I really thought The Davenports was going to be a continued series, with each subsequent novel a deep dive into one of the Davenport siblings (with a branch out for Amy-Rose and Ruby Tremaine), but it would seem the second installment, The Davenports: More than This (Dial Books 2024) seems to wrap all the story lines up. (What follows is pulled nearly word for word from my review of the first novel.)
Inspired by the real-life Patterson family, Krystal Marquis’s The Davenports books is a young adult, Bridgerton-esque romance duology set in Chicago in 1910. The Davenports are an extremely wealthy Black family, and that fortune has placed them in a very small section of the American population. William Davenport, a former slave, built his empire from the dirt up, and his children have lived lives of opulence. Olivia, the eldest daughter, continues to involve herself in politics, finding her voice and publishing articles anon. She’s also found herself falling for another lawyer, a man her parents are trying to set her up with. But what happens when the dashing civil rights attorney Washington DeWight returns, and she finds herself torn between two men? Helen, heartbroken after Jacob Lawrence left, continues to be more comfortable in the garage. She and her brother, John, will convince their father to add automobiles to the company, and they’ll snag handsome race car driver, Ransom Swift, to help them. Helen finds herself falling for the exciting man when Jacob returns. Much like her sister, she finds herself torn between two men. Ruby Tremaine is happily engaged but dealing with rumors concerning her purity that may have lost her father his run for mayor. And Amy-Rose, the daughter of a slave-owner and maid, has thrown herself into her hair care line and salon thanks to a generous benefactor who believed in her, but John Davenport is never far from her thoughts. Like the first, the novel alternates between Olivia, Helen, Ruby, and Amy-Rose’s POVs.
Despite all the romance, the duology is truly a young adult series and there is no spice other than a few stolen kisses and petting. But intertwined with the romance and choices, there is also racism, political demonstrations, classism, the Progressive Era, feminism, etc. It’s a fascinating time in American history, even more fascinating for wealthy Black families.
Bridgerton fans, this may be a series for you to check out. Young adult historical fiction and romance fans, this is a must. The Davenports duology is a delight.
A Girl Named Tommi 