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The Mayor of Maxwell Street
When a rich Black debutante enlists the help of a low-level speakeasy manager to identify the head of an underground crime syndicate, the two are thrust into the dangerous world of Prohibition-era Chicago.
The year is 1921, and America is burning. A fire of vice and virtue rages on every shore with Chicago at its beating heart.
Twenty-year-old Nelly Sawyer is the daughter of the alleged “wealthiest Negro in America,” a Kentucky horse breeder whose wealth and prestige catapults his family to the heights of the exclusive, elite Black society. After the unexpected death of her brother—the family’s presumed heir—Nelly goes from being virtually unknown to a premier debutante overnight. But Nelly has aspirations beyond society influence and marriage. For the past year, she has worked undercover as an investigative journalist for the Chicago Defender , sharing the achievements and tribulations of everyday Black people living in the shadow of Jim Crow. Now, her latest assignment thrusts her into the den of a dangerous vice the so-called Mayor of Maxwell Street.
Charming and mysterious, Jay Shorey strives to balance his connection to the Chicago underworld with his desperate yearning for the refinement and protection of high society. Born to a murdered bi-racial couple in rural Alabama, he knows firsthand what it means to be denied a chance at the American dream. When a tragic turn of fate gave Jay a rare path out, he took it without question. He washed up on Chicago’s storied shores and never looked back, until now.
When Nelly’s and Jay’s paths cross, she recruits him to help expose the Mayor and bring about a lasting change in a corrupted city. Trapped between the monolith of Jim Crow, the inflexible world of the Black upper class, and the violence of Prohibition-era Chicago, Jay and Nelly work together and stoke the flames of a love worth fighting for. And yet, as with all things in America, there is a price to be paid. What risk is Nelly willing to take for a young man willing to risk it all?
Debut author Avery Cunningham’s stunning novel is at once an epic love story, a riveting historical drama, and a brilliant exploration of Black society and perseverance when the ‘20s first began to roar.
The year is 1921, and America is burning. A fire of vice and virtue rages on every shore with Chicago at its beating heart.
Twenty-year-old Nelly Sawyer is the daughter of the alleged “wealthiest Negro in America,” a Kentucky horse breeder whose wealth and prestige catapults his family to the heights of the exclusive, elite Black society. After the unexpected death of her brother—the family’s presumed heir—Nelly goes from being virtually unknown to a premier debutante overnight. But Nelly has aspirations beyond society influence and marriage. For the past year, she has worked undercover as an investigative journalist for the Chicago Defender , sharing the achievements and tribulations of everyday Black people living in the shadow of Jim Crow. Now, her latest assignment thrusts her into the den of a dangerous vice the so-called Mayor of Maxwell Street.
Charming and mysterious, Jay Shorey strives to balance his connection to the Chicago underworld with his desperate yearning for the refinement and protection of high society. Born to a murdered bi-racial couple in rural Alabama, he knows firsthand what it means to be denied a chance at the American dream. When a tragic turn of fate gave Jay a rare path out, he took it without question. He washed up on Chicago’s storied shores and never looked back, until now.
When Nelly’s and Jay’s paths cross, she recruits him to help expose the Mayor and bring about a lasting change in a corrupted city. Trapped between the monolith of Jim Crow, the inflexible world of the Black upper class, and the violence of Prohibition-era Chicago, Jay and Nelly work together and stoke the flames of a love worth fighting for. And yet, as with all things in America, there is a price to be paid. What risk is Nelly willing to take for a young man willing to risk it all?
Debut author Avery Cunningham’s stunning novel is at once an epic love story, a riveting historical drama, and a brilliant exploration of Black society and perseverance when the ‘20s first began to roar.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 2024
About the author
Avery Cunningham
1 book225 followersAvery Cunningham is a resident of Memphis, TN, and a 2016 graduate of DePaul University’s Master of Arts Writing & Publishing program. She has over a decade of editorial experience with various literary magazines, small presses, and best-selling authors. Avery grew up surrounded by exceptional African-Americans who strived to uplift their communities while also maintaining a tenuous hold on prosperity in a starkly segregated environment. The sensation of being at once within and without is something she has grappled with since childhood and explores thoroughly in her work of historical fiction. When not writing, Avery is adventuring with her Bernese Mountain Dog, Grizzly, and wading waist-deep in research for her next novel. She aspires to tell the stories of complex characters fighting for their right to exist at the fringes of history. THE MAYOR OF MAXWELL STREET is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
February 4, 2024
This story felt very different than what I expected from the premise. I liked the idea of a young woman from the elite of “Colored” society as a main character. And Nelly was an interesting main character. She’s a reluctant participant in society, happier on their Kentucky farm with their horses. But after the death of her elder brother, she’s forced onto the Cotillion circuit in Chicago, as her parents seek a good marriage for her. There she meets Jay, a biracial young man of unknown origin who often passes as white. She also meets Tomas, a European nobleman of Mexican descent. There’s the obvious romantic cliche of which man she’ll pick.
I have mixed feelings about the story. It was like the author didn’t really know what she wanted this book to be about. The story never quite gelled for me. While I found Nelly an interesting character, her rationale for trying to find the mayor didn’t work for me.
The society Nelly lives in is protected as can be, but they are still exposed to racism and Jim Crow. As Jay says, he wants the options that are given to the white man. But the whole time I was reading this, I was left with questions. While Cunningham went out of her way to detail the dresses and the parties, I didn't feel like Cunningham really gave me a sense of how the society really functioned. The plot had some major gaps in it along with scenes that just felt totally unrealistic. And the big twist at the end was obvious to me from near the beginning.
My thanks to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for an advance copy of this book.
I have mixed feelings about the story. It was like the author didn’t really know what she wanted this book to be about. The story never quite gelled for me. While I found Nelly an interesting character, her rationale for trying to find the mayor didn’t work for me.
The society Nelly lives in is protected as can be, but they are still exposed to racism and Jim Crow. As Jay says, he wants the options that are given to the white man. But the whole time I was reading this, I was left with questions. While Cunningham went out of her way to detail the dresses and the parties, I didn't feel like Cunningham really gave me a sense of how the society really functioned. The plot had some major gaps in it along with scenes that just felt totally unrealistic. And the big twist at the end was obvious to me from near the beginning.
My thanks to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for an advance copy of this book.
December 11, 2023
The story is set in Chicago during the roaring 1920s, the beginning of the Prohibition Era in America and the city is full of corruption and gangsters ruled the streets.
Penelope is the daughter of a wealthy coloured horse breeder Ambrose Sawyer from Kentucky, her family are members of the elite black society, after the unexpected death of her brother Elder, and Nelly goes from being a spare to being an heir. To overcome her grief, Florence Sawyer decides Nelly needs to make her debut at a ball in Chicago and marry a rich man and have babies.
For the past year Nelly has been working secretly undercover as an investigative journalist, for the Chicago Defender, sharing the accomplishments and problems of everyday coloured people. Her latest assignment is to find the mysterious Mayor of Maxwell Street, he’s the leader of one of the biggest crime gangs in Chicago and his identity has been closely guarded. Nelly underestimates how dangerous it is sticking her nose in places it's not wanted, not only is she risking her own safety and she’s oblivious to the fact it could hurt others and have a domino effect.
Nelly meets Jay Shorey, he’s bi-racial and originally from Alabama and has reinvented himself in Chicago, he runs a speakeasy and trouble seems to follow him. Discrimination, racism and hatred is still a problem for people of colour in Chicago, Nelly has been shielded from the worst of this due to her family being rich and while she’s sneaking around looking for the Mayor of Maxwell Street she comes across what it's really like to be a black woman, where your own body is a threat and it’s a big shock.
I received a copy of Avery Cunningham’s novel The Mayor of Maxwell Street from Edelweiss Plus and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. This debut book's touted as a great and epic love story and I really don’t understand why?
Yes, Nelly has two men who could be possible love interests, one being Jay Shorey and the other polo player Thomas Escalante Roche and his family reportedly own half of Mexico. I found it to be a rather long and confusing story, it jumped all over the place, maybe because of the narrative being set in Prohibition era Chicago and it's main focus is on the cities underground and in that case Ms. Avery achieved what she set out to do.
To me it was more of a historical detective/mystery type of novel and a very long one, full of violence, gangs, greed, danger, hidden identities, racism, secrets and a young woman who didn’t know what she was doing, I’m still trying to put it all together, please read the book for yourself and makeup your own mind and three stars from me.
