This is book is one of a series about the Davenports, a wealthy black American family in Chicago around 1910.
The story gives you an insight into the life of successful and well do black Americans at the turn of the century.
Helen, Olivia and John Davenport and their friend Ruby and Amy-Rose all of marriageable age find their way in life and love.

I did enjoy reading the book and learnt a lot about a new aspect of black social history that I didn’t know about.

The book is well written and enjoyable and if you like Bridgestone you will enjoy this book, especially if you like a series of books.

I found the ending a little frustrating, as I wanted to know how things ended, but I will just have to wait for the next book…

"The Davenport children had known only what history had been taught by their governess, leaving them to imagine the worst. Olivia remembered the moment she'd realized that every Black person she knew was touched by the horror of slavery. Sometimes Olivia felt it like a wound hidden deep under smooth skin - one that she didn't remember receiving but that ached nonetheless."

It's 1910 and the wealthy and influential Davenport family, known for their luxurious carriages, have made their way to the top of Chicago's Black society. The loves and lives of those in their early twenties are told through the eyes of four, female protagonists - sisters, well-behaved Olivia & automobile-mad Helen Davenport, their childhood friend impetuous Ruby Tremaine and their ladies maid and old friend, mixed race, determined Amy-Rose Shepherd. Each woman is bound by society's and their family's expectations of them.

Marketed for fans of Bridgerton, this also reminded me of Downton Abbey and of A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin. I loved the focus on the joy and pain of these spirited African-American women, very different from one another. Each is trying to find their way in the world in a new century, fearing Jim Crow, working out what to fight for and what to let go through trial and error. Encountering prejudice, misogyny and racism (some of their parents born into and escaped slavery), this is a warm, romantic and entertaining read that explores difficult but vital subjects with aplomb. Inspired by the true story of the Patterson family (which got me reading up on them), it's refreshing, for me anyway, to read about wealthy and successful Black people in historical fiction (in UK it would be the Edwardian era). My only criticism is that it took some time to get my head around the multiple protagonists and their potential beaus and perhaps the story could have been told more concisely, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Romantic, historical, YA fiction about inspiring and resilient, Black women finding their own way in a challenging world, which I think we could all enjoy.

I found it such an interesting read, yes there is plenty of romance but there’s also such a rich history that the author has tapped into that makes it a refreshing read too. By choosing the characters that she did, we get a chance to see the struggles of so many different types, Helen from a woman’s rights perspective, everyone from a black persons perspective but also those like Amy-Rose who sometimes don’t really fit into anywhere. The story centres around a few different couples so each chapter focussed on a different woman, sometimes I found it a bit annoying as I was getting invested in one story to then jump to a few others and I think my only complaint was that because there were a lot of stories to tell, they weren’t all wrapped up in this book. I think I would have preferred a more bridgerton style where each book was focussed on one couple.

I am not normally a fan of historical books however the story really caught my attention so I thought I would give it a go.

How pleased am I to have made that decision as this was a great story full of love, tears, challenges, laughter and an understanding of how tough life was!

An enjoyable read but I found the pace too slow to keep me engaged. A light hearted read that would be suited as a holiday read.

I didn’t think I would enjoy this read as much as I did! I loved Bridgeton and this one was near enough that. Loved the glamour and style the story brings.

The Davenports are a wealthy and successful black family in Chicago, with three children all of marriageable age. This book focuses on the two Davenport daughters, and the two potential matches of the Davenport son. Mild drama ensures as everybody falls for the wrong person!

The story itself felt a bit rushed. I liked the characters and their interactions, but all of the romances felt very fast with hardly any build up. That said, I'll be pleased to see where they go next!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this story - while that cover and Brdigertonesque blurb pulled me in, it was really the historical themes and sense of period that really gripped me in.

I loved the focus given to black families with wealth and status at a time when this would be unusual - I enjoyed the dynamics explored within this in particular the stories of young black women who in this time period defied social norms - I loved the time given in the storyline to address Jim Crow and the emerging activism in this time period - I’d even go as far as to say I enjoyed this aspect of Olivia’s storyline more than the romance.

