This book has such great reviews but I'm totally confused. The writing is to choppy for me to enjoy. DNF


*************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley*****************

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e ARC of Black Cake.

I loved Black Cake and read it in one day. I also really want to try this "Black Cake", many of my family traditions are centered around food; and I loved the food Diaspora element brought in to this novel. I was really hoping there would be a recipe at the end, but there was not. This book is also about family secrets, which all families seem to have. Some secrets are taken to the grave.

About: "Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson, a debut novel about two estranged siblings must set aside their differences to deal with their mother's death and her hidden past--a journey of discovery that takes them from the Caribbean to London to California and ends with her famous black cake; from 1960s Caribbean to present-day Southern California; a story about children trying to understand the mother they have lost."

Book quotes from Charmaine Wilkerson Back Cake Novel that I loved:
“Survival is not enough. Survival has never been enough.”-
"We can't choose what we inherit. But can we choose who we become"...
"...he understood the woman he loved had been robbed of her destiny. But he never did learn how much he had lost."
"Eleanor had lied to her husband for all those years because she understood that if you want someone to keep loving you, you couldn't ask them to bear all of your burdens, couldn't risk letting them see all of who you were. No one really wanted to know another person that well"
"What define Eleanor most was not what, or whom, she had held close but what she had allowed herself to let go of."
"Women had always had to do that sort of thong. Move on, under that kind of pressure. Act like it was nothing, their lives turned upside down."
"...made you feel that same way, too, made you feel that you had to choose between being yourself and having out support."
"Who I am is your mother. This is the truest part of me."

(Black Cake: Caribbean Rum Soaked Fruit Cake ...a rich, dark cake of Caribbean origin containing dried or candied fruit soaked in rum or brandy and spices; or molasses-, rum-, and spice-filled cake)
4.5-5*star

As the child of Jamaican immigrants, this story tugged at my heart strings. The resilience of our ancestors is so inspiring, yet easy to lose sight of when future generations are raised in a more privileged environment. This story made me take a step back from my present day woes and say "thank you" to the great-great grandparents who fought for us to live such beautiful lives.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group: Ballantine for this ARC.

Release date: February 1, 2022.

What a beautiful first book! I got lost in the beauty of the writing style, the descriptions of the island, the food and the people - truly captivating!

This book demands that you pay attention. At the beginning, it can feel confusing. But stick with it, as things do become clear. The sections about her mother’s past also include segments containing others’ thoughts, like Bunny, her father and Gibbs. This is not normally a style that I like but it works for this book!

The emotional story of the family - their history, their losses and their victories is beautifully woven together!

My only frustration is that sometimes the rhythm of the story would be interrupted by the telling on someone else's story ....I wanted to know all of them more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Ballantine Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

I'm beyond impressed that this is a debut novel; Wilkerson has crafted such an incredible novel, and one that I enjoyed reading from beginning to end.

The novel begins in the present, when brother and sister Byron and Benny are reunited to hear the a lengthy audio file their mother, Eleanor Bennett, leaves for them after her passing. What should be a short and simple affair spirals into something different once the pair learn the truth about their family and their mother's and father's stories. We get a chance to travel back in time to the West Indies, London, California, and Italy as each chapter reveals a little bit more about each character and how all of their storylines converge.

There's so much that Wilkerson has packed into this novel - racism, and ongoing impacts it has still today, especially for the black community; the strength of family; sexism and sexuality, the importance of food in culture and identity... While it can be overwhelming, I think she handled each of these issues well and crafted a complex and multi-faceted storyline and cast of characters that readers can follow even with the changes in timeline and perspectives. Though flawed, I came to appreciate and empathize with each person and the difficult situations that they had to live through. The novel is an emotional ride, the writing is beautiful and lyrical, and highlights all the joys and sorrows of family and coming to terms with one's identity and heritage.

This debut book had much promise but readers will find as more characters are added along the way the story becomes too much. Very short chapters, different timelines plus a litany of social issues are not appealing.

Oh, this book! Black Cake will definitely be in my top five for the year.

