Charmaine Wilkerson is the author of Black Cake, a New York Times-bestselling novel. An American writer, she spent much of her childhood living in the Caribbean and is now based in Italy. She is a former television journalist and an award-winning writer of short fiction. Her debut novel Black Cake was adapted for the screen as a Hulu original series airing on Disney+ and produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films, Marissa Jo Cerar and Kapital Entertainment.
Unputdownable. Astonishing. Twists and turns so shocking they will
leave your head spinning and your heart aching
*Grazia*
An extremely assured debut which pulls in threads and echoes from
across the Caribbean diaspora to deliver a rich, complex and really
satisfying novel
*Alison Finch, BBC Radio 4*
A delicious novel. The chapters come fast and furious . . . A
satisfying literary meal, heralding the arrival of a new novelist
to watch
*Independent*
Black Cake is a beautiful, deeply resonant story of children trying
to understand the mother they have lost. Charmaine Wilkerson
transports you across the decades and the globe accompanied by
complex, wonderfully drawn characters. She has managed to tell a
story that is as meaningful as it is delicious. At turns
delightfully juicy and then stunningly wise, Black Cake is a
winner
*Taylor Jenkins Reid, Sunday Times bestselling author of
Daisy Jones and The Six*
Black Cake explores the ways we use meals not just to nourish
ourselves but to help tell unspeakable stories. Family, food,
festering resentment - you'll find plenty to chew on . . .
Wilkerson approaches her plot like a mad chef, grabbing ingredients
from all over the world, slicing and dicing with abandon, tossing
characters and palm fronds and a few drops of rum into a pot and
letting it all come to a simmer . . . A roiling soup of family
secrets, big lies, great loves, bright colours and strong
smells
*New York Times*
I was instantly taken in by this multi-generational tale of
identity, family, and the lifelong push and pull of home. This
novel has a tremendous heart at its centre, and I felt its beat on
every page. What an extraordinary debut
*Mary Beth Keane, bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes*
A special, beautifully written novel that's as rich and
intoxicating as the Jamaican rum cake of its title
*Good Housekeeping*
So beautifully written I'm struggling to believe it's a debut. The
cake is the glue that holds all the layers together and the scenes
are so well drawn I could almost taste the cake, feel the warm sea
on my skin. My heart broke and was put back together. Bravo
*Nikki May, author of Wahala*
I [. . .] was immediately drawn in
*i*
An intricately woven tale that deliciously captures the experience
migration, family, love and loss with such empathy and pathos - a
book that is both universal and unique.
*Afua Hirsch*
I loved the brilliant writing, the characters and the clever and
beautiful way the story melded together. A stunning book
*Prima, 'BOOK OF THE MONTH'*
Wilkerson explores the nuances of racial identity and betrayal in a
powerful novel
*Vogue*
BLACK CAKE has all the ingredients of the tastiest stories:
secrets, romance, danger, and a cast of characters so real you want
to scream at them one moment and hug them the next. I felt nearly
breathless while reading Eleanor's truth - as if I were right there
in the room with Byron and Benny, wholly immersed in their mother's
tragedies and triumphs
*Dawnie Walton, author of The Final Revival of Opal and
Nev*
A stunning page-turner, with characters that felt real and
relatable. I can't recommend this book highly enough. An incredible
debut
*Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City*
Black Cake took a hold of me from the first page and didn't let go
... A gripping, poignant debut from an important new voice
*Naima Coster, New York Times bestselling author of
What’s Mine and Yours*
A sparkling debut, which examines migration, estrangement and the
stories we tell about ourselves
*METRO*
Included in 'The books we're looking forward to in 2022'
*Good Housekeeping*
This powerful debut about family and identity, set against a
backdrop of Caribbean culture, history and traditions, already has
the stamp of approval from Oprah
*Heat*
A powerful, beautiful debut
*Woman's Own*
A multi-generational debut generating hype
*Grazia*
You can't help but fall in love with this book
*Stylist*
Utterly engrossing and full of twists, Black Cake is absolutely
worth the calories
*Red*
A testimony to how migration, memories and the life decisions of
our elders can trickle down the generations and shape us. The
careful cultural references to the Caribbean diaspora are
deliciously nostalgic - I couldn't get enough!
*Good Housekeeping, Books of the Year*
A shining family saga . . . Readers will adore this highly
accomplished effort from a talented new writer
*Publishers Weekly, Starred Review*
A heartfelt story of loss, lies and reconciliation
*Daily Mail*
Black Cake is such an engaging novel. The structure works
brilliantly with its dual narrative and short, sharp chapters. As I
read, I felt like I could taste the sweet and spice of the black
cake that links generations of the same family. Wilkerson's Black
Cake is filled with secrets, family ties and hidden desires. It is
an extremely satisfying read that stays with you long after the
final page. As moreish as its title. If you want to be transported,
read this book
*Jodie Chapman, author of Another Life*
A family drama meets murdery mystery
*Sunday Times*
The perfect recipe for an epic family drama . . . Feuds, grief, and
a murder make Charmaine Wilkerson's Black Cake unputdownable
*Grazia Book Club Online*
One of the most feverishly anticipated debuts of the year
*Daily Mail*
A delicious and gripping tale that sweeps the reader across decades
and continents
*Guardian*
I really savoured this rich, layered family saga ... Charmaine's
writing is subtle and lyrical, pulling you into a powerful story of
secrets, roots and identity. The flavour of it will linger long
after you've finished
*Beth Morrey, bestselling author of Saving Missy*
An extraordinary debut
*Hello!*
A sweeping story, with Wilkerson masterfully bringing together all
the different threads, making social history the backbone of
everything
*Independent*
Completely blew me away ... I loved the brilliant writing, the
characters and the clever and beautiful way the story melded
together ... this is a stunning book
*Red, Book of the Month*
Delving into ideas around identity, familial bonds and lifelong
secrets, Black Cake looks to be a wildly moreish page-turner
*Refinery29*
Touching on racism and acceptance, betrayal and loyalty, this
emotional, heartfelt debut explores the meaning of home and the
family that define it
*Daily Express*
A delight to read, each page of Black Cake is more interesting than
the last. Wilkerson weaves social history into the backbone of the
story, in a way that's nothing short of masterful
*Courier*
This emotional, heartfelt debut explores the meaning of home and
the family that define it
*Sunday Express*
A skilful debut about family secrets - and food
*i news*
A wonderful immersive experience
*Daily Mail*
A beautiful read - a real pageturner
*Women's Hour, BBC Radio 4*
A delight to read, each page of Black Cake is more interesting than
the last. Wilkerson weaves social history into the backbone of the
story, in a way that's nothing short of masterful.
*Herald*
A resonant story of identity, family and the meaning of home
*Mail on Sunday*
A delight to read, each page of Black Cake is more interesting than
the last. Wilkerson masterfully weaves social history into the
backbone of the story
*Press Association*
Prepare to be hooked
*The Handbook*
Impressive
*Evening Standard*
A rich story around immigration and identity ... the novel
beautifully captures the struggles of family and identity and the
liberation that comes from those struggles
*Irish TImes*
Engrossing . . . Wilkerson's brilliant descriptions are positively
sumptuous for the mind's eye
*Heromag*
An incredible family saga spanning 60 years, jumping across
continents and time, forming a multi-layered book about secrets and
inheritance
*Guardian.com*
A delicious and gripping tale that sweeps the reader across decades
and continents, turning everything the siblings think they know
about themselves and their family on its head'
*Jyoti Patel, Guardian*
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