Penelope is the daughter of a wealthy coloured horse breeder Ambrose Sawyer from Kentucky, her family are members of the elite black society, after the unexpected death of her brother Elder, and Nelly goes from being a spare to being an heir. To overcome her grief, Florence Sawyer decides Nelly needs to make her debut at a ball in Chicago and marry a rich man and have babies.
For the past year Nelly has been working secretly undercover as an investigative journalist, for the Chicago Defender, sharing the accomplishments and problems of everyday coloured people. Her latest assignment is to find the mysterious Mayor of Maxwell Street, he’s the leader of one of the biggest crime gangs in Chicago and his identity has been closely guarded. Nelly underestimates how dangerous it is sticking her nose in places it's not wanted, not only is she risking her own safety and she’s oblivious to the fact it could hurt others and have a domino effect.
Nelly meets Jay Shorey, he’s bi-racial and originally from Alabama and has reinvented himself in Chicago, he runs a speakeasy and trouble seems to follow him. Discrimination, racism and hatred is still a problem for people of colour in Chicago, Nelly has been shielded from the worst of this due to her family being rich and while she’s sneaking around looking for the Mayor of Maxwell Street she comes across what it's really like to be a black woman, where your own body is a threat and it’s a big shock.
I received a copy of Avery Cunningham’s novel The Mayor of Maxwell Street from Edelweiss Plus and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. This debut book's touted as a great and epic love story and I really don’t understand why?
Yes, Nelly has two men who could be possible love interests, one being Jay Shorey and the other polo player Thomas Escalante Roche and his family reportedly own half of Mexico. I found it to be a rather long and confusing story, it jumped all over the place, maybe because of the narrative being set in Prohibition era Chicago and it's main focus is on the cities underground and in that case Ms. Avery achieved what she set out to do.
To me it was more of a historical detective/mystery type of novel and a very long one, full of violence, gangs, greed, danger, hidden identities, racism, secrets and a young woman who didn’t know what she was doing, I’m still trying to put it all together, please read the book for yourself and makeup your own mind and three stars from me.
January 30, 2024
Prophetic that I thought Avery Cunningham was already a well known and popular author when this book popped up. This is, unbelievably, her debut novel. This book is more than just well-written (though it is, very well written). It is smart, emotionally charging, historically captivating, and above all, beautiful.
This story opens up with a ballad in Alabama set in the early 1900s. We learn of a mixed boy nicknamed “Jimmy Blue-Eyes” who had to flee his town following the advances of a white woman.
A few years later, a young debutante named Penelope “Nelly” Sawyer has arrived in Chicago for her brother’s funeral. She’s unlike most young debutantes you’ve read in novels, she’s a Black woman whose father is dubbed “The Wealthiest Negro in America”. The Sawyer family’s wealth is very new, they made their fortune raising race horses, and Nelly and her parents are very aware of the delicacy of new wealth, especially for a colored family like themselves.
Nelly’s parents only want for her to marry well and secure her future. But Nelly has a secret: she’s an investigative writer and her articles have been published in secret in a local Chicago paper. Determined to find her own path, Nelly accepts an assignment to find the dangerous kingpin known only as “The Mayor of Maxwell Street”.
Nelly’s investigations will lead her into Chicago’s dangerous underground, meanwhile her debutante is leading her into Chicago’s most prominent locations. Both are places she is told that she does not belong – the underground because she is a young wealthy woman – the exclusive ballrooms and exhibitions because of her race.
Cunningham has written a story filled with beauty and wonder while still keeping us on our toes with the recognition of all the uncertainty and danger that Nelly faces both within her own prestigious company and when she walks down dangerous streets. The racism and presumptions made about the main character are so flawlessly interwoven with the resolution of her character.
That is not to say that Nelly is a perfect character. She undergoes a lot of development, and honestly there were times towards the end that I was getting upset like actually whispering, “you stupid idiot” under my breath and nearly fuming at the thought that the book would head in the direction I feared it would. But that was me being silly because this book is smarter than 90% of the books being published today. The story that is being told is fantastic yet the characters are real and tangible.
And beyond the story being told there is also the setting, which I couldn’t not mention in my review. The setting is what drew me to this book. Chicago 100 years ago? Heck yeah. And Cunningham has done a magnificent job at placing us in the 1920s. Plus the author name drops dress styles, art pieces, and cars which are so fun to look up and visualize in the story. If you take anything from this review please when you read this during the cotillion scene look up the Chicago Cultural Center, and see the Tiffany glass dome and imagine this beautiful ball taking place under there. I’ve been thinking about it literally alll day
Overall review: 500/5 I can’t wait til it comes out in print on the 30th so I can read the polished version.
This story opens up with a ballad in Alabama set in the early 1900s. We learn of a mixed boy nicknamed “Jimmy Blue-Eyes” who had to flee his town following the advances of a white woman.
A few years later, a young debutante named Penelope “Nelly” Sawyer has arrived in Chicago for her brother’s funeral. She’s unlike most young debutantes you’ve read in novels, she’s a Black woman whose father is dubbed “The Wealthiest Negro in America”. The Sawyer family’s wealth is very new, they made their fortune raising race horses, and Nelly and her parents are very aware of the delicacy of new wealth, especially for a colored family like themselves.
Nelly’s parents only want for her to marry well and secure her future. But Nelly has a secret: she’s an investigative writer and her articles have been published in secret in a local Chicago paper. Determined to find her own path, Nelly accepts an assignment to find the dangerous kingpin known only as “The Mayor of Maxwell Street”.
Nelly’s investigations will lead her into Chicago’s dangerous underground, meanwhile her debutante is leading her into Chicago’s most prominent locations. Both are places she is told that she does not belong – the underground because she is a young wealthy woman – the exclusive ballrooms and exhibitions because of her race.
Cunningham has written a story filled with beauty and wonder while still keeping us on our toes with the recognition of all the uncertainty and danger that Nelly faces both within her own prestigious company and when she walks down dangerous streets. The racism and presumptions made about the main character are so flawlessly interwoven with the resolution of her character.
That is not to say that Nelly is a perfect character. She undergoes a lot of development, and honestly there were times towards the end that I was getting upset like actually whispering, “you stupid idiot” under my breath and nearly fuming at the thought that the book would head in the direction I feared it would. But that was me being silly because this book is smarter than 90% of the books being published today. The story that is being told is fantastic yet the characters are real and tangible.
And beyond the story being told there is also the setting, which I couldn’t not mention in my review. The setting is what drew me to this book. Chicago 100 years ago? Heck yeah. And Cunningham has done a magnificent job at placing us in the 1920s. Plus the author name drops dress styles, art pieces, and cars which are so fun to look up and visualize in the story. If you take anything from this review please when you read this during the cotillion scene look up the Chicago Cultural Center, and see the Tiffany glass dome and imagine this beautiful ball taking place under there. I’ve been thinking about it literally alll day
Overall review: 500/5 I can’t wait til it comes out in print on the 30th so I can read the polished version.
August 25, 2023
i'm not quite sure how i feel about this novel. "the mayor of maxwell street" is a work of historical fiction in which we follow nelly. it's the 1920's and racism runs rampant in chicago.
this novel suffered from being too long. it was a bit daunting to read. i enjoyed the setting and the atmosphere, but the characters were all... rich debutantes. nelly was easy to like, and i appreciate that this is a story about a black woman in the 20's who knows what she wants. the prologue and epilogue were perhaps my favorite parts of this novel, which is an odd thing to say.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
this novel suffered from being too long. it was a bit daunting to read. i enjoyed the setting and the atmosphere, but the characters were all... rich debutantes. nelly was easy to like, and i appreciate that this is a story about a black woman in the 20's who knows what she wants. the prologue and epilogue were perhaps my favorite parts of this novel, which is an odd thing to say.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
August 15, 2023
1921. A rich Black girl writing anonymous articles about everyday Black people. A biracial, white-passing boy with a connection to the Chicago underworld. A love story.
The prologue set a few years before the actual story, immediately grabbed my attention. But I had to warm up to the story itself. I found the pacing rather slow and had to get used to the writing. And somehow, I didn’t understand everything. I had to look up lots of words (it might be because English is not my native language), and it took me out of the book. But slowly, I got invested in Nelly’s and Jay’s story. It was rather chilling to read about topics like racism and misogyny, to have to hide your identity and to become aware we still face those issues these days.
