---
product_id: 493726852
title: "Black Cake: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel"
price: "A$32"
currency: AUD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/493726852-black-cake-a-read-with-jenna-pick-a-novel
store_origin: AU
region: Australia
---

# Black Cake: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel

**Price:** A$32
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Black Cake: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel
- **How much does it cost?** A$32 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.au](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/493726852-black-cake-a-read-with-jenna-pick-a-novel)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
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## Description

desertcart.com: Black Cake: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel: 9780593358351: Wilkerson, Charmaine: Books

Review: Great read! - You won't want to put this down until you read it competely.
Review: A beautiful debut - This book was in need of a bit of fine tuning. I did enjoy the multiple POV's and multiple timelines with short chapters. However the story was trying to cover too many topics. It went wide instead of deep. Wilkerson juggles a lot within the story, rotating between the past and present in brief chapters that, while written entirely in third person, spirals through the characters to reframe on their specific lives, emotions and thoughts. The style gives each character their individualism while also weaving them together to view each individual as connected through the community of their shared lives. The ending is clean answering of the questions the story raised. It took a bit of time for Black Cake to pick up the pace, and there were way too names keep straight at times. Foreshadowing was overused, I could foresee each and every reveal. The characters would always explain their thoughts, not very subtly, and would repeat their thoughts several times. This I would have edited down. As a reader, I want something to ponder, but this was spoon fed a little too much. Black Cake is a story of Identity: what it means to be who you are, how heritage can either define you or hold you captive, and how place and opportunity can shape your destiny. At first, we are introduced to Benny and Byron's story, and I was intrigued by these narrators and their differing perspectives. The premise was sound, and I thought by story's end I would have a firm sense of WHO these two were and who they could become down the line. At first, the book felt balanced: we got small glimpses into mother Eleanor's life without losing hold of the present-day narrative. As time went on, however, the central theme of the story became more and more divergent, as character after character was introduced, new locations and complications arose, and the book started to lose focus---and lose my attention. The dramatic 'twists' became a bit repetitive, and there was a heavy emphasis on certain themes such as abuse, without any true conclusion. The moment I started to connect to a new character's story line, we jumped to another point in time, a new location, or back to present day, and it left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. After reading about the making of Black Cake which is a cake bursting with fruits, soaked in rum, and browned with sugar (hence the name). I am curious to experiment with some recipes. As debuts go, this is a strong one, and I look forward to seeing what else Wilkerson publishes.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #5,405 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #86 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books) #160 in Black & African American Women's Fiction (Books) #194 in Women's Domestic Life Fiction |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (27,255) |
| Dimensions  | 5.17 x 0.93 x 7.95 inches |
| ISBN-10  | 059335835X |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0593358351 |
| Item Weight  | 2.31 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 416 pages |
| Publication date  | November 29, 2022 |
| Publisher  | Ballantine Books |

## Images

![Black Cake: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81c5dIxkW-L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great read!
*by D***N on January 24, 2026*

You won't want to put this down until you read it competely.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A beautiful debut
*by M***Y on October 30, 2023*

This book was in need of a bit of fine tuning. I did enjoy the multiple POV's and multiple timelines with short chapters. However the story was trying to cover too many topics. It went wide instead of deep. Wilkerson juggles a lot within the story, rotating between the past and present in brief chapters that, while written entirely in third person, spirals through the characters to reframe on their specific lives, emotions and thoughts. The style gives each character their individualism while also weaving them together to view each individual as connected through the community of their shared lives. The ending is clean answering of the questions the story raised. It took a bit of time for Black Cake to pick up the pace, and there were way too names keep straight at times. Foreshadowing was overused, I could foresee each and every reveal. The characters would always explain their thoughts, not very subtly, and would repeat their thoughts several times. This I would have edited down. As a reader, I want something to ponder, but this was spoon fed a little too much. Black Cake is a story of Identity: what it means to be who you are, how heritage can either define you or hold you captive, and how place and opportunity can shape your destiny. At first, we are introduced to Benny and Byron's story, and I was intrigued by these narrators and their differing perspectives. The premise was sound, and I thought by story's end I would have a firm sense of WHO these two were and who they could become down the line. At first, the book felt balanced: we got small glimpses into mother Eleanor's life without losing hold of the present-day narrative. As time went on, however, the central theme of the story became more and more divergent, as character after character was introduced, new locations and complications arose, and the book started to lose focus---and lose my attention. The dramatic 'twists' became a bit repetitive, and there was a heavy emphasis on certain themes such as abuse, without any true conclusion. The moment I started to connect to a new character's story line, we jumped to another point in time, a new location, or back to present day, and it left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. After reading about the making of Black Cake which is a cake bursting with fruits, soaked in rum, and browned with sugar (hence the name). I am curious to experiment with some recipes. As debuts go, this is a strong one, and I look forward to seeing what else Wilkerson publishes.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I Can't Say enough About This Book!
*by S***A on August 23, 2025*

Eleanor Bennett has died, and her two children are summoned by her lawyer to listen to their mother’s lengthy recorded voice message. In it, she divulges many incredible secrets that she used to ensure her survival. She also leaves them a black cake, the last black cake she ever made. I love this book! This is an incredible tale filled with many twists and turns, and with many branches that are all eventually tied up together into one awesome story. The characters are amazing and the settings are lush with description. The plot is so intriguing that I couldn't put it down! I can’t say enough about this one! This is a tale of family, friendship, love and heartache. It is also about the importance of tradition. In addition, our author deals with the difficulties that arise when people are forced to fit into categories determined by others. You have to experience this precious book!

## Frequently Bought Together

- Black Cake: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel
- Before I Let Go
- The Vanishing Half: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)

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*Product available on Desertcart Australia*
*Store origin: AU*
*Last updated: 2026-02-28*