Name: Black Cake
ISBN: 9780593358337

Charmaine Wilkerson

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. In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett's death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking journey Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child, challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their family, and themselves. Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor's true history, and fulfill her final request to "share the black cake when the time is right?" Will their mother's revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever? Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names, can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch.

Black Cake

Victoria Justice

sina (she/her) 

Jenell Pizarro

The man steps closer to Benny now, and she feels a buzz run up both sides of her face. His cologne is a smoky kind of thing that triggers a slight churning below her navel. Benny has never understood what draws her to a person. She only knows it when an individual who crosses her radar sets off a ping. Ping. “You are a girl, right?” the man asks. “Woman.” “Oh, right, sorry.” Inside her costume, Benny smiles. “Did you know,” Benny says, “that a gang of meerkats is led by an alpha pair, and that the dominant member of that pair is the female?” He is peering at her through the costume’s eye holes. A smile crinkles the skin around his eyes. “Do meerkats drink coffee?” he says. The head of Benny’s costume tips to the side. This man has never seen Benny. He does not even know the shape of her. And yet he is interested. Ping. How it will end: Benny doesn’t know yet, but already this is a gift, this openness to try love again.

"So, what are you willing to do?" she said. “Who are you willing to let go of?"

And a fearless girl, without a mother or husband to keep her in check, was a dangerous thing.

Moving to Great Britain was supposed to be like coming to stay in a relative's home. A safe harbor for two young people who had lost everything else. Of course, it wasn't quite that way once they'd crossed the Atlantic. 

For as long as people have been mistreating other people, women have been subject to this kind of violence. It's high time they stop having to feel ashamed about it.

And when people didn't understand something, they often felt threatened. And when people felt threatened, they often turned to violence. 

Why didn't you ask for help? Why do we women let shame get in the way of our well-being? I thought that times had changed since I was a girl, but apparently, not enough.

Overall, this was a good story that highlighted a lot of important topics such as: immigration, assimilation, personal identity vs family legacy, culture, etc. The events in the book are interesting, but the execution fell flat for me. It was all over the place, and I found it hard to orient myself. There were so many names and dates, and the nonchronological storytelling just started to grate my nerves rather than bolster the plot. There were so many side plots that could honestly been books on their own, which is part of why the pacing of this story felt off to me. Around the 65% mark, I felt like it was going on too long and was waiting for it to wrap up. It just felt like there was no true direction. It was very ambitious, and I can see why some people come away with this feeling a rush of positive emotions; however, the author just had too much dip on her chip for me.

I would like to note that I’ve learned this has been given a tv adaption, which makes complete sense to me. I often felt like this was a show with all the side plots and characters, and think this might be the rare instance in which a film adaptation is better than the text.

Nik ✨

Overall, this was a good story that highlighted a lot of important topics such as: immigration, assimilation, personal identity vs family legacy, culture, etc. The events in the book are interesting, but the execution fell flat for me. It was all over the place, and I found it hard to orient myself. There were so many names and dates, and the nonchronological storytelling just started to grate my nerves rather than bolster the plot. There were so many side plots that could honestly been books on their own, which is part of why the pacing of this story felt off to me. Around the 65% mark, I felt like it was going on too long and was waiting for it to wrap up. It just felt like there was no true direction. It was very ambitious, and I can see why some people come away with this feeling a rush of positive emotions; however, the author just had too much dip on her chip for me.

I would like to note that I’ve learned this has been given a tv adaption, which makes complete sense to me. I often felt like this was a show with all the side plots and characters, and think this might be the rare instance in which a film adaptation is better than the text.

Angelyn Francis

This is the first book in a while that I was genuinely excited to pick up again every night. Their mother Eleanor's story and mystery drew me in. I was most connected to the portion of the book that took place in the past, on the island and elsewhere with Covey. I'm Chinese Jamaican as well and grew up abroad in Canada so there's a lot that interests me.

