This was a beautiful historical novel that covered a dark time in American history that is often not discussed. This book follows the aftermath of the Tulsa Riots that impacted "Black Wallstreet" in the early 20th century. The characters were wonderfuly human and showed the humanity and community that occurs when tragedies and crises arise.

I thought I had done my review on this one a while back, but apparently not. To attest to how great this book was, I'm still thinking about these characters months after. As a stan of Black historical Fiction, this was one of the best stories I've read this year. It was compelling, had my emotions all over the place and had me doing more research. My heart broke several times throughout the entire story. And although there was a lot of sadness and tradgies, there was some good news as well. If you are a consumer of Black Historical Fiction, then this book needs to be in your tbr pile.

In this complex exploration of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921, readers follow sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice as their home in Tulsa’s Greenwood District totally changes after the massacre destroys their home, sense of safety, and family. Escaping up Route 66, the sisters end up at the Threatt Filling Station where the owners take them in until they can rebuild themselves and their home. Despite having different dreams shattered by the Massacre, the gulf between the sisters and each other and their futures, the two women must heal and find new paths that will fulfill them and help their broken community and new families. With a complex cast of characters and two different, complicated, and hurt protagonists, readers will be totally pulled in by the sisters’ struggles and their steps to healing in this brilliant new historical fiction novel. With the visceral details and incredibly lifelike setting, the historical research into the Tulsa Race Massacre really immerses readers in Margaret and Evelyn’s stories and makes their feelings real. With the incredible depth of character and setting, readers will be unable to put this book down, and readers looking for a powerful, intense, and emotional -- yet ultimately hopeful -- historical fiction novel will be more than satisfied with this book.

Vanessa Miller, again, writes an emotionally charged story based on a true story. She beautifully told the story of these men and women who experience this horrible tragedy. I could not put this book down; I had to see what happened to Margaret and Evelyn. Even in the midst of tragedy and rebuilding, you could feel the hope that the brave men and women had. I highly recommend anything written by Vanessa Miller.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am always interested in reading more about lesser-known historical events, so I was excited to get my hands on this arc. Thank you so much to the publisher and to Netgalley!

This story follows two sisters through the events and aftermath of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Their father owned a grocery store in Greenwood, and the two sisters are both on the cusp of adulthood when their home and neighborhood was destroyed and their lives are completely upended.

I know the basic facts about the event, but I haven't read many books about it. I had high hopes for this novel. There were elements that I really liked! I thought the two sisters were compelling characters. I loved Margaret's tenacity and hope in rebuilding her community. I also liked how the author showed the effects of trauma through Evelyn. I also really appreciated the research that went into this book. I learned so much. Each chapter begins with a quote from that time to build context around the events of the story.

My biggest issue, though, was that it felt very preachy. Margaret's husband is a preacher, and the way he tried to convince characters (and the reader?) that God was still in charge despite the tragedy...I didn't love that. If it were a minor element of the story, I think I would have enjoyed it more, but it comes up over and over again.

I still think it was worth reading, if only to learn more about the aftermath of the massacre.

Another historical event that I knew virtually nothing about, until I read this book. I live in a state that borders Oklahoma and never heard a word about The Tulsa Race Massacre. This book made my stomach ache when the reality of 1921 racism in America was so eloquently written about in this book. The author takes us through a painful, necessary story as we become invested in the lives of the sisters, Margaret and Evelyn Justice. I will definitely read more by this author! Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheFillingStation.

The Filling Station is a powerful story or the strength and resilience of two sisters during the aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. A well written historical fiction book based on real people and events in US history. I really love a good historical fiction read and this one delivers. Though the horrors that the characters experience is difficult, the power of their sisterhood was beautiful. It is an engaging story and recommend especially for fellow readers who also love historical fiction and a well written story

This is my second book by Vanessa Miller, both were her historical fiction books, and amazing isn't a good enough term. Somehow Vanessa manages to take some of the darkest stories of the Black American people and while she doesn't shy away of the horror of the history the stories are shared in a way that doesn't traumatize. Readers will truly feel the wonder, resilience, and community of people. The character were flawed (frustratingly so in the best way), the often unknown historical context and documents were eye opening, and I can't imagine anyone reading this book not loving it!

