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francesmthompson's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
bookscatcoffee's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This was a wonderfully plotted, beautiful story! I loved the main characters! And it’s obvious the author did a lot of research to accurately portray the history. I felt like I was watching a movie. So well done! Definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars
Historical romance with Black and Indian main characters, one of whom is Muslim and an immigrant
trouble10452's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved this setting - in Harlem in the early 1900s - and I loved how original the premise is - a Black woman rewrites her dead husband's will to keep his nightclub and build a business on her own terms (while casually leading marginalized suffragettes in advocacy for the vote) and falls in love with her dishwasher-turned-sous-chef, a Bengali man who ditched a life at sea to live in NY and is now living in fear of immigration. Their love story is cautious and redemptive, and their relationship as guided by their passion for workers' rights as for each other. I will note that cultural appropriate is the crux of the original conflict between characters, and the foundation for their continued connection. It is used intentionally and challenged on page, as it helps both characters examine colorism, orientalism, and exoticization, but it is a lot packed into a novella, and I felt like it could have been further addressed with more page time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Classism, Misogyny, and Police brutality
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Colonisation
Minor: Death
Note: a childbirth scene on page.toniclark's review against another edition
2.0
A palate cleanser. The last book I read was pretty intense. This one was highly recommended by one of my favorite podcasters, but it's just not my thing. It's a romance novel, with probably more substance than many, but still didn't persuade me that it was worth my time. (I did finish it, as it was short, but hardly remember the story now.)
lailybibliography's review
4.0
4.5/5 stars
Folks, Alyssa Cole is now the queen of romance and once again, she has delivered.
I adored this. I seriously can’t believe there’s an actual romance starring Black suffragette lead and her Bengali socialist love interest, and it’s actually good. SO GOOD. I’m gonna recommend this to everyone because it seems so damn underrated, and works of art like this one shouldn’t be overlooked. Loved, loved it.
Folks, Alyssa Cole is now the queen of romance and once again, she has delivered.
I adored this. I seriously can’t believe there’s an actual romance starring Black suffragette lead and her Bengali socialist love interest, and it’s actually good. SO GOOD. I’m gonna recommend this to everyone because it seems so damn underrated, and works of art like this one shouldn’t be overlooked. Loved, loved it.
sunshineraincloud's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I love Alyssa Cole’s writing. She is a joy to read. I loved the setting of this one a lot. And, like good historical fiction should do, made me interested in learning more about this time period and setting. I thought the characters Bertha and Amir were great characters with so much backstory for a shorter book. I think the reason I can’t give this book a better rating is that I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the two leads. I just didn’t buy into their romance. I wanted to spend more time in their world and with these characters watching their lives and learning about their struggles and successes but I didn’t really care about whether they got together.
I love Alyssa Cole’s writing. She is a joy to read. I loved the setting of this one a lot. And, like good historical fiction should do, made me interested in learning more about this time period and setting. I thought the characters Bertha and Amir were great characters with so much backstory for a shorter book. I think the reason I can’t give this book a better rating is that I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the two leads. I just didn’t buy into their romance. I wanted to spend more time in their world and with these characters watching their lives and learning about their struggles and successes but I didn’t really care about whether they got together.
clpaige's review
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0