I enjoyed this. I liked reading about black characters during this period of history. I hope we get more like this.

What a fantastic debut. The stories in The Davenports are so strong.
While I had some trouble following 4 different points of view, I did adore each character and their unique struggles. This is the kind of book that has a character for everyone to relate to.
I'm particularly drawn to Ruby's story and am so interested in reading about her future.
One thing to note when going into this book is that because it's about 4 different characters, the book feels like a lot of set up. However, that just means that the next book will be even more jam-packed, and I can't wait for it!

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

I like it, it is interesting, especially because it offers a different history and culture pov. And I love multiple pov novels and family drama. I’m really glad to have read it and can’t wait for the sequel. I really want to know how the story will develop.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

It’s 1910 and the Davenports are one of the only Black families in the United States with immense wealth and status, even if not everyone chooses to recognize them as such. Olivia, the oldest Davenport daughter, is ready to marry as is her duty. Her younger sister Helen yearns to be a mechanic even though it goes against everything a young lady is supposed to do. And Amy-Rose, who was their childhood best friend but is currently their maid, is in love with the Davenport’s brother. All three women find themselves harboring secret desires that may or may not be the answers to their happiness.

I’d been anticipating this one for a while, and I may have gotten my expectations up a bit too high. I loved the premise, the setting, and the idea of the characters but everything just fell flat.

There were a few main things that didn’t work for me. This story is told from the POV of four women who are right around the same age, but there wasn’t enough development or personality present in their depictions for their voices to be easily differentiated. This was disappointing and made it quite difficult not only to keep them straight for the first portion of the book, but also to connect with them at all.

Then came the romances. Every relationship essentially had the same conflict/issues (everyone fell in love with someone they “weren’t supposed” to love according to society). I disliked how perfectly and neatly the romances all came together and that there was someone for everyone until all the third act breakups (which I also disliked). This didn’t help with keeping the characters apart and felt much too formulaic.

Despite a few elements of conflict introduced, there was never a real feeling of tension or anticipation relating to them. This might be related to the fact that the characters weren’t as strong as they should be or that this was supposed to be romance focused, but sacrificing any real conflict or tension for romance isn’t the way to go. There also just wasn’t much of a plot, and the characters weren’t strong enough to carry this lack.

If you’re interested in YA historical romances then you may enjoy this one, but it wasn’t as strong as I hoped it would be (though I do love that cover!). My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have always loved reading from a commonly misrepresented historical perspective. The Davenports hits the nail on the head with that. Their family and friends have really deep characterization that developed into a passionate story with romance, politics and friendship. All perspectives in this novel vary greatly and beautifully ties their stories together.

1910 Chicago. The Davenports, founders of the Davenport Carriage Company, are the premier Black family in the city, leaders among the Black community and influential as well within some of the White. The story follows the lives of two of their daughters, Olivia and Helen, their friend Ruby, and a young woman on the staff that they grew up with, Amy-Rose. Both the time period and their families have strong expectations for all of them, and naturally, none of them are happy with those limitations. Olivia wants to marry someone she loves as well as find meaning in her life beyond parties and household. Helen is more interested in fixing cars and expanding the carriage business than finding a husband. Ruby is in love with the Davenport son and expected to reel him in for her families political aspirations, until she finds someone else. And Amy-Rose wants to start her own business and start out on her own.
All the pieces are there, and the action and romance proceed exactly as expected. Unfortunately quite predictably until the end. The ending was that much more powerful because that predictability was finally broken, and things livened up for a bit. My biggest problem though, was with the four girls. While they had different interests, their personalities and temperaments were all alike. I could not tell them apart I just did not find myself rooting for them the way I wanted to; it was more of an "are we there yet?" Disappointing.

I thought I would like this book more than I did. By the time I read it, it had gotten a lot of really good reviews. I think the author tried to do too much, and that is what made it fall a little flat. The Davenports are based on a real family that would have made a great story had she really delved into the family history more, but instead the story focuses more on the romance of the three Davenport kids and their close family friend. The romances all follow a very similar plot line which made it quite repetitive. Had this book been more focused, either on the historical aspect or on the romance of one of the characters it would have made the book easier to read. I think the author had a really great idea for a book and it could have been something but as it is I was underwhelmed, especially considering the hype.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-copy of this book!

3 ⭐️
0 🌶️

I think this book had lots of potential to be good but it just wasn’t my style of book. Many people say this is like a ‘black Bridgeton’ and i can see why people say that but it’s just not for me.

I felt like the book did tend to go around in circles a lot which is why i did lower my rating. And also i’m not a huge fan of the time frame in the book but i know that that’s a me problem.

The Davenports is a wonderful historical romance novel that moves through the perspectives and stories of a few siblings. This book is definitely giving all of the Bridgerton vibes. I loved all of the characters, my favorites being Olivia, Washington and Amy-Rose. Sometimes I think character development can get lost in stories that have different POVs but I didn't think that was the case here. The setting was really well developed and all of the details were great. I was enthralled.

I enjoyed this one. The overall pace and character development were good. The plot of how the story developed was good and enjoyable. I didn’t feel lost or like I needed to catch up. I am looking forward to reading the second one when it comes out

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC!
DNF @ 62%
2 stars

I tried reallllly hard to finish this book, and I told myself I was going to. But honestly, what was the point when I only read it to be finished with it.

