Zakiya Dalila Harris delivers a sharp debut that functions as both workplace satire and psychological thriller, following Nella Rogers, the only Black employee at a prestigious New York publishing house until mysterious new hire Hazel arrives. Harris excels at capturing the suffocating microaggressions and performative allyship of white liberal spaces—Nella's interactions with her well-meaning but clueless colleagues ring painfully true.

The book's greatest strength lies in its first half, where Harris builds tension through everyday workplace interactions and Nella's growing paranoia about Hazel's true motives. The author has a keen eye for the exhausting code-switching required in predominantly white professional environments, and her portrayal of Nella's isolation feels authentic and urgent.

However, the novel stumbles when it shifts into full thriller mode in its second half. The supernatural elements involving hair products and mind control feel disconnected from the grounded workplace drama that precedes them, and the pacing becomes uneven as Harris tries to balance social commentary with genre conventions. Characters like Hazel remain frustratingly underdeveloped, serving more as plot devices than fully realized people.

The ending, while ambitious in its scope, doesn't quite earn its dramatic revelations. This book will strongly appeal to readers who enjoyed the workplace dynamics in 'Such a Fun Age' or the racial commentary in 'Get Out,' particularly those working in predominantly white industries who will recognize the subtle violence of corporate diversity initiatives. Fans of psychological thrillers may find the social commentary heavy-handed, while readers seeking pure literary fiction might be put off by the genre elements. Despite its flaws, Harris has written an important book that captures something essential about the contemporary Black professional experience, even if the execution doesn't always match the ambition.