In terms of the romance and pairings I did enjoy them - I was satisfied by how everything turned out, but you can see that everything is perfectly set up for a series as I was also left hoping to explore some storylines further.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance - I was gripped in and left wanting more. I felt the history was well explored and I loved the exposure given to a time in history that’s not always well explored - I really enjoyed reading more about the inspiration for this book in the Author’s note.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for my copy of this story.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Publishers who were kind enough to send me an advanced e-copy of The Davenports by Krystal Marquis.

Set in Chicago, we follow the stories of Olivia, Helen, Ruby and Amy-Rose at the turn of the 20th century..
Olivia is used to being exactly what is expected of her as the eldest daughter in a successful family, but she soon learns there is a whole world out there that her parents have hidden from her. Olivia is confronted with the idea that her privileged life has led to her ignorance over the struggles of people who like her. After meeting a mysterious stranger, will Olivia continue on as the perfect daughter, or will she break out of the sheltered life she has been living and take a stand? And is romance on the cards in this new life?
Unlike Olivia, Helen Helen has never been what is expected of her. The youngest of the three Davenport siblings pushes the boundaries of gender norm, while hiding her true passion from her parents, with the help of her older brother, John. Mrs Davenport is pressuring Helen to prepare for her first season on the marriage mart, but marriage is the last thing on Helen's mind. Will Helen's secret be found out? And is Helen's attitude to romance ever going to change?
Ruby is the best friend of Olivia, and is from another successful black family in the Chicago area; The Tremains. With her father running for mayor, Ruby finds herself in the middle of playing politician's daughter, but the election is taking its toll on the family. Ruby wants to make her parents proud, but she is slowly realising that they may not know what's best for her, and so, Ruby has to decide if she wants to continue living for her parents or start living for herself.
Finally, we have Miss Amy-Rose. The daughter of the late maid, Amy-rose grew up alongside the Davenport siblings. After the recent death of her mother, Amy-Rose is struggling with the boundary between servant and friend and is contemplating what the next step in her life could be. With her childhood crush always just around the corner, Amy-Rose is faced with a decision to follow her dreams or her heart.

Through these young ladies' stories, a light is shone on some of the many different and trying struggles black women faced in the early 1900s. These women experience racial prejudice, sexism, and societal pressures while also trying to navigate the difficult time of young adulthood.

Each woman's story was touching, relatable, and truly eye-opening. It was refreshing to read a historical fiction centred around a part of black history that is often overlooked.

Although I do believe that this book falls more into the category of historical romance than historical fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The heartfelt romance alongside the theme of history and politics made this book a pleasure to read and I can't wait to read the second book in The Davenport series!

Congratulations on a wonderful book Krystal!

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but because it was compared to the Bridgertons, I was very intrigued. The Davenports tells the coming of age stories of four young black women living in the 1900s, where the challenges of race, gender and class inequality impacts on every decision and potential outcome in their lives.

I really enjoyed this book. Racism and discrimination were the norm at that time so it was interesting to see the portrayal of how affluent black people lived and navigated social challenges outside of the master/slave dynamic typically featured in books set around this time period.

The chapters rotate through telling the story from each girl’s point of view. The writing was excellent and I loved how each character grew and evolved throughout the story. I also loved how the social commentary was woven into each girl’s story without overshadowing developments with their love interests.

This book does an excellent job of setting the scene for where the girl’s stories begin and whets the appetite for more; I am really looking forward to reading the next book to see how they progress and how their lives turn out.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Definite Bridgerton vibes from this story and a really interesting twist to combine issues of racism and the beginning of Jim Crow laws with a period drama, but from those who have created their wealth. Really interesting premise to set the story and I enjoyed the various storylines within- from numerous characters and all cleverly interlinked. Would definitely read more by this author and genuinely enjoyed it as an adult, so not just for young people!!

With thanks to netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The davenports is the perfect story to transport you to another time and place. If you like the drama of family life and glitz and glamour pick this up. Filled the brigerton size hole in my life can't wait to pick up what else this author releases.