This novel is about and told from several characters' perspectives, so much so that it's hard to develop them all effectively. I did not connect to Eleanor's children at all -- I don't know what the block was for me, but they felt more like the foil for their mother's deathbed recordings. Once that part of the story was resolved I felt a little unmoored in present day plotline, but the story continues and wraps up in a way that is satisfying. 

I think it's well worth the read and I'm excited to watch the series.

Bria

I have so many thoughts so rtc but I need more from Wilkerson because I'm obsessed

Bella Koch

This book was one of the rare reads that is both very entertaining and very substantive. The recording that Eleanor left for her children as well as the character dynamics outside the recording were extremely interesting. Every character had a unique story that I wanted to learn more about. Additionally, I was able to learn about Caribbean history and culture. I appreciated how cleanly this was woven into the story and how effectively motifs were used to convey the impacts of colonization and immigration on the Caribbean people. 

The only drawback to this book was the sheer volume of characters and story lines. There were a lot of people to keep track of and a lot of changes of perspective. More than anything, I felt like this disrupted my flow state of reading. I would be intrigued by Benny’s story and wanting to learn more and then we’d jump back into Eleanor’s story. It felt disruptive.

Madison Grady

the lack of communication was frustrating and the ending was a bit drawn out but overall i enjoyed this book!

Caroline

This book was beautiful and intricate looking at family relationships spanning cultures and continents. The way the family and their friends felt connected through water as a second home was familiar to a water baby like me. A cracker yarn really and again felt different but familiar of things I have read before.

Patricia Nelson

I really enjoyed this book. It is a story of family secrets, what we will do for our children and to protect those we hold most dear, and finding ourselves in the midst of expectations that are placed on us by society, family, and community. 

The structure of the book is a dual timeline, but is cleverly done in a way that doesn't give the reader whiplash from one storyline to the next. The short chapters and back and forth reads very smoothly, and adds to the story rather than distracting the reader. 

The themes of family, inheritance, motherhood, race, emmigration, and grief are intertwined in a tale that has the reader rooting for the characters. 

Great book club pick, and the author has a book club kit with a spotify playlist and recipes included!

Really enjoyed reading this book, refreshing and heartbreaking and thought provoking. I appreciate the style of writing, jumping from present to past to present, and in between the different characters, allowing for more than one perspective. 

Beautiful and sweet story with good heart, but I felt that the pacing was so slow, it dragged on and I really had to push through to the end.  I did enjoy how original this book was. Good historical fiction! 

Alexandria Ferley

Louise 

I am a sucker for a historical fiction book which takes place in the Caribbean, listened to the audiobook and this was just a delight.

The author excellently weaves the importance of love, loyalty & friendship into this family drama/ historical fiction.

Here’s the thing with this one, I can see a lot of people liking it and a lot disliking it. For me, it’s right down the middle which is why my base rating is a 2.5. However, it was rated up because I really enjoyed the way this was written in terms of the prose and the dialogue. The prose was very soft and average, not boggled down with too much details which works for the style of this book. I really liked the dialogue because it felt very authentically Caribbean to me as a woman who was born and bred there. I enjoyed the symbolism of Black Cake throughout. I felt the culture richly. 

Unfortunately, I did not like the characters. There were so many that I had a hard time engaging and really caring. This is why this kind of writing doesn’t work with a massive ensemble cast like this because it’s hard to tell distinct characters. It was very harrowing going through these different characters and then from past to present to past to present and I could see how this would be off putting for a lot. Overall, not bad for a debut novel but definitely could’ve used a better editor. I would still read something else that this author wrote.

Nicki

Here’s the thing with this one, I can see a lot of people liking it and a lot disliking it. For me, it’s right down the middle which is why my base rating is a 2.5. However, it was rated up because I really enjoyed the way this was written in terms of the prose and the dialogue. The prose was very soft and average, not boggled down with too much details which works for the style of this book. I really liked the dialogue because it felt very authentically Caribbean to me as a woman who was born and bred there. I enjoyed the symbolism of Black Cake throughout. I felt the culture richly. 

