The Davenports
Ratings8
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings8
Average rating3.8
*Instant New York Times Bestseller* The Davenports delivers a totally escapist, swoon-worthy romance while offering a glimpse into a period of African American history often overlooked. "The perfect read for fans of escapist historical fiction.” —NBC’s TODAY The Davenports are one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status in a changing United States, their fortune made through the entrepreneurship of William Davenport, a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. Now it's 1910, and the Davenports live surrounded by servants, crystal chandeliers, and endless parties, finding their way and finding love—even where they’re not supposed to. There is Olivia, the beautiful elder Davenport daughter, ready to do her duty by getting married . . . until she meets the charismatic civil rights leader Washington DeWight and sparks fly. The younger daughter, Helen, is more interested in fixing cars than falling in love—unless it’s with her sister’s suitor. Amy-Rose, the childhood friend turned maid to the Davenport sisters, dreams of opening her own business—and marrying the one man she could never be with, Olivia and Helen’s brother, John. But Olivia’s best friend, Ruby, also has her sights set on John Davenport, though she can’t seem to keep his interest . . . until family pressure has her scheming to win his heart, just as someone else wins hers. Inspired by the real-life story of the Patterson family, The Davenports is the tale of four determined and passionate young Black women discovering the courage to steer their own path in life—and love. "The Davenports has it all: romance, heartbreak, courage." —Ebony "A fresh, utterly enchanting read.” —Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author of the Beasts of Prey trilogy "Deftly written . . . A dazzling debut." —Kirkus (starred review) "Stunningly wrought . . . Presents a cast of take-charge women." —PW (starred review) "It has the compulsive readability of Gossip Girl." —Booklist (starred review) "Compelling . . . distinct and satisfying." —BCCB "Skilled . . . Well-written . . . Sure to please." —SLJ "If this whole series existed right now, I’d tear through it to the exclusion of everything else in my life." —Teen Librarian Toolbox
Featured Series
2 primary booksThe Davenports is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2015 with contributions by Krystal Marquis and Kim Law.
Reviews with the most likes.
Pretty typical historical romance, with etiquette and wealth and lineage concerns. The setting makes it interesting. Jim Crow laws blanket the south and threaten to move into Chicago. The parents generation and older includes former slaves. Two characters are half white. It all adds weight to a story that would be middling if set in Regency or Victorian times.
2.5 rounded up. The stories had too many parallels where I felt I was reading the same story just from a different POV. I wish this had a bit more differences in each story. I also was not rooting for each love story and wanted more of these girls being built up on their own. I'll be interested to see where the next book goes but not fully sure I'll read it.
I did enjoy the seeing the 1910s from another perspective than a rich white damsel in distress, and yet it felt a bit messy with the sheer number of characters that the book focused on. There were four main POVs, each with their own love/hate messy love interest, which ended up being a little tiring to follow through.
And then the ending, it was left so open that it made me want to eat the damn book (alas it was an ebook).
3.5 stars: the writing dragged at times and the characters were well written but I felt no connection for any of them.