When Byron & Benny are reunited after their mother's death, it has been eight years since they spoke. Called to her attorney's office, they learn that their mother left them a black cake to be "shared when the time is right," as well as a recording that they must listen to with each other. Estranged for eight years, B & B must confront old families secrets that shine a light on the hole in their relationship. As they listen to the story of a swimmer believed to be a murderer and forced from her home in the Caribbean, they begin to learn that they never truly knew their parents at all. They also understand the importance of their mother's black cakes and that there was love, pain, and redemption in every cake she baked.

This debut novel is breathtaking, heart-wrenching, and beautiful at the same time. Wilkerson's novel reminds us that family is not always easy, but it is the most important part of our lives.

Just in time for the PUB date… this book was a winner for me. I fell in love with Eleanor as well as several of the minor characters no doubt in part to Wilkerson’s thorough character development.

Short and moving chapters are my favorite style and Black Cake did not disappoint. The book flowed quickly and the pages kept turning.

As the story unfolded I found myself making assumptions that, to my delight, were mostly wrong. A beautiful story woven throughout with the most sumptuous cake. I’m sure I won’t be the only one looking up recipes. Great job Charmaine Wilkerson and much success with this one. Thanks Netgalley, Ballantine Books and Random House for the ARC.

I have a lot of feelings. I struggled through the first third of the book because there were just so many characters with the perspective constantly changing, not only between characters, but also in year and location. I caught myself having to go back and forth between chapters just to make sure I didn’t get stories confused, though once you have a handle on who everyone is, the story that unfolds drags you into a tsunami of emotion (the water reference is absolutely on purpose and absolutely necessary).

While this book explores numerous topics (family issues, resentment, motherhood, racism, environmentalism, climate change, etc.), the topics that really gripped me were interracial relationships in the Caribbean, specifically between a Chinese immigrant in Lin and a Black local in Mathilda, who goes on to leave her family with no explanation; as well as child abandonment, and sexuality from a cultural lens. While I don’t want to delve in too deeply and get into spoiler territory, I appreciate the detail and care the author put into exploring these specific topics and showcasing a reality that has more than likely played out given the history between Chinese immigrants and the island of Jamaica, which is what this non-disclosed island is modeled after.

I appreciate the complexity of Benny’s character and how steadfast she is in defending her passions and bisexuality, never allowing her family, friends, or partners to sway her identity and beliefs, regardless of the abuse she endures due to their biphobia and rigid beliefs.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Eleanor’s life and gaining insight on her childhood all the way up to what she was experiencing as an elder and how it was captured in three distinct sections and lives. This was definitely a story that benefitted from the multiple perspectives since you were able to see how each person played a major role in her life.

I will be posting this review on my Instagram the week that the book is officially released (1/31-2/5)

Black Cake is a beautiful multi-generational story that covers a broad range of places, the stories of the individual members of the family, and shares how the truth withheld and replaced with lies intended to protect, ends up creating division.

This begins in the 1960’s in the Caribbean, travels to England, to New York City and finally to California where their parents finally settled. Throughout those times, their mother’s Black Cake is one of the things that keeps that bond from dissolving completely for Benny. When they are contacted by their mother’s friend/attorney, they both need to make plans to visit the attorney, together, to listen to a lengthy recording by their mother. Long enough that more than one visit is required in order to hear the story their mother kept secret from them for so long.

They knew little of their mother’s younger years, they were aware that she had been a skilled swimmer, and that she’d grown up in the Caribbean. Benny was taught how to make her mother’s black cake, and that her family considered her somewhat of a disappointment as a daughter. But what they learn from the recording changes everything that they thought that they knew.

The woman they knew, or thought they did, had secrets that they never could have guessed. What little of her life they knew of before they were born left out some rather significant moments. Things that would change the way they saw her, their parents’ marriage, and the shape of their family.

A story of family, of secrets, and struggling to reconcile the lies told with the truth, once it’s revealed.


