A review by ariellesbookreviews
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I received a free digital ARC of The Davenports by Krystal Marquis from PenguinTeen in exchange for an honest review. 

The Davenports takes place in 1910s Chicago and features the prominent Davenport family, owners of the Davenport Carriage Company. The book follows two Davenport sisters and two of their family friends. Not only does the story cover the girls' love stories, but it also follows them rebelling from society's rules and pursuing their interests.

I loved that Marquis was inspired by the real-life Patterson family when writing this book. Too often, Black people's stories are pigeonholed into being about the trauma the black community has faced. While Marquis acknowledges the racism the Davenport family would have in society, this book is about Black success and Black excellence. 

Olivia, Amy Rose, Ruby, and Helen are distinct characters with their own voices. It was easy to distinguish the characters and learn their motivations and interest, and while each character has their own storyline, several of their love interest overlap. At the beginning of the book, Helen got on my nerves. However, she has some of the best character growth in the story, and by the end, I loved her storyline.

 Overall, I rate the book five stars. I cannot wait for the next book in The Davenports series and look forward to learning what paths Olivia, Amy Rose, Ruby, and Helen take. 

Thank you, PenguinTeen, for sending me a digital ARC, I really appreciated it, and I loved the book.