Going into this book I didn’t know much at all about Ida B. Wells. I was familiar with the name, and her status as an iconic activist, but I didn’t know what her work had specifically been on.

Not only was this book an excellent introduction to her accomplishments as an activist, it was also a wonderful insight into who she was as a person. Veronica Chambers has drawn on Wells’ diaries and letters which really adds to and enhances the story, giving it a firm basis in fact. We really get to experience Wells as a fully-formed, three-dimensional, nuanced person, with her flaws as well as her many strengths.

The era, the place, and all the people in it were also vividly depicted. It was an incredibly immersive listen, that left me feeling all the highs and lows, joys and fears of Ida’s life.

The audiobook was brilliantly narrated by Janina Edwards, who brought the whole story to life. It’s the sort of audiobook that made me look forward to my commute so I could listen to some more!

This is an incredible book with excellent narration, that deserves all the praise and more!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

When I requested this book I couldn't tell if it was a biography or a historical fiction based on a real person. It is a mix of the two, but for me, I felt it was heavier on the biography. I think I would have enjoyed it better if it felt like it had more of a plot and a better flow to the story. However, if someone enjoys biographies, I would definitely recommend this book as Ida was interesting and it included real letters from her.

I knew about Ida B Wells but likely so many young readers are unaware of all the amazing things she did for the Civil Rights movement or just how groundbreaking her career in journalism was. This historical fiction account of her younger years is a fantastic way to introduce youth to what an incredible person she was! Great on audio and HIGHLY recommended. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Veronica Chambers, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley.

This is narrated by Janina Edwards. Janina is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, and she knocked it out of the park with this one. For the most part, in this book, the narration felt like Ida's voice and kind of faded into the background. 

This is full of obvious research and beautifully written. I would consider this to be perfect for teens and preteens with an interest in historical fiction. This is marketed to young adult audiences, but I'd encourage this for adults of all ages who are fans of the incomparable Ms. Wells. It was a delight to visit her as a young lady finding her way and her life's work. I particularly loved her life as a teacher: the adorable kids, socializing with other educated Black folks, the lyceum literary salon performances, the early dating experiences, this is extremely charming. I thoroughly enjoyed this, though it did drag slightly in places and seemed to have some plotting hiccups. The writing was good enough that I wasn't too distracted by these issues.

The only confusion I had was regarding the phrase 'The Upper Tenth' in reference to Black upper-class society. I think the author is actually referring to 'The Talented Tenth', a phrase coined by W.E.B Du Bois. Du Bois later rejected the classist, internalized racist thinking behind The Talented Tenth theory. To my understanding 'The Upper Tenth', at the time this novel is set, referred to the richest 10,000 white folks in New York. My point is I'm pretty sure in this time period Ida would've probably used the Talented Tenth phrasing. I could be wrong about this as I have not studied the Black upper class extensively at all.

Thank you to Veronica Chambers, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

I loved listening to Ida, in Love and in Trouble, by Veronica Chambers. I really enjoy character driven stories. Especially historical fiction based on a real person, and real events. This audio book is one of my favorites.

Ida, in Love and in Trouble by Veronica Chambers tells a fictionalized version of the life of Ida B. Wells, a ground breaking journalist, women's rights activist, and civil rights activist. Utilizing the historical figure's diary and historical record, Chambers breathes fresh life into Ida and the time period of progress and injustice she inhabited.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It checked off all my boxes as far as historical fiction goes. But it might not be for everyone. For starters, it's very slow and character driven rather than action packed. I would argue that there's not a firm plot. The reader follows Ida in her day to day concerns as she navigates the nearly impossible balance of being an educated black woman in the post-Civil War era with career and activism aspirations who also wants romance and marriage. While I like this quite a bit, the book wouldn't be for anyone interested in a faster paced work.

That said, I absolutely loved how the author balanced Ida's goals for her career and the progress she wanted to create for the Black community with her courtships and hobbies. She felt like a fully fleshed out person. I also found the complexities of how she is both admired and punished for her achievements fascinating. She's able to earn an income and make positive change through her positions as a teacher and a journalist, but a number of men don't want a career focused wife. She works and speaks out for the Black community and women, earning acknowledgements, yet many she's helping snub her.

I'm rating this 4.5 stars and rounding up to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ida, in Love and in Trouble is a historical novel covering the early years of Ida B. Wells, a pioneering journalist and civil rights activist. We see how Ida goes through life, suiters and several challenges as a teacher and journalist.
The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life and engaging the listener, throughout the audiobook.

Before becoming a pioneering journalist and civil rights activist, Ida B. Wells was a quick-witted, ambitious young woman with dreams of becoming a renowned writer. After losing her parents to a yellow fever epidemic, she faced the challenges of making sure her younger siblings were raised right, launching a teaching career, and finding her place in a society that often silenced women like her. Despite these struggles, she boldly pursued her passions, ultimately becoming a fearless advocate for racial and gender equality in a rapidly changing post-Civil War South.

I didn’t know much about Ida B. Wells when I picked this one up, so I was interested to know more. She was an incredible woman, even when she was young, and what energy she must have had to do all that she did!

There were times I couldn’t tell if this was supposed to be a fictional telling of her life or a nonfiction. Some parts were more dry, with paragraphs to detail facts of the time, and then there would be conversations interspersed. There didn’t seem to be a narrative thread to stitch together the glimpses into Ida’s life.

Overall, it was interesting to listen to. The narrator did a phenomenal job of bringing each person to life. I think readers who are interested in historical persons will enjoy this one.

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 &| 𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
4 🌟
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The cover art and the premise are what caught my attention. "For fans of Bridgerton and The Davenports comes a sweeping historical novel about courageous (and flirtatious) Ida B. Wells, as she navigates society, parties, and society prejudices to become a civil rights crusader." BUT the storyline also held my attention. I can see the Bridgerton vibes, but it leans more toward the Davenports vibes to me. I enjoyed the letter entries a lot. I did sometimes feel like it dragged a little and could have been a little shorter.
The narrator did a good job. She was easy to listen to and brought the story alive.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Sept.10
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Thank you, Netgalley, Little Brown Books for the eBook, and Hachette Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.