Much like a cake, this book from author Charmaine Wilkerson, has so many layers, it's hard to believe this is a debut novel! The story begins as two siblings are preparing for their mother's funeral. The family lawyer tells them that their mother wants her children to listen to a recording she has made. In it, family secrets are revealed which prompts them to reassess who they thought their parents were. Oh, it's juicy!

But there is so much more to this story. Each character has a strong storyline of their own. Why did Benny, Eleanor's daughter drop out of college? Why is Byron try so hard to be the perfect son? What happened in Jamaica? And why did Eleanor and her husband want to erase their pasts? The is a wonderful book that shows each generation's dreams and heartaches. I highly recommend it.

What I liked:

Characters:

Bryon oldest son of Eleanor tries to be the perfect son. His parents have transferred all their ambitions onto him, as some immigrant do, and he doesn't want to let them down. But all this pressure to be successful has been difficult for Byron. Yes, he has money but, as a black man in America, he still gets pulled over by the cops several times a year. He's still looked over for promotions at work. He is slowly finding that he craves more meaning to his life. He wants to work on the bigger issues of racism, and provide scholarships to other people of color.

Benny is Byron's younger sister. She seems, to her family, to be a flake, dropping out of college, and then flittering from one profession to another. But Benny has had some trauma that she hasn't told her family about. Considering how her parents reacted to her announcement that she liked both men and women one Thanksgiving, it's no wonder. Benny just doesn't feel like her family has her back.

Of course Eleanor's story is at the heart of the book. Try as she might, she sees that she holds no value to her father until he can use his daughter so settle his massive gambling debts. She feels very alone in the world. But she actually has a host of people supporting her in the background. But, even with that support, Eleanor mostly has to rely on herself to get out of a series of terrible situations. Talk about a resilient character!

Story:

There are two stories that alternate within the novel. Part of the action takes place in Jamaica in the 1960's, where Eleanor grew up. Her father is an irresponsible gambler who only sees her value in what she can do for him. With her mother having fled, Eleanor is raised by Pearl, a housekeeper who teaches her how to make Black Cake, a traditional Jamaican dessert that is similar to a fruitcake. She also finds solace in swimming with her best friend, Bunny. Their friendship develops into a deep connection that will be put to the test later in the story.

The other story takes place in modern day California, as Byron and Benny prepare for Eleanor's funeral. Emotions run high as the siblings haven't spoken in years. Their once close-knit family had become fragmented when Benny's father couldn't accept that his daughter was bisexual. There are so many missed moments when Benny and her parents could have reconnected, but didn't. It was truly heartbreaking.

But what I really liked about the story was understanding how each generation had a complicated life, filled with joys and sorrows. It can be very hard to imagine that our parents had these dramas, when we only see them as a mother or a father.

Immigrant Experience:

This book shows how displaced people find a way to create a new home wherever they go. Eleanor does this with cooking, sharing her recipe for Black Cake with Benny. I also loved how Eleanor noticed other Caribbean immigrants wherever she was. Sometimes that was a comfort, hearing the sounds of other people from her home country. Other times, it made her nervous. What if someone recognized her and told people from Jamaica where she was? But Eleanor, and many immigrants like her, manages to create connections with people wherever she is. Although she does miss Jamaica, it's her connections to people that are most important to her.

Beautiful writing and I am a sucker for a gorgeous cover! Black Cake tells the story of Byron and Benny, estranged siblings whose mother has just died. Or rather, it tells their story by telling their parents story, via an audible file recorded by their mother before she died. The settings and scenery push an integral part of this story, the coast of California and the rocky waves of the Caribbean are important characters! Really enjoyed this family saga and look forward to reading more from this talented author. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this free e-book in exchange for an honest review,

“She understood that if you wanted 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.”

