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a_libra_library's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
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? N/A
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, and Colonisation
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
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.75
Set in the 1910s in Chicago, The Davenports follows the affluent Davenport family's daughters Oliva, and Helen, as well as best friend Ruby and maid Amy-Rose. The Davenports are one of the wealthiest families in town, thanks to their thriving carriage business. But it's not easy navigating the primarily white social scene of the time, especially when parental expectations and the complicated emotion that is love is involved. This book follows strong themes of parental expectations, and learning to take a chance and be bold for what you love. (And who!) I waited over a month on the library hold list for this, and it was so worth it!! This book helped to tide me over until the next season of Bridgerton comes out, I seriously cannot wait for the sequel. I saw myself in all of the girls the book followed. Olivia, pressured to be perfect and please her parents, yet finds love in a civil rights activist who opens her eyes to the struggles of her community. Helen, stifled by gender roles, unable to follow her dream of being a mechanic, and her Father doesn't listen to her ideas. Ruby, carrying the load of her parents future on her shoulders, being forced and expected to marry the Davenport heir, yet her heart tugs her the other way. And perhaps my favorite character, Amy-Rose, she has worked for everything she has, and dreams of opening a salon to do hair, a difficult task when single women (especially black women) are not thought to be capable of running their own business. While this book is primarily a romance novel, it doesn't shy away from the hard truths and facts of the time period. Krystal Marquis shows the effects of the spreading Jim Crow laws, rising racial tensions and the harsh reality of what it was like to be alive and not white during that time period. It is so incredibly important to read books like this, especially considering our education is being stripped away and so many state officials want to gloss over the ugly parts of history.
The romance of this book drew me in, and the historical events and tension kept me enraptured till the very last page. While it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger for some of the characters, and their love interests, I know their strong family ties that bind them to each other will help them get through anything. In the meantime I will eagerly anticipate the sequel!
The Cover
I adore this bold and bright cover. In the first chapter of the book Olivia is treated horribly at a shop, the store employee assumes she can't afford any of the items. In response she goes on a little spending spree (as she should) and purchases several items including bright yellow fabric. The symbolism of using that same yellow hue on the cover that Oliva purchased in response to the racist worker is just *chefs kiss*. I love how Olivia is directly looking at the viewer, a small smile on her face that reads almost as smirk. Her male suitor next to her can't take her eyes off of her, and is more focused on her face then anything else. The other three female leads are in the background huddled together, a tight knit group that looks to be gossiping. The title font works perfectly with the cover and the theme of the book, and I love how there is a little blurb on the front that reads "Fortune favors the bold". The Chicago skyline looms in the background adding depth to the overall composition.
Cover Illustration: Deanna Halsall
Cover Design: Theresa Evangelista
The romance of this book drew me in, and the historical events and tension kept me enraptured till the very last page. While it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger for some of the characters, and their love interests, I know their strong family ties that bind them to each other will help them get through anything. In the meantime I will eagerly anticipate the sequel!
The Cover
I adore this bold and bright cover. In the first chapter of the book Olivia is treated horribly at a shop, the store employee assumes she can't afford any of the items. In response she goes on a little spending spree (as she should) and purchases several items including bright yellow fabric. The symbolism of using that same yellow hue on the cover that Oliva purchased in response to the racist worker is just *chefs kiss*. I love how Olivia is directly looking at the viewer, a small smile on her face that reads almost as smirk. Her male suitor next to her can't take her eyes off of her, and is more focused on her face then anything else. The other three female leads are in the background huddled together, a tight knit group that looks to be gossiping. The title font works perfectly with the cover and the theme of the book, and I love how there is a little blurb on the front that reads "Fortune favors the bold". The Chicago skyline looms in the background adding depth to the overall composition.
Cover Illustration: Deanna Halsall
Cover Design: Theresa Evangelista
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Hate crime
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Murder, and Slavery
Minor: Death
cde10's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Slavery
antonique_reads's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Racism
grubrednuf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Davenports is a good book. It's good historical fiction. However, I strongly stand on the side of it must include a Happily Ever After to be considered a Romance so those comparisons to an American Bridgerton are sorely lacking. Aside from the slight misrepresentation, it truly is well written and I hope we can revisit the Davenports again. Olivia, Amy Rose, Helen, and Ruby are all strong women with distinct arcs, brava.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Violence, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury
natashaleighton_'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
Compelling and gorgeously descriptive, Krystal Marquis’ The Davenports is an expertly written historical YA that will appeal to fans of Downton Abbey or swoon-worthy, character driven romances.
It follows the the lives of four young black women (two of whom hail from the titular Davenports, a wealthy Black family) navigating love, life and America’s social elite in 1910s Chicago.
This was such an incredibly enjoyable read, which sees each of our young and determined heroines bravely pursue their own paths to happiness and success, whilst simultaneously navigating the complex (and often unfair) societal expectations that dictate their lives.
