What an excellent book. I tore through it in less than 48 hours. I didn’t know too much about the plot going in and I’m so glad for that.

Excellent book! Wonderful characters that I absolutely fell in love with. A hint of mystery running through the book that kept me guessing. Very enjoyable read!

Excellent debut. The writing is superb and the story very compelling. I received and ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, a truly STUNNING debut from Charmaine Wilkerson! This book definitely deserves the praise it is getting. It is beautifully written, developed well, and emotional at its core. What I liked a lot about the book was how it was formatted, I felt like each "chapter" was a small story in a bigger story that truly showed the inside look of all the characters in this story. While there were many characters and perspectives to keep track of, I thought that Wilkerson did a good job writing each of them uniquely. I think, at the core of the story, that Eleanor's story was the most gripping, but I also really loved reading about Benny. I also highly recommend to read the Author's Note at the end, where Wilkerson goes in detail about her research process behind the book, detailing the racism she based the story in with Chinese-Jamaicans. As a Chinese person, I really appreciated it and it opened a new part of history that I'm interested in learning more in. I definitely will be thinking about this book for a while, and definitely recommend it.

🎂🎂🎂🎂💫
Black Cake is a debut from @charmspen1, published on 2/1/22. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was selected as the pick for a book club I participate in @literaryleague, as well as @bookofthemonth & @readwithjenna! What a gorgeous, artistic book cover! I loved this book—the author demonstrated outstanding expressiveness of her voice as a writer and an incredible ability to convey emotion with tone. As I read the story, I felt the power of visuals through the authors vibrant style of writing that will have readers conjuring images through her words. Take a journey from the Caribbean to London to California…

BLACK CAKE opens the narrative by introducing readers to Benny and Byron Bennett, adult siblings who are reunited through their mother’s death. Before her death, their mother placed a small black cake in the freezer, along with a note for Benny and Byron: “I want you to sit down together and share the cake when the time is right. You’ll know when.” She also left a voice recording to be played for them by her lawyer. The story centers around the complex history of the Bennett family. The author takes readers through a plot filled with love, lies, secrets, memories, and how a family can be changed forever by a matriarch with many roots and lives lived.

⭐️In development as a Hulu original series!!

This is a great book! The story of Eleanor Bennett slowly unfolds with many surprises along the way. This book has everything: family drama, deception, murder, racism, secrets, love. I took my time reading it, savoring every chapter.

Black Cake is the story of a family and self-acceptance and staying true to who you are. Told from multiple perspectives, the reader hears the story of Benny and Byron as they struggle to find who they are in today's world. When their mother dies, they are forced to confront their mother's past and her story while learning about themselves. An enjoyable read, especially for those who like stories told from multiple perspectives.

A very moving and heavy novel about two siblings, Benny and Byron Bennett, that learn about their mother’s unknown past while listening to a series of recordings she left after her death. Their mother’s attorney, Charles Mitch, was given specific instructions from Eleanor Bennett regarding her children listening to the recordings and when they were to eat the traditional Caribbean Black Cake she had left. The recordings go into detail about Eleanor’s secret and painful past. At the time, Benny and Byron’s relationship is strained. Benny had not participated in their father’s funeral and not speaking to Byron at the time of their mother’s death. There are many characters in this story and it takes place on a Caribbean Island, London, and California. I enjoyed that parts of the story actually took place here in my own backyard of Orange County, CA. I liked the format of the first three quarters of the book, each chapter covered the story of a different character and also different points in time. At least for me, the last quarter of the book seemed a little disjointed and disorganized, maybe because there was a need to wrap up everyone’s story. For some reason, the flow and pace did not seem the same as the first part of the book. I am curious to see how many book clubs attempt to make the Caribbean Black Cake. I think Charmain Wilkerson did a phenomenal job in her debut novel.

Black Cake begins as siblings Byron and Benny have to deal with the death of their mother after a long estrangement Their mother has left an eight hour audio recording to be heard by her grown children, in the presence of each other and her lawyer.

What follows is a long and winding story that goes back and forth between points of views, characters, and timelines

And while the story itself is a good one, getting there was...a long. and winding road. And at times it felt like the author was just throwing everything but the kitchen sink at us( in terms of social issues) .

But even though the book wasn't all i expected or wanted it to be, it was still a good book.

Can't wait to read her next one.

