The Black Bird of Chernobyl

by Ann McMan

Two-time Lambda Literary Award-winning author Ann McMan takes readers inside the inner workings of the funeral home business as only she can in this remarkable and wholly unforgettable romantic comedy that proves the adage that Life is for the Living . Everything about Lilah Stohler is her clothes, her mood, and her outlook on life and death. That last part is important because Lilah’s father has just retired and left her in charge of Stohler’s Funeral Home. But Abel Stohler knows his daughter’s comfort level rests “downstairs,” so he hires one Sparkle Lee Sink, to help Lilah manage the living part of the business of death. Sparkle Lee is a ray of sunshine and everything that Lilah isn’t—a denizen of the Junior League, a former county fair beauty queen, and an aspiring baker. She is also a social media influencer and marketing whiz. Lilah isn’t happy about this new arrangement to begin with, but when business starts booming because of Sparkle Lee’s bright personality, craveable baked goods, and well-healed social connections, Lilah starts to think things might just work out. But joy is fleeting in the funeral home business, and Lilah’s world is turned upside down when one of Sparkle Lee’s Insta posts featuring Lilah goes viral—and now, sightings of The Black Bird of Chernobyl have become an obsession in Winston-Salem and the North Carolina Triad. Lilah knows that Sparkle Lee needs to die, but before she can give her the send-off she deserves, Lilah must first find a way to deal with the inconvenient attraction she’s developed for her cheerful and happy-go-lucky business partner.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Humor, Queer, Audiobook, Southern

300 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2024

About the author

College at an indifferent liberal arts institution taught Ann McMan that understanding subject/verb agreement was not enough to secure her fame and fortune. After graduation, she got a job driving a young adult bookmobile—and spent her days piloting the great rig across the dusty back roads of rural North Carolina. Her duties included making certain that the mobile library always contained at least six copies of "Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret", visiting the county detention unit (it was a great way to catch up with her brothers), and showing public service films about safe sex to pre-teens at 4-H Clubs all across her part of “The New South.”

Soon, the allure of higher education coaxed Ann back to school. For the past three decades, Ann has worked at a succession of premier institutions, designing marketing and advancement materials that promote, promulgate, and extol the benefits of indifferent liberal arts education.

Somebody has to do it.

All this time, she continued to write. And when, at the ripe old age of thirty, she realized that she was not like other girls, the great world of lesbian literature opened its arms, and provided her with a safe haven in which to grow and learn about her new identity. She will forever be indebted to those literary pioneers who had the courage, the talent, and the temerity to gift us all with an art form of our own. Ann’s first and subsequent attempts at writing lesbian fiction have been heartfelt attempts to pay that great gift forward.

Ann McMan is the author of three novels, JERICHO, DUST, and AFTERMATH–and the story collection SIDECAR.

In 2011, Ann, along with her novels JERICHO and DUST and her short story “I Saw Xena Kissing Senticles” were elected to The Royal Academy of Bards Hall of Fame. In 2012, she was awarded the Alice B. Lavender Certificate.

BACKCAST, further adventures of the CLIT-Con 13 (that zany cast of authors from SIDECAR’s “Bottle Rocket”) will be released in 2013.

Reviews

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’re living through some pretty fucked up times (yeah, I know, understatement), but Ann McMan might be the antidote to (at least some of) it. In a world led by idiocy and ignorance, McMan’s wit is at once refreshing and therapeutic.

Lilah Stohler is a lot more interested in death than she is in life. I mean, life sucks, right? As the new director of the family funeral home, she excels “downstairs”. To help with dealing with the living, her dad, just before leaving the business to his daughter, hired Sparkle Lee Sink, who, at least on the surface, is everything Lilah isn’t. She’s warm, she’s kind, she cares, and she bakes the most delicious ginger chews. Lilah hates her at first sight, obviously. Add to that undesired Instagram fame after a smartass teen dubs Lilah the Black Bird of Chernobyl and hard decisions regarding whether to sell or keep going, and a trip to the National Funeral Directors Associations in Las Vegas feels like the perfect break.

I am such a huge fan of Lilah Stohler. She’s intense, she’s clever, she wields the driest sense of humour like a shield, behind which she hides her fear of being loved, of being seen, as much as she hopes for it. And sure, I love Sparkle, but Sparkle’s easy to love. Lilah, however, is an acquired taste, and I love that McMan didn’t simply write her as misunderstood. She’s a lot mellower than she wants people to know, but she’s also not a complete stranger to bitchiness.

While The Black Bird of Chernobyl is a romance, and the Grumpy/Sunshine interactions are a lot of fun (that’s where the narration shines), my favourite parts include the beautifully-written secondary characters. From death’s delivery man Dash and his Ford Transit Van to the Freeman brothers (who aren’t brothers at all), from Rita Kitty, hairdresser to the dead, to Lilah’s family (including her younger sister Frankie, whom we met in The Big Tow), they’re all delightful. My absolute favourite, however, is Kay Stover, the funeral home business manager, who calls out Lilah on her BS while always having her back. All these relationships are infused with so much love, mixed with the best banter and sarcastic retorts.

Is it too much at times? Yes. Did I mind? Hell no. I needed the laughs, I needed the quips, I needed the smarts. And I needed the gentleness and the vulnerability Lilah had been fighting to ignore until she got wiser. My heart rejoiced in the warmth (despite one completely heartbreaking twist) and my brain in feeling its wheels in action.

If I believed in star ratings, I’d acknowledge that I’m probably slightly overrating this book, but since I don’t, I’ll overrate if I want to.

Video review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHEU2zCIa82/

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars

[Misha · Rating 4 out of 5]

(rounded down from 4.25)

This was enjoyable, and contrary to the impression the cover gives you, it is mostly quite lighthearted and fun. I enjoyed that we have a cast of engaging and fun characters working in a funeral home, along with the owner's daughter Lilah, who has just taken over operations when her dad retires. While their business is about death, which is a massive industry, I enjoyed learning about Lilah's passion project: sustainable funereal practices.

The characters really stand out here as fun, lively, and with good banter around the various funerals they are putting on. The only weak part of this, I feel, was the romance aspect. Lilah and Sparkle have a clear attraction to each other but not much more is presented about their personalities and their getting over their respective fears and issues to come together for a longer-term partnership.

Overall, fun and engaging and the funeral announcements in the middle are an excellent touch.

[Lyn Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this book featured Frankie’s sister Lilah from The Big Tow I couldn’t wait to read it. The Big Tow is a favourite of mine and Black Bird of Chernobyl didn’t let me down. But then, Ann McMan never does. I love her turns-of-phrase, her quirky characters and the hilarious situations they seem to slide into. And this was hilarious. Ann McMan hilarious.

I’d love to say more but there’ll be no spoilers from me. Just know in my opinion this was a great read and it covered the whole spectrum of emotions.

An added bonus is, if you’re into audiobooks, Christine Williams is narrating this and she did an amazing job of The Big Tow, so…

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this novel was like watching an episode of Schitts Creek, but with a funeral home as the main setting, and a main character with Wednesday Addams vibes.

It was entertaining and funny, but for some readers, the enjoyment may be tempered as many of the quips/jokes require a degree of familiarity on American culture/media. For example, reference is made to: Lorraine Bracco's voice; the hideous carpeting in Vegas casinos; the frequency of Atlanta layovers for Delta flights; furries at conventions. This seems more prevalent compared to her previous novels.

[Agirlcandream · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a rare day when I am out for a walk listening to an audiobook that I laugh out loud drawing stares from others on the sidewalk. The Black Bird of Chernobyl may not be for everyone but the cantankerous mortician, Lilah Stohler and her band of merry funeral home employees won my heart. The voice actor Christine Williams brought out the slow southern charm in many of the characters and enriched the author's ability to deliver memorable moments of humour and pathos.

Ms McMan had me laughing at lines like the one regarding ten year old Lilah winning a deer skinning contest over a large group of hunters because "Lilah had the hands of a surgeon and the tenacity of a serial killer" which is the best visual I have imagined in years. She balanced her wry sense of humour with moments of introspection and humanity we so desperately need these days.

Loved it.

[trinaty ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had a fun time with this, very quick-witted and snappy dialogue. Grumpy/sunshine sapphic romance, slowww burn, and all surrounding a funeral home. I think this is a good holiday book for the macabre readers (myself included.) I felt like for a lot of the book not a lot was happening except funny conversation, which I DO enjoy. The ending was good, I just wish the rest of the book had been as good as the ending. I will say it offered a lot of really cool narratives on death and the funeral home industry which I found very interesting

[Katherine Rupley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann McMan delivers. Interesting and heart warming story, full of humor, southern charm, and memorable characters.

[Rey Hawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this one. The premise drew me in, the amazing writing kept me going, and the emotions evoked sealed the deal (funny and heart-wrenching! A winning combo!). This novel was something different, which I honestly don’t see a lot of (hence why its “different”). It was very funny, and incredibly entertaining from start to finish. Essentially no angst and very little conflict, this was an easy read. Highly recommend.

I have never had to look up so many words before while reading a novel. This isn’t good or bad, but interesting and unexpected. Thankfully I was reading an ebook so I could look things up easily while I went!

Highlights:
-I love the main characters passion for green burial and sustainable funeral practices. This is actually a topic that I personally care about so I LOVED to see it highlighted in this novel. Explanation of the process and benefits of aquamation and human composting was an unexpected delight. Anything that educates while entertaining is a win for me.
-The wacky cast of characters and SOLID found-family vibes. Big time on the found-family, and their various relationship dynamics.
-Delightful “Ask A Mortician” shoutout!
-The writing was witty insightful, and genuinely funny. I was very entertained.
-I liked the protagonist Lilah a lot. Relatable in a lot of ways, and also not at all in others. There was a clear voice and characterization to the writing.

Disappointments (just minor though!):
-Sparkle. We didn’t get enough insight into this character beyond mostly surface level interactions. We certainly got some backstory, but not a lot of insight into her as a person or what she was thinking and feeling in the novel. It was very one-sided with focus on the protagonist, which made sense and worked, but I wish we had seen more from Sparkle.
-The relationship did not have very much development. I loved the characters together, but the relationship development was essentially Lilah being hot for Sparkle while we didn’t know what Sparkle was thinking (for the most part). I could extrapolate from reading their interactions what they might be thinking/feeling, but as a narrator Lilah didn’t do a lot of reflecting on these things on-page.
-One or two VERY MINOR plot points didn’t get resolved. They didn’t really matter, but I was left wondering.

[Jamie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A low angst grumpy sunshine, slow burn story.
Lila takes over her dad’s funeral home business upon his retirement without knowing he has hired a social media influencer and marketing genius, Sparkle, to help out with the living aspect of the business. Sparkle gets on Lila’s nerves and Lila wrestles with the attraction she al feels towards her.
The story weaves around Lila’s decision to sale or keep the business and her views on making death more environmentally friendly. She has ideas that are not exactly compatible with perspective buyers.
I found the story engaging, if a bit slow paced for me. I enjoyed the witty banter and natural humor throughout the story.

Thank you to Bywater Books for the audiobook. I leave this review voluntarily.

[Minna Perälä · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up. I really enjoyed The Black Bird of Chernobyl. It's funny and a bit sad, serious and light. The humour is dark and partly twisted. There's a lot of pop culture references that I enjoyed spotting.

Lilah in this book reminded me a bit of Delilah Green (Ashley Herring Blake's Delilah Green Doesn't Care) because both are kind of dark, melancholic women who choose their own path without thinking opinions of others. But both have their softer side beneath it all.

The Black Bird of Chernobyl was my first Ann McMan book and I will definitely read/listen to more. I enjoyed the book's audiobook production.

[Celina · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was weird.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn’t sure what to think initially but I ended up really enjoying this one.
It had a generous amount of laughs and also a few tears.

[Kiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
🔥.5 / 5 (clean)

I definitely enjoyed the irony of this (mostly) feel-good romcom about two seemingly polar opposites working at a funeral home.

It's usually hard for me to pick up and stay engaged in a contemporary romance, but this book did the trick. I thought the characters were odd but loveable - my favorite combination - and was rooting for our two FMCs the whole time. Arguably the most important part of a romance novel, the dialogue/banter, was witty and fun and not too cheesy/cringe worthy, with lots of sweet moments sprinkled in.

Yes, many of the events in the story were kind of silly, but I loved how that lightheartedness was balanced out by the characters' very real relationships and decisions. (I also just feel some silliness is allowable in a romcom.) As someone who mostly sticks with dark/intense books, I liked the little gothic personality to this story - but would say that overall it was pretty upbeat and light. Really the only gothic part of it was the funeral home environment (and a lot of the story doesn't take place there) and our main FMC.

This book did have some grumpy x sunshine vibes, which I'm a sucker for, but I was pleasantly surprised that the MCs had enough depth added to them that it wasn't an oversimplified portrayal of the trope. Each of them had ambitions and minds of their own, too, which I liked.

I would recommend this as a quick, fun, sapphic romcom that's an overall cute, feel-good story - but has a liiittle edginess to it from some of the characters and events. Also, climate change is a big theme in this, so if you don't agree with "go green" type stuff, you probably won't like this book. I had absolutely no issue with it, though! 💚

[Thank you to LibraryThing and the author/Bywater publishing for the eARC! All opinions are my own.]

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fun book, with all the witty banter you'd expect from an Ann McMan book, plus fun weirdness and a great discussion of green burial options (including composting and alkaline hydrolysis). But somehow the romance felt like an afterthought, and wasn't as strong as in Jericho (which McMan weirdly claims is not a romance) or, say, Hoosier Daddy. McMan spent just a little too much time building up the atmosphere and not quite enough time convincing us that there was a real romance and not just two people horny for each other.

Maybe next time less discussion of alcohol (so much alcohol) and more discussion of, you know, feelings?

[Monica Neth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really thought I was going to like this book. I liked the ending, but the journey to get there wasn't great. It started off strong, but the main character Lilah has the exact same rapport with everyone, all the dialogue sounds the same. It seems like the author was trying to make her a witty character, but when all the other characters respond to her in the same voice it gets stale. So by the time that she and Sparkle are at the conference and getting to know each other closer, their relationship doesn't seem any closer that Lilah relationship with any of the other characters. The writing style wasn't really my thing and there was a lot of conversations that were more verbose than necessary and needed trimming down. There were also some conversations that were written in a single paragraph as a character recalling a conversation, that should have either been worked into the beginning of the chapter to lead to where it starts at the beginning of the chapter or it could have been removed entirely and not effected the story. There was only one part that made me laugh so hard I almost peed that being the scene the morning after their first woohoo session, when Sparkle said, "You may recall we never actually ate anything last night, and Lilah replied, "not unless you count... all those bowls of bar mix." my sense of humor can be juvenile sometimes sue me. Unfortunately when they returned from the conference, I expected a bit more showcasing of their grumpy x sunshine dynamic, but it was back to the same with Lilah being quippy and every other character matching her energy exactly, making the relationships stale again. The only other main critique I have is that when Kay dies and Sparkle goes to tell her she does it in the most corporate way possible. That could have been a really good way to showcase how Sparkle compliments Lilah, but it didn't. Instead of simply saying "Kay died" or trying to say it in a way that showcases Sparkle's caring side she says, "There's been a... a death...in our... One of our dear friends has passed, Lilah. Tonight." I understand the shaky voice at the beginning should be exhibiting her difficulty with the topic, and her emotions, but the corporatized way of saying it clashes with the way the rest of the book handles the topic of death in such a irreverent way. I don't mind the irreverence, not everyone deals with death in the same way, but when they make jokes about other peoples deceased relatives, and then when one of their friends dies and they're not it just clashes. I also have some issues with the laissez-faire way that the mishandling of corpses is brought up. At one point necrophilia is mentioned, and it's implied that some of the morticians at the conference assault the dead bodies, and it's a open secret, which is just yikes. To a lesser degree is the way that Lilah considers desecrating Chad's body if he were to die. That's just wrong, and I am not okay with that. I feel like the whole social media subplot could have been dropped, and the core of the story wouldn't have been affected. I do appreciate the advocating for green death and burial. As at this point I feel like that's what I would want were I to die. Overall this was not my vibe, and needed some editing and revising.

[Lyn Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Ann McMan

When I saw this book featured Frankie’s sister Lilah from The Big Tow I couldn’t wait to read it. The Big Tow is a favourite of mine and Black Bird of Chernobyl didn’t let me down. But then, Ann McMan never does. I love her turns-of-phrase, her quirky characters and the hilarious situations they seem to slide into. And this was hilarious. Ann McMan hilarious.
I’d love to say more but there’ll be no spoilers from me. Just know in my opinion this was a great read and it covered the whole spectrum of emotions.
An added bonus is, if you’re into audiobooks, Christine Williams is narrating this and she did an amazing job of The Big Tow, so…

[Bugs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann McMan has done it again!! It's been a while since I read her last book. I keep forgetting that she always makes me chuckle and laugh out loud with her wicked sense of humour! So when I picked up this one with a title that's one of my faves now, "The Black Bird of Chernobyl," I was anticipating something fun to read. And oh, the cover! Do I love the cover! The raven (crow?) and the coffin?! How devilishly appropriate! Well done, McMan!

If one of your MCs is called....SPARKLE... that's just an invitation...to all sorts thrown at ya! And when the other MC is as morbidly facetious, icy and dark, jaded, anti-social, with a caustic tongue... now THAT's a recipe for disaster...in the ROTFLMAO kind of disaster, that is!! Oh, I absolutely LOVE Lilah's dry and sarcastic comebacks and commentary (including her thoughts) at every juncture! And oh, when she's introduced to "Sparkle"...!! Hilarious!

I simply love how McMan always seems to weave into her story, snippets of metaphors, symbolisms, words that read more like lyrics/poetry, amidst all the humour. That's the genius of her writing style. Makes you laugh, cry, ponder, all mixed in together in a nonlinear way. It's a slice of life, really. Life isn't all joy, happy clappy, rainbows and unicorns. It isn't all doom and gloom either. It's actually a combo of both emotional spectrums fused together and most evidently, there's comedy in tragedy, sorrow in joy. This book showcases this very subject! What's more profoundly ironic when comedy and hilarity ensue right smack in the middle of a funeral home?

The final part of the story tore at my heartstrings so affectingly it left me with a sense of bittersweet melancholy. Poignantly written. Which makes the ending evermore rewarding, sweet and cherishing! I absolutely love Lilah. Ice-queen, morbid, acerbic, aloof, socially inept. Ahhh...a character after my own lesfic heart! She's a combination of Morticia and Wednesday! Delish!

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this morbidly hilarious yet poignant and bittersweet story about life and death, and the importance of carpe diem with no regrets as life flows ever-so fleetingly...

Read this story! I read it in one short sitting!

[M the avid reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explore the zany side of funerals, homemade cookies and ironing (4.5 stars)
Ann McMan is so skilled at storytelling it's daunting to try and review her work. If you want reading material that's thought provoking, eyebrow raising, entertaining as all get out, and hitting you with feels and laugh inducement so you feel better for having read it (and re-read it), this author fits the bill. My rule of thumb is this: If Ann McMan wrote it, I need to read it. Period. Full stop. I suggest you do the same. Add this book to your reading pile (at the top) then go read everything else she's published if you haven't already.
I've been a fan of McMan's stories since Jericho was put on my reading radar several years ago. Since then I've kept an eye out for her next publication, read it and suggested to my local library that it be added to their catalog (with high success) because it's quality writing but also unconventional in one way or another. In The Black Bird of Chernobyl, there are layers of humor, wild shenanigans in the plot and references to literature, pop culture and modern-day trend weirdness that you'll explode in laughter about and maybe also want to look up online to see if it's truth or fiction because it's so out there and unusual, you're right to wonder.
Jericho will likely never be dislodged from its place as my all time favorite Ann McMan book/series, but Black Bird has all the heart and humor, intelligence and sensitivity, sharpness sass snark and creativity that I associate with McMan's work so do check it out and if you're new to her writing then make time to go read her other books and short stories. Each one is a satisfying feast for heart, mind, soul, and funny bone. I look forward to reading whatever she publishes next and hope the wait isn't too long.

