Book Review: The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

“Much of what affects our lives is out of our control. We should always strive to make the choices we can. Life is too short, too full of heartache.”

Krystal Marquis, The Davenports

Review:

Set in 1910s Chicago, this book follows the two Davenport daughters, Olivia and Helen, their friend Ruby, and their maid Amy-Rose. The Davenports are one of the few wealthy Black families at the time, putting them in the crosshairs of societal expectations. In their circles, they enjoy the privileges of their wealth, but outside of it, they are often met with discrimination. This becomes clear to Olivia in particular, and she eventually gets involved in activism. 

Helen, the youngest Davenport girl, is happier in the garage working on cars with her brother, John. She’s happy to let Olivia fulfill their parents’ expectation of marrying well. She’d much rather help the family business and marry for love. 

Amy-Rose grew up closely with the Davenport girls, more of a friend than a maid when they were younger. Now that Olivia and Helen are grown, she’s not sure where she stands. They won’t need her once they marry off, and she’s aware that the only reason the Davenports keep her on is out of a sense of charity and obligation.

Ruby is the outsider, but a close friend of Olivia’s. Her family is struggling financially, and her parents expect her to marry John Davenport to secure their wealth and social standing. She’s caught between wanting to do the right thing for her family and what she wants for herself.

I’ve been seeing this book compared to Bridgerton. I’ve never read or watched the series, so I can’t comment on that. It does fit well in the YA category and captures that high society vibe, but also maintains a more down-to-earth quality and relatability. 

It took me a while to get to a point where I could distinguish the storylines and who was interested in whom vs. whom they were expected to end up with. Looking back, it’s still murky, but I’m invested enough that I am looking forward to reading the next book (as this one ends on a cliffhanger). I loved the premise as well. It stands out against the countless other historical fiction books I’ve read in regard to perspective.

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Lovable characters.
• Unique perspective for this genre.

What I didn’t like:

• Aside from Helen, the girls weren’t super discernible from each other.
• It was confusing following so many different love triangles at one time.

Afterthoughts:

Initially, I was annoyed by the cliffhanger, but now I’m looking forward to picking up Book 2.

Where to buy the book: