The Davenports - by Krystal Marquis

I loved reading this book, finished it in three days.

What's new in The Davenports is not its premise; indeed, the rhythms of this YA historical romance, with its cast of passionate young people fighting societal expectations in an effort to find true love, feel quite familiar. What's new is its perspective. The novel's glittering galas, chaperoned outings, and forbidden social pairings feel straight out of Downton Abbey, but in The Davenports, almost everyone is Black, and smaller personal dramas play out against a background shaped by Reconstruction-era tensions and the nascent Civil Rights movement. The Davenport family is one of the wealthiest in Chicago, and siblings John, Olivia, and Helen have grown up with the expectation that they will model Black excellence at every opportunity. Their desire to make their parents proud while following their own dreams animates the novel's plot. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the historical perspective of The Davenports, which made up for the relatively predictable romantic pairings. It was refreshing to read YA historical fiction that centers Black hope, promise, and talent even as it wrestles with the complex and inescapable impacts of slavery. I don't know much about the real-life family that The Davenports is based on, but Marquis's novel made me want to learn more. I will definitely read the sequel, and I'm looking forward to offering this novel to my students!

I thoroughly enjoyed this, excellent read. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

Excellent reading material.

The Davenports is set in 1910s Chicago and is told from the points of view of four young Black women. Formerly enslaved, William Davenport has built the successful Davenport Carriage Company and has become very wealthy. His daughters Olivia and Helen find themselves wanting to follow paths that do not meet their parents' approval. Ruby, Olivia's best friend is under pressure to make a match to further her parents financial and political aspirations. Amy-Rose grew up with Olivia and Helen, now works as the family's maid, and has the goal of opening her own salon. The characters are distinct, and each has a coming-of-age storyline. I really enjoyed the socioeconomic, political, historical and civil rights aspects of the book. It was fascinating to see Chicago at such a pivotal time through the eyes of these four Black women. I would like even more of the historical context in future books in the series. The Davenports is well-written romantic fiction filled with drama, conflict and a unique historical perspective.

Set in 1910s Chicago, THE DAVENPORTS tells the story of four young Black women navigating life within a family of wealth – an unusual status for Black families in the United States at this time. Formerly enslaved, William Davenport builds the Davenport Carriage Company, amassing his fortune and place within society. His daughters Olivia and Helen find themselves yearning to follow paths that are not acceptable to the family. Ruby, Olivia’s best friend, has interest in their brother but the relationship doesn’t go as planned. Amy-Rose grew up with the Davenport children and now works as their maid but has aspirations to open her own business and dreams of marrying someone that society deems is not right for her. Will each of the young women find a way to get what they want? I loved that THE DAVENPORTS was inspired by a real family, the C.R. Pattersons who owned C.R. Patterson & Sons Carriage Company. All of the main characters are Black which was great to have that representation as I haven’t read much historical fiction from this time period lately and liked that it was focused on African American history. The narration rotates between each of the four young women. The characters are well-developed and felt very genuine. I enjoyed the dynamics between them and their families and the ways they questioned their places in the family and society, daring to challenge status quo while they explored how they aimed to move forward in life. Despite having wealth, the young women as well as their families faced difficulties and dangerous situations, giving a reminder that the power of money only goes so far during this turbulent time in the U.S., especially for Black families. There were parts that were difficult to read but are pieces of history that are necessary to be acknowledged. The plot moved along at a good pace that had me eagerly turning pages. I liked how the romance aspects were written. When I reached the conclusion, my heart sank as I had forgotten that this is the first book of a series. I was disappointed to not find out how each of the girls’ plot lines resolved, but that just leaves me with something to look forward to in the next book. I thoroughly enjoyed THE DAVENPORTS and would highly recommend it. Although a YA book, I think it appeals to a wider audience. This is book one of Krystal Marquis’s The Davenports series. I will definitely be reading future books in this series. Thank you to Dial Books for the giveaway ARC.