Happy Land - a woman learns about her family's inspiring post-Civil War heritage as former slaves.

Nikki Lovejoy-Berry works as a real estate agent in Washington, D.C. Her mother grew up in North Carolina and has been estranged from her mother, Nikki's grandmother, known as Mother Ruth. When Mother Ruth contacts Nikki to visit her, she heads to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Zirconia, N.C., where she is greeted by the sign Lovejoy Lane. While the true nature of Mother Ruth's request takes time to be revealed, Nikki learns about her Black family's remarkable history. The dual-timeline tale alternates between the present and the post-Civil War years when Nikki's great, great grandmother, Luella, and her husband, William, established a community for formerly enslaved people called the Kingdom of the Happy Land. While the story, which includes Luella becoming the queen of Happy Land, seemed a bit hard to believe, Nikki is intrigued by the struggles and resilience of her ancestors. As Nikki learns more from Ruth, she becomes empowered by her family's legacy.

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is an engrossing book. Inspired by the real Kingdom of the Happy Land, the author revives a previously forgotten part of Black history. This is a touching and inspiring multi-generational story. Regardless of your heritage, this book emphasizes the importance of understanding the past to help shape our future. 

Many thanks to Berkley Books for the opportunity to read this book in advance. And what a gorgeous book cover!

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: April 8, 2025.

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