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puddleshoes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Racism and Police brutality
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
nerdybookqueen's review against another edition
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
4.0
This novel introduces us to four amazing black women living in Chicago in the early 1910s. We follow their story of trying to find happiness and reaching their desires in their world against family expectations, misogyny, class, and racism. Through four separate POVs we get to meet each of the girls and explore their lives. I don't normally like multiple POVs, but this one, even with four POVs, was written so well, leaving me invested in each of their lives.
First we have Olivia, a woman who meets society's expectations for a woman of her status, looking for a husband, doing charity, etc. Until she stumbles into a civil rights meeting, and in addition to finding herself very attracted to the speaker at the meeting, discovers a desire to stand up for people like her across the country and fight against societal issues like Jim Crow. But, she has a match her parents like, and those same parents are scared for her safety, given their own experiences when they moved to Chicago.
Next, her younger sister Helen, a tomboy who wants nothing to do with the expectations put upon her, only wanting to fix automobiles with her brother in their family shop. She's foiled by her family hiring a manners coach for her, and falling in love with the man she things her sister loves. Her story centered around proving herself and fixing out her love life.
Next is Ruby, Olivia's best friend, whose father is running for mayor, and as such, her family is broke. Struggling to cope with this massive change in her life, she is also trying to win the love of her old crush, Olivia and Helen's brother, John, both to please her parents and, she thinks, herself. But, in her ploy to win his heart, she stumbles into love with another man, and has to decide what is more important to her: her parents approval or her own heart.
Finally, there's Amy Rose, a maid in the Davenport's home who wants to be a business owner (think Madam C. J. Walker). She's saved for a spot in town to sell her wares, and, to her dismay, finds herself falling for John. She faces both a combination of misogyny and racism as a black woman trying to start a business, and class issues both for her business and in getting approval for her and John's relationship.
Their worlds fall apart towards the end of the book, and I can't wait for the sequel in the hopes things improve. The characters are great and engaging and I love them. My only main grievance is I hate that it falls into the corset trap or treating them like terrible torture devices. They're just bras. They just hold parts where they need to be. If anything, with all the things Helen does, she would need the support most.
First we have Olivia, a woman who meets society's expectations for a woman of her status, looking for a husband, doing charity, etc. Until she stumbles into a civil rights meeting, and in addition to finding herself very attracted to the speaker at the meeting, discovers a desire to stand up for people like her across the country and fight against societal issues like Jim Crow. But, she has a match her parents like, and those same parents are scared for her safety, given their own experiences when they moved to Chicago.
Next, her younger sister Helen, a tomboy who wants nothing to do with the expectations put upon her, only wanting to fix automobiles with her brother in their family shop. She's foiled by her family hiring a manners coach for her, and falling in love with the man she things her sister loves. Her story centered around proving herself and fixing out her love life.
Next is Ruby, Olivia's best friend, whose father is running for mayor, and as such, her family is broke. Struggling to cope with this massive change in her life, she is also trying to win the love of her old crush, Olivia and Helen's brother, John, both to please her parents and, she thinks, herself. But, in her ploy to win his heart, she stumbles into love with another man, and has to decide what is more important to her: her parents approval or her own heart.
Finally, there's Amy Rose, a maid in the Davenport's home who wants to be a business owner (think Madam C. J. Walker). She's saved for a spot in town to sell her wares, and, to her dismay, finds herself falling for John. She faces both a combination of misogyny and racism as a black woman trying to start a business, and class issues both for her business and in getting approval for her and John's relationship.
Their worlds fall apart towards the end of the book, and I can't wait for the sequel in the hopes things improve. The characters are great and engaging and I love them. My only main grievance is I hate that it falls into the corset trap or treating them like terrible torture devices. They're just bras. They just hold parts where they need to be. If anything, with all the things Helen does, she would need the support most.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Death and Death of parent
lilysweetdreams's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
My thoughts for this book amounts to It's Just Kind Of Meh. I really really wanted to love it, but it lacked stakes, pacing and the kind of zing I've come to expect from romance books.
Of our four protagonists, only Amy-Rose actually interested me after the first few chapters. And yet she's constantly wobbling on the fence of her decisions, her dream versus a guy she kind of likes. Helen is fun with her specific interests, but she lacks the balls to really commit to it, and ended up just annoying me overall. Olivia and Ruby are harder for me to relate to and a lot of their problems are of their own creation. Don't get me wrong, characters experiencing consequences is a great plot device when executed well, but again, in this case it just annoyed me.
I also felt the was an incredible lack of plot structure and pacing present throughout. I didn't feel the passage of time, and no labels were added, which meant I was often fumbling for when and where scenes were taking place. The stakes didn't build and culminate at a crucial final moment; instead everything plodded along and had weak flare up every once in a while. I wasn't invested, and emotional moments fell flat because of it. There were no mysteries; I called the intended pairings almost as soon as the characters met. And I fully expected everything to resolve by the end of the book, so to turn the last page and discover a metaphorical to-be-continued wasn't a thrilling cliffhanger but yet another annoyance. I feel the plot could have easily been resolved in another handful of chapters.
