What if the family history you grew up believing was completely unraveled?

Estranged siblings Benny and Byron are reunited upon their mother’s death. She leaves a dying wish for them to listen to her tape and share her famous black cake “when the time is right”. During the tape, Eleanor Bennett reveals her stormy past fleeing her Caribbean home traveling to London and ending up in California. The truth is revealed gradually as the siblings learn of their mother’s surprising choices.

Charmaine Wilkerson’s novel takes the reader from present day California, back to the Caribbean in the sixties and the 1600s on a journey of family secrets, life choices and history. The author jumps from time periods, characters and settings to create a fast paced and unique plot with plenty of surprises. At times, the frequent time jumps and character names were confusing but did not diminish my enjoyment of this debut novel. This story of family dynamics is told with colorful descriptions of the Caribbean islands that kept this reader engaged until the end. I’m looking forward to seeing how Hulu translates this into an original series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this novel before its release.

Byron and Benny are in for a wild ride while they go through the muddy waters of their mothers death. There are so many surprises, some expected and some not expected. It's a story of siblings who have grown apart, but have a chance to come back together to work through the shocking information they find out after their momma's death. I definitely recommend this book. It's quick, easy to read, and the plot is great.

I really had no idea what to expect from this book. I only read this portion of the synopsis before diving in:

In this moving debut novel, 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.

But oh my, this book covers SO. MUCH. GROUND. It jumps from place to place, person to person, time to time. One chapter could be present-day in California, the next is the Caribbean in the '60s, and then it's back to the 1600s for a quick history lesson. New names are introduced every few chapters, and you're not totally sure what's going on or who you're reading about quite a bit of the time. BUT IT WORKS! It works so well.

This book was unlike anything I've read before, and I really enjoyed reading it.

While this is a beautiful story about family, it just did not capture my attention the way I thought it would. Covey’s flashbacks were what I found to be of most intrigue. Those parts I couldn’t put down! I found Benny and Byron, however, were mostly just whiny. All in all, this is a touching novel that could have been shedded by approx. 50 pages.

Four and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson is a fascinating look at family dynamics with several mysteries that must be unraveled throughout the book. This debut novel is beautifully written with gorgeous descriptions of the Caribbean islands.

Benny and Byron Bennet have been estranged for many years, but their mother’s death brings them together as they meet up in California and learn about their Mother’s troubled, yet fascinating past. They learn about her adventures, secrets, and lies, and together they have to come to terms with these secrets and the fallout that will change their lives forever.

We also follow Elenor, Benny, and Byron’s mother, from a young island girl from the Caribbean to the UK and then on to the US where she starts her family. Her life, and some of the difficult choices she had to make to stay alive, make an engrossing story that is difficult to put down.

The book changes POV and timelines with short chapters that kept me engaged throughout the entire story. I liked shifting between characters and timelines as it kept everything moving quickly. The writing is beautiful, and the author handles sensitive topics and tough situations with care and compassion.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves books about families and secrets. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received an ARC of Black Cake in exchange for an honest review. This is a multi-generational family drama. Eleanor Bennett has just passed away and has left an audio recording for her children Benny and Byron to listen to together. Eleanor tells them the story of her life, which her children had no idea about. Eleanor has a lot of secrets to share. Of course, Benny and Byron have secrets/problems too. The story starts in Jamaica and continues in London and California. Black Cake is a Jamaican specialty made for weddings. Eleanor leaves a black cake and tells Byron and Benny to eat the black cake "when the time is right."

Words spoken in anger can color a lifetime. Black Cake's author, Charmaine Wilkerson, utilizes a death to attempt to reunite siblings who have been parted. This book is a beautiful generational family drama that takes the reader to the Caribbean islands and Great Britain in the 1960's as well as through some of the issues that are impacting our lives today. As Benny and Byron learn their family's history, they reflect on the decisions that drove them apart. Wilkerson touches upon issues such as racial profiling, LGBTQ+ relationships, domestic abuse, and immigration throughout the tale. I highly recommend this novel.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House publishing group for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is a book about two estranged siblings who meet after their mother's death to listen to a message she left for them.
I was impressed by the author's ability to create such multilayered characters and talk about sensitive issues especially for a debut and i found the story to be even moving at times.
Sometimes it dragged on a bit too much and there are a lot of characters that it can be a bit hard to track if you are not used to multiple POVs sometimes occuring suddenly. I wasn't particularly touched by it. I enjoyed myself and i taught it was a great time reading it but i don't think i came away saying "this is going to be a fave!"
3.5/5 stars

Two estranged siblings must put their differences aside to deal with their mother's death and the audio tape she left behind. There was more to her life than the siblings knew.

