Black Cake was a stunning read that not only kept me turning pages, but also softened my heart toward the intricacies of familial systems and the hurt we cause one another. Featuring several points of view and changing timelines, the book was a tapestry that gets woven together as the reader learns more and more how each person and story is interconnected. It covers stories and perspectives of both the past and the present, and addresses a family's history from all sides. It reminded me how many sides there truly are to every story. I struggled a few brief times to track with the unfolding interconnectivity and noticed a few jumps in the storyline as the book picked up its pace at the end, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and was constantly reading "just one more chapter."

Beautiful debut!!

I loved learning of everyone’s stories and how they intertwined together to form a history linked to two people.

This story is about so much, loss, identity, forgiveness, betrayal. mystery, and family.

There were times I wasn’t sure which direction the story was going and it was losing my attention a bit, but overall I did enjoy it!

Simply a beautiful story of family history!!

Lots of characters. Slow burn. Very character driven but I loved all the twists and how it all wrapped up. I personally found the beginning poorly written. It made me switch to the audio version which I’m thankful for but it was just so hard to follow.

This engrossing multigenerational story transports the reader across decades and around the globe uncovering long buried secrets. Byron and Benny are estranged siblings brought together by the death of their mother. Eleanor has left for them a beloved food from childhood, black cake, and an audio recording of herself sharing secrets that overturn everything they know about their family. Multiple timelines, points of view, and social issues reveal lessons in loss, sacrifice, identity, culture acceptance , family and how food traditions connect us.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"I owe it to you to let you know about my past because this is your story, too"

This is a story of love, loss, family, motherhood, forgiveness and never forgetting your culture and where you come from.

Black cake follows estranged siblings Byron and Benny, as they are trying to understand the mother they loved and lost. Eleanor Bennett has left behind her two children and an 8 hour audio recording, holding all the secrets of her life that she has held onto for so long. This book covers a lot of heavy topics that were written about so beautifully- family issues, sexuality, freedom, child abandonment, family secrets, being a single mother, motherhood in general, racism, island life, climate change, identity, family recipes, culture, heritage, SOOOO MANY THINGS !!

I really loved reading about Eleanors life, learning about her right along sing her children, who were going through their own things, but still so shocked to hear these things about their mother- they felt betrayed, worried, sad, confused, misunderstand, but also feeling that their mother was right there holding them still.

The culture in this book was amazing. I loved reading about the island life and how food brought everyone together. The appearance of black cake throughout the novel was great too... it was a tradition that continued on throughout the generations, and also held the most secrets for the Bennett family. I also REALLY loved the consistency of the ocean... I just recently read a memoir where they were talking about how if you understand the ocean and how it moves, you can really understand a woman. I felt that in this book... no matter what, the ocean was always an escape for the characters in this book to feel free and alive.

The only reason I didn't give this book a full 5 stars is because it was a little slow at times and it got a little confusing with all the characters to keep track of ( I had to take notes lol) Other than that, the story was beautiful and I loved the way the author took you back to the beginning where it all started... and moved you through this families life with ease and style.

"Because the people you loved were part of your identity, too. Perhaps the biggest part."

Thank you Netgalley, Ballantine Books and Charmaine Wilkerson for an advanced copy of Black Cake in exchange for an honest review.

Triggers: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Addiction, and Death

These topics I mentioned above were not graphic, but are still very relevant in the story. They shaped and molded the characters into who they were.

Editorial note: I received a copy of Black Cake in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson is an epic story about family, traditions, secrets and forgiveness. The premise for Black Cake is quiet in many ways and also quite fascinating. There’s a bit of a mystery too that will keep you guessing. I’m still thinking about all the different themes in this story.

Black Cake tackles identity and heritage. It’s also a lesson about growth and moving forward. It’s one of those big, family saga stories that will stick with you and makes you think. Highly recommend it

“Sometimes, the stories we don’t tell people about ourselves matter even more than the things we do say.”

BLACK CAKE is an exquisite debut about estranged siblings who come together in order to settle the affairs of their recently deceased mother. In listening to a recording of the final words of their mother, they discover a host of family secrets and a black cake they’re to share when the time is right. It’s a beautifully written book about family and identity and home, and about what happens to us when we keep secrets to protect ourselves or the ones we love. Another fabulous @readwithjenna pick — I really enjoyed this one!

Byron and Benny haven’t spoken in years but must come together for the death of their mother. Little do they know, their mother has left a recording telling about her life….revealing secrets that will affect them both deeply.

We get to hear about the childhood of Covey and her best friend in the Caribbean islands. Move on to the life of Eleanor Bennet in Europe and then to the US to learn about Byron and Benny’s lives and how black cake was part of a tradition through it all.

I think this was a great book following many characters…some you loved and a few that you hated at times. I thought it was beautifully written and really enjoyed hearing from so many perspectives.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A wonderful book about family ties, family estrangements, and traditions. It starts with young Covey being forced to marry a loan shark in her native island homeland, and ends in California some 40 years later with the death of a mother about whom her adult children are discovering her colorful past.

I was attracted to this book on NetGalley by the lovely cover, and also, who doesn't like cake? Black cake is a big part of the traditions passed down in this family; and in this sharing of the mixing and baking process, their character and world knowledge are formed. How the author wove these stories together into a fascinating, cohesive book is admirable.

It took me just a little while to become enthralled and I'm happy to also have found that the audiobook rendition is great. Very entertaining!

I really wanted to love this one. However, personally, it was a bit too long and chaotic.

The author really tried to take on a lot of subjects and it led to the novel's chronology and cohesion becoming discombobulated.

This novel attempted to tell the stories of about 10 different characters. Eventually these stories started to drag and sometimes they cluttered the storytelling. Because of this, I lost interest often and anxiously awaited the ending.

