A review by ohshebookish
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

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.

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