Unfortunately, I did not like the characters. There were so many that I had a hard time engaging and really caring. This is why this kind of writing doesn’t work with a massive ensemble cast like this because it’s hard to tell distinct characters. It was very harrowing going through these different characters and then from past to present to past to present and I could see how this would be off putting for a lot. Overall, not bad for a debut novel but definitely could’ve used a better editor. I would still read something else that this author wrote.

Megan Snodgrass

4.5

There were times where I was legit CRYING, this book makes you feel the dang feelings. I do love books written in vignettes, and switching from characters and through timelines, which I know isn't everyone's cup of tea, but she does it so seamlessly. I'm also a sucker for a book about familial relations and the secrets, emotional strife, love, etc that unfold and this book has ALL OF THAT. There's a quote in the book that I'm going to butcher but its something like, "The stories we don’t tell people about ourselves matter even more than the things we do say." and I mean you find out in the book these stories, BUT it's a great opener to the themes in the book and the reality that your perception of someone and events may not be the whole thing going on and to give space and grace to people.

Cindy Lieberman

A very impressive first novel about two siblings reuniting after the death of their mother. She has left them 8 hours of confessional audiotape they must listen to together and a black cake for them to share when the time is right. Layers upon layers of secrets revealed through alternating chapters from present and past.

Gisela Ayala 

Quite literally the best book I've read in a very long time. Full review and thoughts to come!

Cheri McElroy

Benny has been estranged from her family for eight years when she receives a call that her mother has died. When she goes home, she and her brother Byron begin to learn that their mother wasn’t who they thought she was.

This book is gorgeously written and explores themes of family bonds, racism, and grief in a moving way. I didn’t want this to end.

This book is great from start to finish. The characters are all quite flawed but feel quite genuine. While there were characters that I found more interesting than others, I was still eager to read through each of their Journey. It also doesn’t leave any characters storyline unfinished really which makes my heart happy.

I will say that this family is made of up of some of the worst communicators ever and a lot of problems would be solved if they could talk to each other (but ya know, flawed) and the book could be repetitive in moments. 

Overall, very satisfying read that I will be recommending to some people. 

Laura Wilson

This book is great from start to finish. The characters are all quite flawed but feel quite genuine. While there were characters that I found more interesting than others, I was still eager to read through each of their Journey. It also doesn’t leave any characters storyline unfinished really which makes my heart happy.

I will say that this family is made of up of some of the worst communicators ever and a lot of problems would be solved if they could talk to each other (but ya know, flawed) and the book could be repetitive in moments. 

Overall, very satisfying read that I will be recommending to some people. 

Julia

READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY • In this moving debut novel, two estranged siblings 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. “At turns delightfully juicy and then stunningly wise, Black Cake is a winner.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022—Glamour, Bustle, Marie Claire, Essence, Parade, Business Insider, Town & Country, Vulture, PopSugar, W magazine, BookPage In development as a Hulu original series produced by Marissa Jo Cerar, Oprah Winfrey (Harpo Films), and Kapital Entertainment We can’t choose what we inherit. But can we choose who we become? In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child, challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage, and themselves. Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor’s true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right”? Will their mother’s revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever? Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names, can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch.

A Novel

Lenya King

Beautiful story about a multigenerational Caribbean American family. Seamlessly woven themes of family estrangement, grief, love, prejudice, and tradition. 

Captivating writing and compelling characters, although the amount of characters did feel rather high at times.

While I found myself devouring most of this novel, the final act felt a little slow. Overall, incredible read. 4.5/5 stars

Lydia Enge

Black Cake was more than what I was expecting. It moved me in ways that I honestly don't know how to describe. Such a thought provoking story of family, identity, history, culture, and love. 

