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lilysweetdreams's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
My thoughts for this book amounts to It's Just Kind Of Meh. I really really wanted to love it, but it lacked stakes, pacing and the kind of zing I've come to expect from romance books.
Of our four protagonists, only Amy-Rose actually interested me after the first few chapters. And yet she's constantly wobbling on the fence of her decisions, her dream versus a guy she kind of likes. Helen is fun with her specific interests, but she lacks the balls to really commit to it, and ended up just annoying me overall. Olivia and Ruby are harder for me to relate to and a lot of their problems are of their own creation. Don't get me wrong, characters experiencing consequences is a great plot device when executed well, but again, in this case it just annoyed me.
I also felt the was an incredible lack of plot structure and pacing present throughout. I didn't feel the passage of time, and no labels were added, which meant I was often fumbling for when and where scenes were taking place. The stakes didn't build and culminate at a crucial final moment; instead everything plodded along and had weak flare up every once in a while. I wasn't invested, and emotional moments fell flat because of it. There were no mysteries; I called the intended pairings almost as soon as the characters met. And I fully expected everything to resolve by the end of the book, so to turn the last page and discover a metaphorical to-be-continued wasn't a thrilling cliffhanger but yet another annoyance. I feel the plot could have easily been resolved in another handful of chapters.
To give credit where credit is due, the setting and theme was very interesting and the author appears to have done good research. It's a time period and people that is frequently forgotten, one I would like to see explored more often.
All in all, it added up to a loosely strung together collection of scenes, a repeating plot of will-she-get-the-guy x 4, and an uninspiring cliffhanger. I just didn't enjoy myself. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Costumer's Complaints: Despite everything else, I will begrudgingly say the clothing appears fairly accurate. Of course, the obligatory hate of corsets is ever present BUT this is actually the correct time period for them to be going out of style (slowly) and have the vestiges of tightlacing apply to the upper class protagonists of the book. That Watsonian explanation is the only reason I'm letting it slide. I'm still cranky with the Doyalist interpretation; Corsets Are A Tool Of The Patriarchy So I Will Write My Rebellious Character Hating Them. I'm sick of it, it adds nothing of value and is an overused, heavy handed, and frequently inaccurate metaphor.
Of our four protagonists, only Amy-Rose actually interested me after the first few chapters. And yet she's constantly wobbling on the fence of her decisions, her dream versus a guy she kind of likes. Helen is fun with her specific interests, but she lacks the balls to really commit to it, and ended up just annoying me overall. Olivia and Ruby are harder for me to relate to and a lot of their problems are of their own creation. Don't get me wrong, characters experiencing consequences is a great plot device when executed well, but again, in this case it just annoyed me.
I also felt the was an incredible lack of plot structure and pacing present throughout. I didn't feel the passage of time, and no labels were added, which meant I was often fumbling for when and where scenes were taking place. The stakes didn't build and culminate at a crucial final moment; instead everything plodded along and had weak flare up every once in a while. I wasn't invested, and emotional moments fell flat because of it. There were no mysteries; I called the intended pairings almost as soon as the characters met. And I fully expected everything to resolve by the end of the book, so to turn the last page and discover a metaphorical to-be-continued wasn't a thrilling cliffhanger but yet another annoyance. I feel the plot could have easily been resolved in another handful of chapters.
To give credit where credit is due, the setting and theme was very interesting and the author appears to have done good research. It's a time period and people that is frequently forgotten, one I would like to see explored more often.
All in all, it added up to a loosely strung together collection of scenes, a repeating plot of will-she-get-the-guy x 4, and an uninspiring cliffhanger. I just didn't enjoy myself. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Costumer's Complaints: Despite everything else, I will begrudgingly say the clothing appears fairly accurate. Of course, the obligatory hate of corsets is ever present BUT this is actually the correct time period for them to be going out of style (slowly) and have the vestiges of tightlacing apply to the upper class protagonists of the book. That Watsonian explanation is the only reason I'm letting it slide. I'm still cranky with the Doyalist interpretation; Corsets Are A Tool Of The Patriarchy So I Will Write My Rebellious Character Hating Them. I'm sick of it, it adds nothing of value and is an overused, heavy handed, and frequently inaccurate metaphor.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Classism
literallyilliterate's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I liked this book but ultimately, it leaned more toward the romance side than the historical side, and I guess I just wanted more?
• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·
In The Davenports, we follow one of the wealthiest Black families in 1910s Chicago, as well as the people closely connected with them, as they find love and learn to forge their own paths in life.
Olivia is the oldest of the two Davenport sisters. Her parents put a lot of pressure on her to uphold the family name and she is expected to get married as soon as possible. When a British man named Jacob Lawrence comes to town, they quickly force the two together. However, Olivia falls in love with a different man: Washington DeWight, a lawyer and civil rights leader. I loved seeing Olivia become more involved in activism and using her privilege to help her people. And their romance was sweet, I can't lie.