This one has all the ingredients for the recipe of my favorite kind of book:
1. Multi-generational
2. Family drama
3. Imperfect but lovable characters
4. Cultural impact
5. A history I could learn more about
6. Settings you feel like you can actually see in your mind
7. Family secrets and lies revealed with perfect pacing

Honestly, a ~very~ solid debut from Charmaine Wilkerson. I enjoyed it so so much. As a reader you spend time in Caribbean, the UK, California, Italy and NYC with this complicated family. Along the way you learn about the intricacies and nuances of themes like sexuality, loyalty and identity as well as police violence, rape and family secrets.

My only critique is I feel like it could have been a tad shorter. The author cleaned up too my plots for me that I feel could have been left a mystery. But I’m certain others may find those stories being complete a positive thing instead!

Fans of THE ARSONISTS’ CITY, THE VANISHING HALF, and SWIMMING BACK TO TROUT RIVER will enjoy this one a lot!

*CW: rape, domestic violence, death of a friend, death of a parent, homophobia*

This is a great story that will lead to wonderful discussions among book groups and Caribbean families. This is Eleanor Bennett’s story told in retrospect following her death. The story shines a light on a generation that grew up sharing the background of the Caribbean diaspora. Despite the hardships they survive and thrive. Eleanor leaves a recording for her children to tell her story in hopes that it will heal the hurts and help them move forward. The structure of the book, short chapters, multiple point of views and different settings makes it easy to read. The characters are wonderful and each find a way to cope in a complicated world.

I really enjoy immersing myself in steady, multigenerational stories like this. It's hard to believe this was a debut because everything about this was so incredibly well-done.

Black Cake is about family and identity across multiple generations and is both bittersweet and thought-provoking. The story's told between alternating timelines of past and present and several characters. While this took me a little time to figure out and I could see how not everyone would like this style, I found myself enjoying the way the narrative was told once I figured out the pacing.

I didn't really know what to expect when I opened Black Cake, but I was drawn into the multigenerational family saga, detailing the matriarch's struggle to find love, and who she really is. Reading the torrid stories of the mother's past really drew me into just how much she went through to get where she was today. Seeing and hearing the story come alive as her children listened to the recordings was the icing on the black cake. Without giving too much away, if family drama, trials, and successes, and making it work evening from the direst of circumstances, this is the book for you. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this early review copy!

This story grabbed me from the very first page. I enjoyed reading about life on the Caribbean island, characters like Pearl, cultural food and the connections Covey made.
Benny and Byron were less interesting but they grew up along the way and became more grounded. The chapters with messages from their mother were impossible to put down.
The final quarter of the book seemed rushed and crowded with a checklist of social issues and reappearing characters. I enjoyed some of the follow-up. I wish there had been more details of the characters’ relationships and less of the author’s “checklist”.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

Black Cake is a gorgeous family saga. The writing is beautiful and the story is layered and delicious. I truly enjoyed how history, tradition, and cultural diaspora played into the story and connection across decades. The way trauma was portrayed as it spanned generations felt truthful and genuine.

The characters were lovable in their imperfection and the way their stories slowly developed brought out nuances piece by piece and created a full picture. Benny in particular was a favorite of mine. I could relate so much to family recipes and time in the kitchen creating a deep sense of connection to those I love.

I’d definitely recommend this to those who love a character driven novel and history brought into the present.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed reading this book! The story covered multiple generations and each chapter focused on a different perspective. It was beautifully written, the characters were complex and well-developed, and the story itself was engrossing. At times it was a tiny bit confusing because of how vastly different the timelines were, and it wasn't clear when the perspectives were going to shift. I still really enjoyed it though!

Black Cake is a beautifully written, multi-generational family saga. Author Charmaine Wilkerson's story is as densely textured as the black cake, which symbolizes the complexity of all the characters including Benny’s quest for acceptance and Byron’s on-going outrage for being continually stopped by the police simply because he is a Black man. The struggles of each generation were heartbreaking as the characters come to terms with their own identities.

What an impressive debut novel.

Excited to learn that an Oprah-produced TV adaptation is planned.

When Byron and Benny’s mother leaves a recording for them to listen to after her death, they find themselves immersed in a world they never knew existed. Family mysteries they never imagined could be possible. As they listen to their mother’s tale unwind, they are faced with new decisions and challenges, as well as new opportunities to strengthen their connections with their heritage and with each other.

