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A review by smalltownbookmom
Carolina Built by Kianna Alexander
4.0
I really, really enjoyed this historical fiction novel based on the real life of Josephine N. Leary ("Jo"), who became one of the first Black women real estate magnates post emancipation in North Carolina. This story was very much about family and pursuing one's dreams despite many obstacles.
Jo was both a wife and mother and devoted daughter and granddaughter. She had great street smarts and invested her money well, buying her own barbershop business and expanding to other real estate ventures. She was also very active in Black women's movements at the time, fighting both for women's rights and greater African American people's rights.
Highly recommended and great on audio! I so enjoy reading about strong women I never knew existed and the author did an amazing job drawing on historical papers to create a very compelling story of Josephine's life. In particular I really related to Jo's struggle to be both a good mother and a good businesswoman and how that often caused conflict and resentments in her marriage.
Jo was both a wife and mother and devoted daughter and granddaughter. She had great street smarts and invested her money well, buying her own barbershop business and expanding to other real estate ventures. She was also very active in Black women's movements at the time, fighting both for women's rights and greater African American people's rights.
Highly recommended and great on audio! I so enjoy reading about strong women I never knew existed and the author did an amazing job drawing on historical papers to create a very compelling story of Josephine's life. In particular I really related to Jo's struggle to be both a good mother and a good businesswoman and how that often caused conflict and resentments in her marriage.