The confliction! I was fascinated with the plotline and the beginning was off to a strong start but as I dove deeper into the story there were times I had to backtrack a bunch. I got a bit of whiplash from the multi-generational dual timeline. It's one I would recommend you slow down on. Though, I enjoyed reading this story and savored it the best I could.

I loved getting to learn more about the origins of Black Cake and how it evolved through different generations. The flow on that was beautifully executed. I learned a heaping amount from this novel!

It's got a little of everything. Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, and Mystery Thriller. The way the author weaved them all into one was nice. I think it could have been more tight-knit, but the writing is absolutely beautiful, the narrative, rich and as a debut I am impressed.

Thank you @netgalley & @penguinrandomhouse (Ballantine) for this e-arc!

Black Cake is a tale of two generations, weaving together the stories of Covey, Bunny, Gibbs, Elly, Byron, and Benny in a way that allows the reader to truly come to love each one in their own way. Twists and turns take you through their collective and separate journeys as they each realize love, friendship, heartache, loss, and the true meaning of family. At first, I thought the multiple viewpoints in which the story is told would be confusing, but I found it instead to be both engaging and worthwhile. Very well done for a debut novel!

Black Cake was a fantastic read and a generational story of life in the Caribbean during the 1950's and 1960. From the beginning there were secrets that Matilde kept, she was the mother of Covey . It takes us through the struggles and poverty that Covey along with her friend Bunny, Pearl and Etta had endured. The story takes Covey to England where Covey hoped to find the love of her life after escaping the arranged marriage her father tried to force her into. There were many hidden secrets that aren't revealed until the end. The book holds your interest and is a page turner. You just don't want it to end. Kudos to Charmaine Wilkerskon.

This is novel is going to be my favorite of 2022. I know it's only January, but I fell in love with this novel and the characters. Just to name a few: Benny, Byron, Bunny, Covey and Pearl! This is so much more than a coming of age story, it's a story of life, love, hate, loss, endurance. Social issues, environmental issues, race.. this novel has it all. If you only read one book this year, let Black Cake be the one.
Pub Date is Feb 01, 2022.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Charmaine Wilkerson's powerful debut novel, "Black Cake" hits home.

When Eleanor Bennett dies, she leaves her two grown children, Byron and Benny, a black cake and a voice message describing the lives of numerous people who seemed to have shape her life somehow. As Byron and Benny learn the truth about their mother's past, they begin to question everything they ever knew about her.

Wilkerson reveals the stories of people who are all tied to one woman while uncovering generations worth of secrets and lies. She explores racism, homophobia, sexism and harassment through the lens of the past and present, making readers discover the implications of everyone's actions. Her writing miraculously shines through as brilliant and moving that I couldn't help but want to read more. I highly recommend this novel to fans of beautiful and warm literary fiction.

“The biggest moments in our lives are often just that, a matter of seconds when something shifts and we react and everything changes.” Black Cake takes the life of one young woman as it billows to include those in her circle, and it’s circumstances, to create an entire story. Wilkerson tells a colorfully written tale that folds in the vibes of the Caribbean with those of the UK and USA, and you’re left with a life recipe “from different cultures that could only have come about through a mixing of traditions, a mixing of fates, a mixing of stories.”
I did not want this one to end, I was captivated by the scenery, the characters and the ever unfolding plot. This is Wilkerson’s first novel, and her writing is clever, the story transcendent, and I certainly can’t wait to read what she comes out with next…I’m also now looking for an authentic black cake to try!

I'm torn on this book. The parts that were set in the past pulled me in, kept me engaged in the story and made me care about the characters. I can't say the same about the parts set in the present with Byron and Benny. It was like the author decided to tackle every societal issue in one book by touching on them all but never diving deep into just one. I love the family secret aspect and Eleanor's story, but the writing was pretty choppy. Some parts were too long, and others were lacking the details I craved. This was a good read, but not great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for access to this arc.

(Longer review on my Goodreads). Reviews will be published 1/14/2021

“Black Cake” is the story of Benny and Byron Bennett, two siblings who have just lost their mother. Estranged from each other, their mother records a message that both of them need to listen to (together), revealing her entire life story, and the secrets tied to said story.

First I have to say, this is a moving story of family and love, and the ties that bond us to certain people forever. Some moments literally took my breath away, and others made my heart hurt with sadness from what certain characters went through. The story of the family’s culture was fascinating and beautiful, in a way that, as someone who isn’t of Caribbean culture, will look at with amazement.