To give credit where credit is due, the setting and theme was very interesting and the author appears to have done good research. It's a time period and people that is frequently forgotten, one I would like to see explored more often.
All in all, it added up to a loosely strung together collection of scenes, a repeating plot of will-she-get-the-guy x 4, and an uninspiring cliffhanger. I just didn't enjoy myself. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Costumer's Complaints: Despite everything else, I will begrudgingly say the clothing appears fairly accurate. Of course, the obligatory hate of corsets is ever present BUT this is actually the correct time period for them to be going out of style (slowly) and have the vestiges of tightlacing apply to the upper class protagonists of the book. That Watsonian explanation is the only reason I'm letting it slide. I'm still cranky with the Doyalist interpretation; Corsets Are A Tool Of The Patriarchy So I Will Write My Rebellious Character Hating Them. I'm sick of it, it adds nothing of value and is an overused, heavy handed, and frequently inaccurate metaphor.
Of our four protagonists, only Amy-Rose actually interested me after the first few chapters. And yet she's constantly wobbling on the fence of her decisions, her dream versus a guy she kind of likes. Helen is fun with her specific interests, but she lacks the balls to really commit to it, and ended up just annoying me overall. Olivia and Ruby are harder for me to relate to and a lot of their problems are of their own creation. Don't get me wrong, characters experiencing consequences is a great plot device when executed well, but again, in this case it just annoyed me.
I also felt the was an incredible lack of plot structure and pacing present throughout. I didn't feel the passage of time, and no labels were added, which meant I was often fumbling for when and where scenes were taking place. The stakes didn't build and culminate at a crucial final moment; instead everything plodded along and had weak flare up every once in a while. I wasn't invested, and emotional moments fell flat because of it. There were no mysteries; I called the intended pairings almost as soon as the characters met. And I fully expected everything to resolve by the end of the book, so to turn the last page and discover a metaphorical to-be-continued wasn't a thrilling cliffhanger but yet another annoyance. I feel the plot could have easily been resolved in another handful of chapters.
To give credit where credit is due, the setting and theme was very interesting and the author appears to have done good research. It's a time period and people that is frequently forgotten, one I would like to see explored more often.
All in all, it added up to a loosely strung together collection of scenes, a repeating plot of will-she-get-the-guy x 4, and an uninspiring cliffhanger. I just didn't enjoy myself. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Costumer's Complaints: Despite everything else, I will begrudgingly say the clothing appears fairly accurate. Of course, the obligatory hate of corsets is ever present BUT this is actually the correct time period for them to be going out of style (slowly) and have the vestiges of tightlacing apply to the upper class protagonists of the book. That Watsonian explanation is the only reason I'm letting it slide. I'm still cranky with the Doyalist interpretation; Corsets Are A Tool Of The Patriarchy So I Will Write My Rebellious Character Hating Them. I'm sick of it, it adds nothing of value and is an overused, heavy handed, and frequently inaccurate metaphor.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Classism
caitlinemccann's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Police brutality, and Classism
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
roseannearchy's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? N/A
4.0
The characters were very easy to love and get invested in. I loved the setting Marquis used and how she highlighted the successes of African-Americans in a time period where it was often not spoken about. We got to see the characters grow and love and get invested in their growth. Only things that took me out were that the stakes were kinda low and the pacing at times uneven, but all in all very enjoyable! Her authors note really brought the whole story together for me and gave me a greater appreciation for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Classism
jaz_gets_literary's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
This was my first historical fiction book and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. I looked looking at 4 very different Black women going through the woes of love in 1910 Chicago. It was a very different time then and even though 3 of them came from wealthy families they still didn’t have the same plight. From societal pressures to family over involvement, these 4 woman having the decide if they are going to listen to everyone else or what their heart truly wants. What the heart wants can come with a price though. I also enjoyed the inclusion of the Jim Crow movement and how it did or did t sway the women’s decisions.
I believe I’ve found my way into a new genre and I cannot wait to read the next installment in November.
I believe I’ve found my way into a new genre and I cannot wait to read the next installment in November.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, and Classism
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A fine historical romance read with a local setting. I enjoyed the cast of characters, and, although it took me a little bit to sort out who was who with the audiobook, I did like the multiple POVs at each chapter change. It was fun to bounce between the four main characters and glimpse different aspects of their lives as the overarching plot moved forward. This was a fun and unique way to take a brief dive into a piece of African-American history that we don't often learn about.
I appreciated the note at the end of the audiobook that shared more about the inspiration for this story.
I appreciated the note at the end of the audiobook that shared more about the inspiration for this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
Moderate: Slavery
readingwithtrey's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
WOW!! I saw this book being raved about all over bookstagram when it was first released last year, and I immediately added it to my TBR shelf. I put off reading it for the longest time, but when I had the chance to sign up for a tour stop with Hear Our Voices, I had to take it. I'm so glad I finally read it, and I could kick myself for waiting so long. It was amazing!