Helen is the younger Davenport sister, who would much rather tinker with carriages than fall in love. Until she meets her sister's suitor. I feel like Helen was one of the underdeveloped characters in the story, and I don't have much to say about her.
Amy-Rose is a servant to the Davenports and childhood friends with the three siblings. Her dream to open a Black hair salon is within reach, but she's torn between chasing this dream or her feelings for John, the eldest Davenport sibling. Again, not much to say about Amy-Rose. But she was sweet.
Ruby is part of the Tremaine family, another wealthy Black family, and she is best friends with Olivia. Her father has been running for office in the hopes of helping their people, and money has been tight in the house. In addition, it has always been expected that Ruby would marry John Davenport, but when she conjures up a plan to win him over using Harrison Barton, she finds herself falling for Harrison instead. They were my favorite couple, and I was rooting for them.
I just did not connect to these characters very much. It's hard to write a story told from multiple points of view, and I think having so many took away from the time that could've been spent really developing one or two. I'm glad there's a sequel coming out but this book didn't leave me with much of an impression. I also wish the discussions on race, class, and gender were taken a little farther. Normally I'm not too particular about that stuff one way or another, but it felt important and relevant in a book about Black women. The romances definitely took center stage, and while they were sweet, some of the scenes were a bit more detailed than I personally like. This was still a clean book though, and there was no cheating, so I'll take it!
I went into The Davenports thinking it reminded me of a historical, Black version of American Royals. I was not wrong. I'm interested to read the sequel, and I hope it will further develop some of these characters and their stories.
• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·
Genre: Young Adult Historical Romance
Swearing: 0.5/5
Sexual Content: 0.5/5 (basically just really detailed kissing)
Violence: 0.5/5
• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·
In The Davenports, we follow one of the wealthiest Black families in 1910s Chicago, as well as the people closely connected with them, as they find love and learn to forge their own paths in life.
Olivia is the oldest of the two Davenport sisters. Her parents put a lot of pressure on her to uphold the family name and she is expected to get married as soon as possible. When a British man named Jacob Lawrence comes to town, they quickly force the two together. However, Olivia falls in love with a different man: Washington DeWight, a lawyer and civil rights leader. I loved seeing Olivia become more involved in activism and using her privilege to help her people. And their romance was sweet, I can't lie.
Helen is the younger Davenport sister, who would much rather tinker with carriages than fall in love. Until she meets her sister's suitor. I feel like Helen was one of the underdeveloped characters in the story, and I don't have much to say about her.
Amy-Rose is a servant to the Davenports and childhood friends with the three siblings. Her dream to open a Black hair salon is within reach, but she's torn between chasing this dream or her feelings for John, the eldest Davenport sibling. Again, not much to say about Amy-Rose. But she was sweet.
Ruby is part of the Tremaine family, another wealthy Black family, and she is best friends with Olivia. Her father has been running for office in the hopes of helping their people, and money has been tight in the house. In addition, it has always been expected that Ruby would marry John Davenport, but when she conjures up a plan to win him over using Harrison Barton, she finds herself falling for Harrison instead. They were my favorite couple, and I was rooting for them.
I just did not connect to these characters very much. It's hard to write a story told from multiple points of view, and I think having so many took away from the time that could've been spent really developing one or two. I'm glad there's a sequel coming out but this book didn't leave me with much of an impression. I also wish the discussions on race, class, and gender were taken a little farther. Normally I'm not too particular about that stuff one way or another, but it felt important and relevant in a book about Black women. The romances definitely took center stage, and while they were sweet, some of the scenes were a bit more detailed than I personally like. This was still a clean book though, and there was no cheating, so I'll take it!
I went into The Davenports thinking it reminded me of a historical, Black version of American Royals. I was not wrong. I'm interested to read the sequel, and I hope it will further develop some of these characters and their stories.
• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·
Genre: Young Adult Historical Romance
Swearing: 0.5/5
Sexual Content: 0.5/5 (basically just really detailed kissing)
Violence: 0.5/5
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
caitlinemccann's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Police brutality, and Classism
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
katie_helf96's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence
roseannearchy's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? N/A
4.0
The characters were very easy to love and get invested in. I loved the setting Marquis used and how she highlighted the successes of African-Americans in a time period where it was often not spoken about. We got to see the characters grow and love and get invested in their growth. Only things that took me out were that the stakes were kinda low and the pacing at times uneven, but all in all very enjoyable! Her authors note really brought the whole story together for me and gave me a greater appreciation for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Classism
jaz_gets_literary's review
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
This was my first historical fiction book and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. I looked looking at 4 very different Black women going through the woes of love in 1910 Chicago. It was a very different time then and even though 3 of them came from wealthy families they still didn’t have the same plight. From societal pressures to family over involvement, these 4 woman having the decide if they are going to listen to everyone else or what their heart truly wants. What the heart wants can come with a price though. I also enjoyed the inclusion of the Jim Crow movement and how it did or did t sway the women’s decisions.
