BookBrowse Reviews Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

BookBrowse:

An immersive story based on the little-known history of a Reconstruction-era community created by formerly enslaved people in the mountains of the Carolinas.

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Dolen Perkins-Valdez is an established author of historical novels, including Take My Hand, previously reviewed by our First Impressions readers and voted a BookBrowse Top 20 title of 2022. Reviewers loved Happy Land just as much, giving it an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

What the book is about:

Happy Land is based on Reconstruction-era freed slaves in South Carolina. These people created their own kingdom in the mountains near Hendersonville, North Carolina (see Beyond the Book). The Montgomery brothers envisioned moving persecuted ex-slaves to their own safe community. William is the first King, followed by his brother Robert. But Queen Luella Montgomery emerges as the glue that holds Happy Land together. Flash ahead to present day, and the Lovejoys: Mother Rita has lived in Happy Land for all her years. She asks her granddaughter Nikki, a realtor in Washington, to visit, learn about her heritage, and continue the fight to hold onto Happy Land. As the story develops, we learn the history of the kingdom, written skillfully by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Gail B).

Readers were intrigued to learn that Perkins-Valdez's novel was based on a real piece of little-known history.

Hidden history is fascinating to me. It's all those untold and under-told stories I've discovered in historical fiction. Happy Land is a perfect example. The author presents the facts of the existence of the Kingdom of Happy Land interwoven in a fictional family history, thus animating what may otherwise have been a mere footnote in post Civil War history (Donna D). Happy Land provides stunning insight into a real group of freedpeople who established their own community. The characters' connection and linkage to the land was beautifully told and so impactful (Emily B). It is amazing how little we know of the history of certain people and places. I never knew there was a "Kingdom of Happy Land" up in the North Carolina mountains with an honest to goodness King and Queen (Debra F).

They found the dual-timeline format effective…

I don't usually like novels that have two interconnected stories from two different time periods, but I very much enjoyed this novel, and it was easy for me to follow (Louise E). The author keeps the interest level high between chapters, as the reader comes to care deeply about the people in both eras (Anne C). Alternating between past and present, the interlocking stories have a similar theme: achieving ownership of the land and evading unscrupulous provocateurs, though this is a lighter theme compared to the stories of two women discovering what they are capable of doing and achieving (Janine S).

...and the writing immersive.

The story is engrossing, the writing engaging, and the dialogue draws the reader in so thoroughly, it takes a moment to return to one's own world. This would make an excellent book group choice (Deborah C). This is another great story told by the author of Take My Hand. Another historical fiction tale that had me completely engaged. The author's skilled writing made me feel that I was right there with her characters. Bravo! (Ilene M).

Ultimately, reviewers felt the novel was emotionally satisfying and enlightening.

The two stories merge to an emotional, fitting conclusion (Jennie W). The history of this intentional community shows the perseverance of a people (Wendy F). I loved the way this book took us back to the past to help inform what is happening in the present (Versana P). I have enjoyed Ms. Perkins-Valdez's historical fiction books since she began writing. Each one has enlightened us on a time in Black history with excellent research to provide historic details and exhilarating characters that are unforgettable. Her newest book Happy Land is no exception (Lynne B).

This review first ran in the April 23, 2025 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.