If You Only Read One Book in June, Make it This One
It’s officially the month that summer begins. You might be counting down the days until your postponed packing everything you might need for a sun-filled getaway. That includes swimsuits, flip flops, shorts, and, most importantly, your books. After all, what is a vacation without a beach read?
If you’re ready to sink your teeth into a book that’s smart, suspenseful, and timely, you won’t be able to put down “The Other Black Girl” by Zakiya Dalila Harris, which has a seven-figure book contract and Hulu adaptation in the works. The novel follows Nella Rogers, an ambitious and dedicated editorial assistant at Wagner, a prestigious publishing house that prides itself on its exclusivity. And that’s precisely the problem: Nella is the only Black employee working in the publishing department, and when she pushes for diversity, she’s only been met with microaggressions and discomfort. But then, another Black woman named Hazel shows up, and Nella is elated by what their work friendship could be.
However, that hope is quickly shot down as Nella realizes Hazel may not be the friend and ally she was looking for. Hazel begins to purposely undermine and sabotage Nella, which turns into something a lot darker and deeper than workplace competition — especially when she receives an anonymous note telling her to leave Wagner.
Even though “The Other Black Girl” veers into nightmare sci-fi territory, the issues it presents are very real and were inspired by Harris’ own experiences working in the publishing industry. She tackles subjects like code-switching, the intimacy of Black hair, and the commodification of Blackness, among others.
As for how things turn out for Nella and Hazel? Harris says she was inspired by “Night of the Living Dead,” so let’s just say you won’t see that ending coming.
Here are a few other great books to pick up this month:
