This book continues the stories of Olivia, Amy-Rose, Ruby, and Helen. It was nice to get back to the girls journey's in life and love after the first book. I enjoyed reading this, but I do feel like there was a lot left to be desired. I assume this will be address in the next book though so I will definitely reac the follow up. I enjoy this series and don't mind there 4 POVs but I wonder it this would have been better and less overwhelming if split up into 4 books for each girls story? It just felt overwhelming at times and I feel as though I cared about certain characters stories more than others. This is a personal preference though. Overall the story is still solid. I still enjoyed it. I would like to see this adapted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the e-ARC.

4.0 Stars

After finishing The Davenports, I was concerned about where Marquis would take More Than This. Out of the romance novels I've read, I'd place The Davenports directly in the middle of the rankings. There was a lot of potential in some areas, but I wasn't fond of how she used one trope across four storylines. This issue was fixed in More Than This and I am very pleased with how Marquis concluded the duology.

Plot: A common complaint for The Davenports was that there were four different storylines. While each protagonist still maintained a plotline in More Than This, I felt as if this second installment did a much better job at weaving the plots together. Therefore, I felt as if I was reading one cohesive story with many complex characters rather than reading four different stories with characters that interacted.

Romance: I loved Helen's romantic journey the most in The Davenports, but I will say that my favortism shifted during More Than Us. I felt as if The Davenports allowed there to be a greater depth to Ruby, Olivia and Helen's romantic endeavors while More Than This allowed for John and Amy Rose's love lives to to shine. This was a nice contrast to how in the first book John and Amy Rose were focused on their respective work duties/passions and in the second book, Ruby and Olivia had that same chance. I left out Helen because throughout the duology, she displayed a consistent level of dedication to her passion as she did to her suitors. Maybe I still do admire Helen the most... Along with Amy Rose, but for other reasons you'll have to discover by reading the book! She has come a long way and I'm glad we had a greater focus on her in this book.

I do wonder if Marquis will continue to write about these characters. There was a lot left to the imagination and there were so many interesting characters. I do know that in theory, you want to leave people wanting more, but I do see some potential in further books (not a series, but maybe one offs). Although, on the other hand, I think Marquis did an excellent job at resolving the duology and somethings you need to leave well enough alone.

I look forward to reading future books by this author and watching how she develops her craft even further.

Thank you to Krystal Marquis, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the first Davenport book. However because I haven't read the 1st book since it came out and the fact that we follow 4 main characters I had a hard time remembering who was who and what was going on for the first few chapters until I became reacquainted with what was going on in each of the girls lives. That said once I did remember each of girls as well as new and old characters I found the middle of the book a bit slow for awhile. It wasn't bad, just slow. There were a few plot points that I was a little frustrated with but thankfully they were resolved. The ending pace also picked up and I was satisfied for the most part with how things turned out. I'm not really sure what will happen in the next book, I assume there will be another book because I didn't read anywhere that this was only a dulology or that this was the conclusion. Overall I'd still recommend the series for anyone interested in it. And its refreshing to read a series where you don't have to worry about sex or strong language. There is still plenty of romance and sweet moments as well as mentions of violence in other areas but nothing is explicit.

Amy-Rose has her hair salon. Olivia is still uplifting her community through activism. Ruby is ready to be a wife. Helen is still trying to take over the family’s company.

I have to say, as I was reading, I wanted more. But I had to check myself to say it’s okay for Black women to just exist. Reframing this thinking helped me view this book as a catch up with my girls. I also wouldn’t mind many books about this quartet.

With that being said, give me more. I need to know is Ruby going to end up having kids? Who is going to truly win Olivia’s heart? What’s next for Amy Rose’s business? How is Helen going to take the Davenport automobile company to even higher heights?

If you like the first one, you’ll like this one as well.

I absolutely LOVED this story. As a second in the series, this continues the storylines of four African American women in the early 1900's as they deal with heartbreak and the attempt to find their place in society. There is Olivia, who is happy to pursue a traditional lifestyle but moonlights as a writer of opinion pieces that advocate for women's suffrage, her headstrong younger sister Helen who would rather work as a mechanic for their family's carriage company than find a spouse, Amy=Rose, who opens her own salon and line of haircare products despite her humble beginnings, and Ruby who is willing to fight for her happy ending. All four girls lead such inspiring lives, and readers will be swept away to another time. The reading experience is immersive, and I would definitely recommend to all fans of historical fiction!

I really enjoyed this continuation of Olivia, Ruby, Amy-Rose, and Helen's stories. This installment shows the girls recovering from heartbreak, giving second chances, making tough choices, and standing their ground. The author has done a great job of developing these characters, and their growth is apparent throughout their story arcs. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this lovely series.

Being that this was the second book from the series, it was familiar to me. It took a while to get back into the groove since I read the first one months ago, but once I did, I enjoyed every second of it. It was nice to see everyone get their happy endings.

This sequel was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I absolutely loved reading about the lives and aspirations of each character. I appreciate the fact that I was never confused about the plot since the author adds short recaps so you don’t have to reread the first book to enjoy this one. My only critique is that I wish we’d gotten to read more from each character’s perspective. However, it’s hard to strike that balance when you have so many characters and timelines.

At points, I thought the pacing was slower than the first, but the experience reading about the small moments these characters have as a group and also the historical events referenced makes it a great historical fiction read. I’d still recommend it if you enjoyed the first and want to know where these characters stories end (unless there’s another sequel). Don’t go into it expecting anything because there are a few characters introduced who shake things up.

Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin for sharing the ARC with me!

