What an incredible book to illuminate an incredible part of history.

While it took me some time to get into the story, it was a quick, engaging and interesting read once I did. I appreciated the character Louella and her journey from slave to American queen. I also really liked the concept of the Happy Land and how everyone contributed to the development and care of others. I sometimes felt like it read more like a history textbook and less like a novel, which is why I deducted one star.

I also was really intrigued by how Louella was disrespected at times by her male peers, which added depth to the story and her arc and the reality Black women face. However, I expected it to be addressed a bit more on page and was left with questions when it wasn't.

Overall though, I really enjoyed and appreciated learning about this piece of incredible history and all the research that went into making this novel. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.