This is not a romance, and I also don’t think it’s a real love story. It’s a novel about a girl on the cusp of adulthood who meets a boy and feels a strong connection towards him, but lots of times they’re not together. They only meet a few times in the first half of the book. And only halfway, Jay promises to help Nelly with her investigation. Next to Nelly and Jay, there are many, many side characters, Sequoia with her encyclopedic social knowledge, hiding a secret at the same time, and Tomás, the Spanish-Mexican polo player who had his own experience with racism and had so many similarities to Jay, being the most interesting.
Like I said, it took me some time to really like the story, and in the second half of the story, I started doubting again because, at 60/70 %, I still didn’t feel that promised love story. I liked the setting and the topics and think it’s a solid debut, but the love story just fell flat for me, so I doubted my rating. Eventually, I decided to rate this novel 3.5 stars and round it down.
I received an ARC from Disney Publishing Group and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
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The prologue set a few years before the actual story, immediately grabbed my attention. But I had to warm up to the story itself. I found the pacing rather slow and had to get used to the writing. And somehow, I didn’t understand everything. I had to look up lots of words (it might be because English is not my native language), and it took me out of the book. But slowly, I got invested in Nelly’s and Jay’s story. It was rather chilling to read about topics like racism and misogyny, to have to hide your identity and to become aware we still face those issues these days.
This is not a romance, and I also don’t think it’s a real love story. It’s a novel about a girl on the cusp of adulthood who meets a boy and feels a strong connection towards him, but lots of times they’re not together. They only meet a few times in the first half of the book. And only halfway, Jay promises to help Nelly with her investigation. Next to Nelly and Jay, there are many, many side characters, Sequoia with her encyclopedic social knowledge, hiding a secret at the same time, and Tomás, the Spanish-Mexican polo player who had his own experience with racism and had so many similarities to Jay, being the most interesting.
Like I said, it took me some time to really like the story, and in the second half of the story, I started doubting again because, at 60/70 %, I still didn’t feel that promised love story. I liked the setting and the topics and think it’s a solid debut, but the love story just fell flat for me, so I doubted my rating. Eventually, I decided to rate this novel 3.5 stars and round it down.
I received an ARC from Disney Publishing Group and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
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November 17, 2023
I'm not sure how to even put in words what I think of this one. The events that transpired throughout were so unbelievable and the love story between Jay and Nelly is so toxic. I can not wrap my head around how this was supposed to be an epic love story.
Updated Full review:
The Mayor of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham is marketed as an "epic love story" "a tale of intrigue, racial tension, and class warfare, set against the glamorous and gritty backdrop of early 20th century Chicago." (From the synopsis)
Nelly, a rich Black young woman, who is the daughter of the richest Black family in America during the 1920s secretly writes anonymous articles about everyday life and struggles of Black people. Her hope is to one day become a well-known journalist. Upon her brother’s death, her family relocates to Chicago to put his affairs in order and present Nelly as their heir to the Black elite to form connections for her future and theirs.
At her brother's funeral, Nelly meets Jay, a Biracial young man, who is able to pass as a White man with connections to the Chicago underworld. She enlists his help to help her with an investigative article she is trying to write discovering who the Mayor of Maxwell Street is.
Now the premise had me completely intrigued. I was really interested to see how Nelly’s investigation was going to play out. However, the pacing of this story is really slow and for me personally the book is entirely too long being 500+ pages.
The "epic love story" is where this book completely lacks to me. The "so-called" relationship between Nelly and Jay was pure toxic. Every single time they were together, Nelly was being interrogated, physically abused, shot at, etc. Like how is this love....what love is this when your life is in danger?
Also from the beginning the author, Nelly’s parents and even Nelly herself kept stressing the importance of family legacy and strengthening their family name. But I could not fathom why Nelly kept running around with these mobsters when she was basically "threatening" her family security and legacy.
All to say this book just wasn't for me. And I was hoping I would have liked it better.
Updated Full review:
The Mayor of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham is marketed as an "epic love story" "a tale of intrigue, racial tension, and class warfare, set against the glamorous and gritty backdrop of early 20th century Chicago." (From the synopsis)
Nelly, a rich Black young woman, who is the daughter of the richest Black family in America during the 1920s secretly writes anonymous articles about everyday life and struggles of Black people. Her hope is to one day become a well-known journalist. Upon her brother’s death, her family relocates to Chicago to put his affairs in order and present Nelly as their heir to the Black elite to form connections for her future and theirs.
At her brother's funeral, Nelly meets Jay, a Biracial young man, who is able to pass as a White man with connections to the Chicago underworld. She enlists his help to help her with an investigative article she is trying to write discovering who the Mayor of Maxwell Street is.
Now the premise had me completely intrigued. I was really interested to see how Nelly’s investigation was going to play out. However, the pacing of this story is really slow and for me personally the book is entirely too long being 500+ pages.
The "epic love story" is where this book completely lacks to me. The "so-called" relationship between Nelly and Jay was pure toxic. Every single time they were together, Nelly was being interrogated, physically abused, shot at, etc. Like how is this love....what love is this when your life is in danger?
Also from the beginning the author, Nelly’s parents and even Nelly herself kept stressing the importance of family legacy and strengthening their family name. But I could not fathom why Nelly kept running around with these mobsters when she was basically "threatening" her family security and legacy.
All to say this book just wasn't for me. And I was hoping I would have liked it better.
February 1, 2024
4 1/2 "Well, alrighty then." Stars!
For a while, I thought this book was just wondering a little bit even though it always held my attention. There were a lot of people and moving characters. A lot of smoke and mirrors. Just remember that and don't be too surprised in the end. I adored Nelly. She was tenacious. Happy reading!
For a while, I thought this book was just wondering a little bit even though it always held my attention. There were a lot of people and moving characters. A lot of smoke and mirrors. Just remember that and don't be too surprised in the end. I adored Nelly. She was tenacious. Happy reading!
January 18, 2024
me enjoying a 500+ page historical fiction this much was not on my 2024 bucketlist but the genre didn't have avery cunningham before this book!!
this book is a romance (love triangle!!), mystery, and historical fiction all at once . . . while also feeling like none of those things. everything about the pacing and the scenes feels subtle and almost quiet. I don't know how to explain it, but I flew through this, was glued to the page, and then was like . . . "what just happened?"
a journey!!
my one complaint: I am definitely a mystery girly but I have not previous read stories dealing with like mob/city corruption plotlines. I feel like in the mafia world there is a lot of like "wink wink nudge nudge" in the dialogue. unfortunately, I have not seen sopranos. I am usually not picking up what you're putting down. so I do think I lacked a full depth of understanding.
will be eagerly anticipating whatever avery cunningham writes next!
this book is a romance (love triangle!!), mystery, and historical fiction all at once . . . while also feeling like none of those things. everything about the pacing and the scenes feels subtle and almost quiet. I don't know how to explain it, but I flew through this, was glued to the page, and then was like . . . "what just happened?"
a journey!!
my one complaint: I am definitely a mystery girly but I have not previous read stories dealing with like mob/city corruption plotlines. I feel like in the mafia world there is a lot of like "wink wink nudge nudge" in the dialogue. unfortunately, I have not seen sopranos. I am usually not picking up what you're putting down. so I do think I lacked a full depth of understanding.
will be eagerly anticipating whatever avery cunningham writes next!
September 26, 2023
This debut author is a talent to watch. Our main character, Nelly, is a capable, intelligent, and compelling character and readers will enjoy sailing into this historical world with her at the helm. The setting, atmosphere, and mood are all convincing, vibrant, and immersive. The prose is immaculate and at times enviously clever. Although Nelly’s story is engaging, the novel suffers from some plot drag and slow pacing from time to time. However, this is a very strong contribution from a young writer and I can't wait to read what she brings us next.
Want to read
October 19, 202310/19/2023 - Hey! I actually won a goodreads giveaway. The uncorrected advance proof showed up on my doorstep yesterday and I'm looking forward to diving in over the weekend.
January 31, 2024
Overall, I found this to be a pretty action packed, intriguing historical that focused on the overall societal issues that were present in 1920s Chicago. We follow Nelly, who is the daughter of one of the most recognizable and famous Black men of the time who made his money breeding horses. Nelly is used to life on a farm and at the racetrack, but is suddenly thrust into Chicago high society after the untimely death of her older brother Elder in a car accident. At her brother's funeral, she runs into a daring figure she can't look away from, Jay Shorey. Jay is very charming and very mysterious and as they keep running into each other, they begin to form a strange friendship and alliance. Nelly has secretly been writing articles for a famous community newspaper and has been given her hardest assignment, find and expose the Mayor of Maxwell Street, a shady character who seemingly has strings in all facets of the Chicago underworld. Even just mentioning the name has people around Nelly practically crossing themselves. The only person who remotely wants to help her is Jay, but he has secrets of his own he'd rather leave hidden.
