The greatest Icelandic novel and surely one of the best books of the 20th century... I read it as a teenager and it had a life-lasting effect

Laxness is a poet who writes to the edge of the pages, a visionary who allows a plot: he takes a Tolstoyan overview, he weaves in an Evelyn Waugh-like humour: It is not possible to be unimpressed

Marvellously fluent and unaffected... one of the most original and skilfully written novels of the 20th century

There are good books and there are great books and there may be a book that is something still more: it is the book of your life

Do yourself a favour and read Independent People. Opening this book is like opening a chest of treasures. Reading this book is like taking the treasures out and appreciating them, savouring them, one by one, sentence by sentence. This is the kind of novel that reminds you how glad you are that you learned to read in the first place

A masterpiece

To read him is to discover an extra tastebud. He creates a world that belongs in another dimension, like the landscape of his country - familiar, strange, seen as in a dream... an endearing and unforgettable voice

It moved me immensely

Marvellously fluent and unaffected...one of the most original and skilfully written novels of the 20th century.

I loved the brilliant writing, the characters and the clever and beautiful way the story melded together. A stunning book

Wilkerson explores the nuances of racial identity and betrayal in a powerful novel

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

A stunning page-turner, with characters that felt real and relatable. I can't recommend this book highly enough. An incredible debut

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

A sparkling debut, which examines migration, estrangement and the stories we tell about ourselves

Included in 'The books we're looking forward to in 2022'

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

A powerful, beautiful debut

A multi-generational debut generating hype

You can't help but fall in love with this book

Utterly engrossing and full of twists, Black Cake is absolutely worth the calories

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!

A shining family saga . . . Readers will adore this highly accomplished effort from a talented new writer

A heartfelt story of loss, lies and reconciliation

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

A family drama meets murdery mystery

The perfect recipe for an epic family drama . . . Feuds, grief, and a murder make Charmaine Wilkerson's Black Cake unputdownable

One of the most feverishly anticipated debuts of the year

A delicious and gripping tale that sweeps the reader across decades and continents

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

An extraordinary debut

A sweeping story, with Wilkerson masterfully bringing together all the different threads, making social history the backbone of everything

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

Delving into ideas around identity, familial bonds and lifelong secrets, Black Cake looks to be a wildly moreish page-turner

Touching on racism and acceptance, betrayal and loyalty, this emotional, heartfelt debut explores the meaning of home and the family that define it

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

This emotional, heartfelt debut explores the meaning of home and the family that define it

A skilful debut about family secrets - and food

A wonderful immersive experience

A beautiful read - a real pageturner

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.

A resonant story of identity, family and the meaning of home

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

Prepare to be hooked

Impressive

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

Engrossing . . . Wilkerson's brilliant descriptions are positively sumptuous for the mind's eye

An incredible family saga spanning 60 years, jumping across continents and time, forming a multi-layered book about secrets and inheritance

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'

Lovable, funny. Doesn't disappoint

Keyes at the peak of her powers

Praise for Marian Keyes

Messy, tangled complex humans who reminded me that few of us ever really sort out our lives at all

A novel that is warm and witty but never afraid to tackle the big stuff

Magnificently messy lives, brilliantly untangled. Funny, tender and completely absorbing!

Keyes knows how to make serious issues relatable - and get a few grownup laughs, too

There should be a word to describe the sadness and satisfaction you feel when you read the last page of a Marian Keyes novel: the ending is perfect but you still want more, more, more

Charming, funny and poignant. But also profound, heartbreaking

Keyes at her best: capturing everyday voices with humour and empathy with writing that you'll devour in a weekend. Just pure and simple joy

Funny, thought-provoking and will get you right in the feels

Sensitive, funny, wonderful, immensely touching

Marian Keyes's gift for storytelling is utterly magnificent

Rachel Walsh is back with a bang. Wickedly shrewd and fun