The book was excellent. The characters were intriguing, each possessing depth and multi-dimensional personalities. For a debut novel, Black Cake is an absolute stunner. The story flips back and forth between the past and present, but Wilkerson handles it well. I found her writing to be clear and very well-organized.

I strongly recommend this book. I love books with strong family relationships, especially those that also have a social commentary woven throughout.

Pub date: Feb. 1, 2022.

Thanks to Charmaine Wilkerson, Random House - Ballantine, and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Siblings, Byron and Benny,are called by their mothers attorney after her passing to meet with him regarding her wishes. As they meet with the lawyer, they are surprised to learn alot of secreta about rheir parents that leaves them a bit in shock.
This story flips between present day and to their mother's childhood and young adult life as they learn about their mother's past. Point of view also changes among the characters allowing us to see the sibling's perspectives.

I did enjoy this book as there was alot of depth to thr story. There were quite a few characters as well so if that confuses you..make a character list while reading is highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the RandomHouse Ballantine Publishing co. for this advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Because I had recently come upon a mention of black cake in another novel I was reading, Charmaine Wilkerson’s Black Cake caught my eye on NetGalley and curiosity caused me to request an ARC. Although I had tried to resist adding more to my TBR pile, I don’t know when I’ve been happier that I gave in to temptation. What an engrossing novel this is!

The story opens in 1965 as a Caribbean father stands on the shore waiting for his daughter’s body to wash up on the beach. This is her wedding day. After the ceremony, she has discarded her wedding dress, stained with black cake, and run away into the sea.

Following that brief prologue, Wilkerson divides the novel into four parts, telling the story of estranged siblings, Byron and Benny, brought together again after eight years by their mother’s death. As the first part begins, Benny arrives home as her older brother Byron is “pissed as hell,” thinking how Benny had missed their father’s funeral, not cheered him on at national meets, not yelled out over the crown as he reached out for his doctoral diploma. Their mother’s lawyer, Mr. Mitch, is now insisting that they listen to a recording their mother had made for them before her death. It is now 2018.

Chapter by chapter, Eleanor Bennett’s story unfolds, revealing family secrets Byron and Benny could never have imagined. However, it’s not only Eleanor’s story that unfolds. Byron’s and Benny’s do, too. Theirs and more. Wilkerson uses multiple perspectives, but they are never confusing. Only by seeing into the various readers' minds can readers understand them.even when they don't understand each other.

This is a multi-faceted novel spanning decades and countries, revealing how decisions can impact generations, how misunderstandings and pride can tear families apart. It is also a story of ties that bind, dreams that inspire, of deaths and rebirths, of sudden departures and reunions.

Black cake--a traditional recipe that can be altered slightly and decorated according to the individual’s personality or plans--looms over all.

4,5 stars rounded up to 5

My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Random House for the advance reader copy. I will watch for Charmaine Wilkerson’s next book.

Every family has something. Some tradition that binds them. This family has #blackcake #charmainewilkerson in this novel a girl has a mother who left her at a young age. A father whose addictions make it impossible for her to be a child. A woman trying to love her life. This read was so fascinating and a book that was hard to put down. I definitely ten out of ten recommend you adding this to you #tbrlist I promise you will not regret it. #netgalley #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #netgalleyreview #bookrecommendations #readingchallenge

Siblings, Byron and Benny, reunite after the passing of their mother. As they meet with the lawyer, they realize they knew much less about their parents than they believed. This story flips between present day and to their mother's childhood and young adult life as they learn about their mother's past. Point of view also changes among the characters allowing us to see the sibling's perspectives.

I really enjoyed this book and the stories of both siblings, as well as the parents. Although the story jumps between points of view and timelines, I did not find it hard to keep up with. Did not want this book to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

"If you want to surf, don't wait to find someone out there who looks just like you before you go surfing. And if you're interested in my field, ocean sciences, remote sensing or something like chemistry or biology or information technology, don't wait for someone to give you permission. Just go ahead and study and apply for programs everywhere you can, because we need more talented young people, of all kinds, and you can't win if you don't play."