The writing was poetic in the sense that it painted beautiful pictures of the characters, the places, and the feelings of the plot. Because of the writing I came to feel like I was part of the Bennett family, close to them in only a way family can bring.

Something that bothered me though, was the way the that basically every character had to have their own backstory. A few of the characters had a focus on them that was not necessary, and too many details were harped on when it wasn’t needed. On the other side of the coin, some parts needed more expansion and detail, but they were skipped over. I found this book to be just a little too long - if the book was 50 pages shorter it would still have its same movement and emotional journey. I enjoyed reading this book though, and I’m excited to read more from Wilson!

(Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review!)



https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4464854782

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Two siblings confront their tangled family history after they receive a strange inheritance from their recently deceased mother, Eleanor. Although Byron and Benny were once close, they have long since grown apart. When their mother dies, she entrusts them with a traditional Caribbean black cake and a cryptic message to “share the cake when the time is right.” Eleanor also leaves her children a voice recording about a suspicious death from her past. As they struggle to make sense of their mother’s story and fulfil her final request, Byron and Benny discover layers of family secrets and betrayals. Wilkerson’s debut novel will take you on an evocative journey, and is currently in development as a Hulu original series.

Byron and Benny, siblings who were once close, must come together again after their mother’s death. Their mother left them a voice recording, to be listened to together, detailing the life of a young Caribbean swimmer. Throughout the voice recording, their mother’s once-mysterious past becomes revealed.

This is a well-written character-driven novel with an interesting stream of consciousness. The flow from present to past, as well as the flow within those time periods, was perfect. Additionally, the ending, though fast, was super satisfying and tied everything up.

CONTENT WARNING: death of a parent, biphobia, bullying, murder, prejudice, death, grief, suicide attempt, mention of sexual assault, abusive relationship

This debut novel was absolutely amazing, and I’m so glad that I got the chance to read it. The premise was intriguing, and I was immediately hooked within the very first chapter. I wasn’t expecting to find myself pulled deeper and deeper with each chapter I read, until I found myself unable to put it down at all. The fact that the story involves a lot of short chapters didn’t make it easy for me to stop reading — I lost count of the times I told myself I’d read “just one more chapter,” only to realize that I was most certainly lying to myself.

The plot is what initially drew me in. It’s the story of a family with long-held secrets, which come to light after the matriarch passes away, leaving her son and estranged daughter with an audiotape telling a story that she’s held in for decades, and a black cake for them to share at the right time. The black cake is a family recipe passed down for generations, a cultural tie to the island that their mother called home but hasn’t been to since she was young. A place that her children have never visited, and don’t really have a connection to, but is the starting point for a long journey that led them to where they are today.

But what really made the story for me was the characters. They’re all so incredibly realistic, with strengths and flaws and hopes and dreams and shortcomings and fears that make them so relatable. I could understand where both Benny and Byron were coming from, and what led them to make the choices they did, although it was easy to relate with Eleanor and her story as well. I struggled to relate to Eleanor’s father, although that was more as a result of his choices, but his character was also well-created.

The timeline jumps back and forth from present day to the past, exploring how Eleanor’s children react to her revelations and then revisiting the past, to share her story from various perspectives of the people who were involved. I loved that we got to see the story unfold from multiple POVs, even from some of the more peripheral characters. It really showed how a series of decisions affect so many people, and how deeply people can impact one another.

There are some heavy themes addressed in the story. There’s loss, prejudice and racism, family secrets, sexual assault, sexuality and acceptance, bullying, and societal expectations that run throughout the story. And they were all done beautifully. We learn how all of these obstacles impact individuals, but also how people learn to adapt and overcome them. But there was also an emphasis on family pressures and how they shape people into the adults that they become.

“‘I used to think it was because we were black, you know?’ Benny says. ‘That our parents wanted us to achieve, that we had to work twice as hard, be beyond reproach, that sort of thing. But now I get it. We had to be perfect to make up for the fact that our family was built on a colossal lie.’”

I loved everything about this story. There were so many secrets that were kept throughout the story, and at times, I found myself wondering if the author was going to answer all the questions that I had while reading or if she was going to leave me hanging. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that she not only answered all the questions that I had, but she also tied everything up beautifully and left me feeling completely satisfied by the time I finished the last chapter.

