The Other Black Girl
by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Narrated by Aja Naomi King, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Heather Alicia Simms, Bahni Turpin
Why Listen to This Audiobook?
Four narrators pull you into a paranoid workplace thriller where you can't trust any of them — including yourself.
- Great if you want: sharp social horror with a literary edge
- Listening experience: tense and unsettling, builds dread in quiet moments
- Narration: Bahni Turpin and Aja Naomi King anchor the shifting unreliability perfectly
- Skip if: the ending lands as ambiguous — many readers wanted more resolution
About This Audiobook
When Nella Rogers lands a job as an editorial assistant at a prestigious New York publishing house, she becomes the company's sole Black employee, navigating daily microaggressions and workplace isolation. Her relief at finally having an ally arrives in the form of Hazel, a confident newcomer who seems to effortlessly charm their predominantly white colleagues. However, Nella's excitement quickly sours as Hazel rises through the ranks while mysterious threatening notes appear on Nella's desk, warning her to leave the company immediately. What begins as workplace rivalry transforms into something far more sinister, forcing Nella to question everyone around her and uncover the dark forces manipulating her career and sanity.
The stellar ensemble cast elevates this psychological thriller through distinct vocal performances that capture each character's complexity and hidden motivations. Aja Naomi King leads with a nuanced portrayal of Nella's mounting paranoia and vulnerability, while the supporting narrators create a rich soundscape of voices that mirror the story's themes of identity and belonging. The multiple perspectives allow listeners to experience the mounting tension from different angles, making the workplace dynamics feel immediate and claustrophobic. Each narrator's delivery enhances the book's sharp social commentary while maintaining the page-turning suspense that drives this contemporary horror story forward.