She remembered her mother’s words: to always rise above. Because her family was rare. Wealthy. Beautiful. Black.
–The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis is a charming YA romance following four women in the early 1900s Chicago: Olivia, the eldest Davenport daughter; Helena, the youngest Davenport daughter; Ruby, Olivia’s best friend; and Amy-Rose–the maid. All four of these women have dreams, ambitions, and a swoony love story unfolding in this historical fiction novel.
Hear more of my thoughts below by listening to the latest episode:
And maybe that was what real, adult love was. Being fearless enough to hold each other close no matter how catastrophic the world became. Loving each other with enough ferocity to quell the fears of the past. Just fucking being there.”
—Tia Williams, Seven Days in June
This book broke me down to my parts and reassembled me. What a healing, beautiful, roaring story. It’s been a while since I hugged a book to my chest after reading it; it very much felt like I was hugging the characters goodbye, who had, in a way, become my friends. Because every time I opened this novel and dived into its pages, it was like I was seeing the very intimate, intricate, messy parts of people’s lives–people who really existed. Even though they didn’t. Although, in a way, Shane and Eva—our lovers of this tale—do exist. Even though their individual stories and their story together may not be ours, they share a desire to be honest, to be seen, to love and be loved by someone who understands who they are wholly and completely. Someone who sees their scars, cares enough to learn how they got there, but is careful enough not to create new ones. Someone who loves their existence–solely in and off itself. It’s an innate, simplistic, yet complex need that I think we all have. Everyone of us. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting that and recognizing it. And I hope, one day, every one of us can find it too. And what a find that would be!
Listen to the latest episode of She Happily Reads here:
She Happily Reads 