Reviews

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

wordsailor's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I think this book could have been good, but the writing got in its own way with a build up so long and boring it forgot it’s a thriller. 

The premise is enticing. Finally, your all white company hires someone who is just like you and you think you finally have an ally, but in the end you’re oh so wrong. That feeling of betrayal from someone you thought you could trust is universal. However, seeing Nella constantly be conned without learning anything was painful. It gave the sense that her character never developed, grew, or learned anything until the very end. By then we’d already spent so much time with the slow buildup to the “big reveal” in the last 20 pages (or so) that there isn’t anywhere to go with what we’ve (and Nella) just learned.

Thus, you end up with knowledge of a huge conspiracy and multiple characters (that are never developed and just disappear from the story line) we’ve been introduced to and then the book is over. There was a lot of potential just left on the table. Very disappointing read. 

autumnfae's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

alipp's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Not sure how to rate this. I did really get sucked into the world. But I feel like the ending was anti-climactic.
Why did she have to turn into an OBG at the end?
I think there needs to be a sequel to follow up & explore the ending, it felt like it dragged at the start but then ended suddenly as soon as the action started happening.

cb613's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ambergamgee's review against another edition

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5.0

I don’t usually like suspense/horror/mystery type books cause I’m a chicken, but this one is really good. It builds slow and creepy and was impossible to put down. Also hard to write about the plot without spoiling anything. So good!

patel2mx's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

spaceyyycasey's review against another edition

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4.0

i wish the last 40 pages were spread out and took up most of the book

laurareads5's review against another edition

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2.0

2 1/2 stars. I really wanted to like this book but big swaths of it were just boring. Maybe if it were a little shorter and got to the point quicker? The premise is fairly interesting, but I found myself skimming through big chunks, just to get through it.

linetyyni's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

3.5

hlgrant's review against another edition

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2.0

2.5