I've heard a lot of good things about Charmaine Wilkerson's "Black Cake". I have a copy of that book but have yet to get to it (though I plan to soon). I'd read a lot of good reviews for this one as well, and since FOMO is real for me, I snagged this one from Book of the Month and decided to give it a go. While I wasn't totally blown away by it, I still enjoyed the story and the characters.

 

The novel follows Ebby Freeman - a twenty-something Black woman whose life has been shaped by the unsolved murder of her older brother when she was ten. Someone broke into Ebby's family home while she and her brother were home alone. He was shot and killed, and Ebby heard it all happen. Years later, Ebby still deals with the trauma of that event, and to make matters worse, she was just left at the altar by her white fiancee. Hoping to get away for a while and reset her life, Ebby goes to France to stay with a friend. A few months later, Ebby's friend is out of town and asks Ebby to help a couple who have rented her guest house get settled. When the couple arrives, Ebby is surprised to find her ex-fiancee and a young, blonde woman are the guests. This opens up some barely healed wounds and kicks Ebby's healing journey into high gear.

 

One of the book's greatest strengths is its structure. The short chapters create a sense of momentum, making it easy to get through. The book jumps around in time and between different characters. We hear from Ebby, both of her parents, Henry (the ex), Avery (the new woman), and several of Ebby's ancestors who were once enslaved and are tied to a family heirloom that was broken when her brother was killed. Despite the jumps in time and perspective, I was never lost or confused, so kudos to the author for that. Oftentimes, when I read a book with multiple perspectives and timelines, it feels convoluted or distracting, but that wasn't the case here. Instead, each perspective and era added another layer to the story and kept me engaged.

 

As far as characters go, Ebby is very compelling, and her journey forms the emotional core of the novel. She is complex, vulnerable, and deeply human, shaped by both trauma and resilience. Her flight to France following her highly publicized breakup feels like a natural response for someone who has spent much of her life under scrutiny, both due to her family's tragic history and her own celebrity because of it. As one of the only Black families in a wealthy New England neighborhood, the Freemans have long been viewed as outsiders - even though they are just as wealthy as their neighbors -  and their tragedy was treated almost like a spectacle. This adds another layer to Ebby's struggles.

 

As far as the supporting characters, I found most of them to be just as compelling, but Henry, Ebby's ex-fiancé, felt flat in comparison. He kind of bored me. His role in the novel is crucial, yet he lacks the same depth as Ebby or even some other supporting characters. The revelation of why he left Ebby at the altar was underwhelming and, quite honestly, didn't make a lot of sense to me, especially given how much weight it holds in Ebby's narrative arc. It made him feel super weak and made me dislike him even more. What did Ebby even see in him?

 

I think my biggest complaint with this one is that the last 1/3 or so of the novel felt really convoluted, and it didn't really go anywhere. There was a ton of buildup, and I was left feeling a little underwhelmed when all was said and done. I enjoyed the journey but was a little let down when we reached the destination.

 

I did a tandem read of this one (I listened to the audiobook and read a hardcover) and thoroughly enjoyed the narration. January Lavoy is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, so it was no surprise that she handled this one like a pro. If you prefer audiobooks, I would recommend checking this one out.

 

Overall, this is an engaging, emotionally resonant novel with an interesting premise and an engaging lead character. While I felt like it started strong but ended on a weak note, I still enjoyed it for the most part. If you enjoy novels that explore family secrets, history, and a touch of mystery, you'll likely enjoy this one.