Reviews with content warning for Gun violence - Wild Women and the Blues

While I don't usually read historical fiction, I enjoyed Wild Women and the Blues. The characters were complex and flawed, and I really liked that. Sawyer's character development was on point, and seeing Honoree's reactions felt real. Sawyer and Honoree had distinct voices, which I really liked. The twists and turn of the plot were handled excellently, although I would've liked a little more foreshadowing with

the fact that the "Honoree" in the facility was actually Bessie

. The two timelines also felt disconnected for most of the book. But overall, this was a great book!

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nikkiei's review

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dark emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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ashleysbookthoughts's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This is what I’m looking for in historical fiction: a dual timeline, a propulsive plot that keeps me invested, characters I care about who are doing their best despite their shitty circumstances, and an era that is not WWII. (As an aside, I’m so over WWII era stories. I don’t care how good the book sounds, I’m tired of reading about it when there are so many other time periods to write about.)

Wild Women and the Blues delivers on all of my criteria. The 1920s Jazz era Chicago setting was so unique and well done and the story kept me on the edge of my seat. This was well on its way to being a five star book for me, but the ending knocked it down a touch. It was rushed, which left a big loose end for me that was a pretty big plot point. There also was a twist that felt pretty unnecessary and I think the book would’ve been better without it.

All in all though, it was a great ride and I enjoyed spending time with Honoree, Bessie, and Ezekiel. The 1920s slang was fun too.

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destdest's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I really enjoyed reading this. The story and the spunkiness of Honoree grabbed me from the first few pages and never let me go. We got married too, by the way.

The history was rich and seamlessly weaved in. I thought the slang and 20's terminology was good though did they have the f-bomb back then, idk. In some stories, it can feel like they're info-dumping the time-period's slang. I didn't feel that way here.

I also enjoyed all the main characters and their complexities. Even Trudy, who wasn't the typical mean girl. Eziekel annoyed me but had me rooting for him all at the same time.

If I have a nitpick, Sawyer's struggle with guilt and

and depression

seemed to magically disappear after a few talks with Honoree. But maybe he just needed to be true to himself. I don't know why Ms Kent liked him. I also always feel weird when the fictional characters meet real-life historical figures. How am I supposed to know if they're in character lol.

CW: colorist remarks, death, attempted sexual assault

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themeadowlibrary's review

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dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book had one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve read. Chicago in 1925 just jumps off the pages. But the Sawyer storyline felt weak to me, and that knocked this book to a 4 star for me. I enjoyed it but I felt there were holes and less emotion driving the modern side of the story. A very emotional and realistic book with a hopeful streak.

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