I loved how well written and vibrant all our protagonists were, but I must admit Helen and Amy-Rose (both aspiring, entrepreneurs and business owners) did steal my heart. Helen for her spirited ingenuity and goal orientated drive that disregards what her parents (and society) expect of her and Amy-Rose, for her determination to turn her skills into a viable business (in the hopes of giving up her job as a maid to become a salon owner.)
Though the arcs of Olivia and Ruby’s emotional journey were also really good—particularly Olivia who felt goes through the biggest transformation when she
The romance was definitely intense at times and the chemistry between some of the girls and their love interests was certainly swoon-worthy at times but, the pacing was a little inconsistent. The first half felt a little slow and the last hundred or so pages felt a little rushed.
But nonetheless,amidst the drama, luncheons and glitzy soirées the incredible emotion that’s conveyed through the lives of these young women was incredible. And getting to explore the differing socioeconomic backgrounds of each girl, who despite their differences, all yearn for the same things (to be given the opportunity to decide their own fates) was definitely an eye opener.
Particularly when realising, though these girls are fictional, their experiences are (somewhat) based on real emotions and historical events (such as the Jim Crow laws and the treatment of African Americans) that did impact soo many real people.
If you love historical romances then I definitely recommend checking this out but do be aware this is the first book in a a series and does end on a bit of a cliff hanger for each character.
It follows the the lives of four young black women (two of whom hail from the titular Davenports, a wealthy Black family) navigating love, life and America’s social elite in 1910s Chicago.
This was such an incredibly enjoyable read, which sees each of our young and determined heroines bravely pursue their own paths to happiness and success, whilst simultaneously navigating the complex (and often unfair) societal expectations that dictate their lives.
I loved how well written and vibrant all our protagonists were, but I must admit Helen and Amy-Rose (both aspiring, entrepreneurs and business owners) did steal my heart. Helen for her spirited ingenuity and goal orientated drive that disregards what her parents (and society) expect of her and Amy-Rose, for her determination to turn her skills into a viable business (in the hopes of giving up her job as a maid to become a salon owner.)
Though the arcs of Olivia and Ruby’s emotional journey were also really good—particularly Olivia who felt goes through the biggest transformation when she
The romance was definitely intense at times and the chemistry between some of the girls and their love interests was certainly swoon-worthy at times but, the pacing was a little inconsistent. The first half felt a little slow and the last hundred or so pages felt a little rushed.
But nonetheless,amidst the drama, luncheons and glitzy soirées the incredible emotion that’s conveyed through the lives of these young women was incredible. And getting to explore the differing socioeconomic backgrounds of each girl, who despite their differences, all yearn for the same things (to be given the opportunity to decide their own fates) was definitely an eye opener.
Particularly when realising, though these girls are fictional, their experiences are (somewhat) based on real emotions and historical events (such as the Jim Crow laws and the treatment of African Americans) that did impact soo many real people.
If you love historical romances then I definitely recommend checking this out but do be aware this is the first book in a a series and does end on a bit of a cliff hanger for each character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Racism and Misogyny
Minor: Slavery
chronicallybookish's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 2.5 stars
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 2/5
Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
Pitched as a YA Bridgerton* type novel inspired by the real life events of the Davenport family in 1910s Chicago, this book brings to light a period of African American History often overlooked.
The idea of this book is to dive into what the lives of affluential Black families in the North may have been like. A diverse, but real-life-inspired take on the beloved romantic, high society type of historical novel. This premise was so interesting to me, and this aspect of the book did come off as well researched and compelling. I am not typically a historical fiction girly, and yet the historical, political, and socioeconomic aspects of the book were by far my favorite part. In fact, I think they may have been the only aspect that I enjoyed. It was a significant part of the story, so I don’t necessarily wish there was more of it (though I wouldn’t have complained if there were), but all the other aspects of the book: the characters, the writing, the actual plot, were… subpar at best.
The Davenports follows 4 alternating POVs and storylines: Olivia, the elder Davenport sister; Helen, the younger Davenport sister; Amy-Rose the childhood friend/maid of the Davenport girls; and Ruby Tremaine, Olivia’s best friend and neighbor. Each girl follows both a sort of coming into herself/coming of age storyline, and a romantic storyline. Not a single one of the girls has a personality. Each girl had one, singular goal outside of their romance (except for Ruby, whose only goals were romance-oriented), and they had no substance as a character outside of their goals. They were cardboard cut out girls with no emotional impact.
Similarly, the romantic interests had no personalities, and the romances and couples themselves had no spark. I felt the slightest bit of a spark between Ruby and one of her romantic leads, but it was very minimal, and not enough to invest me in their relationship.
