Black is the New White

Nakkiah Lui

2019

3.2
⚠️Content Warnings
Racism / DiscriminationStrong LanguageSuggestive Themes
Charlotte Gibson is a lawyer with a brilliant career ahead of her. As her father Ray says, she could be the next female Indigenous Waleed Aly. But she has other ideas. First of all, it’s Christmas. Second of all, she’s in love. The thing is, her fiance, Francis Smith, is not what her family expected – he’s unemployed, he’s an experimental composer … and he’s white! Bringing him and his conservative parents to meet her family on their ancestral land is a bold move. Will he stand up to the scrutiny? Or will this romance descend into farce? Love is never just black and white. It’s complicated by class, politics, ambition, and too much wine over dinner. But for Charlotte and Francis, it’s mostly complicated by family. Secrets are revealed, prejudices outed and old rivalries get sorted through. What can’t be solved through diplomacy can surely be solved by a good old-fashioned dance-off. They’re just that kind of family.
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75%
Avg Time To Finish
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Tonight’s fit

Best for readers who enjoy:  Humourous · Australian Fiction · Steady

Humourous Family Home POV: Multi-POV Published by Allen & Unwin
Characters
Family Indigenous
Sub-genre
Australian Fiction Comedy Romcom
Experience
Humourous Immersive Witty
Pace
Gentle Adrenaline
Balanced
Tone
Light Dark
Light
Book length
Short Epic
Short
More nuance
Violence
Soft Graphic
Soft
Romance
Background Front and centre
Balanced
Worldbuilding
Light touch Deep & dense
Light touch
Readability
Breezy Dense
Balanced
Humour
Serious Very funny
Very funny
Target audience
Younger Adult
Balanced
Nakkiah Lui

Nakkiah Lui

Comedy

Nakkiah Lui is a prominent Gamilaroi/Torres Strait Islander writer, actor, and director known for using dark comedy and satire to explore Indigenous experiences, racism, and identity in Australia, co-creating and starring in ABC hits like Black Comedy and Kiki & Kitty, co-hosting podcasts (Pretty for an Aboriginal), and writing acclaimed plays such as Black is the New White and Kill the Messenger, aiming to shift perspectives and drive social change through her work.

Books By This Author

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Reader Reviews

3.20
10 ratings
10 reviews
5 stars
2 (20%)
4 stars
4 (40%)
3 stars
1 (10%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 stars
3 (30%)
6 January 2026
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Loved it: Black is the New White

0
6 January 2026
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Not for me: Black is the New White

Black is the New White has a strong core idea — the execution mostly works. The middle drags and repeats the same tension a bit too long. The atmosphere is the standout — it’s easy to sink into. I’d still read more from this author even with the flaws.
0
6 January 2026
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Really enjoyed: Black is the New White

Mixed feelings on Black is the New White, but I can see why people love it. The atmosphere is the standout — it’s easy to sink into. A couple of sections could have been trimmed without losing anything. Not perfect, but it did enough to keep me turning pages.
0
6 January 2026
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Not for me: Black is the New White

0
6 January 2026
User Avatar

Really enjoyed: Black is the New White

0
6 January 2026
User Avatar

Really enjoyed: Black is the New White

Mixed feelings on Black is the New White, but I can see why people love it. The pacing stays moving and the chapters end on good beats. If you’re on the fence, try a sample — you’ll know quickly.
0
6 January 2026
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Mixed feelings: Black is the New White

0
6 January 2026
User Avatar

Not for me: Black is the New White

I went into Black is the New White with pretty normal expectations and it surprised me. The middle drags and repeats the same tension a bit too long. If you’re on the fence, try a sample — you’ll know quickly.
0
6 January 2026
User Avatar

Really enjoyed: Black is the New White

Mixed feelings on Black is the New White, but I can see why people love it. The pacing stays moving and the chapters end on good beats. Not perfect, but it did enough to keep me turning pages.
0
6 January 2026
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Loved it: Black is the New White

Black is the New White is the kind of book that hooks you early if you like its vibe. The atmosphere is the standout — it’s easy to sink into. I’d still read more from this author even with the flaws.
0