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blewballoon's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm being a little generous with my rating because I really like the idea of this book, and the execution isn't bad. The prose is a little cliche at times, but overall this delivers a nice young adult historical romance from the perspective of a black family. There are several characters and romances to follow, and they aren't all resolved in this book. I'll be grabbing the sequel to see how those loose threads get tied. I will also caution that if you don't like 3rd Act break ups, you will probably dislike this story, because there are multiple. But if you are looking for something like Bridgerton and Downton Abbey but aimed at a younger audience and a focus on black characters, this is a good pick and a fun read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
amberinpieces's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Police brutality, Racism, Blood, Classism, Slavery, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Violence
mari1532's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I checked this audiobook out from my local library and I absolutely devoured it.
Synopsis: Set in Chicago in the 1910s, the Davenports explores the lives and relationships of Olivia, her sister Helen, her best friend Ruby, and her childhood friend and maid, Amy-Rose. Switching between each woman's point of view the story unfolds to show their dreams, desires, and daily struggles.
Olivia Davenport is the eldest daughter of a wealthy carriage company owner but longs to have more meaning in her life than charity events and expensive gowns. Her sister, Helen, too dreams of more than the strict confines of marriage and actively participates in the carriage company with her brother, John, hoping to expand the business toward the automotive industry.
Ruby is also struggling against the expectations of her family. As her father attempts a bid for mayor the pressure to meet her parents' expectations mount. Expected to marry John Davenport, the brother of her best friend Olivia, Ruby begins to wonder if the path set out for her since childhood is the path she really wants to take.
Amy-Rose, however, has her path clear in front of her. Open a women's hair salon in a local storefront. Ever since she and her mother were taken in as help for the Davenport family Amy-Rose has dreamed of sticking out on her own and the passing of her mother has only made her more determined. That is if love doesn't stand in her way.
Marquis' writing style is so engrossing. I wasn't even 5% in before I was incredibly emotionally invested in the outcome of the characters' story. All four of the women that were the focus of this book were so well-rounded and relatable. I think that I personally related to Ruby the most, but Amy-Rose was my favourite. Helen and Olivia were also very good characters and I loved the nature of their relationship as sisters. Helen by far was the funniest character and I was the most invested in Olivia's love story. About 50% of the way through the book I was desperate to know that there would be more books in the series and was elated when I Googled and found that Marquis is already working on the second installment.
The heat in this book is pretty limited, but I was so engrossed in the story. If you enjoy historical romance novels I would recommend this one. The story is definitely going to leave you wanting more.
Synopsis: Set in Chicago in the 1910s, the Davenports explores the lives and relationships of Olivia, her sister Helen, her best friend Ruby, and her childhood friend and maid, Amy-Rose. Switching between each woman's point of view the story unfolds to show their dreams, desires, and daily struggles.
Olivia Davenport is the eldest daughter of a wealthy carriage company owner but longs to have more meaning in her life than charity events and expensive gowns. Her sister, Helen, too dreams of more than the strict confines of marriage and actively participates in the carriage company with her brother, John, hoping to expand the business toward the automotive industry.
Ruby is also struggling against the expectations of her family. As her father attempts a bid for mayor the pressure to meet her parents' expectations mount. Expected to marry John Davenport, the brother of her best friend Olivia, Ruby begins to wonder if the path set out for her since childhood is the path she really wants to take.
Amy-Rose, however, has her path clear in front of her. Open a women's hair salon in a local storefront. Ever since she and her mother were taken in as help for the Davenport family Amy-Rose has dreamed of sticking out on her own and the passing of her mother has only made her more determined. That is if love doesn't stand in her way.
Marquis' writing style is so engrossing. I wasn't even 5% in before I was incredibly emotionally invested in the outcome of the characters' story. All four of the women that were the focus of this book were so well-rounded and relatable. I think that I personally related to Ruby the most, but Amy-Rose was my favourite. Helen and Olivia were also very good characters and I loved the nature of their relationship as sisters. Helen by far was the funniest character and I was the most invested in Olivia's love story. About 50% of the way through the book I was desperate to know that there would be more books in the series and was elated when I Googled and found that Marquis is already working on the second installment.
The heat in this book is pretty limited, but I was so engrossed in the story. If you enjoy historical romance novels I would recommend this one. The story is definitely going to leave you wanting more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Misogyny
Moderate: Classism, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
gracescanlon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I liked this, so much. I would’ve loved it, but the “ending” left me frustrated and dissatisfied. Still, it was so lovely to read historical fiction depicting young, rich Black protagonists, who are beautiful and passionate and supportive of one another. There should be more books like this - or if there are, more should be in my TBR!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Classism, and Slavery
Minor: Colonisation and Violence
purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Discovering that this is the first in a duology instantly made me 82% more satisfied with the parts of the story we're given here. I definitely would've liked the last scene so much better if I had known — having all of the Davenport siblings together at one table is something I was hoping for throughout the entire book and when it finally happened I couldn't properly enjoy it because I kept thinking "wait, there's not nearly enough book left to resolve any of this!" So... keep in mind that this is only the first half of the story and you'll be much more likely to enjoy this fascinating historical about a wealthy Black family in Chicago in the early 1900s and the lives, moments, and movements that intersect with them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Classism, and Sexism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Alcohol, and Violence
Minor: Slavery
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Slavery, Hate crime, Racism, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder
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