Eleanor Bennett has recently died, leaving behind her son, Byron, and estranged daughter, Benny. Their inheritance is a black cake made from her family recipe and an 8+ hour audio recording, sharing a story of a young girl’s tumultuous childhood in the Caribbean. As Benny and Byron listen to the recording, they learn long-held secrets about the mother they thought they knew, and gain new insights into their own relationships.⁣
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I love a good family drama, full of secrets and messy history, and this drew me in immediately. My favorite part was the “past” section taking place on an unnamed Caribbean island— it was so atmospheric and I *had* to know what happened next. And I really liked the writing. It was evocative and propulsive, touching seamlessly on SO many topics from climate change to immigration to sexuality.⁣
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On the flip side, the structure and pacing didn’t fully work for me and felt too diffuse at times. There were places where I would have liked more pages on certain topics and fewer on others. And some of the transitions and asides felt abrupt and a little disorienting. This is probably more authentic to how a real person would tell a story though!⁣
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Overall, I enjoyed this story and felt invested in the outcome. I’d recommend to fellow fans of literary family dramas, and am looking forward to the TV series adaptation!⁣
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3.75/5 stars
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Thank you to @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for the advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Available February 1st!

Black Cake is a beautifully written story about the power of resiliency, determination and family when faced with betrayal and loss. Charmaine Wilkinson's characters come alive on the page with a realism and depth that will stay with me. Competition ocean swimming, a cast of unforgettable characters and an exotic locale add to this five star story. The gravity of this multi generational plot is the Black Cake. a tradition baked and enjoyed on special occasions. Black Cake touched me emotionally, made me pause and evaluate my own decisions and relationships and informed and educated me about cultures of the Caribbean.. Not much more I can hope for in a book. Thanks to Netgalley. Ballantine Books and Charmaine Wilkinson for the ARC in exchange for my honest reviewand for the opportunity to read this masterful book.

This debut has the recipe for success! Food holds the memories of family traditions and in this case, it is a black cake. Black cake was a traditional cake made for weddings and kept to taste for every anniversary thereafter. Here we have a multigeneration story where it starts at the end and in unraveling the past, we understand the present and glimpse the future.

Upon learning of the death of their mother, Eleanor Bennett, Benny and Byron gather together after an 8-year absence to hear their mother’s wishes and the story of her life from a recording that she has left for them and to eat the black cake when ready. So many secrets. And so unexpected. Her story unfolds as a young girl in the Caribbean, daughter of a mother who deserted her and father who was a gambler and drunk. Her passion was swimming in the ocean along with her best friend, Bunny, and Gibbs. Running away after her father barters her to settle debts, she flees to England to take on a new life and then later to California. This is the story of her journey and the trials that she went through, forced to let go of her past and lose herself in order to find herself. All that she had were her memories, including that of black cake which becomes a symbol of her heritage.

Most poignant though is the message their mother said, “What are you willing to do? Who are you willing to let go of? Are you going to let someone else’s view of who you are and what you should do hold you back?” This gives the reader pause for thought and seemed to drive her life. I really like this book and when done, thought…WOW! Well written and told from different perspectives, you get a great insight to the different characters that are more complex than you think. Put this on you TBR list. Ride the Wave!

Many thanks to #netgalley #blackcake #charmaine wilkerson for the opportunity to read and review this book.

At the beginning of "Black Cake", we meet Benny and Byron, two siblings who are estranged, but meet again after their mother's death where she left a cryptic note for them saying there is a traditional black cake in the freezer to eat when the timing is right and a tape to listen to. We are transported back in time to Eleanor's childhood in the Caribbean where she is a daring swimmer and surfer who escapes the island under mysterious circumstances.

The story bounces from the present time to the past to highlight both Benny and Byron's relationship with their mother (and father) and the expectations for them and Eleanor's epic tale of twists and turns across multiple countries and mysteries that are slowly revealed to her children over time. When is the "right time" to eat the black cake? How will Benny and Byron react to all that their mother hid from them? Will these secrets bring the siblings closer or drive them further apart?

I cannot believe this is a debut novel. There is so much to chew on with this and secrets keep the reader guessing until the end. So much I want to say, but I want to keep the major reveals for the reader to find out. It is emotional and thrilling. All the characters are so vivid, even the secondary ones. This was a complete joy to read and I am so pleased to have read it and will be recommending to all. I think this would be a great book club pick.

Thank you to Ballantine Books via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson is a story about family and discovering their stories. I enjoyed the book, couldn't put it down. Some plot points were predictable, but I like that sometimes.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for this arc.

A novel about family, love, pride, tradition, and lies. The story goes back and forth in time. In present-day, Benny and Byron grieve the recent passing of their mother, Eleanor Bennet.

After a Thanksgiving dinner in 2010, Benny had a huge disagreement with her parents and left the house. She stayed away and incommunicable for eight long years. Byron was the one who stayed close to their parents. And during this time, their father Bert had died, and now their mother had too. So the relationship between siblings, once very close to one another, is now filled with resentment.