Now I love a bit of Bridgerton, and I am all about diversity in all walks of life, so to read this dream of a book set in the early 20th century, based on one of a handful of wealthy Black families in a changing America, was pretty mesmerising!
The Davenports are rich. Richer than many of their White counterparts and certainly the richest Black family in the area. Their three children are of marriageable age, and the story shows that it doesn't matter the colour of your skin, your children can be just as much of a handful as the next person!
Olivia, the oldest, is ready to conform. She knows her future is finding the right man to take as a husband, and she is well on the way.
John is the sole male heir to the Davenport Carriage Company, a business built up from scratch by his father, a formerly enslaved man, who has worked hard to bring himself and his family to the heights they now rest. But he has dreams too, that go against the grain of his father's thinking.
Helen is the youngest and the polar opposite of her sister, wanting to push boundaries further by working, helping her brother to set up a new business, and getting her hands dirty, literally, instead of wearing silken gloves, awaiting being presented as ready for marriage.
The problem is, having your future prescribed is often the reason you want something different, which is exactly what these young people face. Forbidden love, unheard-of dreams, and previously unreachable ambitions all pull together to make for an amazing story. I am so glad this is the first of a series because I have definitely been left wanting more!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an ARC.

Although I was interested in the premise and the book was rich in period detail the story was too slow for me and I could not finish it.

First of all thank you to netgallery and the publishers for early access to this gorgeous historical romance.

The Davenports are about two sisters Helen and Olivia, their maid and former playmate Amy-Rose and the spoilt Ruby. From the first moment I picked up this book I fell in love with Olivia and Helen who couldn't be more world's apart. Olivia is all about shopping and finding a good match, whilst Helen just wants to join the family business and to be working under new inventions cars.

However soon both girls have love interets with Olivia been torn between two worlds as she's drawn into the cause for more rights for black people.

Ruby on the other hand is bitter and totally spoilt brat. Trying to get John Davenport, the sister brother to propose, she decides to fake it with another man to get him jealous. The thing is he's had his head turned by ambitious immigrate Amy-Rose.

Will these characters all get their happy ever after and will Helen and Amy-Ross dreams come true? Find out in this beautifully written, unputdownable novel.

An American version of Bridgerton but more charming .The four main characters regardless of their place in society are all striving to be treated equally and not just because they are female but also because they are women of colour. I hope we don’t have too long to wait for the next book.

This was a new author who I had not had the pleasure of reading before. Why not I ask myself. The characters had me hooked from Chapter 1. I thought I knew how it would end, but I was so wrong. Excellent descriptions throughout the book of a bygone age. Have things changed I now ask myself? I will leave that up to other readers to decide. I really hope there is a sequel to this book, so that the characters may be followed on their path in life. What will happen?

Definitely a book I would recommend, thought-provoking, detailed, and just a little different from the normal endings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin's Random House Children's UK for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a review.

3 ⭐️

A big ol' bag of mixed feelings for me on this one!

There were times when I really enjoyed the book, enjoyed the characters, got invested in the relationships. It was interesting to read about Black characters in the turn of the century, an area I've not read into much before - so I've no idea how historically accurate it was, but definitely enjoyed it at times.

However... I do think in this case the four different POVs, all with largely separate plot lines, was too many. Most of the characters felt a little underdeveloped to me, as did the relationships. I found the pacing a little fickle in some places too - going a bit too quick sometimes, a bit too slow in others. I found some of the ~drama~ in the relationships both a little bit pointless and far too drawn out at points. I also thoroughly disliked John as a love interest, lol. <spoiler>Between Amy-Rose and Ruby's POVs, I thought he was a jerk for stringing them both along like that. It seems like they're being set up to mend their relationship in a next book, but I'm certain I want that to happen.</spoiler>

Overall, I didn't dislike this book - I generally enjoyed it and I certainly think others would too - but it was lacking in lots of areas as well, for me. I wasn't aware that this book is intended to be the first in a series, and it does finish with loose ends, which I don't love because I'm not sure yet whether I'd be interested in reading the next one. Only time will tell!

This book was truly stunning! I love the cover, the stories, the characters! Everything about it was great.

A sweet, charming historical romance read. Perfect if you’re a fan of Bridgerton and you’re looking for your next regency romance fix!