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The Other Black Girl

The bestselling book behind the major 2023 TV series

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The Other Black Girl

By: Zakiya Dalila Harris
Narrated by: Heather Alicia Sims, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Aja Naomi King, Bahni Turpin
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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
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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.

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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©2021 Zakiya Dalila Harris (P)2021 Simon & Schuster Dark Humour Genre Fiction Horror Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Satire Comedy Fiction
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Critic reviews

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
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
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
[This] stunning debut . . . flies into uncharted territory as a racially charged thriller/horror mash-up and perfectly sticks its unpredictable landing . . . Timely and timeless
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)
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
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
Packed full of shrewd observations on power struggles and strength, this is unputdownable
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
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
Witty, inventive and smart . . . A brilliant combustion of suspense, horror and social commentary that leaves no assumption unchallenged and no page unturned (Walter Mosley)
All stars
Most relevant
I haven't finished it yet but really struggling with the voiceover artists. The prologue was great, the voices after sound strange... Slightly monotone.... I may buy the book instead. A great story though. If you can get past the voices, it has the potential to be gripping.

Great novel, Inconsistencies with the voice over.

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Black horror at it's best is when it is about our existence within white supremacy. What a brilliantly told and frightening story about the existence of Black women in the system. And how we are coopted to keep the wheels turning. So well done. Loved it.

Black Horror - so well done!

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No doubt about it, Harris is a good writer and I can’t wait to read her next book. But all the promise of the first half goes out of the window in the second half. The office politics, racial commentary & biting satire gives way to a bad 90s thriller plot twist.

Great set up, dribbly ending…

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For me the narration could have been better. I found her voice very monotone.
May have enjoyed it more if I had read it myself instead.

Thought I would have liked it more.

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Compelling read not least because it took me ages to figure out what was going on.

The different voicing although well narrated added to my confusion. Maybe chapter headings that included the name of the character narrating it might help.

Overall it’s an interesting plot with an unusual twist. I think the OBG and the underground could have been explored in more depth as I was left wondering. I’d recommend it because it keeps you guessing and engaged even if that is tinged with frustration

Interesting plot, confusing narration

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