An amazing read.

This historical fiction based on the The Tulsa Race Massacre was written so beautifully. Miller captured the essence of the town with well developed characters and vivid imagery that allows the reader to feel the devastation, despair, and determination of the people of Greenwood. I loved the different perspectives of the two sisters Margaret and Evelyn and the way they processed their trauma. Miller's research brought this much needed story to be told to life. You go through so many emotions reading this story; anger, sorrow, disappointment, grief, hope, pride, gratitude and love. If you love HF, especially based on real events, this is a must read! Thank you @authorvanessamiller for giving us this book and for giving the people of Greenwood a voice.
Thank you @netgalley for this earc and a chance to read and review.

The night before Evelyn Justice is supposed to graduate from high school, her world turns upside down. Instead of celebrating her achievement with family and friends, she and her sister Margaret end up fleeing their home in the prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Vanessa Miller’s historical novel The Filling Station begins with a glimpse into the horrific events of 1921’s Tulsa Race Massacre. The story continues to tell the very different reactions to the evening’s unspeakable occurrences, from the points of view of both sisters. It includes romance, family stories, social and political upheaval, and friendship.

The setting for most of the novel is not actually Greenwood but instead the Threatt family’s filling station, which becomes a safe haven for these sisters, as well as others needing groceries, gasoline, or some hope along the highway in Jim Crow America.This setting and the family who owned it provided inspiration for the true parts of this fictional tale. Most chapters of The Filling Station begin with a related quote from the Red Cross relief report, which I found to be interesting.

A very sad story, this novel also provides some hope and healing as the sisters and their beloved neighbors rise from the destruction to rebuild their community. Overall, I found parts of the narrative a bit repetitive and the pacing of the story to be uneven. Much of the story was predictable, but it still provides good narrative insight into an often-overlooked part of American history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction.

I had this added to my TBR pile when I saw a blurb about it but didn’t realize it was Christian Fiction until I was actually reading the book. This is important for a few reasons - the book lacks the refinement of a good copy editor and there’s a lot of faith messages in the book as one would expect knowing it was published by a Christian publishing company.

The story is complicated to review as some of the content was very well done and told an accurate portrayal of the Tulsa Race Massacre but the bulk of the book is an absolute mess.

I had expected the story to deal with the filling station and community involvement more than just following two characters. The massacre happens 30 pages of so in and the remaining 300+ pages are about the recovery and rebuilding of Greenwood. And the problem is the rebuilding is non-existent in the story telling it all happens in passing. Margret had a small role in Greenwood at first but then the actually community involvement and growth and healing of the people together never happens on the pages.

Instead the book focuses on the two impossible to like sisters. Margret acts like she’s 12 and Evie acts like she’s 14. They start off being super wholesome and then it turns into chaos with the sister have the worst personalities. They are mean and rude and erratic. They are inconsistently written you never know which sister was gonna erupt and which sister was gonna be the nice one or the rude one.

Evie clearly is meant to have PTSD but this may not have been researched by the author the glimpses of her spiraling are random and her actions and consequences are baffling. Major life changes are just barely mentioned and forgotten and it’s almost flippant about it. This was unsettling especially with very serious topics not carefully written.

Elijah was one of my fav characters until he becomes oddly controlling and it was hard to stomach his sudden change. And then the timeline jumped ahead years never explaining it.

I wish it had more uplifting feminist viewpoints and especially black feminist view points but this are few and far between and overwhelmingly negative social expectations of women who just blindly accept their station in life.

You’d want the women to have passion and moxie but it’s all downtrodden and anger til magically everything is now okay and faith is restored in the matter of minutes after YEARS of hate in their hearts. I didn’t mind the Christian viewpoint or the writing I honestly expected more of it and for the message to be uplifting throughout the entire book instead of focusing on the end as a conclusion to the story.

It’s got a bit of the high drama, bad writing that doesn’t feel authentic. The writing style is not the most professional nor does it have a strong plot - it feel like it lacked storyboarding that would have help drive the narrative in a concise way. The story is bloated with a lot of unnecessary fluff and some plot points are forgotten / unresolved. And important historical events are mentioned passively.

Overall I wish I stuck to real non-fiction to get a picture of the strength the community used to rebuild and move forward as this book omitted that entire viewpoint.
Poorly written MCs and a bloated narrative makes this a hard read along with the book feeling unrefined and polished.

“No one paid the price for the evil done to Black bodies”

It's hard to fathom the immense pain and devastation that struck Greenwood, Oklahoma, on the early morning of June 1, 1921. For Margaret and Evelyn Justice, this tragic moment would forever alter the course of their lives in ways they could never have anticipated. The weight of such an experience is something no one should have to bear.

This is my second book by Vanessa Miller, and while I enjoyed both, this one is my favorite. She does an exceptional job of creating an environment in which you feel like a part of the story. It evoked a wide range of emotions in me, from anger to sadness, and I found myself teary-eyed at several points. This book tells not only a story of trauma but also showcases the resilience of the people of Greenwood. Kudos to Ms. Miller! This book is a masterpiece!

This book had me all over the place in my feelings. However, I loved it. The author’s description of the Greenwood massacre events made me feel the pain and horror that some experienced. Which fueled my happiness when times would become better. Truly a great story of never giving up even when the world has put so many obstacles in your way.

Thank you so much to Thomas Nelson Publishing and Zondervan Fiction Audio for allowing me to read and review the e-arc and audio book copy. All thoughts are my own.

Fantastic. Five stars! A truly unforgettable story. This book was absolutely phenomenal. It was very evident the amount of research that went into telling this story. Also, the fact that the story truly starts out right in the midst of the Tulsa Massacre and then addresses so many post event hardships that I hadn’t known nor even considered?? Was heart shattering. I cried, I cried, and I cried a bit more. This book was a one-of-a-kind reading experience, my goodness did this story need to be told. Thank you Vanessa Miller for doing this work and providing such a masterpiece in historical fiction.

Oh, my goodness! This book was phenomenal, after meeting Vanessa and attending her book tour I couldn't help but to reread this book again! The characters, the storyline, the entire book was EVERYTHING! I absolutely love Historical Fiction and the way the characters were developed!

This story is about what sisters experienced and went through, during the attack in the Greenwood District and how it affected them physically, emotionally, financially, and psychologically.

It showed resilience, strength, and courage to keep pressing forward, this story is also in the setting of the Jim Crow Era. I appreciate Vanessa for telling this story and for sharing this story of how the survivors were willing to push past the hurt and rebuild again!

Thank you Netgalley for the copy of this beautiful story in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this ARC.

The story of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was new to me but not surprising at all. Margaret and Evelyn Justice grew up in Greenwood during Jim Crow America in an area known as Black Wallstreet.

Tragedy and events so horrifying chase them away one night and their life changes forever. This is an important book for so many reasons about love, hate, and facing an evil that has never truly died. While hard to consume I enjoyed this book because there is still good in the midst of evil and evil does not always win.

If you love historical fiction, this is the book for you.

Wow, this book really got to me. The Filling Station tells the powerful story of two sisters, Margaret and Evelyn, who have to rebuild their lives after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. They had it all growing up in Greenwood, a thriving Black community full of hope and success. But when tragedy hits, they lose everything, except each other.

Their journey down Route 66 and their time at the Threatt Filling Station was emotional, heartbreaking, and healing. I loved how the story mixed history, family, love, and faith all in one. Even when it seemed like God had gone silent, there was still hope and strength to be found.

