First book I’ve read by this author. It didn’t disappoint and I can’t wait to read more by her! Thanks to publisher for granting me access to this book.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Reviewed by Barbara Lingens

Byron and Benny have a problem: their mother, recently deceased, has left behind a recording detailing her life before marriage. There they find out they have an older sister. Even their father did not know about her.

Black Cake shows us how the siblings come to terms with this important new information. The story meanders from a lovely Caribbean island, with family members both native and Chinese, to bustling London and Scotland, and finally, to southern California. People come and go and then come back again. Names are changed; there are hidden crimes and magnificent friendships. The joys of cooking compete with the thrills of ocean swimming.

The black cake is a delicious family confection prepared only for special occasions. There is no recipe; it must be learned from a loved one and eaten with love. Their mother urges them: 'Eat it only when you ready. You will know when that is.'

This multicultural family saga depicts many kinds of struggles, from gender to culture and class, which are very timely for us to read. But it is the characters' struggles with love, longing, and loss that tug at the heart. Author Wilkerson's first novel is bountiful in scope, yet quite satisfying.

WOW! Loved this book. Black cake is a dual timeline story of siblings finding out about all the lies and family secrets of their parents. After the death of their mother Eleanor, Benny and Byron are following her last wishes and listening to a recorded tape she made before her death that explains she was not who they thought she was. I found it very interesting to hear about life in the 1960's on a Caribbean island. Historical fiction fans should add this book to their to read list. This is the first book by this author I have read but I hope to heard more from her. Thanks to author Charmaine Wilkerson, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.

This multigenerational story artfully weaves in and out of the present and the past while conjuring up strong imagery of the caribbean which is retained well past island departure. The author does nice work building real characters and allowing the story to unfold on its own. It was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to others.

Loved this book. A multi-generation family story, spanning many decades and countries, from the Caribbean islands to Europe to the US. Throw in a deeply held family secrets, a bit of a murder mystery and lifelong friendships, this was hard to put down! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a review copy.

Black Cake explores a Jamaican American secret family history following the matriarch’s death. If you like the ocean, sea culture, historical fiction, fractured families, and/or coming of age stories, you’ll like this one. I especially enjoyed the exploration of the Chinese Jamaican community.

This book digs into the difficult choices the characters make to survive. At each juncture, we see how the character grows. I enjoyed the fractured parent-child and sibling relationships in this book. Each character evolved, making me feel invested in his or her journey.

I enjoy books about sea culture, and this one dives into the ocean through surfing, long distance swimming, and scientific study of the ocean. The ocean grounds the characters in different ways, but the ocean also separates segments of their lives. The main character lives in Jamaica, England, then California, traveling over oceans to live different phases of her life.

Thanks to @netgalley for the free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

I really liked this story! It was a little different and I enjoyed that. When their mother dies, siblings Byron and Benny are called home to listen to some tapes their mother left for them. The tapes prove to be life changing, and disclose some very powerful secrets. I hope the author continues to write-her debut is fantastic!

What a great book! Totally unexpected 5 stars! Well written and developed the show will also be great I am sure. I bet OPRAH picks this one!

Another terrific debut! This seems to be my lucky year. I loved this book so much. It is multi-generational and dual time line with a complex story line that unfolds slowly over the novel. Two estranged siblings reunite for the funeral of their mother. They find that she left a very long taped message for them with her lawyer, to be played over a few days time so that they could absorb the contents. As the story unfolds the black cake is always around. This is about race, identity, traditions and discovery. Likeable and realistic characters enhance the story greatly. I'd like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
5*
I'd like to

Amazing novel that illustrates how familial secrets can often leave you feeling more abandoned more than death and dying. The novel is a bit slow at times, but the author is intentional is how this story unfolds. We see full character arcs and feel close to them on their journey of truth. Well done, worth the read,

What is identity? This becomes a very confusing question when a person is of mixed race, even in a place like Jamaica where so many are of mixed race. It's even more confusing when one becomes part of a diaspora, trying to fit into the not-so-welcoming "motherland" of England, and the equally confusing cauldron of race in the US.

This novel is almost like a mystery, as we try to untangle a web of family secrets. We have family betrayals, such as when a daughter is literally sold to pay off gambling debts. When a mother abandons her only child, for unclear reasons. When the child of rape is taken away by trickery. When siblings reject one another because of deep-seated misunderstandings. And when children have no idea of who their parents actually are.

There are many voices in the novel, both male and female, young and old, gay and straight, black and white (or whitish), assimilated and not. Thankfully, the voices are fairly easy to tell apart. The plot spans at least five decades, and four countries.

I loved the strong women in the story, especially two friends who loved distance swimming in the sea. I loved the lioness-like motherly love (in some, not all, characters), the courage of women struggling to survive in a very difficult society. The scenes of rural Jamaica 50 years ago resonate with deep cultural understanding. And the portrayal of the difficulties a highly successful Black man faces in the US is all too real.

I felt that the plot went on a bit too far after its natural ending, and wrapped up too neatly. There were some not-too-believable coincidences. And using the device of a special cake recipe detracted a little from the literary feel of the work. However, these are very small complaints. The book held me tightly in its grip, and made me admire the author for her skillful weaving of complicated themes and intricate social commentary.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy.

A nice family drama was brewing and blam! A mystery, quasi-thriller breaks out. This was a jarring change for me, and in my so humble opinion I think it detracts from the effectiveness of the novel. It was a negative stain on my brain and I kept reading to see just how bizarrely implausible the story could get. I mean, all parents have secrets they don’t share with their children, but when the deceits add up to a new person entirely, that is a bit much.