"If you don't see someone out there who looks like you, you need to go for it, anyway. Are you going to let someone else's view of who you are and what you should do should you back?"

"Question yourself, yes, but don't doubt yourself. There is a difference."

Absolutely loved this debut book and would highly recommend it. Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingHouse for an early copy - release date is #02/01/2022

▪️REVIEW▪️

Blake Cake ~ Charmaine Wilkerson

🙏🏼Thank you to @randomhouse and @netgalley for this eARC copy - Out February 1, 2022!

▪️READ IF:
* You love a good family saga.
* There is one recipe that has been passed down in you family for generations.
* You feel most at home in the ocean.

▪️SYNOPSIS: Byron and Benny Bennett find themselves in a lawyers office to discuss all their mother, Eleanor, has left in the wake of her passing. What they discover is a carefully woven family history full of secrets, betrayals, strength, and black cake - a traditional Caribbean recipe.

As they listen to her voice recording, they learn of their family’s lineage, starting with their mother’s childhood as a girl who loved to swim and used that to escape her home and start over again. From there, Byron and Benny are taken on a journey filled with a series of unthinkable decisions and family members unknown - the puzzle of Eleanor’s life that her children are now piecing together. With a final black cake left to share when the time is right, the siblings come together to not only honor their mother, but figure out who they truly are.

▪️REVIEW: Full transparency, I was sent this from the publisher without requesting and was meh about reading it. Full transparency - that was DUMB because this was fantastic!! Truly a read that kept me intrigued and invested from page one. Thank you Ballantine/Random House - this was dramatic love-filled magic and I appreciate you sending it my way! Charmaine Wilkerson has shared a cast of characters that invite you in and ask you stay as they experience self-discovery, frustration, sadness, and joy.

Some say a slow-burn, some say confusing time-line - I disagree on both fronts. I was immediately sucked in and wanted to know more about the Bennett’s. Told in alternating timelines - past and present, from different perspectives - I appreciated being able to hear ALL sides of the story. In fact, I can’t imagine any aspect of this being written differently than it was. Pure perfection from start to finish. A debut from Wilkerson - what a shining accomplishment! Add to your list; it’s a must-read for 2022!

Thank you so much for gifting me this ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Review: This was a very well written and moving family story. I liked how it tackled so many important real world issues like racism, colorism, biphobia, and more. I also really loved how this book explored complicated family dynamics in a really relatable way. I liked the way the author showed all the nuances and complexities of sibling relationships, especially when the siblings are estranged. Although I thought this was a beautiful story, there were a few things I didn't love about it. Number one was the pacing. I felt like the pacing in this story was off, and the back and forth between timelines made it confusing and harder to follow along. I also thought parts of this story got kind of slow and boring, where I could feel myself losing interest in the story. However, as a whole, this was a really beautiful and impactful story, and this was definitely an extremely impressive debut novel.

I can see why there has been so much hype around Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel Black Cake and I was thrilled to receive an ARC copy from the publisher. Present day introduces us to siblings Benny and Byron, once part of a close knit family, but now estranged. They’ve been forced in the same room for the first time in many years to hear a recording left by their mother after her passing. Black Cake alternates between present day and a compelling past filled with alternate identities, an unsolved murder, love and family. This book was more than I anticipated and I found myself immersed in this family saga. Wikerson does an extraordinary job developing her characters and while there were a lot of them, I found the story easy to follow and deeply engaging. This would be an excellent book club choice, with plenty of complex issues to discuss. Black Cake is a story of perseverance and grit and a reminder that a person’s identity and history are not always as they appear.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

BLACK CAKE is Wilkerson’s debut novel and I was blown away. Byron and Benny must confront their own pasts and those of their family after their mother dies. This is an engrossing tale of family, legacy, heritage, and self-discovery. There’s a little mystery, a little drama, some heartfelt exploration of trauma and lineage, and a journey into the complex, sometimes fragile, often fraught, surprisingly resilient relationships we enter into, by choice or by necessity.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance copy. What a treat.