Thank you, Vanessa Miller, for this moving and inspiring story. It filled me up in every way, just like the title says.

In the early 20th century, the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was home to numerous Black-owned businesses and a thriving African American community. Then came the devastation beginning on the night of May 31, 1921, when white supremacist mobs – including local law enforcement – rampaged and burned the entire neighborhood and killed dozens of residents. In a novel evoking both the worst and most generous impulses of human nature, Vanessa Miller shines a light on the aftermath of the Tulsa Race Massacre, laying bare the survivors’ long, hard-fought road to regain strength and faith.

Margaret and Evelyn Justice, daughters of a prosperous grocery store owner, are young women with dreams; Margaret plans to start teaching high school history, while Evie, a talented eighteen-year-old seamstress, wants to become a clothing designer. Left homeless after the fires, their beloved father missing, the sisters start walking out of town and land at the Threatt Filling Station (a real place on Route 66), which their Daddy had recognized as a safe haven for Black travelers. The proprietors, Mr. Allen and Mrs. Alberta Threatt, take in Margaret and Evie. The sisters have always been close, but their lives soon begin diverging. Margaret determines to see Greenwood rise again, wanting to rebuild as soon as possible, while Evie feels too scared to ever return.

The roadblocks they encounter (insurance denials are just the beginning) are infuriating, though Margaret is bolstered by the support of the Threatts and a caring farmer, Elijah, who has great faith in God. Through Miller’s skillful writing, we see the filling station not only as a notable landmark, one deserving of all Americans’ attention, but as a superb metaphor for the people and places that replenish the spirit, if we have the courage to let them in. Definitely recommended.

Title: The Filling Station
By: Vanessa Miller
Pub. Day: March 11, 2025

Genre:
Fiction, Historical, African American, Race,
With a dash of Christianity!

Trigger Warnings:
Racism, Violence, Loss, Persecution,

Memorable Quotes:
“Why do they hate us? What have we ever done to them?

Summary/Review:
Evelyn and Margaret are two sisters growing up in Oklahoma in the 1920’s. On one particular evening, the sisters' lives are stuck with tragedy and as the aftermath of chaos ensues the sisters journey to “The Filling Station” for safety and security, until the past haunts Evelyn and Margaret and quickly resurfaces.

This is my first novel by Vanessa Miller and I can’t wait to read her other books. Miller takes the reader on a journey back into an era marked by cruelty and suffering. A harrowingly dark time period of injustice and hatred. Some of the characters were real individuals who truly suffered first hand effects of these injustices. The author delivers a powerful and emotionally raw story that can be tough to take in at times causing me to take this novel in doses. I started the novel on my kindle, however, was given the audio and quickly began alternating between the two versions. The audio was very well done, the narrator brought the story to life, using versions of her voice and tone to create additional elements of the narrative. I highly recommend this novel! It’s written like none other. .

Thank you to Vanessa Millerl, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving my review.

#TheFillingStation
#VanessaMiller
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#ThomasNelsonFiction
#NetGalley

This history cannot be erased. A historical fiction book about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre that destroyed what was called Black Wall Street.


Follow two sisters' journey of survival and recovery from one of the worst events in American history. Margaret and Evelyn Justice, who grew up in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, flee to the Threatt family filing station after the massacre. There, they try to rebuild and cope with the aftermath of the tragedy. And each sister copes in their own way. This story is raw in that many of the themes still exist today. That is the killing of Black joy and excellence. The sister's psychological trauma is well expressed and portrayed in this book. I felt for each sister and their differing views on what to do to recover.
I asked the same questions Margaret asked, and ask those same questions in light of what is happening in this country today.
Once again, this author has shown the depth of her research into these events. Her research skills are to be praised! I love the added historical facts at the beginning of some chapters, as heartbreaking as they were. A mix of romance and showing of black love help to balance out the traumatic events in the book.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a must-read!
Rounded up from 4.5 Stars