**A Grazia Instagram 'IT' book to watch out for** Everyone wants to discover what they're made of . . . Juggling lives and crossing continents, BLACK CAKE is the extraordinary story of how the inheritance of secrets, betrayal and memories can shape a family for generations 'A story that is as meaningful as it is delicious. At turns delightfully juicy and then stunningly wise, Black Cake is a winner' TAYLOR JENKINS REID, author of Daisy Jones and The Six 'An extremely assured debut which pulls in threads and echoes from across the Caribbean diaspora to deliver a rich, complex and really satisfying novel' ALISON FINCH, BBC Radio 4 'I was instantly taken in by this multi-generational tale of identity, family, and the lifelong push and pull of home. This novel has a tremendous heart at its centre, and I felt its beat on every page. What an extraordinary debut' MARY BETH KEANE, author of Ask Again, Yes ________ 'We can't go to the island, Bryon. We don't really know what we're getting into . . .' Eleanor Bennett won't let her own death get in the way of the truth. So when her estranged children - Byron and Benny - reunite for her funeral in California, they discover a puzzling inheritance. First, a voice recording in which everything Byron and Benny ever knew about their family is upended. Their mother narrates a tumultuous story about a headstrong young woman who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder, a story which cuts right to the heart of the rift that's separated Byron and Benny. Second, a traditional Caribbean black cake made from a family recipe with a long history that Eleanor hopes will heal the wounds of the past. Can Byron and Benny fulfil their mother's final request to 'share the black cake when the time is right'? Will Eleanor's revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever? ________ **Soon to be a major drama series for Hulu by Orpah Winfrey, Aaron Kaplan and Marissa Jo Cerar** 'So beautifully written I'm struggling to believe it's a debut . . . The scenes are so well drawn I could almost taste the cake, feel the warm sea on my skin. My heart broke and was put back together. Bravo' NIKKI MAY, author of Wahala

2022’s most unforgettable debut soon to be a major Hulu series produced by Oprah

"The beauty of a thing justified its plunder. And nothing was more beautiful than a girl who was fearless."

Black cake is a powerful multigenerational debut following siblings Byron and Benny in the wake of their mothers death. They discover an inheritance from their mother that they never expected and that has the power to divide them further or knit their bond back together. 

I really loved the overall message in this book, which was evident throughout, with every POV you came across. The characters were well built, loveable and adapted and changed as the story progressed.

And the story just hooked you, with short chapters to make it seem faster paced. The writing was simple but so descriptive and mesmerising, with me finding myself often stopping to reread a portion and highlight it on my Literal account. 

For a debut book I preordered on a whim, it's an author I will be keeping an eye on from now on. 

Trigger warnings; rape, physical abuse and racism.

Rina

This was a great weaving of storylines. I liked how this touched on many hardships, including those related to race. It was relatable to me, and also heartbreaking. The writing was descriptive, I was engrossed, and with a great cast of characters at that!

This was very confusing at first, but already intriguing. I tried my best to piece together what really happened, only to have the tables turned. Many new characters were introduced and their relation to Benny and Byron or even their parents weren’t revealed early on. The depth given to the characters here was laudable. They became more realistic and it was hard not to be sympathetic to them. I think I read this at the right time in my life as well, which was why it made the impact it did. Although midway through, the narrative became repetitive to the point that I wondered at the direction things were going. But the themes of friendship, family, loyalty and a whole lot more (please read this) were so spot on, relatable, and incredibly relevant I just went along with it. This book was described to be moving, and it was exactly that and more. To sum up, Black Cake was truly well-written and the premise well-executed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

An Vu

COMING SOON TO HULU • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY • Two estranged siblings delve into their mother’s hidden past—and how it all connects to her traditional Caribbean black cake—in this immersive family saga, “a character-driven, multigenerational story that’s meant to be savored” (Time). In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett's death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking journey Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child, challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their family, and themselves. Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor's true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right?” Will their mother's revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever? Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names, can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch.