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The Other Black Girl
- Author
- Zakiya Dalila Harris
- Narrator
- various
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 1 June 2021
- Run Time
- 13 hours 33 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Contemporary horror, ghost stories and supernatural fiction, Psychological thriller, Satirical fiction and parodies, Narrative theme: social issues / social problems, Racism and racial discrimination / Anti-racism
- Rating
- 3.5 (2 reviews)
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What to expect
* THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *
‘One of the biggest reads of the summer, and for good reason’ INDEPENDENT
‘Enormously fun . . . A joyous thrill ride of a book’ VOX
‘Candice Carty-Williams’ Queenie crossed with Jordan Peele’s Get Out . . . Slick and addictive’ METRO
_________________________
Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and the micro-aggressions, she's thrilled when Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They've only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events cause Nella to become Public Enemy Number One and Hazel, the Office Darling.
Then the notes begin to appear on Nella's desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW.
It's hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realises that there is a lot more at stake than her career.
Dark, funny and furiously entertaining, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist.
_________________________
THE BOOK EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT:
‘One of the books of the year . . . Will blow your mind’ STYLIST
‘Super-smart, dryly funny’ RED
‘Page-turning, toe-curling, thrilling. You won’t put this one down’ BLACK GIRLS BOOK CLUB FOR REFINERY29
‘Sharp, satirical and fun’ DAILY MAIL
‘Bright and funny . . . You will turn page after page in your eagerness to unravel this novel’ OYINKAN BRAITHWAITE, NEW YORK TIMES
‘The funniest, wildest, deepest, most thought-provoking ride of a book’ ATTICA LOCKE
‘The year’s most buzzed-about debut more than lives up to the hype’ i
‘Very, very funny and acutely observed’ ELIZABETH DAY
‘It should be at the top of your summer reading list’ WASHINGTON POST
Critics Review
-
Part office satire, part thriller with a twist, this is a fresh and original take on race and class in the publishing industry … A satire that uproots the insidious ways race and class merge in office dialogue and politics, and a thriller with echoes of the great science fiction writer Octavia Butler
Guardian
-
Zakiya Dalila Harris has written one of the books of the year. Piercing and funny . . . The book builds up to a climax that really will blow your mind
Stylist
-
Weaving in important discussions around race, navigating white spaces and the corporate world, this is a vital piece of literature that will have you howling and wincing at the same time
Refinery29 UK
-
[This] stunning debut . . . flies into uncharted territory as a racially charged thriller/horror mash-up and perfectly sticks its unpredictable landing . . . Timely and timeless
Sunday Times
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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A horror-style take on what it means to be black in America today. … Harris builds tension like no other – you’re hugely invested in Nella’s success, and the twist at the end is simply brilliant (read: terrifying)
Independent
-
Bright and funny . . . You will turn page after page after page in your eagerness to unravel this unique tale
Oyinkan Braithwaite, New York Times
-
A bitingly satirical novel about race and the workplace
Independent
-
Comparisons to Raven Leilani's Luster wouldn't be unfounded, but prepare for this novel to veer in an unexpected direction it's part-psychological thriller, part-satire, part social-takedown
Irish Times
-
Packed full of shrewd observations on power struggles and strength, this is unputdownable
Cosmopolitan UK
-
I loved it! This is one of the cleverest books I’ve read for years . . . The subtlety of Nella’s character is incredible . . . so brilliantly fine-tuned. I fully expect to see this book sweeping all the prize lists
Natasha Pulley
-
Both a captivating thriller and a smart look at race, power and office politics
i
-
The funniest, wildest, deepest, most thought-provoking ride of a book
Attica Locke
-
Ideal for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or dismissed in the workplace
Fortune
-
Witty, inventive and smart . . . A brilliant combustion of suspense, horror and social commentary that leaves no assumption unchallenged and no page unturned
Walter Mosley
User Reviews
Book 3.5
Narration 4.0
-
3.0 5.0
I enjoyed listening to The Other Black Girl. It was engaging and definitely binge-worthy at times, even if it leaned heavily on clichés that made me roll my eyes as a Black woman. That said, I’m always happy to see more literature centering Black women and our experiences.
For me, this wasn’t horror in the traditional sense. It felt more like workplace drama with psychological and unsettling elements. There was a constant sense of dread, and I actually think the story would translate even better to film, where that tension could really come to life.
I found myself increasingly frustrated with the protagonist, and the ending left me more disappointed than shocked. The story walked an interesting line between feeling grounded in real workplace dynamics while also becoming increasingly far-fetched.
Overall, I’d recommend it if you’re looking for an atmospheric, thought-provoking listen rather than a conventional horror novel.Thea_maria_x 2026-08-13
Details
- Author
- Zakiya Dalila Harris
- Narrator
- various
- Duration
- 13 hours 33 minutes
- Release Date
- 1 June 2021
- ISBN
- 9781526633286
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Contemporary horror, ghost stories and supernatural fiction, Psychological thriller, Satirical fiction and parodies, Narrative theme: social issues / social problems, Racism and racial discrimination / Anti-racism
- Rating
- 3.5(2 reviews)
- Narration
- 4.0(2 reviews)
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris, read by Aja Naomi King, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Bahni Turpin and Heather Alicia Sims.* THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *‘One of the biggest reads of the summer, and for good reason’ INDEPENDENT‘Enormously fun . . . A joyous thrill ride of a book’ VOX‘Candice Carty-Williams’ Queenie crossed with Jordan Peele’s Get Out . . . Slick and addictive’ METRO_________________________Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and the micro-aggressions, she's thrilled when Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They've only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events cause Nella to become Public Enemy Number One and Hazel, the Office Darling.Then the notes begin to appear on Nella's desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW.It's hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realises that there is a lot more at stake than her career.Dark, funny and furiously entertaining, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist._________________________THE BOOK EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT:‘One of the books of the year . . . Will blow your mind’ STYLIST‘Super-smart, dryly funny’ RED‘Page-turning, toe-curling, thrilling. You won’t put this one down’ BLACK GIRLS BOOK CLUB FOR REFINERY29‘Sharp, satirical and fun’ DAILY MAIL‘Bright and funny . . . You will turn page after page in your eagerness to unravel this novel’ OYINKAN BRAITHWAITE, NEW YORK TIMES‘The funniest, wildest, deepest, most thought-provoking ride of a book’ ATTICA LOCKE‘The year’s most buzzed-about debut more than lives up to the hype’ i‘Very, very funny and acutely observed’ ELIZABETH DAY‘It should be at the top of your summer reading list’ WASHINGTON POST
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