"I didn't know until I'd lost it how much Mama's Virgo predictability had stitched our lives together." ~ 14%
Rightfully named a Most Anticipated Book of 2025; Happy Land is finally here! A young black woman learns the story of her family's ties to an American Kingdom in this multi-generational novel inspired by true events.
When Grandma calls, granddaughter comes running. After years of silence due to a mysterious estrangement between her mother and grandmother, Nikki does not hesitate to drop everything when her grandmother calls out of the blue asking for a visit. Upon arrival, Mother Rita tells Nikki about a kingdom on this very mountain and its Queen Luella.
The Kingdom of Happy Land sounds like a fairy tale—royalty, community, freed people, acres and acres of owned land. Nikki soon learns this land is their legacy so she must do whatever possible to protect it while trying to heal a broken relationship.
"Calling something your own is a powerful prayer and there was God in it." ~ 19%
Dolen Perkins-Valdez took her time with this one, Bookhearts. The prep, the history, the facts, the setting details, the character development and the story itself was so well written and thorough. I had no prior knowledge of kingdoms on U.S. soil or the rich origins of bordering land. I was as caught up in the logistics of land ownership as I was the character's relationships and emotions.
Happy Land just may have sparked a leisure research project. It truly is a fascinating 5-star story.
Happy Early Pub Day, Dolen Perkins-Valdez! Happy Land will be available Tuesday, April 8.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarieTitle:
Happy LandAuthor: Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Published: April 2025
Pages: 363
Edition: Galley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