The Davenports is inspired by the real life story of C.R. Patterson and his family and follows the wealthy and prestigious Davenport family in 1910 Chicago. The story is told from 4 point of views: Olivia, Helen, Amy-Rose, and Ruby. Each of the women are coming of age with their own struggles, desires, and goals while navigating familial and societal expectations. When we're first introduced to Olivia, we see that she is preparing to be married out of duty to her family. When she meets Washington DeWight, a civil rights leader, she begins to think that maybe her own desires for her life are different than what is expected of her. Helen, Olivia's sister, has never had much interest in marriage. Instead, she'd rather spend her time working on carriages and automobiles in her brother's shop. Amy-Rose works as a maid for the Davenport family but dreams of opening her own hair shop to showcase her natural hair products. And then we have Ruby whose father is running for mayor and has turned her life upside down.
I enjoyed every story line, but I have to say my favorites were Olivia and Amy-Rose. I loved how once Olivia was made away of the civil rights movement, she felt led to do more to help. And Amy-Rose's story was incredibly inspiring. I was rooting for her the entire time. I won't say who it involved to not spoil anything, but the budding romance between Amy-Rose and her love interest was also so sweet.
I will say, I had no idea this ended on a major cliffhanger. I will definitely be counting down the days until November when the next book is released. This time I won't wait a year to read it!
The Davenports is inspired by the real life story of C.R. Patterson and his family and follows the wealthy and prestigious Davenport family in 1910 Chicago. The story is told from 4 point of views: Olivia, Helen, Amy-Rose, and Ruby. Each of the women are coming of age with their own struggles, desires, and goals while navigating familial and societal expectations. When we're first introduced to Olivia, we see that she is preparing to be married out of duty to her family. When she meets Washington DeWight, a civil rights leader, she begins to think that maybe her own desires for her life are different than what is expected of her. Helen, Olivia's sister, has never had much interest in marriage. Instead, she'd rather spend her time working on carriages and automobiles in her brother's shop. Amy-Rose works as a maid for the Davenport family but dreams of opening her own hair shop to showcase her natural hair products. And then we have Ruby whose father is running for mayor and has turned her life upside down.
I enjoyed every story line, but I have to say my favorites were Olivia and Amy-Rose. I loved how once Olivia was made away of the civil rights movement, she felt led to do more to help. And Amy-Rose's story was incredibly inspiring. I was rooting for her the entire time. I won't say who it involved to not spoil anything, but the budding romance between Amy-Rose and her love interest was also so sweet.
I will say, I had no idea this ended on a major cliffhanger. I will definitely be counting down the days until November when the next book is released. This time I won't wait a year to read it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Police brutality
ohshebookish's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"She remembered her mother’s words: to always rise above. Because her family was rare. Wealthy. Beautiful. Black."
Thank you so much Hear Our Voices for this book in exchange for my honest review!
This was a nice, charming read! Basically, Bridgerton, but make it Black, which I loved! The Davenports is loosely based off of C.M. Patterson's daughters and navigating society as a wealthy, Black family. I enjoyed the historical setting, even though there could have been more historical elements throughout the story. I loved getting to see the Black community in the 1900s that wasn't rooted in oppression but in wealth, entrepreneurship, and politics. This is a side of Black History that is not often written about.
This story is mainly rooted in romance. We follow Olivia, Helen, Ruby, and Amy-Rose as they navigate through family expectation, classism, gender roles, and love. I liked that we got all four of the girls' povs. Although their stories are intertwined, we get to see how each one deals with their situation individually. I enjoyed reading how the romances all weaved together, however, each MC has a different issue around that, that they are battling.
It was easy to follow the story and the different povs, however, I did feel as though the story was slow paced at times.
Overall, this was a nice and easy read, and with the way the book ended, I'm excited to read the next book and seeing how everyone's story continues.
Thank you so much Hear Our Voices for this book in exchange for my honest review!
This was a nice, charming read! Basically, Bridgerton, but make it Black, which I loved! The Davenports is loosely based off of C.M. Patterson's daughters and navigating society as a wealthy, Black family. I enjoyed the historical setting, even though there could have been more historical elements throughout the story. I loved getting to see the Black community in the 1900s that wasn't rooted in oppression but in wealth, entrepreneurship, and politics. This is a side of Black History that is not often written about.
This story is mainly rooted in romance. We follow Olivia, Helen, Ruby, and Amy-Rose as they navigate through family expectation, classism, gender roles, and love. I liked that we got all four of the girls' povs. Although their stories are intertwined, we get to see how each one deals with their situation individually. I enjoyed reading how the romances all weaved together, however, each MC has a different issue around that, that they are battling.
It was easy to follow the story and the different povs, however, I did feel as though the story was slow paced at times.
Overall, this was a nice and easy read, and with the way the book ended, I'm excited to read the next book and seeing how everyone's story continues.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Classism