Since Benny walked out on her family Thanksgiving dinner, she hasn't seen her brother Byron for eight years. Until now. When her mother Eleanor passed, she left a voice recording for both kids and a black cake, instructing them to "share when the time is right". As Benny and Byron listen, Eleanor reveals the long-hidden family history: her tumultuous past, the tragics she endured, and the difficult choices she had to make. As Byron and Benny struggle to accept these truths, can they reclaim their once-close relationships and come back together as a family to fulfil Eleanor's wishes?

Black Cake is an intricate debut about family, how those who come before us could shape us, and how we can break free from the curse to reclaim our agency. I love the short chapters between Eleanor's childhood and the present day. The generous use of foreshadowing could be bothersome for some readers. But as someone who gets too attached to characters and will get too sad to continue reading a book, the foreshadowing helped tremendously in keeping me focused on the plot. Black Cake is a phenomenal debut and an un-put-down-able book I recommend for those who love a good story about families.