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Bird of Chernobyl by Ann McMan is a quirky, heartfelt romantic comedy set in the unusual world of a family-run funeral home. The story centers on Lilah Stohler, a goth-leaning, deeply introverted mortician who’s far more comfortable with the dead than the living. When her father retires, he leaves her in charge of the business but also hires Sparkle Lee Sink -a relentlessly cheerful, social media-savvy baker-to handle the “living” side of things and drum up business.

Lilah is initially exasperated by Sparkle’s sunny disposition, her irresistible baked goods, and her knack for turning funerals into community events. But when a moody photo of Lilah goes viral, she’s suddenly dubbed the “Black Bird of Chernobyl,” turning her into a local-and online-sensation. As the funeral home’s profile rises, so does the tension (and chemistry) between Lilah and Sparkle, with Lilah struggling to resist both the changes Sparkle brings and her growing attraction to her new colleague.

The book is packed with dark humor, where deadpan humor meets bubbly charm, and a cast of eccentric supporting characters, making it a fun, offbeat sapphic romcom. Underneath the laughs, though, McMan explores deeper themes like grief, climate change, and what it means to live fully-reminding us that, even in the business of death, life (and love) can surprise you.

McMan knocks it out of the park with this one!

4.7 Stars

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

2.75 stars

Honestly, I didn’t feel like either Lilah or Sparkle came through clearly as characters, especially Sparkle, and instead they felt like set pieces for the story. Part of this is because so much of what happened to them was something I was told happened, rather than anything I actually saw happening. For example, Lilah’s past as an unusual child who did strange things. But it’s all in the past, all in the stories other people tell about her and never in the moments that Lilah, the character, experiences while moving through the book.

This book is not bad, nor is it poorly written, but it is not the book for me, and that’s fine. This is a book that is meant for someone else who will enjoy the writing style and the storytelling, and who will laugh at the humor.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lilah is a sarcastic wiseass, making frequent pop culture references or pleas for alcohol when dealing with people she finds displeasurable. McMan constantly tells us that Lilah is at home in the basement of the mortuary, but never gives as a scene that shows her at peace there. Instead - constant complaining and judgement - even of the families she's serving. Lilah's witty and unflattering remarks about grieving people made it very hard to like her. Sparkle also fell flat for me. She is quiet, calm, and patient with Lilah to a fault, always popping up at the edges of chapters with bland words of encouragement or perspective for Lilah.
This story wasn't a romance, as stated on the cover. It was about the workings of a mortuary - the state of the industry, environmentally-friendly options, how bodies are transported and handled, etc. That part was interesting, as well as the obituaries. I would have enjoyed this book more if it'd centered around the the business and procedures of death, with quirky (and more likeable) characters in the background - more like a historical fiction.

[Henriette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romcom with Southern Snark
What happens when pitch-black humor in the form of an antisocial, snarky, clad-in-black mortician meets Southern Sunshine and the peculiar mores of the South? Well: little explosions of snarky-ness and lots of opportunity to snicker, to laugh-out-loud, to read speechless very peculiar obituaries or just spray the cocktail you sipped on right on your ereader. Beware!
Once the billowing clouds of black humor are blown over and love and tragedy strike alike there is at long last hope for our mortician.
So have fun, enjoy the ride and enjoy this new masterpiece by Ann McMan.

PS.: If death, dying, morbid mortician‘s jokes, black humor are not your thing - there are lighter and equally delighting books by Ann McMan.