I can understand people liking this. It's romance heavy, quick to read through, and has some interesting situations going on. Also, gotta love Black #ownvoices rep, and it has a fun angle of privileged Black protagonists seeing the reality of Black treatment. That was what was really compelling to me about Olivia's side of the story.

At the end of the day, though, the book felt a bit too aimless for me. Even romances typically have another plot driving the romance, but this felt like romantic scene after romantic scene, with too little plot woven in. And what was there was such a light sprinkling that it didn't feel fulfilling to me. Things also felt repetitive because of this format, and there's some really side-eye-y romances. Like, it's explainable, but also feels like the icks weren't necessary. Honestly, I think if the book focused on two PoV characters at most and really expanding upon the characters rather than the very breezed-through way it is now. But hey, maybe some people like that style way more than I do!

People looking for an easy, romance-heavy read who like multiple storylines in one book will likely enjoy this book a lot, but I didn't personally find it hitting the marks.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

<b>Olivia Davenport</b> is the eldest daughter that can do no wrong. Poised, polite, and beautiful, Olivia is on the cusp of deciding upon an advantageous match that will further secure her family's future in Chicago's elite upper-crust. However, when her eyes are opened to the world outside the ballroom, Olivia struggles to reconcile her expected roles as wife and eventual mother with a growing passion for civil rights.

Olivia's younger and more rebellious sister, <b>Helen Davenport</b>, has no desire to get married. More comfortable in her father's garage disassembling a Model-T than wearing a corset, the restrictions of her gender and familial expectations mean she's labeled as the family trouble maker. But unexpected acceptance from her sister's beau may have her heart leading her down a dangerous path...

<b>Amy-Rose Shepherd</b> has served in the Davenport household since she was a young girl, acting as playmate for Olivia and Helen while her mother's worked in the kitchens. Desperate to make her own way in the world, out from under the thumb of the Davenport influence, Amy-Rose has her eyes set on a storefront for her own salon specializing in the care and maintenance of black hair textures. But just as she's ready to take the leap, everything around her begins to fall apart.

Family friend and confidant of Olivia, <b>Ruby Tremaine</b> has dreamed of officially becoming a Davenport (by marrying John, Olivia and Helen's brother) for most of her life. Her father's campaign for the first black mayor of Chicago has left the family's coffers nearly depleted, and suddenly the weight of her family's future rests on securing the match. However, John's eyes are wandering and the scheme to bring his jealous gaze back onto her has backfired in the best way.

Set in the 1910s, THE DAVENPORTS follow four black women during a time of lavish wealth for some and social upheaval for others. Often compared to the Bridgerton series, Downtown Abbey, or Gossip Girl, I feel like a more accurate comparison would be American Royals. Full of drama, teenage angst, complicated romantic entanglements, and four perspectives (that can, admittedly, get very confusing at times), THE DAVENPORTS fees like a historical, African-American version of Katharine McGee's popular YA series.

I really enjoyed this story! I also think it’s an important one to read as it deals with racism. I absolutely love this cover as well!

Thank you netgalley for the ARC of the book. I enjoyed the story and the character development. I was engaged from the very beginning. As a fan of YA fiction, I loved this story. I loved the dynamics between the characters and cannot wait for the sequel.

This read is Bridgerton for YA in the best way possible!
It does read like it is for a younger audience but personally, I think it is a good read for any age.
I loved that each sister had their own thing going on, had interests of their own, and did not want to fit into society norms.
Can't wait for the sequel!

The narrative unfolds around a prosperous black family in early 1900s Chicago, following the entwined lives of the Davenport sisters, Helen and Olivia, their dear friends Ruby, and Amy-Rose. These young women are at a crossroads, determining their own futures. Each one steers through a personal tale, often entangled in romantic affairs. The book also explores the individual challenges they encounter and subtly introduces issues that pave the way for the Civil Rights Movement, the Great Migration, and Women's Suffrage. It is a commendable read for those who appreciate period pieces, coming-of-age stories, historical romance, forbidden love, and narratives from multiple points of view. The seamless integration of various perspectives is particularly well-executed, merging together without any apparent conflict.

📚️Book Review 📚️
💛The Davenports by Krystal Marquis💛
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a delight! A historical YA fiction following an affluent black family in the early 1900s. REFRESHING.

The book follows four different women, all coming of age in their own unique way. Despite following this many characters, I did not get overwhelmed and was equally invested in each story. They all weaved together in a coherent way, and I found myself equally looking forward to each character POV!

I loved this book as an adult, and am confident YA readers of all ages will as well, especially for those who love historical fiction.

PS I can't wait for Book 2!!!!

"The Davenports" is a well written and quick read, with many relatable characters. Author Krystal Marquis keeps the readers attention and transports one back into another time period..

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC

This was a strong ya novel. The historical setting was fabulous and the characters were fascinating and intriguing. I think the representation was great and it was fun to see diversity in a historical setting. There isn't nearly enough of it. I was interested in all their storylines and never grew bored. The sibling relationships were fantastic and the romances sweet. I'm excited to continue reading about this family

In this book we follow two of the Davenport daughters (Helen and Olivia), Ruby (close friend of Olivia) and Amy-Rose (the childhood friend and now maid of the Davenports). Each of them have their own stories that are connected in different ways most of which is surrounding their romantic lives.
We also get to see some of the struggles each of them are experiencing such as familial expectations and their experiences connected to their class, wealth, and being Black in the 20th century Chicago. Overall this was a good book! If you enjoy historical romance books that reads like Bridgeton with a full Black cast, then this one is for you.