I believe I’ve found my way into a new genre and I cannot wait to read the next installment in November.
I believe I’ve found my way into a new genre and I cannot wait to read the next installment in November.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, and Classism
ashylibrarian's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A fine historical romance read with a local setting. I enjoyed the cast of characters, and, although it took me a little bit to sort out who was who with the audiobook, I did like the multiple POVs at each chapter change. It was fun to bounce between the four main characters and glimpse different aspects of their lives as the overarching plot moved forward. This was a fun and unique way to take a brief dive into a piece of African-American history that we don't often learn about.
I appreciated the note at the end of the audiobook that shared more about the inspiration for this story.
I appreciated the note at the end of the audiobook that shared more about the inspiration for this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
Moderate: Slavery
blewballoon's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm being a little generous with my rating because I really like the idea of this book, and the execution isn't bad. The prose is a little cliche at times, but overall this delivers a nice young adult historical romance from the perspective of a black family. There are several characters and romances to follow, and they aren't all resolved in this book. I'll be grabbing the sequel to see how those loose threads get tied. I will also caution that if you don't like 3rd Act break ups, you will probably dislike this story, because there are multiple. But if you are looking for something like Bridgerton and Downton Abbey but aimed at a younger audience and a focus on black characters, this is a good pick and a fun read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Slavery, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
readingwithtrey's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
WOW!! I saw this book being raved about all over bookstagram when it was first released last year, and I immediately added it to my TBR shelf. I put off reading it for the longest time, but when I had the chance to sign up for a tour stop with Hear Our Voices, I had to take it. I'm so glad I finally read it, and I could kick myself for waiting so long. It was amazing!
The Davenports is inspired by the real life story of C.R. Patterson and his family and follows the wealthy and prestigious Davenport family in 1910 Chicago. The story is told from 4 point of views: Olivia, Helen, Amy-Rose, and Ruby. Each of the women are coming of age with their own struggles, desires, and goals while navigating familial and societal expectations. When we're first introduced to Olivia, we see that she is preparing to be married out of duty to her family. When she meets Washington DeWight, a civil rights leader, she begins to think that maybe her own desires for her life are different than what is expected of her. Helen, Olivia's sister, has never had much interest in marriage. Instead, she'd rather spend her time working on carriages and automobiles in her brother's shop. Amy-Rose works as a maid for the Davenport family but dreams of opening her own hair shop to showcase her natural hair products. And then we have Ruby whose father is running for mayor and has turned her life upside down.
I enjoyed every story line, but I have to say my favorites were Olivia and Amy-Rose. I loved how once Olivia was made away of the civil rights movement, she felt led to do more to help. And Amy-Rose's story was incredibly inspiring. I was rooting for her the entire time. I won't say who it involved to not spoil anything, but the budding romance between Amy-Rose and her love interest was also so sweet.
I will say, I had no idea this ended on a major cliffhanger. I will definitely be counting down the days until November when the next book is released. This time I won't wait a year to read it!
The Davenports is inspired by the real life story of C.R. Patterson and his family and follows the wealthy and prestigious Davenport family in 1910 Chicago. The story is told from 4 point of views: Olivia, Helen, Amy-Rose, and Ruby. Each of the women are coming of age with their own struggles, desires, and goals while navigating familial and societal expectations. When we're first introduced to Olivia, we see that she is preparing to be married out of duty to her family. When she meets Washington DeWight, a civil rights leader, she begins to think that maybe her own desires for her life are different than what is expected of her. Helen, Olivia's sister, has never had much interest in marriage. Instead, she'd rather spend her time working on carriages and automobiles in her brother's shop. Amy-Rose works as a maid for the Davenport family but dreams of opening her own hair shop to showcase her natural hair products. And then we have Ruby whose father is running for mayor and has turned her life upside down.
I enjoyed every story line, but I have to say my favorites were Olivia and Amy-Rose. I loved how once Olivia was made away of the civil rights movement, she felt led to do more to help. And Amy-Rose's story was incredibly inspiring. I was rooting for her the entire time. I won't say who it involved to not spoil anything, but the budding romance between Amy-Rose and her love interest was also so sweet.
I will say, I had no idea this ended on a major cliffhanger. I will definitely be counting down the days until November when the next book is released. This time I won't wait a year to read it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Police brutality
ohshebookish's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Classism