Harlem Rhapsody is a book that takes you back to Harlem in the 1920's with civil unrest wreaking havoc. Jessie Redmon Fauset is from Philadelphia but moves to Harlem when she accepts a job to work as the literary editor for The Crisis. W.E.B. Du Bois is the founder of The Crisis and his work in the fight for civil rights is well known. The Crisis magazine focuses on the achievements of black people and gives hope to many. W.E.B. Du Bois wants Jessie to find young writers who deserve to be heard. Jessie considers herself a teacher as well as a writer herself, so is thrilled with taking this on. Jessie is able to find Countee Cullen who's 16, Langston Hughes who's 17, and Nella Larsen. They are all very gifted writers and when their works are published in The Crisis people can't get enough.

Jessie loves working at The Crisis and the magazine is thriving with the writers she's finding. The only problem is that she is in a relationship with W.E.B. Du Bois, who is a married man. She doesn't think anyone knows about their secret meetings in hotel rooms and dinners around town, but when rumors start she is concerned, Jessie doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize her job and the magazine itself. Jessie is very talented in her own right and doesn't want people thinking she got the job for the wrong reason. She's absolutely fallen for Will though and can't imagine giving up their personal relationship. As time goes by more and more young writers want to be featured in The Crisis and work with the famous Jessie Redmon Fauset. Jessie dreams of a day when she will be the editor of The Crisis, not just the literary editor. She's quite capable and has been doing the job while W.E.B. travels the world attending conferences and spreading the work of the magazine. She's also working on her own novel.

Jessie has hard decisions to make about her career and thoughts on love as she meets Will's wife. She knows that having an affair with Will is wrong, but she can't imagine her life without him in that way. Will Jessie and Will stay together even after meeting Will's wife? Will Jessie become an author herself? She's dreamed of writing a book and having it in bookstores since she was young. Will that dream come true? Will the young writers that she's mentoring become famous? Will The Crisis continue to have success? Will Jessie get tired of waiting for Will to turn over The Crisis editing to her? Jessie becomes well known all over for her work with young black writers and getting them heard. Can Will deal with all of the notoriety she's receiving? Harlem Rhapsody is a wonderful work of historical fiction that had me excited to read every day. Victoria Christopher Murray does a magical job of making the reader feel like we're right there next to Jessie as she's giving hope to so many. I rate Harlem Rhapsody 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. Get this book and add it to your TBR pile immediately! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy of Harlem Rhapsody in exchange for a fair review. #HarlemRhapsody

While I loved the historical setting and catching glimpses of young writers in Harlem in the 1920s, and while I appreciated Murray's willingness to show the flaws in people who also did much good, I did not particularly enjoy the focus on the affair between Jessie Redmon Fauset and W.E.B. Du Bois.

Victoria Christopher Murray bring another important woman to the fore. Jessie Redmon Fauset accomplished incredible literary feats as a writer and especially discovery young black talent to feature in The Crisis. She is achieving so much while trying to preserve the secret that her boss and the founder of The Crisis, W.E.B. DuBois, is her lover. The challenges she faces in the midst of all this history makes a fascinating historical read.

Jessie Redmon Fauset was an integral part of the Harlem Renaissance and I have never heard of her before reading this book. The things that Fauset accomplished in the literary world are remarkable. The book revolves around her career as the Literary Editor at the Negro magazine The Crisis. It also revolves around her long-term affair with the married W. E. B. Du Bois, who was the publisher and editor of the magazine. Having known nothing about this time period and these people, I found the book to be revelatory in some aspects. Jessie Redmon Faucet should definitely be known in the history of literature. She discovered and mentored Langston Hughes, among others. Her affair with W. E. B. Du Bois was maybe a little too much in the center of this story, but it did help illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of this remarkable woman. I recommend this as an interesting piece of historical fiction for a time that is little known. Thank you to the publisher Berkley and to NetGalley for the arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have loved the books I've read by Victoria Christopher Murray that she co-wrote with Marie Benedict, so I was very excited to pick this up. While I loved the premise and appreciated learning about these characters and their connection to W. E. B Du Bois, I struggled with the characterization of the female main character. I wanted more strength and resolve from her. The cheating didn't bother me too much - it's a part of history after all. And I understand the development of the FMC in the early days especially surrounding how she lost some of her strength when faced with having to confront her feelings for such a powerful man, but I wanted stronger development throughout the story.