Pub Date: 01 Feb 2022

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Benedetta (Benny) and her brother Byron used to be inseparable, but have grown apart after a blow out Benny and her parents had on Thanksgiving Day. She was more hurt than angry, but didn’t know how to fix the rift or if she wanted to. Sadly, it became a wall between her and her family. Eventually she mellowed, but it was too late. Her father died and her mother, Eleanor, became very ill, then succumbed to her illness before Benny came back home. Her mother’s dying words are in a message to her children. The lawyer has strict instructions for the siblings. They are to listen to an audio file their mother prepared for them and eat the black cake she has left for them in the freezer. They must do this together.

Their mother’s words remind them that black cake is a family tradition. It was served for all special occasions, and had been for as long as she (and her children) could remember. She made it on the small island she grew up on, celebrating holidays and special occasions even when they had scarcely enough food to survive. She shared the tradition with her children.

As the siblings listen to their mother’s words, they find that their parents held many secrets. How could they not have known the hardships and dangers their successful parents weathered? Eleanor’s final confessions about all of her past is pinned to the hopes that her children will reconcile. All three of them.

This book is an emotional ride of family, betrayal, secrets and lies. It is also a heartwarming story of love, forgiveness and the survival against all odds. The characters are fully developed and interesting. Some are scary, others make very bad choices leading to disaster. As we listen to Eleanor’s story, it is impossible to forget her courage, strength and determination. She is one of the strongest characters I have read about in a long time. I highly recommend this book.

Black Cake is author Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel. Her words and characters will not be forgotten on the last pages, they will pop up in your thoughts and you’ll share them with fellow readers. I daresay it is destined to be one of my favorite books of all time, and hopefully yours. I’m impatiently waiting for Ms. Wilkerson’s next novel.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from the Author and Netgalley and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2022 Laura Hartman

A beautiful story of two adult children, learning about the past of their mother and father. The secrets that were kept and how to move forward after learning the truth.

Black Cake is a book about what it means to be…. And how few people can truly finish that sentence for someone else no matter how well they think they know them. When Byron and Benny, B and B, lose their mother to illness they find out more about her and about themselves than they ever knew was possible. Children often assume they know everything about their parents that they need to know. And this book shows that even if you think you are educated about your own history there could still be so much more to know.

Black Cake is about experiences. After a parent dies, makes no difference how close you were, you realize they were more of a person than you knew. They still had a life of experiences that you could never imagine. B and B find out that they had very little idea of their parents true background. The young often dismiss the older as not understanding this or that without realizing that the human experience is not new just because you just discovered it. Even children who think they have emerged themselves in their own history can be completely dismissive of the fact that they are only seeing the surface.

Black Cake is about identity. I know that term is loaded right now. Identity has become a political term. But identity is vast and mysterious and you will always find more if you keep digging. Unable to give her children as much as she would like to during her life, B and B’s mom tries to capture it all in passing down the tradition of Black Cake. She cannot tell them everything. At one point she points out that life is shaped by violence and silence. The parts you have to remain silent about are the ones that could tell you the most.

Black Cake is about family. B and B learn about the family they knew, the family they thought they knew, and the family they had no clue about. It is a tale which spans many lifetimes and brings together how those lives all come together in forging every next generation. Byron and Benny learn that they had only been partially identifying themselves even as adults. They learn there is so much more, especially to their strong mother.

It was a beautiful read, it ran like a movie in my head with all these characters full of life. I found myself rooting for all these people in the story and cannot wait to try the Black cake!

There is so much we do not know about even the closest of our loved ones. Do we even want to know? May be at the end, it is enough to know everything comes from a place of love and that is all that matters.

Nicely drawn characters, and I enjoyed the short-vignette approach to telling the story. It got a bit repetitive at times but overall a most excellent debut.

3.75 stars rounded up!

Black Cake is a story about relationships—between parents and siblings and friends and lovers. It’s also a story about secrets—the ones you live with, the ones you tell, and the ones you take to the grave.

I’m finding it hard to review this debut novel by Charmaine Wilkerson. It is well-executed—the story is engaging, the characters are fascinating, and it feels very intelligent—but I also came away from this one feeling a bit overwhelmed. While I had no problem distinguishing between the many characters, there were many threads to follow, with very brief chapters, and I felt like I didn’t have time to fully grasp the threads as the story jumped from one character to the other.

