Black is the New White
Nakkiah Lui
●
2019
⚠️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.
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
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
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3.20
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ratings
10
reviews
5 stars
2 (20%)
4 stars
4 (40%)
3 stars
1 (10%)
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1 stars
3 (30%)
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.
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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.
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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 pacing stays moving and the chapters end on good beats. If you’re on the fence, try a sample — you’ll know quickly.
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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
0
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
0
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.
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