The synopsis does mention that it is a love story and it kind of is? There are a few different love stories happening in this story but make no mistake this is not a romance and it is not a major part of the story. This story is very focused on showing Black society in Chicago in the 1920s and exploring corruption in the government and interactions in underworld groups. There are shady deals, threats, shoot outs, you name it. If you would expect to see it in a novel set in the 20s, it will likely crop up in this one.
The way the mystery of who is the Mayor of Maxwell Street is crafted had me turning pages unable putting the book down, trying to figure it out and make different theories and connections. Overall, the interactions between characters were interesting and I loved Sequoia as Nelly's friend even if she is a bit much at times and may not be the best friend in the world, but then again neither is Nelly. The characters feel very real and the story is pretty dramatic.
The reason this isn't a 5 star read for me was just that the end was a bit muddled in my opinion and I would have liked a bit more information.
CW: There is a lot of use of certain terms in relation to Black people (n words, etc). The author does note this at the start of the book as it is in keeping with the era she is writing about. There is also a use of the g-slur. This book includes: death of a family member, gun violence, gang violence, racism, slurs, misogyny, explosion. These are the ones I remember but there could be more.
*Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and Publishers Weekly for the ARC! All thoughts are my own :) *
The synopsis does mention that it is a love story and it kind of is? There are a few different love stories happening in this story but make no mistake this is not a romance and it is not a major part of the story. This story is very focused on showing Black society in Chicago in the 1920s and exploring corruption in the government and interactions in underworld groups. There are shady deals, threats, shoot outs, you name it. If you would expect to see it in a novel set in the 20s, it will likely crop up in this one.
The way the mystery of who is the Mayor of Maxwell Street is crafted had me turning pages unable putting the book down, trying to figure it out and make different theories and connections. Overall, the interactions between characters were interesting and I loved Sequoia as Nelly's friend even if she is a bit much at times and may not be the best friend in the world, but then again neither is Nelly. The characters feel very real and the story is pretty dramatic.
The reason this isn't a 5 star read for me was just that the end was a bit muddled in my opinion and I would have liked a bit more information.
CW: There is a lot of use of certain terms in relation to Black people (n words, etc). The author does note this at the start of the book as it is in keeping with the era she is writing about. There is also a use of the g-slur. This book includes: death of a family member, gun violence, gang violence, racism, slurs, misogyny, explosion. These are the ones I remember but there could be more.
*Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and Publishers Weekly for the ARC! All thoughts are my own :) *
January 9, 2024
✑ 2.75 ☆s.
"A shadowy figure showed up in conversation a couple years ago and has inspired all kinds of stories ever since. No one knows exactly where he lays his head, but on the beat, he's called the Mayor of Maxwell Street."
When I saw that this book proclaimed to be a Gatsby-esque love story/investigative mystery from the perspective of a wealthy young Black woman wanting nothing more than to make a name for herself rather than play the part of the dutiful debutante entrenched in a classist and racist society, I was SO intrigued.
The portrayal of the gritty Prohibition-era atmosphere and the focus on race and class was laudable; I thoroughly enjoyed the dichotomy between the roaring '20s glitz and the glam, and the glimpse into the main characters' experiences of being Black during that era (even in the North, and even with staggering wealth). Compounded with the mafia drama, the story had a depth and feeling of historical accuracy that was captivating and illuminating.
However, as noted above, The Mayor of Maxwell Street was slated to be an 'epic love story' and a 'dangerous' adventure of investigative journalism, and I found both of these aspects to be lacking. Beyond Nelly being in her season of coming out & having two men vying for her affection at sporadic points, any aspect of romance felt like an afterthought, a piece shoved in after the mystery. Not only that, but if I felt like the epic love story was an afterthought, Nelly's moonlighting as an anonymous journalist felt like barely a breeze of a thought. I would have loved for more focus to have been on this side of her, as overall, I found Nelly to be fairly insufferable. Every time a character scoffed at her for being a plucky, well-to-do young woman with restless legs, I had to admit that I saw their point. Her actions lacked consequence, even her guilt when an action led to extreme consequences was glossed over and tossed aside. And, when the going got tough, she essentially dropped all pretense of caring about the journalism and moved on.
Finally, the timeline was clunky at best... every major plot point was over & done in flash, while the less 'important' pieces dragged on. Moments of romance, intense danger -- these only seemed to last as long as it took to write them, and it cheapened the effect overall. I found parts of the book dragging (despite it being a quick read overall), and other times, I would turn back pages, sure I'd missing something as a major event was gone in a flash.
Overall, it was a quick read & I'll always jump to read a Prohibition/Gatsby-esque story, but I won't feel any pull to read this one again. The characters could have used more depth, and the plot and timeline needed more shaping. There's high potential & I'll look forward to the next book(s) this author writes, but this one fell flat for me.
Thanks to NetGalley & Hyperion Avenue for the ARC!
... As an aside, there were so many typos & it definitely detracted from the experience of the book... I hope these get fixed for publication, because I would normally drop my rating lower if reading a book with this many typos!
"A shadowy figure showed up in conversation a couple years ago and has inspired all kinds of stories ever since. No one knows exactly where he lays his head, but on the beat, he's called the Mayor of Maxwell Street."
When I saw that this book proclaimed to be a Gatsby-esque love story/investigative mystery from the perspective of a wealthy young Black woman wanting nothing more than to make a name for herself rather than play the part of the dutiful debutante entrenched in a classist and racist society, I was SO intrigued.
The portrayal of the gritty Prohibition-era atmosphere and the focus on race and class was laudable; I thoroughly enjoyed the dichotomy between the roaring '20s glitz and the glam, and the glimpse into the main characters' experiences of being Black during that era (even in the North, and even with staggering wealth). Compounded with the mafia drama, the story had a depth and feeling of historical accuracy that was captivating and illuminating.
However, as noted above, The Mayor of Maxwell Street was slated to be an 'epic love story' and a 'dangerous' adventure of investigative journalism, and I found both of these aspects to be lacking. Beyond Nelly being in her season of coming out & having two men vying for her affection at sporadic points, any aspect of romance felt like an afterthought, a piece shoved in after the mystery. Not only that, but if I felt like the epic love story was an afterthought, Nelly's moonlighting as an anonymous journalist felt like barely a breeze of a thought. I would have loved for more focus to have been on this side of her, as overall, I found Nelly to be fairly insufferable. Every time a character scoffed at her for being a plucky, well-to-do young woman with restless legs, I had to admit that I saw their point. Her actions lacked consequence, even her guilt when an action led to extreme consequences was glossed over and tossed aside. And, when the going got tough, she essentially dropped all pretense of caring about the journalism and moved on.
Finally, the timeline was clunky at best... every major plot point was over & done in flash, while the less 'important' pieces dragged on. Moments of romance, intense danger -- these only seemed to last as long as it took to write them, and it cheapened the effect overall. I found parts of the book dragging (despite it being a quick read overall), and other times, I would turn back pages, sure I'd missing something as a major event was gone in a flash.
Overall, it was a quick read & I'll always jump to read a Prohibition/Gatsby-esque story, but I won't feel any pull to read this one again. The characters could have used more depth, and the plot and timeline needed more shaping. There's high potential & I'll look forward to the next book(s) this author writes, but this one fell flat for me.
Thanks to NetGalley & Hyperion Avenue for the ARC!
... As an aside, there were so many typos & it definitely detracted from the experience of the book... I hope these get fixed for publication, because I would normally drop my rating lower if reading a book with this many typos!
January 13, 2024
Set in Prohibition era Chicago, Nelly comes home from the family's horse farm in Kentucky for her brother's funeral, but that is just the tip of the iceberg of a story.. Her family is the wealthiest Black family in American, but wealth doesn't bring peace. There is so much going on in this story: a Cotillion, mob families, murder, flirtations across racial lines, many surprises, and the mysterious Mayor of Maxwell Street. Please read the book summary to get the basics of the story.
I read this book because I love debut novels, it is set in an era I was interested in reading more about, it is set in Chicago, and it was written from the point of view of a well to do African American young woman. I enjoyed many of the characters because they had opinions that made people feel uncomfortable and other characters were just not nice people but I thought they had some depth and purpose to the story. Nelly is a character that you will either love or hate. I happened to like Nelly because she wanted to be a journalist and she didn't let what society and her father wanted to get in her way. Did she make some poor choices? Definitely. Did she stay true to herself? Definitely, until the end. Still processing how I feel about the Epilogue and Nelly's final choice. I was concerned about the length of the book, but I moved faster than I anticipated, so don't let the length put you off.