However, this is a compelling and well-written story, one that will leave lovers of historical fiction googling for more information.

Jessi Redmon Fauset was one of the main architects of the Harlem Renaissance. Discovering writers like Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Nella Larsen and many others Jessi got them started by publishing and editing their works for The Crisis. Jessi’s dreams of being the editor of the crisis and hopes her relationship with W.E.B Dubois will give her all of her dreams. A highly educated Black woman, Jessi would be the first female editor of a paper if only she is given the chance. While W.E.B thinks highly of Jessi and respects her opinion, he also has a wife and daughter he is responsible to. This story spans their tumultuous relationship and Jessi’s impact which shaped Black writing as we know it. Victoria Christopher Murray is one of those writers where you know it’s going to be a good story no matter the subject matter. I enjoyed learning about this little known woman who made such a huge impact.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for this ARC

NYC of the 1920s and the Harlem Renaissance come to life in this historical fiction that explores the lives of writers and the forces that brought them into the limelight, all through the lens and life of one instrumental woman: Jessie Redmon Fauset.

✨ Book Review: HARLEM RHAPSODY by Victoria Christopher Murray ✨

What a fascinating set of characters and time period to explore! I loved learning more about the Harlem Renaissance through the eyes and experiences of Jessie Redmon Fauset, a writer herself who becomes the literary editor of the preeminent Negro magazine The Crisis. Through her role, she has a front seat to the Harlem Renaissance and raises up many of the writers we still applaud today, including Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Nella Larsen. Yet, her relationship with W.E.B. Du Bois—the founder and editor of The Crisis, an author and reformer, and the father of the Harlem Renaissance—brings everything in to question. Ultimately, both Jessie Redmon Fauset and especially W.E.B. Du Bois are deeply flawed characters. This made their story at time difficult to read, but upon reflection I like that these historical figures were shown both with their accomplishments and their flaws as this makes them more real and more accurately shared.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

😘 Thanks to @BerkleyPub for the gifted digital ARC and to my library for the borrowed audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Harlem Rhapsody is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction centered around the love affair between Jessie Redmon Fauset and W.E.B. Du Bois. As far as historical romances go, it’s engaging, well-paced, and exquisitely written. But as someone who deeply respects Fauset’s legacy and her monumental contributions to the Harlem Renaissance, I walked away from this book with mixed feelings.

While the novel captures a realistic and emotionally layered love story, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed by how Fauset’s character was framed. She was a major literary force during one of the most important cultural movements in Black history—a pioneering editor, poet, and novelist. And yet, in this telling, she’s largely reduced to being a mistress, a woman consumed by a complicated and at times unfulfilling relationship.

To be fair, the portrayal is human and honest. Jessie is shown as a woman in love—flawed, conflicted, and deeply invested in a man who didn’t always return her devotion in equal measure. That kind of emotional vulnerability is valid and real. But for a historical figure of her caliber, I was hoping for a fuller portrait—one that honored both her heart and her mind, her relationships and her legacy.

In the end, this wasn’t a bad book. It’s actually quite good. But I went in hoping for a celebration of Jessie Redmon Fauset’s brilliance, and I left feeling like she was overshadowed by her romance. That imbalance made it hard for me to fully embrace the story, no matter how well it was told.

I love the historical contet about prominent black writers. Reading about their beginnings & recognizing their works was eye opening. This book focused alot on Jessie & Will's relationship. I felt like it diminished some of her accomplishments. I also wanted Jessie to wisen up. I wasn't a fan of Will's misogyny & patronizing ways. Overall an okay read.

Harlem Rhapsody shines a light on an under-explored piece of history: the artists and activists of Harlem in the era of the likes of W. E. B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes - and the inspiring woman at its center, Jessie Redmon Fauset. I appreciated reading and learning about these key figures in this engaging work of historical fiction.

Thank you Victoria Christopher Murray, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to @netgalley for my ARC of this book.

I never knew about Jessie Fauset until Harlem Rhapsody. She was a literary genius and author in her own right and has never been celebrated until now. she deserves all the flowers for the part that she played in bringing some of the greats in literature to the masses through her work at the Crisis magazine.

Although Jessie was not without her faults, she genuinely loved her job as literary editor and was instrumental in the fight for equal rights. Her story is so important to our culture and I thank Victoria Christopher Murray for bringing this story to light.

