Black Cake

A Novel

By: Charmaine Wilkerson

Narrated by: Lynnette R. Freeman, Simone Mcintyre

NOW A HULU STREAMING SERIES • 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).

“Wilkerson transports you across the decades and around the globe accompanied by complex, wonderfully drawn characters.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones & The Six, and Malibu Rising

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Oprah Daily, NPR, BuzzFeed, Glamour, PopSugar, Book Riot, She Reads

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 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.

Wonderful Listen

This title was suggested by my daughter-in-law who received it as her BOTM selection and raved about it. After finishing it, I concur. It is a complex, beautifully written story, that unfolds and develops with each chapter. Generational trauma and unspoken truths mold the children of Eleanor Bennett. After her passing, the revelations and secrets of her true story rattle their foundation. With the help of an excellent narration, the story introduces the listener to other cultures and another time. While the characters are POC, the hardships and reckoning are universal. (Excepts those that aren't...as a senior, white woman I have no fear of a gun being pulled on me at a traffic stop, as an example). Reminiscent of Little Bee, and Americanah for the way it pulled me into a different culture and experience.
I anticipate this book will be on many must be read lists going forward.

Wasn’t a “page turner” for me

As a Caribbean American I was looking forward to this read. Although I found the early part of the story interesting and the backstory of Covey compelling I was never intrigued by the present day characters. I appreciated the performance of the narrator who weaves in and out of dialects seamlessly. The thrill was lacking for me in most of the story - other than Covey’s initial story- so it took me a while to finish and I was looking forward to the ending to move on to the next read.

Beautiful story

Such a beautiful, well-written story. The modern day politics inserted felt a little forced and disjointed from the main storyline. Luckily this was a very small part in the book. Otherwise, the trip to the islands was fascinating. The narrator was perfectly cast!

Loved every moment of this read 📚

Whew... Get this book. It addresses Love, arranged marriage, the black diaspora in food and people that help shape cultural traditions. It highlights how some so called claim things as theirs when it's been stolen from other cultures hence the title Black Cake. When all we got to do is look back a thousand years and it will divulge the truth. It also talks about how surfing was a black Caribbean sport but has been white washed as with many things. This author took on a journey of friendship and love that permeates all boundaries. And how true love never dies! Money talks, adoption, and how it was handled back in time and how the birth mothers were fooled and tricked into adoption and threatened to be called and institutionized if they spoke up. Upon death you find out about of things that were hidden, even your mere existence. Again the book was everything, unputdownable. #Book19of2022 #Bookworm #whatsnext

Loved this on so many levels

A generational novel of family love, sacrifice, conflict, immersed with history, culture, food, It is also an ode to sea and the environment. I feel a little list now that I have finished. The narrator was fantastic with the accents. So thrilled this is being made into a TV series.