If you are looking for an interesting Prohibition era book from an African American perspective, I would recommend this book. I was entertained and had to finish to find out what happened to everyone.
Thank you Hyperion Avenue and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I read this book because I love debut novels, it is set in an era I was interested in reading more about, it is set in Chicago, and it was written from the point of view of a well to do African American young woman. I enjoyed many of the characters because they had opinions that made people feel uncomfortable and other characters were just not nice people but I thought they had some depth and purpose to the story. Nelly is a character that you will either love or hate. I happened to like Nelly because she wanted to be a journalist and she didn't let what society and her father wanted to get in her way. Did she make some poor choices? Definitely. Did she stay true to herself? Definitely, until the end. Still processing how I feel about the Epilogue and Nelly's final choice. I was concerned about the length of the book, but I moved faster than I anticipated, so don't let the length put you off.
If you are looking for an interesting Prohibition era book from an African American perspective, I would recommend this book. I was entertained and had to finish to find out what happened to everyone.
Thank you Hyperion Avenue and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I had so many mixed feelings about this book and I would say it's 3.5 stars but I rounded up because I did genuinely enjoy it. To me, the best part about this book was the atmosphere of the period and setting: 1920's Chicago, with a mix of dazzling parties and seedy underground bars, multiple ethnicities co-mingling and of course, the mafia. It made for a fun and fascinating read.
The protagonist is Nelly, a woman coming from the richest black family in America, tied to social and family obligation of coming out at the cotillion and marrying rich. She wants nothing more than to be a journalist and in order to do that, she has to get involved in discovering the Mayor of Maxwell Street. I loved her grit and determination, though she often wreaked havoc with her naivete. Nelly's love interests could have been written better, and I found myself very conflicted with how that turned out. I understand why she was drawn to Jay Shorey, but he just frustrated the hell out of me. Additionally, I was confused by a lot of the events that transpired and while I think Cunningham's writing is sublime, some stuff was a little unclear. Her vivid descriptions and dialogue were awesome though and I felt as though I was right there with the characters.
I think the overall concept of this book was amazing and I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to see what else Cunningham has in store because she definitely drew me in!
The protagonist is Nelly, a woman coming from the richest black family in America, tied to social and family obligation of coming out at the cotillion and marrying rich. She wants nothing more than to be a journalist and in order to do that, she has to get involved in discovering the Mayor of Maxwell Street. I loved her grit and determination, though she often wreaked havoc with her naivete. Nelly's love interests could have been written better, and I found myself very conflicted with how that turned out. I understand why she was drawn to Jay Shorey, but he just frustrated the hell out of me. Additionally, I was confused by a lot of the events that transpired and while I think Cunningham's writing is sublime, some stuff was a little unclear. Her vivid descriptions and dialogue were awesome though and I felt as though I was right there with the characters.
I think the overall concept of this book was amazing and I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to see what else Cunningham has in store because she definitely drew me in!
December 17, 2023
Characters 7
Atmosphere 7
Writing 8
Plot 7
Intrigue 8
Logic 5
Enjoyment 7
7/10 > ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Mayor of Maxwell Street is a historical fiction set to take place in the 1920’s in Chicago. This is a story about a young Black woman navigating the high expectations and pressures of the socialite community surrounding her as she pursues her own passions, which leads to her having to face incredible danger
I really enjoyed the authors writing. There were a number of moments where I felt I was more able to connect to the characters bc of the authors ability to articulate the tension in the scene.
The main issue I had with this book was the sense of logic and unfolding of events. It honestly has sooo many great plot twists and the concept of the plot as a whole is extremely intriguing. However, it is advertised as a love story, and the “love story” aspects of it felt more like a side plot until the end when all of a sudden it seemed to take over, which for me didn’t line up with what I was hoping for.
Regardless, it was still extremely entertaining and held my interest! It was a nice change of pace and definitely extremely unique. I can definitely see myself picking up another future novel by this author!
I received an ARC for a copy of this book from NetGalley and the Publisher (thank you!!!) in exchange for an honest review.
Atmosphere 7
Writing 8
Plot 7
Intrigue 8
Logic 5
Enjoyment 7
7/10 > ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Mayor of Maxwell Street is a historical fiction set to take place in the 1920’s in Chicago. This is a story about a young Black woman navigating the high expectations and pressures of the socialite community surrounding her as she pursues her own passions, which leads to her having to face incredible danger
I really enjoyed the authors writing. There were a number of moments where I felt I was more able to connect to the characters bc of the authors ability to articulate the tension in the scene.
The main issue I had with this book was the sense of logic and unfolding of events. It honestly has sooo many great plot twists and the concept of the plot as a whole is extremely intriguing. However, it is advertised as a love story, and the “love story” aspects of it felt more like a side plot until the end when all of a sudden it seemed to take over, which for me didn’t line up with what I was hoping for.
Regardless, it was still extremely entertaining and held my interest! It was a nice change of pace and definitely extremely unique. I can definitely see myself picking up another future novel by this author!
I received an ARC for a copy of this book from NetGalley and the Publisher (thank you!!!) in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2023
3 ⭐️
Only because there wasn’t as much romance as I personally like in a book and it was slow-paced for the most part. However the prologue did reeled me in and Nelly kept me reading.
Overall I enjoyed it but I wouldn’t reread it.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy!
Only because there wasn’t as much romance as I personally like in a book and it was slow-paced for the most part. However the prologue did reeled me in and Nelly kept me reading.
Overall I enjoyed it but I wouldn’t reread it.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy!
November 25, 2023
Just finished reading an ARC copy, and I felt conflicted through the ENTIRE book about whether or not I liked it. The characters, while flashy, fall flat. They act exactly as you expect and don’t feel developed enough to grow or to surprise with their complexities. There’s a shocking amount of dialogue, so when the narrator tries to add her own interpretations as exposition, it feels disingenuous because the standard is set early that the plot will move forward through large swaths of dialogue, not interpretation.
Ultimately, the lack of character development and growth frustrated me and made it difficult to invest in the characters, even during emotional and “surprising” moments of the story.
AND YET. When I sat down and decided to really dive in, I FLEW through the second part. It is a glittering story with jewels and guns, intrigue and old money, prohibition and secret gambling tables. The story is truly dazzling.
If you can look past the 2D characters, this book is beautiful. It’s not a romance, since love takes a back seat to Nelly’s journalistic adventures and because one potential love story is undercooked and the other is entirely toxic. But I did prefer that because the characters were hard to invest in. Instead, I could focus on solving the mystery in smoke-filled speakeasies.
Ultimately, the lack of character development and growth frustrated me and made it difficult to invest in the characters, even during emotional and “surprising” moments of the story.
AND YET. When I sat down and decided to really dive in, I FLEW through the second part. It is a glittering story with jewels and guns, intrigue and old money, prohibition and secret gambling tables. The story is truly dazzling.
If you can look past the 2D characters, this book is beautiful. It’s not a romance, since love takes a back seat to Nelly’s journalistic adventures and because one potential love story is undercooked and the other is entirely toxic. But I did prefer that because the characters were hard to invest in. Instead, I could focus on solving the mystery in smoke-filled speakeasies.
October 13, 2023
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book from the Disney Publishing Group, Adult Publicity Department.
I love to pick up a book with a beautiful cover. This debut novel, a work of historical fiction, takes place in 1921 in the heart of Chicago. The main character is a strong black woman, said to be the daughter of “the richest negro” in America. Her father runs a ranch that raises and breeds racehorses. While Nelly is well versed in the business and brilliant with the horses, she yearns for a different career. She strives to become a journalist, but must write under an assumed name as a man. She approaches her editor with the desire to write under her own name. This prompts him to task her with an extremely difficult and dangerous assignment. If she can identify the mobster head, “The Mayor of Maxwell Street”, she can have her own byline.
Her journey is a rollercoaster ride as she juggles between secretly investigating a crime ring, while maintaining appearances as a respectable young woman preparing for her first cotillion. There is a love interest or maybe two….pick this book up and find out for yourself! I think you will enjoy it.
I love to pick up a book with a beautiful cover. This debut novel, a work of historical fiction, takes place in 1921 in the heart of Chicago. The main character is a strong black woman, said to be the daughter of “the richest negro” in America. Her father runs a ranch that raises and breeds racehorses. While Nelly is well versed in the business and brilliant with the horses, she yearns for a different career. She strives to become a journalist, but must write under an assumed name as a man. She approaches her editor with the desire to write under her own name. This prompts him to task her with an extremely difficult and dangerous assignment. If she can identify the mobster head, “The Mayor of Maxwell Street”, she can have her own byline.