Throughout this novel I laughed, cried and clutched my pearls. it had me enthralled and wanting to know what would happen next. I do feel it may have dragged a little in places, but overall enjoyed the story and writing. I will be reading more by this author.

Wow! What else can I say, I was blown away by this one.

Harlem Rhapsody is a vibrant, emotionally rich tribute to one of the most dynamic periods in American history — and to one of its most overlooked heroines, Jessie Redmon Fauset. Set in the heart of the Harlem Renaissance, this novel immerses you in a world where Black pride is bursting from the seams — in literature, music, fashion, and art — with Jessie at the center as the literary editor of The Crisis.

The story beautifully captures her discovery of voices like Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Nella Larsen, and paints Jessie not just as an editor, but as a visionary who helped shape a cultural revolution. Her complicated, passionate relationship with W.E.B. Du Bois adds emotional depth and conflict, showing the high stakes of ambition, desire, and legacy in a world rife with racism and sexism.

Although cheating is never the answer I can understand the charm and poise of W.E.B. Du Bois was enticing.

I was swept away by the richness of the historical detail and the humanity of Jessie’s journey. If you love character-driven historical fiction that reclaims forgotten stories and celebrates the power of Black art, this is one you must read.

This was not what I expected. The story is centered around the affair while the Harlem Renaissance is but a backdrop.

What I enjoyed about the book was Jessie’s passion for literature, dedication to challenging the racist and sexist stereotypes of the time, and her drive to run the The Crisis, but all of that gets overshadowed by her affair with W.E.B. Du Bois. Talk about a male-centered woman smh. And she’s the worst kind of woman who smiles all up in the wife’s face while sneaking around with her man. It was laughable when she had the audacity to be upset that she wasn’t the only other woman. I appreciate Jessie’s mother for not accepting her bullshit when she kept trying to justify sleeping with a married man. Also, aside from being a philanderer, Du Bois is misogynistic, elitist, condescending and self-important. And Nina was unrealistically gracious in the end.

Despite all that, it is a well-written story and the author definitely did the research which I always look for in historical fiction. The dialogues between the characters regarding topics such as identity, self-determination, racial injustices, the women’s suffrage movement, and the overall fight for equality was good. Also, the decision to publish Langston Hughes’s poem in the backdrop of the news about the Tulsa Race Massacre was brilliant! But what has to be my favorite moment was Jessie’s speech at the Pan-African Congress about the Black women with Ph.D’s.

I really liked this incredibly well-researched portrait of Jessie Redmon Fauset. I’d never heard her story before and loved learning about her, as well as learning more about the Harlem Renaissance.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

“The greed of the powerful will lead to the addiction of the weak.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First off, thank you @berkleypub for the free copy of Harlem Rhapsody #berkleypartner

Now let’s jump into it with what I liked:

1. Murray has that writing talent that allows words to form in the readers head as if they were watching a movie. Everything can be vividly seen in the readers imagination and keeps you engaged the entire time.

2. The material is incredibly well researched, however, as history is normally kept by white men, I’m sure it was not easy to find accounts strictly based on Jessie Redmond Faucet. Murray details this in her historical note, indicating that stand alone information about Jessie was hard to come by but she was frequently mentioned in information pertaining to W.E.B. Du Bois. Which is exactly why you get such an entanglement of the two characters. And why I suspect we, unfortunately, do not get much information about Jessie pre and post her time at The Crisis.

3. While, at surface level, it may appear that the novel just highlights Jessie’s relationship to Du Bois, this is certainly not the case. The novel drives home how wide and present Jessie’s influence was at all levels of raising up black voices. The impact she had on so many influential people is mind blowing. It makes it that much more devastating that she was never properly acknowledged the way she deserved.

Now why I ended up only rating it four stars:

1. While I did thoroughly enjoy the novel, it was hard to get into and it did not hold my attention while reading. I did prefer the audio book and the narrator was fantastic.

2. The pacing at some points was very slow with little momentum to the story/plot.

3. I wish the author included a bibliography or at least a list for further reading. This is something I really appreciate with historical fiction.

Overall though, I really did enjoy this one and recommend it to all of my fellow historical fiction lovers!

I was really excited to read this story especially because of the author. However, the writing was not related to the title and that I thought was misleading and disappointing.