I received an ARC from Bywater Books via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

[Julia (scriptamortalia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who worked in death care, I found this genuinely funny with incredible banter and touching relationships. Lilah’s tone was dry, sarcastic, and ironic all the time and it’s so similar to myself and my old coworkers.
People in this industry have a certain quality and I think this book nailed it.
I laughed out loud and teared up alongside everyone else.
The writing was incredibly witty and a pleasure to experience.
This is NOT a spicy book.
This is lighthearted dark humor in a wholesome and sweet package, and I’ll carry this story for a while.
Minus one star only because I didn’t fully feel the chemistry between the FMCs but that wasn’t even the focus of the book to me, it was just a really great read.
Also, a LOT of real life and literary references and name drops. I thought it was charming even if a little overloaded.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. A very unique and well written story but the romance was lackluster as I just didn’t buy into the chemistry between Lilah and Sparkle. The romance takes too long to start and then it’s rushed through. Also, the pacing in this was my least favorite thing about it. It is inconsistent and there were so many moments that felt to drag on and on. I liked the characters a lot even though I was a bit more attached to the side characters. They were the true stars with all of their quirkiness and charms. Lilah is the grump to Sparkle’s sunshine which was fun but again the romance didn’t work for me. Not a bad read but if the pacing had been ironed out and the romance developed more this could’ve easily been a four star for me.

[Caladae · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so sure I was going to like it, but sadly I didn't vibe with it.

My main complain is the dialogue. The main character is meant to be quirky, she's using a lot of references and quips. But so is every other character. Not only does it get annoying pretty fast, but it results in every conversation feeling unnatural.

The pacing is off and I didn't buy the romance between Lilah and Sparkles at all.
I can't recall one thing that they find attractive about each other.

I do like dark humor but overall it didn't land for me.

There are some other things that bothered me, but those are the main ones.

Overall it tries to taggle interesting topics but doesn't execute them good enough to really deepen the experience.

[justoldtrash · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ☆

This really felt like Wattpad Cool Mysterious Bad Boy x Sweet Girl except it's the cool mysterious bad boy as the main character and also the bad boy is a lesbian and also not bad at all just cool and mysterious and edgy.... trust me! it was heavy those vibes!!!!


it was kind of like I was reading the stories of my youth (pre-fanfic) but they're gayer now. goofy sometimes yea, but that stuff was my bread and butter once so it has that nostalgia comfort but now it's not either straight or MLM rpf. I'd call that progress!

I wouldn't say it's the best, but it was fun. I love edgy lesbians what can I say. I also respect the bit at the back with the publisher backwater books for anti book bans. huge win

basically this book was an if you know, you know... y'know?

[Dr. T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ann Mcmann. Her books are probably not for everyone. There's a lot of quirky banter and use of less mainstream references. F.eks more literature and historical events that perhaps a younger crowd isn't as on top of. There isn't really any "spicy scenes" either. But, it's the brilliant banter, witty characters, and unique stories that are the real pull here. The love stories are tender and sweet, and for me, always feel more wonderful than a lot of new lesfic. There's no tropes here. This is a mature author who probably writes for a mature crowd. That being said, ye young gays really should check out more of Ann Mcmanns books!

[Hope Freed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always say for this author that her intelligence shines off the pages. However, I prefer her in more serious mode and this is definite romantic comedy. Further, I think as a Brit that I miss a good number of the very American comedic references.
The ‘Black Bird’ of the title, Lilah, is one of those characters who really grows on you. Lots of snarky one liners made me smile frequently. I wasn’t entirely convinced by her connection to Sparkle but I was genuinely moved when one of the other characters, to whom she does have a big connection, unexpectedly passed.
Good as usual by Ms McMan, it was just that it didn’t quite gel as well for me as so many of her others do…

[Wynnde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Lilah. Her dry, morbid wit, her dedication to doing her job well, and her refusal to let anyone in made her a sad, sweet, and unusual character for a romance. Not many folks could write a romance involving a mortician and make it hilarious and adorable, but not many folks are AMFA. Doom and gloom finds her Sparkle and together they shine. I loved this book, and aside from the final obit (wth, McMan?! 🥺🥺), it was perfect. Also, the description of green burial options was so interesting. I will definitely be looking into those options as my final chapter gets closer.