This is a wonderful story of siblings, family secrets, and forgiveness. I was riveted from the first page.

Absolutely riveting! I could not put this book down. I loved every minute of it and although I've already read it, I just pre-ordered a copy because I need to have my own to love and cherish! Also, the cover is so gorgeous I'm obsessed.

I could not put this book down. The way Charmaine Wilkerson wove this story was riveting. Every page turned brought a new layer. The way the black cake tied all the characters together was exquisite. I don't want to put too much into this review because you need to read this book & see the story for yourself. I can't wait to see what Hulu comes up with & who's in the cast. I hope it stays on point with this story because there's plenty of meat to use in this book.
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

With Eleanor Bennett's death comes the story of her life, that of which her two children realize they knew nothing about. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson begins with the women of the Caribbean. Pearl, Bunny and Covey are just the beginning of this adventure. But what a wonderful beginning it is. As I sit and write this review, I realize just how much is packed into this debut novel. As Eleanor's story unfolds, it's not just an account of what happened to one woman, but a tale of friendship, misunderstandings, customs, and discrimination. There is deep love and the sacrifice that sometimes come with it, for better and for worse. There is mystery as the story is told in both past and present. The cost of secrets is felt by those that kept them, and by those impacted by them. I'm sure there is so much more, and this novel is worthy of a re-read to explore it all. There are many characters in this book, but you come to know them and their faults and understand how they all come together at the end. And how two siblings, Benny and Byron, are left with so much more than just a story told by their mother. They are left with the Black Cake which binds them all.
Thank you, Net Galley, Ballentine Books and Charmaine Wilkerson for this special arc which has been my pleasure to review.

As soon as I looked at the cover of "Black Cake", I knew it was going to be a book I enjoyed. From the minute I opened the pages, I couldn't put it down. The past versus present storyline was at times harder to follow - but each story was wonderful and drew you in by itself. I loved something simple as the "Black Cake" for a food item that tied into the storyline. I've never read anything quite like this before.

This book was amazing. There was so much to this story and the writing was absolutely phenomenal. This was such a powerful story that will be long talked about!

This story begins at the end, which is something I really enjoyed. Eleanor has passed away and has left behind her traditional Caribbean Black Cake alongside a recording she asks be played to her two children, now estranged from one another. The recording shares some shocking truths about Eleanor and the book takes us back in time to when she was a child, slowly piecing together the mystery of her life.

I was absolutely hooked at the beginning of this book. Like many debuts, I think it could have benefited from a tad bit more editing, as parts of the middle seemed to really drag in both plot and character development. BUT it picked back up and in the end I'm glad I didn't give up on it. Eleanor's story, while slightly outlandish, was fascinating and I loved the themes around family, identity, deception, and traditions. Fans of multi generational sagas should give this one a shot.

wonderful, compelling, brilliant! Very good book! Once I started I couldn't put it down. I hope to read many many more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book about family and traditions. I absolutely loved the Black Cake references throughout the book and felt that it was something that definitely held their family together. Unfortunately, there were a few spots that I felt the book was dragging and could've done without some of the extra information. Overall, I really enjoyed the short chapters and the chapter titles which helped make it feel more organized.

“The three of them sit there silently for a moment, thinking of small but profound inheritances. Of how untold stories shape peoples lives, both when they are withheld and when they are revealed.” This is an absolutely incredible debut from Charmaine Wilkerson. Wow I am floored. I’m calling it now that this will be one of the best books of the year.

This book touched on so many things from love and loss, how our choices and the choices of others influence our lives for better or for worse, the sacrifices we make for ourselves and the people we love, what it means to embody a gender/culture/race etc., and how sometimes the bravest thing you can do, is start over. There were so many moving passages throughout the story that I found myself highlighting and going back to. I was thoroughly engrossed with discovering Eleanor’s life alongside her children and learning about all of the people who had touched it along the way. This is a book I will be thinking about for a long, long time and recommending to everyone.

Special thank you to Ballantine Books, Charmaine Wilkerson and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I have already preordered my physical copy because this is a book that I NEED to have on my shelves. Pick it up 2/1/2022!

Do you ever really know your parents? When Byron and Benny's mom dies they have to set aside their differences and come together as part of their mother's last wishes and listen to her story regarding her past and the child she gave up. Will Byron and Benny be able to rebuild their relationship and connect with a sister they knew existed or will they go their separate ways.

I really enjoyed reading this book and it was beautifully written. A story about family, betrayal and the secrets they keep. About traditions and what they mean to us. About loss and the sacrifices we are forced to make that alter our lives.

I highly recommend this bookend hope you pick it up and share your thought.