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Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez blends past and present into a richly layered story about family, identity, and a nearly forgotten piece of American history.
This is a dual-timeline novel, and it works beautifully. In the present day, Nikki Lovejoy-Berry—a Washington, D.C. real estate agent—is summoned to western North Carolina by her estranged grandmother, Mother Rita. What Nikki expects are answers about their fractured family. What she gets instead is a fight. Mother Rita is being pushed off land that has been in their family for generations—land that once formed the Kingdom of the Happy Land, a self-sufficient community built by formerly enslaved people after the Civil War.
In the historical narrative, we meet Luella, Nikki’s ancestor and a central figure in that community—a woman whose strength and leadership helped shape this remarkable settlement. As the timelines unfold, Perkins-Valdez reveals how the past isn’t just prologue—it’s personal. The loss of land, the breaking of families, and the quiet erasure of history all echo into Nikki’s present-day choices.
What makes this novel shine is its balance. There’s heartbreak here, but also pride. Injustice, but also resilience. The characters feel grounded, and the setting—lush, rooted, and deeply symbolic—adds another layer of meaning.
A few elements resolve a bit neatly, but the emotional payoff is strong.
This is a thoughtful, discussion-worthy read—perfect for book clubs and for anyone who loves historical fiction that teaches you something while it tugs at your heart.
** Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for a comp of this gorgeous novel. Opinions are my own.