Her journey is a rollercoaster ride as she juggles between secretly investigating a crime ring, while maintaining appearances as a respectable young woman preparing for her first cotillion. There is a love interest or maybe two….pick this book up and find out for yourself! I think you will enjoy it.
January 1, 2024
I had high hopes for this book based on the premise but with next to no plot and characters lacking in development it was a huge disappointment.
December 15, 2023
If this is her debut, Avery you’ve got a good career ahead of you.
This is a historical fiction novel that will be coming out next year. Set in the 1920;s in the south where two unlikely individuals, cross paths. The prose was just so incredible pretty and I often got lost in the words. Don’t expect romance. Overall this was great but just a little too slow and a little too long for my liking.
I was given a free copy from Goodreads. My thoughts are my own and not influenced by this.
This is a historical fiction novel that will be coming out next year. Set in the 1920;s in the south where two unlikely individuals, cross paths. The prose was just so incredible pretty and I often got lost in the words. Don’t expect romance. Overall this was great but just a little too slow and a little too long for my liking.
I was given a free copy from Goodreads. My thoughts are my own and not influenced by this.
January 20, 2024
This has been a stellar year of five-star reads so far, and among them, Avery Cunningham's debut novel, The Mayor of Maxwell Street, stands out as a delightful gem. My journey with this book began after New Year's when, as I embarked on my new bookish Instagram account (@litoreads), Avery reached out after spotting a post about my most anticipated reads for 2024, which included The Mayor of Maxwell Street. Her gesture of offering a digital ARC to a budding bookish account spoke volumes about her character, and the genuine warmth in our online exchanges mirrored the heart she pours into her writing.
Penelope "Nelly" Sawyer's story opens at her brother's funeral, where she encounters the Black Chicago elite, notably the intriguing Jay Shorey, marking the beginning of a captivating narrative. Unbeknownst to her parents, Nelly has been contributing articles to a Chicago newspaper under a pseudonym, with her late brother's assistance. As she navigates the complexities of a debutante cotillion, she finds herself entangled in a covert mission to uncover the elusive "Mayor of Maxwell Street." The plot unfolds into a riveting adventure, blending Nelly's high-society obligations with her quest for the truth about a shadowy character that even Chicago's deadliest seem to be wary of.
The ensemble of characters includes the strong-willed Nelly Sawyer, who is the daughter of the "wealthiest [Black man] in America"; the suave, quasi-royal Tomás Escalante y Rocha; Sequoia McArthur – a socialite with an undeniable allure reminiscent of actress Dominique Jackson; and the charismatic, yet mysterious, Jay Shorey, who seems to know everyone in Chicago. The characters are diverse and vibrant, a testament to Cunningham's storytelling prowess. Her knack for creating well-rounded characters ensures that readers never lose track of who's who. Sequoia, in particular, emerges as one of the most compelling characters; she shows the reader life as a closeted woman in the 20's while exuding regal sophistication and delivering some of the book's most cutting-edge repartee:
"'I do [look stunning], don't I?' she said. 'You know, I won this little number off of Joanna Dickerson last summer at Idlewild. Fifteen-love, my best score since. And honestly, if you knew Joanna, you'd know that such a dress is completely wasted on her. Enough money to finance an entire Jeanne Lanvin collection, but she'd rather go around in wool blouses and plaid skirts like some governess in a tragic novel.'" Nelly was wearing a skirt and blouse when Sequoia said this to her.
Cunningham's writing skillfully captures the essence of Prohibition-era Chicago in the Roaring Twenties, with sharp wit and an entertaining narrative that keeps pace with the notorious reputation the 1920s are known for. The final 100 pages are a whirlwind of suspense, twists, and revelations, elevating the story to unforeseen heights. Cunningham deftly subverts expectations, leaving readers on the edge of their seats.
The racial undertones throughout the novel are a powerful element, almost like an additional character that shapes the world. It lays bare the challenges faced by the characters, even within the privileged 1%, in confronting the prevailing racial dynamics of the time. The novel's exploration of race is profound, serving as a thought-provoking commentary on societal structures. It doesn't merely pander or preach; instead, it weaves intelligence and wit into the narrative, prompting reflection on today's world while ensuring an enjoyable reading experience.
It is only January and I've had the privilege of exploring two historical fiction novels written by women of color, utilizing their backgrounds to craft compelling stories. Avery Cunningham emerges as a vital storyteller for the genre. The Mayor of Maxwell Street is more than a debut; it's a resonant voice commanding attention in our contemporary landscape. It's a flawless novel that demands your reading attention – a captivating blend of mystery, banter, and adventure. Don't miss this.
Five stars.
-----
TL;DR: If you like an adventurous & mysterious story with high society drama, mafia politics, and a twist-ending wrapped up with the essence of The Great Gatsby, then you need to read Avery Cunningham's debut. This electrifying breath of fresh air for the historical fiction genre is easily a five-star read for 2024.
Penelope "Nelly" Sawyer's story opens at her brother's funeral, where she encounters the Black Chicago elite, notably the intriguing Jay Shorey, marking the beginning of a captivating narrative. Unbeknownst to her parents, Nelly has been contributing articles to a Chicago newspaper under a pseudonym, with her late brother's assistance. As she navigates the complexities of a debutante cotillion, she finds herself entangled in a covert mission to uncover the elusive "Mayor of Maxwell Street." The plot unfolds into a riveting adventure, blending Nelly's high-society obligations with her quest for the truth about a shadowy character that even Chicago's deadliest seem to be wary of.
The ensemble of characters includes the strong-willed Nelly Sawyer, who is the daughter of the "wealthiest [Black man] in America"; the suave, quasi-royal Tomás Escalante y Rocha; Sequoia McArthur – a socialite with an undeniable allure reminiscent of actress Dominique Jackson; and the charismatic, yet mysterious, Jay Shorey, who seems to know everyone in Chicago. The characters are diverse and vibrant, a testament to Cunningham's storytelling prowess. Her knack for creating well-rounded characters ensures that readers never lose track of who's who. Sequoia, in particular, emerges as one of the most compelling characters; she shows the reader life as a closeted woman in the 20's while exuding regal sophistication and delivering some of the book's most cutting-edge repartee:
"'I do [look stunning], don't I?' she said. 'You know, I won this little number off of Joanna Dickerson last summer at Idlewild. Fifteen-love, my best score since. And honestly, if you knew Joanna, you'd know that such a dress is completely wasted on her. Enough money to finance an entire Jeanne Lanvin collection, but she'd rather go around in wool blouses and plaid skirts like some governess in a tragic novel.'" Nelly was wearing a skirt and blouse when Sequoia said this to her.
Cunningham's writing skillfully captures the essence of Prohibition-era Chicago in the Roaring Twenties, with sharp wit and an entertaining narrative that keeps pace with the notorious reputation the 1920s are known for. The final 100 pages are a whirlwind of suspense, twists, and revelations, elevating the story to unforeseen heights. Cunningham deftly subverts expectations, leaving readers on the edge of their seats.
The racial undertones throughout the novel are a powerful element, almost like an additional character that shapes the world. It lays bare the challenges faced by the characters, even within the privileged 1%, in confronting the prevailing racial dynamics of the time. The novel's exploration of race is profound, serving as a thought-provoking commentary on societal structures. It doesn't merely pander or preach; instead, it weaves intelligence and wit into the narrative, prompting reflection on today's world while ensuring an enjoyable reading experience.
It is only January and I've had the privilege of exploring two historical fiction novels written by women of color, utilizing their backgrounds to craft compelling stories. Avery Cunningham emerges as a vital storyteller for the genre. The Mayor of Maxwell Street is more than a debut; it's a resonant voice commanding attention in our contemporary landscape. It's a flawless novel that demands your reading attention – a captivating blend of mystery, banter, and adventure. Don't miss this.
Five stars.
-----
TL;DR: If you like an adventurous & mysterious story with high society drama, mafia politics, and a twist-ending wrapped up with the essence of The Great Gatsby, then you need to read Avery Cunningham's debut. This electrifying breath of fresh air for the historical fiction genre is easily a five-star read for 2024.
February 2, 2024
Who is the Mayor of Maxwell Street? Having read this very long novel I am not entirely sure that I know!
The Mayor of Maxwell Street is a debut novel from Avery Cunningham, and its a bit of tome.