Now, brother and sister get together to hear a recording their mother had left. In it, Eleanor Bennett tells them the story of her life, revealing her past and her secrets. They are stricken by a huge revelation and end up realizing they did not know their mother at all. Together, they will have to share the Caribbean Black Cake stored in the freezer and decide what to do with all the information they just received from their mother’s past.

I enjoyed this intense and multilayered saga. The writing is exquisite but there was one little thing, related to one of the twists, that really bothered me. I can’t tell too much about it without spoiling anything but it seemed that the “mystery” of the story was solved in the easiest and most obvious way. When I read it I found myself wondering how I wish problems could be solved in real life as easy as the one in this story was.

Overall, very good debut novel, with fully developed characters, Black Cake shows us that we are the consequence of the choices we make.

Black Cake has been a delight for my first read of the new year. I loved this debut novel from Charmaine Wilkerson, who grabbed my interest from the prologue. Despite the many threads of thought, she kept the chapters short and had headings, so I knew which place, moment in time, or character's story was told in each one.
From the editor's letter, I knew the mother in this story, Eleanor Bennett, had secrets, but we're talking layers of them, like the black cake recipe from the title. I am a keeper of family stories, and I could relate to holding secrets for people. It's not my story to tell. I could relate to the lawyer, Mitch, staying neutral in this story even though he already knew the secrets. Some stories I've heard in my family were so unreal that we still talk about them. Some we learned after the death of a loved one. This novel had me questioning how well I truly know what's in the heart of those closest to me. I would hope too that they don't hold onto secrets that hurt as much as the ones Eleanor that caused her unimaginable pain.
Parents Eleanor and Bert Bennett escaped and sacrificed so much to make it to where they were in life when they had children. They expected their children to have the best life, a life they would choose if they could have. Their son Byron chose rightly in their eyes, while their daughter Benedetta had not. At the beginning of the novel, the siblings were at odds. Benny had been away from the family for years after revealing details about her love life to her parents. (It didn't go over well.) Byron saw his sister as needy and desperate for approval. His own career path had given him a sort of celebrity status in the ocean sciences. But despite the notoriety, he feared for his life during the multiple times the police have stopped him while driving.
Benny had dropped out of college, but she didn't explain what happened to her family. She changed direction a few times in her career path. She wanted to open a cafe. I think Byron saw that as flighty and selfish behavior. When the two siblings come together again, Byron thought Benny a stranger and not the younger sister he remembered.
Wilkerson built the unspoken complaints and hurts into the plot so well. I could feel the tension. And
I wrote in my notes while reading this novel: Wilkerson has mastered the "delayed reveal." I didn't jump ahead, but I had so many "Oh, now I understand" moments while reading. Each character had secrets. What were they willing to do -- to become even -- to survive and thrive? Characters navigated situations where how they saw themselves in no way compared to how others saw them. Race, ethnicity, gender, and generational differences were all lenses Wilkerson used as she told the story of each person's life.
The ocean and islands (Caribbean) were foundational as well; they could have been characters in their own way. Byron and Benny knew about their mother’s love of swimming and her skills in the water. They learn though of the ways the ocean featured in her “death” and “rebirth.” The ocean itself was a life force that supplied freedom from some past lives and freedom from social norms in the novel. But I can’t go into that without revealing spoilers. (I can see someone writing a research paper on this one!)
I highly recommend this novel and look forward to others from this author. Thank you, Netgalley and Ballantine, for allowing me to read this uncorrected proof in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review. I enjoyed this first novel by Charmaine Wilkerson very much. It was like peeling an onion, layer by layer and discovering new information about the characters and plot. The story starts on. a Caribbean island where Covey is brought up by her Chinese father and his housekeeper, Pearl . Her mother has run away from an abusive, alcoholic gambling man. The story follows Covey’s life when she needs to run away from the island and hide . This is a very well written book and it touches on many social issues such as racial profiling, discrimination, Caribbean customs and superstitions , family traditions and customs . The black Caribbean rum cake is very important to the families that preserve the recipes for generations past, present and future..

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful story of finding yourself and the secrets that a family keeps. This is not my usual genre of book but I really enjoyed the story, the culture, and the exploration of both self acceptance and identity.

It made me very sad that a parent could only share their real story with their children after their death. But at the same time it also made me happy that at least the story was shared. That kind of mixed emotional reaction to the characters and their situations was pretty prevalent throughout the book.

Definitely enjoyed it and would recommend it.