The prose was mostly engaging and evenly delivered. There is a solid story here but it was sullied by the implausible back story of Eleanor, the Mother, who leaves with her lawyer hours of recordings for her two children to listen too while they share some black cake. This unveiling of who Eleanor truly was is the basis of this book, there are aspects of her story that are very possible and believable, but it’s like the author kept adding things to shock and awe the reader, which didn’t always work, at least for me.

Thanks to Ballantine books and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy. Book will be released February 1st, 2022.

The first book for me to read by this author but I will be on the lookout for more for sure! Highly recommend this one!

I enjoyed every single page of this easy-to-devour book. Beautifully-written, thought-provoking....I loved it!

A generational story line, what one needs to do to be safe! This story has lots of twists and turns and a shocking ending. Very well written, with mystery, love and sadness. I enjoyed the characters, especially Covey. She was going to have a good life despite many outside influences. One never knows what parental influences have on you. Thanks Charmaine Wilkerson for a great read. Thanks Net Galley, this book publishes Feb. 1, 2022

"There's a small black cake in the freezer for you. Don't throw it out.” So begins a recording of Eleanor Bennett’s life history that she has left for her children to hear, following her death.

Estranged 30 something siblings, Benny and Byron Bennett, live on opposite sides of the country. When their mother dies, they are forced to come together to bury her and to meet with their mother’s attorney. Mr Mitch has a directive for them from their mother: they must sit together to listen and learn of their mother’s life story and their family history.

The mother
s recording discloses many shocking things about her painful and difficult history as well as the secrets that she has kept for over 50 years. They learn of the sacrifices that their father made in order to be with the woman he loved. Her story is interspersed with tales of Benny and Byron's current struggles. Through her recording B & B learn that much of what they thought they knew is not at all what it seemed.

A multigenerational tale of family, betrayal, secrets, friendship and loyalty. A riveting story. My only criticism is that at 400 pages there was some needless repetition. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Advanced copy of this book was provided to me by #NetGalley #PenguinRandomHouse #BallantineBooks in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Expected publication: February 2022

For more book reviews and recommendations follow me at #EmptyNestReader #instagram #facebook #Goodreads #BlackCake #CharmainWilkerson #fiction #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #SeptemberReads #ARC #AdvancedReaderCopy #bookrecommendations #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittleebooks

This is a book of many layers where peeling away each one keeps adding different threads to the story.
At first glance it is a collection of many mysteries: a missing mother, a first love lost, a murdered groom, a suspected drowning, hidden identities, switched identities, and a search for a biological child. But what makes this such a deep read are the characters' nuanced developments and their interconnectedness to each other. At times I was initially confused when a new character was introduced, having to go back to previous chapters to see if I had missed something. Then the author would peel back a layer revealing another relationship, much like a juggler who keeps skillfully adding objects to what is already up in the air.
This is definitely a book club book, one that begs to be discussed. I find it hard to imagine this author writing a more imaginative and gripping second novel than this one. But I would still read it!

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this story about a brother and sister who are estranged and dealing with the passing of their mom. They're forced to listen to a recording their mom has left them, where she tells the story about a young girl in the Caribbean. The story is well written especially being her first book. I'd read more by her in the future.

This is a story about identity—what is special about who you are, how to find your authentic self, and why it’s sometimes necessary to be someone else.

Author Charmaine Wilkerson focuses on Byron and Benny, an estranged brother and sister who come together after years apart when their mother dies. Byron has become a popular author and oceanic expert, and Benny is an artist who dreams of opening her own concept café where she can teach children about culture through cooking.

Their mother, Eleanor, was born and raised on an unnamed Caribbean island, where swimming and surfing were her passion. She had to leave when her father’s financial dilemma forced her to marry a despicable person, and after years of struggle she ultimately found the man she was destined to marry. Through letters conveyed by her attorney after her death, she tells her children for the first time what she has endured and hints at a long-lost family member. She also leaves them a black cake to share—an iconic delicacy that symbolizes her Caribbean childhood and her children’s legacy.

There are so many fascinating characters to experience, including a prominent long-distance swimmer, a loyal husband of 40+ years, a writer who fancies herself an “ethno-food guru,” Eleanor’s gambling half-Chinese father, an ambitious young nurse, and a ruthless moneylender. The timeline shifts between “now” and “then” and the chapters focus on alternating characters. Woven seamlessly into the story are references to discrimination on the basis of race, color, culture, and sexual orientation. Ultimately, it’s about not only identity but family—biological and “found.” It’s an engrossing smorgasbord, and I believe the debut author shows great potential.

My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to Macmillian publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Publication date 2/1/2022.
Charmaine Wilkerson has given us the gift of a masterful family saga, I loved this book!
The story is that of Covey Lyncook /AKA Eleanor Douglas and her family and friends. It follows Eleanor from her girlhood in the Caribbean (time 1960s) past her death (California , circa 2018) when her family/friends finally learn the truth of her life.
The writing is evocative and descriptive. One gets a beautiful sense of the island where the story began. I especially like the short bursts and alternating viewpoints style. The characters totally come alive and are multidimensional with traits and shortcomings all will be able to identify with. I learned so much I can apply to my own family relationships from this book. Many current social issues are sensitively dealt with. I particularly liked the concept of the "Black Cake" and the idea that cultural foods play a huge role in our lives and memories. I also appreciated the role of the sea in the story and the commentary on protecting the natural world.
I found the book very emotional (tears were shed) but the end resolved beautifully!.

Overall this is one of the best books that I have read and I look forward to its publication. I can't recommend this book highly enough. For fans of The Dutch House it is a must read as it evoked similar feelings for me.