Historical fiction set in the 1920’s, main character Ruby is readying to marry the love of her life when gossip and rumors threaten her lively hood. This was a well written and quick read, with many relatable characters. Fun, quick read that was well written!

I rated this book 3 stars. While I recognize it is the sequel to The Davenports, I felt like the 80% of the book was repeating the main characters issues over and over and over again. There were a few surprises, but those were close to the end. The storylines were pretty good, but they could have gone a little farther. For example, why did the group of ladies start the rumors about Ruby? In the end, I am glad that it worked out for everyone, but honestly, I’m not interested in reading any additional books about The Davenports.

Charming, elegant, and signifies lost stories that are slowly returning to public knowledge. That's the importance of 'The Davenports' and the ongoing series continues to grow with each instalment. With a fictional world baked in with real historical touches Krystal's sequel is just as intriguing. It's lovely to see a cast of black characters thrive, celebrate love, achieve dreams, and chase their ambitions.

But there's also something that I really loved: political action and mobilizing a community for change. Themes relevant in the current climate of the world. For me it's really hard to pick a favourite character then each are well rounded and pursuing their own character arc but it has to be Olivia. I'm bumping my rating down to a 4 because I think the series would have benefitted with a book per each character. While I appreciate the multiple character pov chapters I was always eager to just return to a favourite. A testament to Krystal's writing.

My favourite quote: "People forget, delicate flowers have thorns...and roses can draw blood".

Thank you so much Penguin Teen Canada for providing an ARC!

The Davenports, is a vibrant and engaging historical fiction set in the roaring 1920s. Centered around the Davenport family—one of Chicago’s wealthiest Black families—the novel delves into themes of ambition, love, and social change with both depth and flair. I could not put it down. Just like the first book it was perfect from beginng to end. I personally loved all the POVs, I felt like I was immersed into the time period and each storyline. I would recommend to this anyone doesn’t matter the age, I think the translates very well for any age.

A great read that I could not put down. Perfect from beginning to end. Definitely recommend this book to all my friends.

I was so happy to get back into the Davenports' world! Though I am not a historical fiction fan, I missed these girls, especially Olivia and Ruby. I was excited to see where their stories would lead after all the drama of the first book, and I really enjoyed my continued education into this time in history.

This took me back to how I felt while reading the first book, the beginning was slow but some parts were enjoyable. I always give a book the first 100 pages to reel me in. Once I hit chapter 14, I felt the story picked up from Helen's quest, Ruby's nuptials, Amy-Rose's time in New York, and Olivia's new connection. What I enjoyed was the introduction to new characters in this book, the girls need a shake-up that I wasn't expecting. Ruby and Helen needed their worlds to be shaken!

The Davenports: More Than This rings true. They are more than getting prepared for marriage. It shines the light on young black women having the opportunity to do the things they enjoy, I've always loved Ruby's and Amy-Rose's characters because they've always known the passion that fuels them. Having a man who allows you to be who you are to your core is a bonus. As for Olivia and Ruby, they know what it's like to be a woman in society, and the challenges that with it, and understand how to navigate society.
This is more than just romance, it’s becoming a woman, stepping into it, self-discovery, and breaking the mold. I truly enjoyed how each of them found their voice in the way that it was meant to be. I’m sad that it’s ending!

It’s 1910 in Chicago, Illinois. The story opens up where the previous book ended and serves as a continuation of the tales of Olivia, Helen, Ruby, and Amy-Rose.

I was excited to see where the characters would end up after the conclusion of the first novel. I will admit, though this is a good book, it does contain multiple POVs that at times are easy to lose track of.

I would say that these are the main plot points/questions one could ask themselves while reading:

Olivia continues to thrive while supporting the working community, fighting for those that do not have a voice themselves. After the events of the last novel, her parents continue to put pressure on her to marry, but is she able to forget Washington DeWight for good?

Helen still loves her engines—and when an opportunity comes for her and John to run the family business in their father’s absence, are they finally able to usher Davenport Carriage Company into the era of automobiles?

Ruby is busy planning her wedding to her new fiance, while her father continues to campaign for Mayor of Chicago. When rumors threaten to ruin everything, can Ruby rise above them in order to secure her own happiness?

Amy-Rose, along with her benefactor, Mrs. Davis, travel to New York City, where Amy-Rose’s dreams of becoming a successful salon owner take flight. When she returns to Chicago, she finds that her plans may be altered, as an unexpected tragedy takes place. While trying to make it in business, what will she decide when an old flame returns?

As you can see, there is a lot going on here. Many new background characters are introduced throughout the story as well. I will say that I feel like the book does a good job of tying everything together in the end.

Definitely worth a read and I recommend the book to lovers of historical fiction, but my suggestion? Have a notebook handy to keep track of everything!

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a good read. It picked up where part one left off. This book answered the questions that I had from part one. Have we learned all there is to know about The Davenports or will there be more?

The Davenports: More Than This was cute. It started out slow but eventually I felt like I was back in high society Chicago. I enjoyed it though I was very annoyed by one of the main tropes that reoccurs. I think the book struggles a bit more in this book from the multiple POVs. I would still recommend this book, particularly to those who really enjoy YA or those who live historical stories

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I loved the first book and was so excited to read the follow up. It didn’t hit quite as hard as the first just because I knew more what to expect, but this is no sophomore slump. I loved getting back with these characters and seeing how their stories all came to completion. Such a unique and wonderful tale across two books.

A beautiful conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed book 1 in this series The Davenport so I was overjoyed to see this follow up novel. I was pleased to see each of the main characters gain resolution to situations that started in book 1.

This book was written from several characters POV so at times it was a bit confusing but not overwhelming.

I recommend this book to people that enjoy historical fiction and sweet romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Dial Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.