To know me is to know I'm obsessed with the Harlem Renaissance. Jessie Redmon Fauset was a key figure of the era. She discovered so many talented writers who went on to be the faces of the movement. So when I learned this book was about her life, I couldn't request it fast enough from Netgalley.

While Fauset's rocky relationship with the much older married Dr. W.E.B. DeBois, the man who hired her as literary editor of NAACP magazine The Crisis is mentioned in the synopsis, I didn't expect it to be so prominent in this story.

Reading about how Jessie transforms The Crisis was more exciting to me than her secret trysts with "Will." I wasn't invested in their relationship. She's accepted that he would never leave his wife. She just wants him to leave the magazine in her hands. She proves herself more than capable of running the show, but as their relationship slowly loses its luster, my hope for Jessie becoming editor of The Crisis began to dim.

Remember what I said in my All About Love review about having control over who we love by choosing who we spend time with? Will goes away on NAACP business, Jessie resolves to keep things professional upon his return, but once he places a hand on the small of her back, she falls to pieces. She keeps saying she's only in it for the promotion, but it's not convincing.

After about the third time, it got tired. Fauset was responsible for shaping the careers of Langston Hughes, Nella Larson, Countee Cullen, Jean Toomer, etc. and was a great writer herself. Here, all of her accomplishments are overshadowed by this entanglement with DuBois. Jessie's life revolves around Will, and I wanted to smack her. He might respect her as a creative, but I doubted he would ever hand her the reins because she's a woman.

Murray did her research for this book. I felt like I was there watching Jessie rub shoulders with all these influential Black people. So many big names are dropped that at times it felt overwhelming, but I still wasn't satisfied. I wish Fauset's illustrious career was at the forefront instead of this affair.

4.5/5 stars

Jessie Redmon Fauset goes from being a high school teacher in Washington DC to being the literary midwife of the Harlem Renaissance seemingly overnight. As she is ushered into her handmade role as literary editor of The Crisis, she simultaneously assumes her role as W.E.B. Du Bois's clandestine lover. VCM artfully interweaves Fauset's career ascension with her Du Bois love story until it's clear to us, as it was to her, that there is no one without the other. We are left on the edge of our seats as we grapple with the idea that the editor who birthed names like Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen may be willing to put it all on the line to protect her heart.

Y'all know I love me a good romantic historical fiction, and this one had me HOOKED...until like 70%. At that point, I felt like I'd seen all that I needed to see, and I wasn't really invested in the characters anymore. I've been at 70% since like April, but decided to push through with the audiobook. I'm very glad I did.

Honestly, the 4.5 rating is for the first half of the book. I love how VCM personified the characters, and (as she stated in her author's note) gave us the good, the bad, and the ugly of each. The chronology of her storytelling and the commitment to the language of the time kept me engaged. I felt myself getting viscerally angry at the choices some of the characters made, and I can't confirm or deny my opinion on the ending. One thing I will say is that all of the decision making in this story felt very realistic, even if I didn't agree with it.

There were A LOT of characters in this story, which makes sense given the era and sentiment this story was set in. Either way, I gave myself permission to forget about them until they would come up again, and I give that same permission to you too.

I think this was an amazing read if you TOO love a romantic historical fiction that will have you hanging on for dear life. It is one that takes a little more concerted brain power to get through, but I look forward to reading more of Victoria Christopher Murray's work!

I was interested in reading this novel because it was set during the Harlem Renaissance. I wanted to see the main character interact with literary luminaries. What I didn't expect was how much the romance between Jessie and WEB DuBois would take center stage. As we met Black literary figures, I found myself being taken out of the story because of the romance. I wanted more of Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and other Black literary figures. It was hard to keep my attention when they took a backseat for a love story.

3.5. I found this INCREDIBLY slow; it could have been 100-150 pages shorter, and I also didn't care much about Jessie and W.E.B. DuBois' affair after a while. I would have rather had more detail about the writers Jessie helped as well as her other contributions to the Harlem Renaissance, as those parts were more interesting.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱🎧”Harlem Rhapsody" by Victoria Christopher Murray

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
published February 4, 2025

I didn't know much about Jessie Redmon Fauset, all the authors she helped, the Harlem Renaissance, or W.E.B. DuBois, so this was a very interesting historical fiction read. Set in 1919 in Harlem where music, fashion, theatre and the arts are everywhere along with Black pride. Jessie Redmon Fauset becomes the new literary editor of the preeminent Negro magazine "The Crisis". An author herself, she has quite the impact on many young authors. The young writers (Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen) and Jessie's leadership make "The Crisis"  thrive and subscriptions soar. W.E.B. Du Bois, is the founder and editor and also having an affair with the much younger Jessie. The relationship is tumultuous, a secret, and could cost Jessie everything she has been working so hard for. Parts of the book seemed long but I did enjoy being able to listen as well as read. 



#somanybooks #readsomemore #audiobooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #booklover #bookishlove #readersgonnaread #bookishaf

In this incredible historical fiction novel about Jessie Redmon Fauset, literary editor of The Crisis magazine, during the Harlem Renaissance, readers discover her powerful position in the Black literary scene, her relationships with WEB Du Bois and other great writers, artists, and thinkers, and her unparalleled success as an author and genius literary editor during this vibrant historical period. Jessie Redmon Fauset’s journey from influential high school teacher to literary great is fascinating, overlooked, and incredibly exciting to witness, and Victoria Christopher Murray has done a fantastic job bringing her remarkable story and position in history to life in this amazing book. The characters, many of them real figures, are brought to life in incredible detail, and their complexities and creativity shine off the pages, and this book really gives a lot of the incredible figures the space to grow, even if they are only minor figures in Jessie Redmon Fauset’s story. The historical setting, figures, and details are incredibly well-researched and introduce period-typical questions and conversations about a variety of issues that these figures would have been concerned with, and this introduces readers to some complex yet critical questions central to this powerfully written and vibrant book and its amazing characters.

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.