Black Cake is a long one but the chapters are shorter so it moves but it also covers SO much. Long story short: it centers around a mom's after death testimonial for her two children that reveals some great secrets in her life they had no idea about. The story switches timelines and follows multiple characters who are all tired together in different ways - some biologically and not. It touches on life, death, identify, crimes, and more. A lot happens in this book and it somehow all connects back together at the end. Overall, I did like it but it was long and felt long in some areas.

Byron and Benny's mother Eleanor died, leaving behind a voice recording of a tumultuous story, the traditional black cake to share "when the time is right" and a family recipe. As Eleanor's story unfolds, will the siblings repair their relationship?

Black Cake is Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel. Throughout the decades of the family story, we see all the components that go into the formation of a family, and the things that people inherit even when they don't realize they have. Generational trauma is real, and the difficulties that Covey endured on the Caribbean Island of her birth, to where she later emigrated, to her life as an adult are alluded to and never outright named. But we know what happened, and why it affected her life. We also understand the fallout of each danger and decision made in the beginning of the book, and as Eleanor's tale unfolds, we get more glimpses into the past, as well as how her children react to it. Their own stories had been revealed to their siblings or parents in pieces; Byron is affected by his Blackness everywhere he goes despite his excellence in academia, and Benny is caught up in others' dreams and the prejudice others have against her bisexuality.

Although the story spans decades, it doesn't feel like it at all. I was drawn into the family story from the start. I resonated most with Eleanor, but also with Benny and her struggle to live up to everyone else's expectations. It's difficult, and instead of meeting them no matter the cost the way her brother did, Benny opted out entirely. Everyone reacted to trauma in different ways, and it's only by sitting down together and fully opening up to others that they could begin to heal and reconnect. Pride has its place, but not when the family is so fractured and simply needed someone to start bringing them all back together. I enjoyed this book a lot, and hope to read more from this author.

BLACK CAKE is a heartfelt family drama.

This one is told through multiple perspectives and flashbacks. In present-day California, Byron and Benny are grieving the loss of their mother Eleanor. Waiting for them are a traditional Caribbean black cake baked by their mother and a lengthy recorded message from her. In the recording, Eleanor shares a story they'd not yet heard, taking them back to the Caribbean island where she grew up.

I thought this was a fantastic debut. I could have done with less introspection from the siblings, as it often seemed repetitive -- their reflecting on things the reader just learned too -- and slow down the pace of the novel. Yet other times the narrative felt choppy, owing to the short vignette-style chapters. But perhaps both were intentional, evoking different patterns in ocean waves.

I really liked how author Charmaine Wilkerson portrayed a loving family made of flawed people. After all, isn't that what all of us are working with? Their bonds are strong but their lives aren't always idyllic -- not sure it gets much more realistic than that.

This was a great read and lives up to the hype I've been hearing the last few weeks surrounding this book! When I discovered I had a widget sent weeks ago from the publisher in my email for an advanced copy, even though it was already released I knew I couldn't ignore it and I am so glad that I didn't! I feel it's going to be nominated for best fiction this year and will be deserving of the award. It needs to be created into a movie/series and I recommend everyone should read this book. It was that enjoyable.

The writing was beautiful and easy to follow. I was immersed in the story from the beginning and would read long sections at a time not wanting to come up for air.

The story is unique, intense, and heartbreaking. I teared up for so many moments. There are times you want to hug your family, especially your parents, and your heart aches for how stubborn the siblings are for wasting precious time they can't get back. This is a story to remind us that our parents are human also. They have lives and experiences, and they may just understand what you are going through in your life better than you think, if you just stop and ask them yourselves.

Black Cake's story revolves around an audio recording by the mother, Eleanor, depicting her life. She wants her children to listen so they have a better understanding of who she really was. I truly don't know how they sat through that recording without bawling their eyes out the entire time. The recording is weaved throughout the past and present storylines of the major characters. Could be a hard feat to conquer, right? Wilkerson doesn't make it seem that way. Where it could be choppy, it flows, and where we could be confused on the events of each character playing out, we aren't. Despite covering multiple POVs, it reads that effortlessly.

I would recommend this book to anyone. She covers some hard subject matters, but does it flawlessly. Oh! And shockingly enough this is the author's debut novel! I can't imagine where she goes from here! Highly recommend you read this book!

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

I was so excited to read this book after hearing about it on so many social media platforms. I wasn't disappointed!