The length of the novel didn't detract from my enjoyment but it is a long novel so you will need to set aside some serious time to complete it.
For me there were two facets to this novel - Nelly Sawyer the unexpected debutante thrust onto Chicago society after the death of her brother makes her sole heiress of a Kentucky Stud farm. Or Nelly Sawyer the naïve investigative journalist searching for the elusive Mayor of Maxwell Street in the Chicago's underbelly.
Or the third fact Nelly Sawyer the black flapper looking for a good time and a good drink.
I enjoyed all Nelly's and enjoyed going to parties, underground clubs and balls with her and her friends. But Nelly actively seeks out Chicago's underbelly and is lucky to escape with her life. And for me this is where the novel falls down a bit. Nelly befriends the mysterious Jay Shorey she is introduced to Chicago's underbelly and ends up fighting for her life.
But who is Jay Shorey? The reader knows a Gatsby type character who escaped a Southern plantation with the clothes on his back, transformed to an apparently mysterious, rich, white business man. A bi racial Jay Gatsby.
Like The Great Gatsby's this is billed as being a love story, and like Daisy, Nelly chooses the rich man over Gatsby. I am not entirely sure why but she makes it clear her name and her horses are important to her.
Despite the unsatisfactory love story (I never liked this element of Great Gatsby always felt Jay was too good for Daisy), I enjoyed The Mayor of Maxwell Street. I loved going through Chicago's underbelly, particular when they are looking for the elusive Lantern. I also enjoyed Sequoia who almost deserves her own novel.
This is a long novel, full of choices and behaviours that are annoying and questionable but as a debut novel its one of the best I have ever read. All attention to detail with the hair, the wigs, the dresses the wigs and the blatant racism it all comes together rather well. My only is that the prologue and the epilogue brought nothing more to the novel so not sure why they were included.
The Mayor of Maxwell Street is a debut novel from Avery Cunningham, and its a bit of tome.
The length of the novel didn't detract from my enjoyment but it is a long novel so you will need to set aside some serious time to complete it.
For me there were two facets to this novel - Nelly Sawyer the unexpected debutante thrust onto Chicago society after the death of her brother makes her sole heiress of a Kentucky Stud farm. Or Nelly Sawyer the naïve investigative journalist searching for the elusive Mayor of Maxwell Street in the Chicago's underbelly.
Or the third fact Nelly Sawyer the black flapper looking for a good time and a good drink.
I enjoyed all Nelly's and enjoyed going to parties, underground clubs and balls with her and her friends. But Nelly actively seeks out Chicago's underbelly and is lucky to escape with her life. And for me this is where the novel falls down a bit. Nelly befriends the mysterious Jay Shorey she is introduced to Chicago's underbelly and ends up fighting for her life.
But who is Jay Shorey? The reader knows a Gatsby type character who escaped a Southern plantation with the clothes on his back, transformed to an apparently mysterious, rich, white business man. A bi racial Jay Gatsby.
Like The Great Gatsby's this is billed as being a love story, and like Daisy, Nelly chooses the rich man over Gatsby. I am not entirely sure why but she makes it clear her name and her horses are important to her.
Despite the unsatisfactory love story (I never liked this element of Great Gatsby always felt Jay was too good for Daisy), I enjoyed The Mayor of Maxwell Street. I loved going through Chicago's underbelly, particular when they are looking for the elusive Lantern. I also enjoyed Sequoia who almost deserves her own novel.
This is a long novel, full of choices and behaviours that are annoying and questionable but as a debut novel its one of the best I have ever read. All attention to detail with the hair, the wigs, the dresses the wigs and the blatant racism it all comes together rather well. My only is that the prologue and the epilogue brought nothing more to the novel so not sure why they were included.
October 17, 2023
I loved this startling and astonishingly well-written debut novel! Avery Cunningham is truly an artist with words and story, an author I hope to see much more of in the future. The narrative is complex and contains a multitude of characters, yet I felt comfortable and cognizant at all times while reading.
The Mayor of Maxwell Street is set in Chicago during the early 1920s, the beginning of the Prohibition Era and a time of corruption and gangsters. The time was also one of increased opportunities for Black people in the North. Nelly, the book’s protagonist, comes from a wealthy Black family who made their fortune breeding racehorses in Kentucky. Chicago offers social opportunities, and Nelly is to be presented at a debutante ball with the hope of finding her a suitable husband. Nelly is an intelligent, independent woman with other ideas for her future. That future is jeopardized by Nelly’s investigation into the underbelly of Chicago crime.
The novel is described as “an epic love story,” but I think this is an egregious disrespect for the depth of material in the book. True, love interests and attractions exist, but the book is significantly more than a tale of love. The history of Chicago, the discrimination and menace shown to Black people, the segregation and hatred between people of varied ethnicities, the inner workings of high society, and the gangster underworld are convincing and powerful. Avery Cunningham’s prose is polished and stimulating. The Mayor of Maxwell Street is a breathtaking debut novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC of this book.
The Mayor of Maxwell Street is set in Chicago during the early 1920s, the beginning of the Prohibition Era and a time of corruption and gangsters. The time was also one of increased opportunities for Black people in the North. Nelly, the book’s protagonist, comes from a wealthy Black family who made their fortune breeding racehorses in Kentucky. Chicago offers social opportunities, and Nelly is to be presented at a debutante ball with the hope of finding her a suitable husband. Nelly is an intelligent, independent woman with other ideas for her future. That future is jeopardized by Nelly’s investigation into the underbelly of Chicago crime.
The novel is described as “an epic love story,” but I think this is an egregious disrespect for the depth of material in the book. True, love interests and attractions exist, but the book is significantly more than a tale of love. The history of Chicago, the discrimination and menace shown to Black people, the segregation and hatred between people of varied ethnicities, the inner workings of high society, and the gangster underworld are convincing and powerful. Avery Cunningham’s prose is polished and stimulating. The Mayor of Maxwell Street is a breathtaking debut novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC of this book.
January 30, 2024
Happy publication day to Avery Cunningham 🎉🎉🎉
Chicago 1921
Penelope "Nelly" Sawyer, the daughter of Ambrose Sawyer, whose horse breeding empire in Kentucky catapulted his family into Black High Society, is in town to attend her older brother's funeral. Now that she's the sole heir to her family's wealth, she is forced to remain in Chicago and do a proper coming out. But Nelly isn't interested in cotillons. She dreams of becoming an investigative journalist for the Chicago Defender, and her next assignment is to expose the notorious Mayor of Maxwell Street, the suspected leader of an underground crime syndicate.
Jay Shorey is the son of murdered bi-racial parents. He fled rural Alabama to escape an angry mob and reinvented himself in Chicago. He has connections to the underworld Nelly wants to infiltrate; she is a member of the society Jay desperately wants to be a part of. The chemistry in undeniable whenever their paths cross, but he is an enigma. The way he sheds his old life, adopts a new identity, and is involved in organized crime is giving Jay Gatsby. Nelly has no idea for whom she is falling.
In this story, the glitz and glamor of the roaring 20s is mingled with the underbelly of Prohibition-era Chi-town. Speakeasy passwords, gangstas, mafiosos, shady politicians, and the mystery surrounding this Mayor of Maxwell Street, who people paint as a boogeyman, make for an entertaining read. I liked Cunningham's biting commentary on how Black wealth and being respectable Negroes is never enough for racists; how poor Blacks who migrated from the south had their aspirations dashed when they realized the arms of Jim Crow stretched north; and how Jay "passing" for white gives him access to different societies despite no one really knowing his background.
My only critique is that I wished Nelly is as gutsy when confronted with everyday racism as she is when chasing leads for her story. But, she is a respectable Black and respectable Blacks tend to go high when others go low. I couldn't relate to that 😆
Thanks to Netgalley this ARC. This is Cunningham's debut novel. Her writing is smart and a breath of fresh air. Over 500 pages, and she had my attention to the end.
Chicago 1921
Penelope "Nelly" Sawyer, the daughter of Ambrose Sawyer, whose horse breeding empire in Kentucky catapulted his family into Black High Society, is in town to attend her older brother's funeral. Now that she's the sole heir to her family's wealth, she is forced to remain in Chicago and do a proper coming out. But Nelly isn't interested in cotillons. She dreams of becoming an investigative journalist for the Chicago Defender, and her next assignment is to expose the notorious Mayor of Maxwell Street, the suspected leader of an underground crime syndicate.
