This is an extraordinary story of faith, hope, love, endurance and the renewal of life through changes like the waves in the sea.

It's impossible to read this book without learning something new such as a scrumptious black cake which is created with dried fruits in rum and port. The cake had a lot of meaning for the main character, Covey, like "sisterhood and a kitchen full of laughter."

But it wasn't all fun. We learn quickly that Covey died. The moment of truth was revealed not during but at the end of her life. Covey's son, Bryon, and daughter, Bennie, had no idea about the details of their mother's life until she was gone. That's when their ma's attorney, Charles Mitch, stepped in to reveal her last words on tape filled with shocking news. She also left them with part of a black cake to enjoy when the time was right.

Byron and Bennie were mystified with their mom's challenging hardships. They learned she was raised by a father that gambled and she was part of the deal that went down. It was agreed that an undesirable man would take his young daughter to be his bride while everyone knew she was in love with someone else in the Caribbean Islands. That was just the beginning of a string of incidents. The news of her life to her kids brought a pile of emotions to the table.

This is a fast-paced book with great character visualization. The story is unique and filled with historical references and points about the sea which makes it meaningful. However, it's the family story that flowed smoothly and captured my attention with some complex issues such as racial prejudice, forced abortions and environmental concerns. It was said, "Everything is connected to everything else, if you only go far enough back in time." Yes, I enjoyed every word.

My thanks to Charmaine Wilkerson, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of February 1, 2022.

Black Cake is a story about Jamaican culture, the complicated life of three young people and their families.
It is about love, loss, family and the traditions of family we all hold dear to our heart. It is the complicated story of immigration and growing up and older.
Black Cake is complicated and wonderfully written.
#BlackCake #NetGalley

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson is a wonderful and stunning debut fiction I truly enjoyed and will stay with me for years to come.

This book is great in that it is a truly unique and engrossing multigenerational novel that weaves a tale of history, family, love, loss, identity, and in the end leaves the reader with a sense of hope and promise for the days to come.

Through the interweaving stories of present day, and the past, the reader gets to take a glimpse into this complicated, complex, passionate, and intricate family that have experienced everything imaginable. We get to travel along on a journey that is unlike no other.

I love how the author was able to weave all of these aspects, timelines, and snippets into a vibrant, soulful, and colorful story. Reading the history of this family, Eleanor’s life and past, and how it all wraps together to place these siblings where they are now and who they have become is excellent. Reading some of the history placed into the story that took place during these decades within the UK, US, and the Caribbean was at times hard to read, but fascinating nevertheless.

The elements of mystery and words unspoken also add another layer of complexity. I enjoyed the pace, progression, and also the ending.

I look forward to more from this author.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Ballantine/Random House Publishing Group for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully written story of a strong young woman who faces abandonment, gender discrimination, racial discrimination, sexual assault, and the challenges of starting over several times. Through all of her challenges, she remains strong and rights the biggest wrong of her life in the resolution.