Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - Bolo Negro

it took me a while to get through this but this book was honestly incredible. the family dynamics felt so real and the characters were all so fleshed out and this was a really unique perspective on the immigrant experience but it was done so well!

i think it's pure excellence that allows wilkerson to reveal covey's story in such a way that allows us to be so connected to the characters in all her forms, and the way all the characters are brought together feels so natural even if it is the most unlikely of circumstances

this is truly an incredible book, and one i would definitely recommend!!

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oceanelle's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Beautifully written and compulsively readable, but at the same time I don’t feel like I fell in love with either the story or the characters? To me it felt structurally magnificent but lacking in depth and texture when it came to the siblings.

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lmm0's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

If you're interested in reading this book, I suggest not reading the synopsis, as I think it gives away some major plot points - I've provided a more vague summary below...
This novel follows siblings Byron and Benny, who, after their mother Eleanor’s death, are left with a black cake and a voice recording that unravels a dark family secret. The recording reveals Eleanor’s past as a young swimmer who fled her island home - as the siblings uncover their mother’s hidden history, they must confront painful truths, heal their fractured relationship, and decide if they can fulfill Eleanor’s final request to "share the black cake when the time is right." The story explores themes of family, identity, and the power of secrets.
For being a debut, this is a pretty good read, I just think it went on longer than it needed to. Also, not sure if we needed as many characters as those that were included. If you don't like shifting perspectives & time jumps, this is not the book for you. A particular brownie point this novel earned were the short chapters.

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remindmetoread's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I do like this story. I enjoyed the book. I rarely find myself picking up books that are set in the Caribbean and it's so beautiful to feel that vibe in a story and see your culture and history on the page. I loved the book for this. The drama was there. The family was chaos. I just didn't feel attached to it. I started the book loving the short chapters, but now that I'm done I feel it didn't give me time to settle into particular moments. The chapters were short AND switched POV's with each chapter, so it didn't feel like I was really welcomed into the story to get to know Benny and Byron. I don't think I really cared for anyone in particular, maybe Pearl. Towards the end, the author was wrapping up everything in a neat bow and I was finding myself wishing that the ending wasn't perfect. I wasn't expecting a feel-good story after everything and that's pretty much what you get. Eleanor is dead and she gets everything she wanted from the grave. I sort of wish she left the reader wondering.

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mrs_rec_diary's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Black cake was a book that evoked many emotions in me. It expressed fear, regret, and generational tramuas in a way that I belive many people need to hear. It shows the readers how mere moments connect to each and from the current present. It tackles the conversation of longing, dual identity, and emotional connections. Coming from someone who watched the show first, I have to say the book is ten times better. The chratcters, themes, and symbols are more fleshed out in a way that allows for the readers to connect the dots and find parallels between the chracters. Furthermore, I appreciated the way black cake was represented in the book. Overall a 4 out 5 star read (I had to deduct a point because in the middle I was ready to stop reading it because it felt long, but all the dteails in this book alllowed for more fleshed out chracters).

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readtomea97's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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lillygm's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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xennial_reader's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring slow-paced

4.5

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