Jay Shorey is the son of murdered bi-racial parents. He fled rural Alabama to escape an angry mob and reinvented himself in Chicago. He has connections to the underworld Nelly wants to infiltrate; she is a member of the society Jay desperately wants to be a part of. The chemistry in undeniable whenever their paths cross, but he is an enigma. The way he sheds his old life, adopts a new identity, and is involved in organized crime is giving Jay Gatsby. Nelly has no idea for whom she is falling.
In this story, the glitz and glamor of the roaring 20s is mingled with the underbelly of Prohibition-era Chi-town. Speakeasy passwords, gangstas, mafiosos, shady politicians, and the mystery surrounding this Mayor of Maxwell Street, who people paint as a boogeyman, make for an entertaining read. I liked Cunningham's biting commentary on how Black wealth and being respectable Negroes is never enough for racists; how poor Blacks who migrated from the south had their aspirations dashed when they realized the arms of Jim Crow stretched north; and how Jay "passing" for white gives him access to different societies despite no one really knowing his background.
My only critique is that I wished Nelly is as gutsy when confronted with everyday racism as she is when chasing leads for her story. But, she is a respectable Black and respectable Blacks tend to go high when others go low. I couldn't relate to that 😆
Thanks to Netgalley this ARC. This is Cunningham's debut novel. Her writing is smart and a breath of fresh air. Over 500 pages, and she had my attention to the end.
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January 31, 2024Why I love it
By Fiora Elbers-Tibbitts
Until I read The Mayor of Maxwell Street, my knowledge of 1920s Chicago consisted solely of what is depicted in the iconic musical of the same name. When I saw that this novel was set during the same time period, with its enticing blend of glamor and corruption, I was immediately intrigued.
The Mayor of Maxwell Street stars Nellie Sawyer, daughter of an extremely successful horse breeder, and newly minted heir to his empire after the unexpected death of her brother. But while the rest of the Black upper class see a society woman finally making her debut, what they don’t know is that Nellie has been leading a double life. For the past year, she has been working as an undercover journalist, and her next assignment is her most dangerous so far: to bring down the head of a major Chicago mob boss, otherwise known as the “Mayor of Maxwell Street.”
The Mayor of Maxwell Street introduced me to a whole new side of Prohibition-era Chicago. This novel perfectly captures the simmering sense of distrust pervasive in the 1920s, a shunning of authority amidst rampant inflation and the horrors of Jim Crow. But it is also a portrait of Black life, of romance and passion, of a determined young woman ready to fight her odds. This book raises fascinating questions about class, justice, and love. More than anything, it made me think, and I highly recommend it.
By Fiora Elbers-Tibbitts
Until I read The Mayor of Maxwell Street, my knowledge of 1920s Chicago consisted solely of what is depicted in the iconic musical of the same name. When I saw that this novel was set during the same time period, with its enticing blend of glamor and corruption, I was immediately intrigued.
The Mayor of Maxwell Street stars Nellie Sawyer, daughter of an extremely successful horse breeder, and newly minted heir to his empire after the unexpected death of her brother. But while the rest of the Black upper class see a society woman finally making her debut, what they don’t know is that Nellie has been leading a double life. For the past year, she has been working as an undercover journalist, and her next assignment is her most dangerous so far: to bring down the head of a major Chicago mob boss, otherwise known as the “Mayor of Maxwell Street.”
The Mayor of Maxwell Street introduced me to a whole new side of Prohibition-era Chicago. This novel perfectly captures the simmering sense of distrust pervasive in the 1920s, a shunning of authority amidst rampant inflation and the horrors of Jim Crow. But it is also a portrait of Black life, of romance and passion, of a determined young woman ready to fight her odds. This book raises fascinating questions about class, justice, and love. More than anything, it made me think, and I highly recommend it.
January 26, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The books protagonist is Penelope “Nelly” Sawyer, daughter of the “richest Negro in America”. Nelly has come to Chicago in the 1920s because her brother Elder passed in a car accident and she is now the heir to her family’s fortune. While her family wants to present her to society so she can get married, Nelly has a secret life of a journalist. And her new big assignment now that she is in Chicago is finding out who the real Mayor of Maxwell Street is.
Nelly has to balance her double life - a rich society girl being courted by royalty and a as a journalist working with mysterious Jay Shorey who seems to be in with high society and also the underbelly of Chicago.
I did enjoy the writing however the first half of the book felt slow. Once it got to around 60% I flew through to the end. I loved the contrast of how fancy high society was; with the descriptions of the wealth and parties and a how Nelly would be treated as a black woman. Even though she was incredibly rich she also got mistaken as the help on more than one occasion. Nelly was a bad ass character and not afraid to go to crime infested places to work a lead. This has been described as an epic love story but the romance wasn’t that prominent in the book nor was it rooting for the couple.
📝
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for a free digital copy on exchange for an honest review. This book will be published 30 JANUARY 2024.
The books protagonist is Penelope “Nelly” Sawyer, daughter of the “richest Negro in America”. Nelly has come to Chicago in the 1920s because her brother Elder passed in a car accident and she is now the heir to her family’s fortune. While her family wants to present her to society so she can get married, Nelly has a secret life of a journalist. And her new big assignment now that she is in Chicago is finding out who the real Mayor of Maxwell Street is.
Nelly has to balance her double life - a rich society girl being courted by royalty and a as a journalist working with mysterious Jay Shorey who seems to be in with high society and also the underbelly of Chicago.
I did enjoy the writing however the first half of the book felt slow. Once it got to around 60% I flew through to the end. I loved the contrast of how fancy high society was; with the descriptions of the wealth and parties and a how Nelly would be treated as a black woman. Even though she was incredibly rich she also got mistaken as the help on more than one occasion. Nelly was a bad ass character and not afraid to go to crime infested places to work a lead. This has been described as an epic love story but the romance wasn’t that prominent in the book nor was it rooting for the couple.
📝
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for a free digital copy on exchange for an honest review. This book will be published 30 JANUARY 2024.
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January 18, 2024We meet our protagonist Nelly at her brother's funeral. It's an odd affair because her parents use the Summer following her brother's death to introduce 20-something Nelly to society. The story is set in 1920s Chicago and Nelly's once boring life is upended by her brother's death, being a debutante, being an aspiring journalist, and finding herself in a love triangle. Of course, there is a love triangle- because Nelly's been too busy riding horses and writing articles under a pen name to realize that she's gorgeous (is anyone else tired of this trope?). Her prospective beaus include a wealthy man of Mexican and French ancestry and a white-passing handsome stranger who leads her to danger. The only happy ending would be to choose neither suitor and embrace a career in journalism, but I'm sure others might disagree. The prologue was also misleading, as it introduces a side character before the protagonist. I also felt as though the author worked hard to squeeze in a romance when it would have already been alluring enough with Nelly pursuing a career under her parent's nose. I enjoy reading about the Black elite, so I appreciated the touches of realism in which a wealthy, beautiful Black woman can be mistaken for the maid or be treated coldly because the White people in the book feel her privilege is wasted on someone of her complexion- it's real and still occurs (see Oprah shopping in Paris). I enjoyed the book despite the tropes and think it would be a fun read for anyone who likes the Roaring 20s, the Black Bourgeoisie, murder mysteries, and plucky young women with goals.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for permitting me to read this work before its publication date.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for permitting me to read this work before its publication date.
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January 15, 2024I loved the setting and feel of this book. Historical fiction is one of my favourite genre's and I appreciate the time and effort the author took to get the setting right. The story itself follows the main character, Nelly, who is a Black woman in Chicago coming from the richest black family in America. Although she is tied to family obligations she wants nothing more than to be a journalist which sets her on a path of trying to discover the Mayor of Maxwell Street. She meets Jay, a Biracial man who is white-passing and calls on him to help her with her investigation.
The premise was intriguing for me but the love/romance part of it fell a little short in my opinion.
The premise was intriguing for me but the love/romance part of it fell a little short in my opinion.
December 28, 2023
What a well- written debut novel! I’m excited for more novels from Avery Cunningham
This is set in 1920 taking place in Chicago. This is the time of corruption & gangsters. This novel touches bases with social and political issues. I loved the compassion when talking about this.
5 stars , I throughly enjoyed the whole storyline
Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!
This is set in 1920 taking place in Chicago. This is the time of corruption & gangsters. This novel touches bases with social and political issues. I loved the compassion when talking about this.
5 stars , I throughly enjoyed the whole storyline
Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!
October 24, 2023
Exceptional and graphic novel. Easy to follow and kept my interest through all 518 pages. Sensitive subjects were handled with grace and clarity. I look for it to become a classic and best seller for certain. Congrats Avery Cunningham.
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