black girl, no magic: reflections on race and respectability

'This book is a glowing achievement by one of the best essayists of her generation' Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff

Witty, fresh and full of life Liv Little

I cant recommend more highly its one of those books that I just want to press in the hands of everybody Damian Barr, Literary Salon Podcast

Kimberly McIntosh has lived a full life, with a loving family, messy friendships, mind-expanding travel and all-night parties. Shes also spent that life wondering why such opportunities arent always available to people who look like her.

Stemming from years of social policy research and campaign work, this essay collection brings together all that Kimberly has learned; whether thats dismantling the myth of social mobility for those who toe the line, to understanding why her teenage Facebook posts are quite so cringe. In it, she uses her own experiences to reveal how systematic injustice impacts us all, from the pressure of nuclear families, to enduring toxic friendships, to how painful it can be to watch Love Island.

Perfect for fans of Slay In Your Lane, Trick Mirror, and Bad Feminist, this dazzling debut collection brilliantly melds the personal and political to not only tell the story of a life, but what that life might teach us.

Kims writing is a joy. Her take on sex, British politics, mental health, intimacy, and race are some of the truest words Ive read on these issues in a long time. You can see your real self in Kims words. And guess what? It doesn't feel too frightening. A delicious and wonderfully written collection Derek Bardowell