The first half of this book had me completely engrossed, but somewhere in the second half, I found myself questioning what could remain when it felt like the story was already wrapping up. We are introduced to a new character who’s very important to the story around the mid-point, however I found it hard to refocus my thinking in a new direction.

Part of the problem is that I feel like the author has created these wonderful characters, but then kept them away from me at arm’s length. I never felt connected. Most of the novel is told from the third person point of view from varying characters—with the exception of Eleanor Bennett’s message to her children—and it felt like a lot of information, with little time to breathe and absorb it all. I wanted to dive deeper into the main characters—especially siblings Benny and Byron—spend more time in their stories, as opposed to jumping around to some of the side characters.

I wasn’t surprised to see plans have already been made to adapt this book into a television series. I honestly think it will be better in visual form than written. Plenty of material here to make this one watchable. And if you’re an audiobook fan, it might be better in that form, as well. I am happy to see this novel is getting some very high reviews, so it definitely could be a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’.

I feel like I spent more time talking about what I didn’t like than what I did, but it’s also very hard to discuss this one without giving away spoilers. I would label Black Cake a literary novel. So if you’re a fan of multi-generational novels with strong female protagonists and secrets that span years, you should give this one a try! Wilkerson is definitely an author to watch, as well.

I want to type “Black Cake” in my search bar and start baking this cake! I truly believe that specific dishes are tied to very specific memories and the mark they leave behind can be passed down from generation to generation even if the newer generations might not know anything about the real story behind them. Black Cake is that food in this story. It connects people from Caribbean, UK, US and Italy in a very unexpected way.

With her mom gone and father gambling his life away, all Covey could think was swimming as much as she can and as far as she could go. She was in love and thinking about moving to Uk with her first love to have a good life there until her father’s bad business forced her to marry to island’s main mob. An unfortunate event for mob but a fortunate one for Covey occurred at her wedding and it was her chance to run away. The first step she took away from that wedding was the first step of the incredible chain of events waiting to happen to her.

Now her two kids were listening to a recording she left behind after her death. There was a whole black cake waiting for her kids to share, but first they need to listen to her. No one can promise these kids what they were going to hear was not going to shake them to their core…

I understand why this book is highly anticipated. The chapters are short but you are never left with the feeling that you’re missing any of the characters back story. I loved how the book flowed through different generations buy connected seamlessly. This story leaves nothing behind, it’s a story of love, loss, grief, trauma, current societal issues, societal problems we still have not solved, race, migration. But it all boils down to how far are you willing to go for love.

Reviewed on StoryGraph & Instagram.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballentine Books for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a fantastic debut novel from Charmaine Wilkerson! I really enjoyed the "story within a story" aspect of this book. The characters were likeable and authentic and the story was interesting throughout.

In Black Cake, estranged siblings Byron and his sister Benny are brought back together after years of not talking after the death of their mother. Upon her death, Eleanor Bennett leaves her children an audio recording of her telling a wild tale and a cake, which was a special desert, the recipe hailing from her home in the Caribbean islands. The tale she records for her children is a long story consisting of many secrets she needed to reveal before the truth was lost forever. Told in alternating timelines, we learn the whole story.

This was a very powerful book that really delves in to what it means to keep secrets within a family and how those secrets can drive people apart, but can also bring them together.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publ. Group-Ballantine Books, and Charmaine Wilkerson for allowing me to read this digital ARC of Black Cake in exchange for an honest review.

When Byron and Benny meet with their late mother’s lawyer, they never dream they will be listening to an audio that will unearth family secrets, changing them forever. Byron and Benny were close as children, but parted ways one Thanksgiving when Benny made a surprising announcement her father couldn’t accept. Benny moves away, leaving Byron to keep the family together. Byron is successful, but harbors a feeling he is discriminated against. Their mother has so much to share., especially the famous black cake, which she hopes her children shall one day share. The reader will instantly be caught-up in this story. When will the black cake be eaten?