A review by readwithmekt
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

adventurous emotional hopeful informative lighthearted sad 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? No

4.0

Olivia, Helen, Ruby and Amy Rose are four black female living in Chicago at different stations of life in the 1910s. Olivia and Helen are sister who could not be more different and share a bond that is in stages of change. Ruby has had her world change by her father's decision to run for mayor. Amy Rose is a biracial servant in the Davenport’s house who has been saving to open her own shop. Each of the four girls have expectations placed upon them as well as their own hopes that conflict with those expectations. Will Amy Rose, Olivia, Helen and Ruby be able to follow their own dreams? 

 

This was such an enjoyable quick listen. I really liked the story and how it all unfolded. The pace was medium and the chapters varied in length. The time period that the book was set in was really exciting to hear about. While it is always enjoyable to hear about the parties, the part of this book that I loved the most was that the 4 female main characters were doing everything they could to break out of what was expected of them. 

 

I was fully invested in all four of the women’s story lines. I loved that the chapters changed perspectives and that even the women that seemed to have it all were facing their own battles. There were definitely relationships that I was rooting more for than others. The sisterly bond that developed between Olivia and Helen through the book was beautiful and I enjoyed how they were basically developing a new relationship with one another. 

 

Krystal Marquis did an absolutely incredible job of writing and developing 4 female characters that are learning to stand their own ground and what it means to go against the expectations of family. I really enjoyed that there was wavering from all of the characters, even though I was rooting for them to follow their own paths. 

 

I overall really enjoyed this book and I'm happy because the genre of historical fiction is one I'm just really starting to get into. I additionally really loved that at the end of the book Krystal had information about the research she did to write this book and it was interesting to learn more about that time period in the Chicago area. 

 

The narrator of this book did a very good job. While she did not change her voice for the different chapters and POVs I found her voice to be perfect for the telling of this story. This is the first historical fiction book that I have listened to and I don't think it will be my last.