This may be a great novel for someone who likes a slow, unassuming burn.

I did enjoy that there were some interesting subjects brought up, but again, because the author tried to tackle too much, the subjects became convoluted.

You’ve no doubt seen this book in your book communities- for good reason. This debut is an absolute stunner.

𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐂𝐀𝐊𝐄 is a multi-generational story set in the Caribbean, London and  California. It has a complex yet accessible structure that blends Then & Now time periods alongside a shifting narrative from a cast of clearly defined characters. The story of friendship, forgiveness and resilience takes you on a journey of discovery in which the characters' history and connection is peeled back one exquisite layer at a time. The short chapters help set a brisk pace, but it never feels rushed.

I loved it. This book would be ideal to discuss in community or book club because there is a wealth of complexities to unpack. 

“𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦. 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.”

This book just fell a little short for me. The story line was there, but in my opinion became too complex but included too many characters and their points of view. I never felt as if I really got to know any of the characters and their specific story. It started out strong, but once I hit the halfway point I struggled to pick up the book and finish it. An unpopular opinion, but I think if the story were shared by 2 or 3 characters it would have been much stronger and more enjoyable.

thank you netgalley for my advanced reaader copy.

This book was so good with the web it wove with the different narratives. It wasn't suspenseful or thrilling but left me wanting to know what was next. I loved the short chapters and the different perspectives. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time and I just loved it. It truly took me back to when I took Food as Communication in college.

This is a must read and just so good.

A big thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this one!

This was a story about family, culture, and tradition. It brought together experiencs that many people of color and immigrants face with historical context. At first I wasn't sure where they book would lead after the first few pages, but the author told and wrapped the story up beautifully.

There is so much to discuss about this well written and absorbing novel, that takes place in the Caribbean, in the UK, and in California and New York. Benny and Byron are following their mother’s request upon her death to listen to the recording she left for them, revealing truths about their family they were unaware of. So many secrets, so much to unpack. It was interesting to learn about Chinese Caribbeans, as well as the treatment of Caribbean people in post WWII England. The love story of Covey and Gibbs was a revelation, as were the harsh realities that faced Eleanor, Byron and Benny’s mother, as a Black woman. The black cake represents the sense of family and continuity so essential to the book. I highly recommend this fantastic read, and thank NetGalley for the ARC.

Byron and Benny are estranged brother and sister who come together after the death of their mother. Their Mother, Eleanor, had instructed them in her will to listen to eight hours of her audio recordings and then share a Black Cake left in her freezer "when the time is right". Eleanor tells the story of her life that her children were completely unaware of.

Told from multiple POV's, we learn about Eleanor's upbringing on a Caribbean Island and the importance of cooking, especially the local delicacy ...Black Cake. Eleanor had been forced to flee the island at a young age and live under an assumed name. The trials and tribulations that she went through when she was young affected her throughout her life and her children were finally able to understand the moods that sometimes overtook her.

The importance of food and our cultures is a recurring theme in the book. It is through food that some of the characters are able to relate to each other.

There were new characters introduced late in the book which was a little off-putting but made sense after a couple short chapters. I'm just not a fan of new characters so far into the book. My only other negative was that at first sight numerous people were able to "recognize" their old friend or relative in her children. Not sure I can buy into seeing someone on T V and just "knowing" they are related.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advance Copy in exchange for this honest review.

This was such a beautifully written and powerful debut novel. BLACK CAKE pulled on my heart strings and had me enthralled in the lives of Eleanor Bennett and her children, Byron and Benny, from the very first page.

After Eleanor’s death, she leaves her children a number of voice recordings and a traditional Caribbean black cake stored in the freezer with instructions. What Byron and Benny cannot predict is the history that will unfold as their mother finally shares her upbringing and everything that led her from the Caribbean to California.

Covering an array of topics such as racism, classism, misogyny, and the effects of trauma, BLACK CAKE is a breath taking novel that will stay with me for a while. I loved these fictional characters and how Wilkerson wove their stories together. Painful at times, I felt so much for each character as they navigated through the emotional currents of dealing with trauma and a family history that was kept private for decades.

While Wilkerson often switched between the past and present, introducing a number of different characters and events, I felt the book flowed so seamlessly. I really enjoyed how you also saw this story unfold from the perspective of Byron and Benny, especially as they came to terms with their mother’s past and their own relationship with both her and with each other. The familial ties and heartache that comes with those complicated relationships certainly hit close to home for me.

I also appreciated how this story centered around the black cake that was left by Eleanor for her children and the long history that came with that traditional recipe. I thought this tied in nicely to the story and really highlighted the impact and cultural significance that certain foods can have in a family’s history.

BLACK CAKE truly deserves all the stars and praise. Wilkerson’s writing was superb and I will certainly pick up anything she writes in the future. Do yourself a favor and go pick up a copy of this extraordinary debut novel, you will not be disappointed!

This book was amazing. the story telling was so vivid and it was truly a rollercoaster ride! i never knew what was going to happen and the way the story was written was so interesting and so well put together. the way was the story of the family conflicts were told was so heart wrenching in the best possible way

A gorgeous debut novel! The writing was beautiful. I loved the multigenerational storytelling aspect of it. I also loved how many surprise moments and little twists popped up throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read such a great book!

Books where the plot carries the reader along on a river of ebbs and flows, eddies and rip currents from beginning to end are rare. Black Cake is a story rich with deep desperation and heavenly elation and all human points in between. The author uses characters that the reader cares about deeply not just by the end of the book but early on. The weaving of events past and present keep the action going a pace so that the reader realizes they are reading a saga without feeling the weight of a tome. Black Cake is a study in cultures and human nature. I recommend it for book clubs and cooks, history buffs and anyone who likes to read about human connectivity.