Harlem Rhapsody is a rich, immersive read that really captures the spirit of its time. The atmosphere, music, and historical detail were beautifully done—it felt like stepping right into 1920s Harlem. The characters were complex and compelling, especially the lead, whose personal journey was layered and emotional.

That said, the pacing felt a bit slow in parts. Some sections lingered longer than needed, which made it harder to stay fully engaged the whole way through. Still, the payoff was worth it, and the story as a whole was powerful and moving. If you're into character-driven historical fiction with depth and soul, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Harlem Rhapsody is a captivating exploration of the Harlem Renaissance, focusing on Jessie Redmon Fauset, a pivotal but overlooked figure in history. Author Victoria Christopher Murray skillfully intertwines historical facts with vivid storytelling, immersing readers in the vibrant culture of 1920s Harlem.

From the very first page, I was captivated by Fauset and her contributions to this transformative era in American history. Fauset's journey through struggles and triumphs resonated deeply, prompting me to alternate between shaking my head in disbelief and cheering her on as she navigated her challenges.

While the emphasis on Fauset’s affair with W.E.B. Du Bois adds an intriguing layer to the story, it occasionally overshadows other significant aspects of her life and her lasting impact on the movement. Nonetheless, this relationship is crucial in understanding her trajectory and the personal hurdles she faced.

Two important notes: First, don’t skip the author’s note and historical note at the end of the book. Both provide fascinating insights and additional context! Second, be prepared to dive deeper into the lives of these historical figures; you'll find yourself eager to learn more.

Harlem Rhapsody is a must-read for anyone interested in the Harlem Renaissance and the unsung trailblazers who shaped it. If you’re seeking a book that combines rich history with compelling storytelling, this one deserves a spot at the top of your reading list.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for this advance copy!

Jessie Redmon Fauset was an incredible woman, with an eye for talent and an incredible vision of bringing literature to Black America in the early part of the 20th Century. She has been lost to history in many ways because of her affair with WEB Du Bois, but Victoria Christopher Murray does an incredible job of bringing her to life in this historical fiction novel. Jessie's intelligence and grace ooze off the page as she interacts with the likes of Langston Hughes and other notables of the Harlem Renaissance. Her role is central to this period, and yet she stands behind the greats she supported and helped popularize.

I loved the writing in this novel; it was engaging and vivacious. I appreciated that this is only from Jessie's point of view and I loved how Murry wrote her with no apologies or judgement. A fantastic read for anyone interested in the women of the Harlem Renaissance.

I’m late to the party once again… but whew there’s so much I want to say.

The first few pages pulled me in and I went down a rabbit hole about Dr. WEB Du Bois for a little bit. At first, I was thinking how can the author put this affair in print? Isn’t that slander? Is this actually true? I know it’s historical fiction, but there are real folks names in this novel. I was concerned, but my curiosity outweighed that.

It sucked that Jessie didn’t get what she wanted the most in the end, but at least she found clarity and her “role” in WEB’s life. One review on this novel, stated that it mainly focused on the affair. I don’t think it did. I think that reader may have felt that way because all of Jessie’s accomplishments, desires, and dreams were intertwined with WEB and their relationship. I mean she did move to Harlem because of him and the position he created FOR HER. The author couldn’t talk about one part of Jessie’s life without it having some connection to WEB as WEB was the creator of “The Crisis” and Jessie loved both.

The author did a great job introducing us to Jessie and helping us get to know her. We got to know her desires, see her put her big toe down, lift up and inspire world famous Negro writers, and eventually follow her own dreams of being a writer and choosing herself.

As for the other characters of the novel, Maman played a major role in Jessie’s life and even though she was distraught when Maman refused to put up with her being a mistress she still did what she wanted 😂. I knew Jessie wasn’t going to leave until she figured it all out for herself. Maman stood firm on what she said though and I never heard of the work integrationist until I read this, so that was interesting as well.

It still amazes me how true this story is, but I feel as though it makes the story even more special. It just confused me at first and had me side-eyeing the whole story for a good minute.

If you’re looking for historical fiction with some real TEA, funny moments, famous name dropping, along with determined and inspiring characters during the Harlem Renaissance, then this is for you. I learned alot!

Thank you Penguin Random House and Victoria Christopher Murray for the ARC of this book. It was a ride. 4.5 ⭐️/5