in my library because I loved it so much and know I will want to read it again and share it with everyone I love. Beautiful story, wonderful character development, absolutely loved Wilkerson's writing style.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Black cake is a family story that spans several generations. The account begins in the Caribbean Islands and ends in the present day in the state of California. The story reveals family secrets that have been hidden for many years. The revelation of those secrets brings the family to question all that they knew about their heritage making it a tale of family lost and of family found.

In the present day Benny and Bryon Bennett come together for their mother, Eleanor Bennett’s funeral. Benny has been estranged from the family and she is uncomfortable being with Bryon. Their mother’s funeral has brought them back together. The funeral, however, is not the only reason Benny and Bryon have come to their mother’s home. They have also been summoned by Eleanor’s attorney to hear a message that their mother recorded for them prior to her death.

In the message they learn of their mother’s childhood and of her true identity. Eleanor’s real story is about a young girl from the Caribbean Islands who is a strong swimmer and whose father gives her in marriage as a teenager to a dangerous man in exchange for debt forgiveness. There is a murder and Eleanor escapes from her island home by making it appear as if she has drowned. The story of Eleanor’s secret life unfolds until her two children are left to question everything they had known about their family.

The one thing they don’t question is their mother’s love of the traditional black cake that she has always made for them. That cake is a part of their past heritage that remains true. And in her message she requests that they share the remaining black cake that she has placed in the freezer for them. The only stipulation is that they wait until the time is right. She assures them in her message that they will know when that time comes.

The book alternates between Eleanor’s childhood and teenage life as Covey in the Caribbean Islands and into the present day lives of her children, Benny and Bryon. The transitions between the two time periods flow smoothly. And then any additional information about the past is supplied through the recording and letters from Eleanor to her children.

The black cake symbolizes Eleanor’s past, her culture, and the family that she lost and gained while it offers a look at island life, its history and culture. The black cake with its fermented ingredients reflects on a life that somehow gets better with age. Decisions change not only the lives of the decision maker but also the lives of others. The book looks at identity and heritage and at what it is like to be a black male in today’s world. It tackles a plethora of difficult subjects while it is both a heartbreaking and eventually a heartwarming family tale.

Wilkerson mixes many ideas together in this debut novel as she creates a story about a black cake and makes it much more than just a story about a cake.

This review is written courtesy of an egalley from NetGalley and the publisher.

This was one of those stories that seems like it's about one thing but is about so much more. Just a few of the themes the author weaved into the story of Eleanor and her family : Family betrayals, secrets, lies, reinventing oneself, love, friendship, culture...and more! At times, I felt like it might've been too much but then something would happen - those character driven plot twists were perfection- and I would be pulled right back in. Plus, there were 2 underlying mysteries throughout the story which were always in my mind & I had to know what happened. If you like stories that have a mix of genres- and pull this off brilliantly- then give this debut a try. And I highly recommend the audio- the 2 narrators, Lynette Freeman & Simone Mcintyre were fantastic!

This was a really lovely look inside a family with a lot of secrets - but with an e trembly interesting story. I loved the premise, and while I thought some parts could have been left out, I overall really enjoyed the story.

One of the best books I've read in a long time. It's thick but has short chapters, which makes it a breeze to read. There are so many family secrets and misunderstandings to untangle. I really liked each of the characters and storylines and will be recommending this book to everyone for the foreseeable future.

The author is a beautiful writer with such a captivating story to tell. Her ability to develop characters with rich velvety depth is incredible. The story begins with the death of Eleanor Bennet, a mother with two estranged children, Benny and Byron. Eleanor leaves her children with a tape. A tape that from the very beginning shocks us with its contents. As we learn more about the past, we meet an array of characters who all play a role in Eleanor's story. Benny and Byron have lost their mother to illness at the opening of the book. While they are essentially estranged, Benny comes home and together they listen to tapes their mother left for them. She tells them her life story. Fans of historical fiction, especially those with an interest in the Caribbean, will love this book and it's characters. Family is messy, complicated, full of love, regrets, anger, sadness, and growth. You can know someone your whole life and then realize that you didn't know them at all. There are many facets to this book from family, secrets kept from the family and the cake recipe that is reflective of the family history. People have layers - hence "black cake". Sometimes those layers are sweet, soaked with rum, put away in the fridge, or devoured as a family together. What lives on though is the memories. They may not all be good, but just like a good recipe, memories can live on by passing them down.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author and Random House.

I loved this book! Truly is the epitome of a feel-good family story with excellent writing and interesting characters. Highly, highly recommend and can't wait to see what else this author writes!

I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This book read like THE VANISHING HALF meets DAVA SHASTRI’S LAST DAY. It discusses race and colorism and how those topics intersect with family while also touching on the incredible story of a matriarch near the end of her life. And it does both of these things really, really well.

But if that sounds like a lot to fit into one book—it was! And I admit that while I think the writing itself was incredible, at times I got a little lost by the scope of what was going on. I almost wish this had been two books, because there were aspects (like the conversations around oceanography and what type of conservation will best prepare us for global warming) that I thought were super interesting, but we didn’t get to dive into. And one of my favorite characters didn’t appear in the book until it was almost over—I need a Marble-focused prequel!

A book that's as beautifully written as it is gripping. Insightful and narrative about the things that make of the most meaning in life – friends, family, heritage, and secrets. Black Cake is a wonderful tale of perseverance, grit, and doing things differently. A really unique narrative of a Black family in America. 4.5/5. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review.

This is a lovely debut novel that was intricate but well-worth it! Benny and Byron, siblings who've been estranged, must deal with their mother's death and all the secrets that are revealed as she's left them an audio tape that they must listen to in order to understand their very odd history. And so we go back in time to mother, Eleanor and her upbringing and her later life as she navigates her Caribbean heritage and all that comes with it--especially the "black cake" that was baked for ceremonies and traditions and had my mouth watering! Lots of twist and turns, tragedy, and blurred lines, but ultimately a novel that draws you in quickly with its pacing and colorful characters. I look forward to reading more by this author!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!