As for the plot… what plot? There was the premise of the Davenport family and co in their world, and there were storylines that existed for each girl, but there was no cohesive plot, no driving force behind the story. It led to the story feeling exceedingly slow and boring. If this wasn’t an ARC, I likely would have DNFed. Now, I don’t think this aspect is inherently a bad thing. I personally need the books I read to have a strong plot and driving force, I need faster paced books, and this is much more on the slow-paced, slice of life end of the spectrum. But I know people who don’t need or want that kind of book, who crave slice of life. It’s not for me, but it is for others.
I think this book has a much better premise than it does actual execution, however, I think that if it is something you’re interested in, you should definitely give it a shot.
*I really dislike the Bridgerton comp. The only similarity is that it follows high society… but Bridgerton is regency era london high society, and this is 1910s Chicago high society. Relatedly, the largest selling points of Bridgerton are the romance, drama, and smut. This book is YA, therefore there is no smut whatsoever—and there shouldn’t be. There is drama, I guess, but I was never convinced by it, nor was I swept up in it. And there are romances… but they’re one of the weakest aspects of the story in my opinion, and they do not have a guaranteed HEA. Some do, some don’t.
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 2.5 stars
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 2/5
Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
Pitched as a YA Bridgerton* type novel inspired by the real life events of the Davenport family in 1910s Chicago, this book brings to light a period of African American History often overlooked.
The idea of this book is to dive into what the lives of affluential Black families in the North may have been like. A diverse, but real-life-inspired take on the beloved romantic, high society type of historical novel. This premise was so interesting to me, and this aspect of the book did come off as well researched and compelling. I am not typically a historical fiction girly, and yet the historical, political, and socioeconomic aspects of the book were by far my favorite part. In fact, I think they may have been the only aspect that I enjoyed. It was a significant part of the story, so I don’t necessarily wish there was more of it (though I wouldn’t have complained if there were), but all the other aspects of the book: the characters, the writing, the actual plot, were… subpar at best.
The Davenports follows 4 alternating POVs and storylines: Olivia, the elder Davenport sister; Helen, the younger Davenport sister; Amy-Rose the childhood friend/maid of the Davenport girls; and Ruby Tremaine, Olivia’s best friend and neighbor. Each girl follows both a sort of coming into herself/coming of age storyline, and a romantic storyline. Not a single one of the girls has a personality. Each girl had one, singular goal outside of their romance (except for Ruby, whose only goals were romance-oriented), and they had no substance as a character outside of their goals. They were cardboard cut out girls with no emotional impact.
Similarly, the romantic interests had no personalities, and the romances and couples themselves had no spark. I felt the slightest bit of a spark between Ruby and one of her romantic leads, but it was very minimal, and not enough to invest me in their relationship.
As for the plot… what plot? There was the premise of the Davenport family and co in their world, and there were storylines that existed for each girl, but there was no cohesive plot, no driving force behind the story. It led to the story feeling exceedingly slow and boring. If this wasn’t an ARC, I likely would have DNFed. Now, I don’t think this aspect is inherently a bad thing. I personally need the books I read to have a strong plot and driving force, I need faster paced books, and this is much more on the slow-paced, slice of life end of the spectrum. But I know people who don’t need or want that kind of book, who crave slice of life. It’s not for me, but it is for others.
I think this book has a much better premise than it does actual execution, however, I think that if it is something you’re interested in, you should definitely give it a shot.
*I really dislike the Bridgerton comp. The only similarity is that it follows high society… but Bridgerton is regency era london high society, and this is 1910s Chicago high society. Relatedly, the largest selling points of Bridgerton are the romance, drama, and smut. This book is YA, therefore there is no smut whatsoever—and there shouldn’t be. There is drama, I guess, but I was never convinced by it, nor was I swept up in it. And there are romances… but they’re one of the weakest aspects of the story in my opinion, and they do not have a guaranteed HEA. Some do, some don’t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
hilwithonel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This YA historical romance follows 4 different black women living in Chicago in the early 1900s. Marquis set out to highlight Black success across the midwestern cities during that time despite the immense inequality. What an absolute joy to read about Black love in a genre that typically leaves them out.
Following 4 love stories that were all kind of wrapped up in each other was at times repetitive, (especially 3rd act breakups) but I was always engaged due to the main characters unique personalities and personal storylines.
There was so much to love about this story and I need the next book immediately.
This YA historical romance follows 4 different black women living in Chicago in the early 1900s. Marquis set out to highlight Black success across the midwestern cities during that time despite the immense inequality. What an absolute joy to read about Black love in a genre that typically leaves them out.
Following 4 love stories that were all kind of wrapped up in each other was at times repetitive, (especially 3rd act breakups) but I was always engaged due to the main characters unique personalities and personal storylines.
There was so much to love about this story and I need the next book immediately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Violence
bookswithca's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Racism, Infidelity, and Slavery