I love a good multigenerational story, and this one did not disappoint! The style of writing was very easy to read and held my attention. I loved how the characters developed and how everything played out. Definetly a must read!

Epic saga and nothing less than brilliant debut! I enjoyed every word of this story, I especially loved Covey with her strength and resilience facing hardship and danger and adventure. I will be recommending this one everywhere and to everyone!

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and the author for this eARC, it was my pleasure to read and review it.

This book was such a nice surprise. I love a family saga that spans generations. The author did a great job with both character development and keeping the reader guessing. I loved how she wove food into the story also. This is an excellent book that I would recommend to anyone.

Black Cake started off strong with wonderful descriptions of food and life on a Caribbean island weaving together the story of Covey, her relationships, and how it all relates to present day. I could not put it down. However, about half way thru the story it seemed to stall and go off in many unnecessary directions which made a bit sad, I had high hopes for this one. I will absolutely try another book by this author - her writing was great, it just got bogged down by a wandering plot. Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book!

Returning home after her mother Eleanor’s death was heartbreaking to Benny Bennett, especially since she hadn’t seen her family for nearly a decade, after she dropped out of college and came out to her father about her sexuality. Byron, Benny’s older brother, was furious at Benny for not keeping in touch, for not attending their father’s funeral, and for not following in his path to success. He was a celebrated oceanographer, with a passion for his subject and a gift for encouraging the younger generation. After Benny dropped out of college, she took art classes and cooking classes, never truly finding her passion, until she had the idea to open a café. One of the featured desserts would be her mother’s famous black cake, a recipe handed down from somewhere in the family.

Both Byron and Benny were upset with their mother’s attorney, and though initially unwilling to listen to the audio recording Eleanor left for them, they honored their mother’s wishes and sat in the living room, where they learned for the first time the truth about their parents and their long journey through life that began on an island in the Caribbean and ended in a beach town in Southern California.

My emotions and my thoughts are all over the place after finishing Black Cake. I felt badly for Byron and Benny, losing Eleanor, and then to discover that their mother was not exactly what she had seemed had to be nearly impossible to believe. I cheered for Covey, with her talent for swimming, and for Bunny, her best friend, as they trained for an open water swim, and was nervous and scared right along with Covey as she left the island for London. Told from various points of view, Black Cake has an historical perspective on what it meant to be mixed race in the Caribbean and in London, while touching on some of the current issues of being black in America. It’s a story of love and loss, of thriving and surviving, and chronicles the estrangement and reconnection that so many of us have faced.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an eARC for an honest review!

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson is a strong debut about two siblings who are reunited due to their mothers death and their mothers desire to come clean about her past. Told in alternating timelines this is a sweeping family epic about love, adulthood, motherhood, family, and a celebration of culture.

A few things really worked well. The characters all felt like real people with real reasons for doing the things they were doing; many times with something like this what one character is doing in particular is doing would seem outlandish, but the novel really does present a set of circumstances that make sense. I also really loved the pacing of the story and how it broke off into different characters perspectives giving us a sweeping vibe as the story unfolded.

A very small qualm is that I didn't really find myself connected to the world-the Caribbean island that some of our characters come from doesn't really come off as very vivid to me and the world building is really just alright, but I think that Wilkerson will really only get better.

I almost gave up at 13% but the power of bookhearts' persuasive positive reviews made me stick with Black Cake. Why? Because it was getting to be too many characters and POVs for my liking. Having finished the novel, I understand it was the right way to tell this story. Let me tell you more.

Two estranged siblings set aside their differences to deal with a puzzling inheritance from their mother. After her death, she leaves behind a traditional Caribbean black cake and an hours-long voice recording. She shares the story of her younger days on the island, the mystery of a long-lost child and other revelations that make the siblings question whether they really knew their mom. As it often happens in real life, secrets are revealed when a matriarch passes away!

Layers on layers on layers. The older generation is a constant backdrop even through the "Now" chapters. It is evident that debut author Charmaine Wilkerson is a grand storyteller that took her time, did the research and appreciates the art of writing. Black Cake is not for the impatient reader. It is a slow methodical journey through a family's secrets, betrayals, relationships and changes over the years. Family drama can be complex, especially in fiction.

Happy Pub Day, Charmaine Wilkerson! Black Cake is available today.

~LiteraryMarie