What makes you go all moon-eyed and starstruck in love with a book? For me, it’s the characters. And boy oh boy, does The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee have some amazing ones! Exhibit A: Jo Kuan. By day, she’s a lady’s maid to one of the richest, most stuck-up debutants in all of Atlanta. By night, she’s Miss Sweetie, the anonymous author of the local newspaper’s advice column. But no matter the time, Jo is full of spunk, sparkling wit, and undying courage. Believe me: you won’t want to miss this timely story chronicling her patriarchy-toppling, stereotype-smashing adventures!
My Review of The Downstairs Girl
What I Liked:
👩The Heroine!
This book had me echoing the words of Dug from Disney Pixar’s movie Up: “I have just met you and I love you.” From the moment I picked The Downstairs Girl up, Jo had my heart. Her outspoken attitude, plucky gumption, and willingness to fight for who and what she loves, had me rooting for her from page one. I honestly cannot capture in mere words how much I adore Jo’s character!
✍️The Fantastic Writing!
Wow, Stacey Lee must be Wonder Woman because her writing style packs a powerful, superhuman punch! It’s mind-bendingly clever, unforgettably beautiful, and unapologetically honest! There’s so much character – so much personality – woven into her words, and her expert use of metaphors is not only elegant, but a total delight to devour! Am I using too many exclamation points here? Probably!!!!! But I need all the emphasis I can get to truly express just how fantastic this author’s unique voice is! I’ll definitely be picking up more of Lee’s work in the future.
🖼️The Historical Setting!
Set in the deep South during America’s “Gilded Age,” The Downstairs Girl was a breath of fresh air. I adored having history brought to life right before my eyes. I relished the way the faded colors of the past were repainted bright and vivid once again. Stacey Lee has me thinking that maybe I should read more Historical Fiction!
💪The Empowering Message!
This relevant novel is about pursuing justice and standing up for what you believe in, no matter the cost. It’s about challenging society’s misconceived notions about race and gender. And most of all, it’s about not being afraid to be who you are or to do what you love.
💛The Romance!
Wonder of wonders, the romance in this book didn’t commandeer the entire story like a sweaty, one-eyed pirate (though I don’t have anything against pirates, one-eyed or otherwise…but I digress). Often in YA fiction, a promising premise gets overshadowed by dalliances with a lackluster love interest, but thankfully, that didn’t happen in The Downstairs Girl. In fact, the subtle dusting of romance was like a sugared cherry sitting atop a many-layered cake; it artfully enhanced the delectable sweetness of the story.
What I Liked Less
🏁The Ending!
Or the fact that it had any ending at all.
The Final Verdict
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee was a gust of fresh air that completely blew me off my chair, out the door, and down the street for like…ten miles. With its lovable main character, unendingly charming wit, and compelling writing, this poignant novel deserves all the love (and waffles) in the known universe. (Not that books have any use for waffles…or food for that matter…but you get the idea.) Now excuse me while I spend the next forty-or-so years of my life lovingly shouting at people to read this.
TODAY'S WAFFLE RECIPE
The Downstairs Girl
From the Kitchen of: Stacey Lee Cooking Directions:
By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie." When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows when her column challenges fixed ideas about race and gender.
While her opponents clamor to uncover the secret identity of Miss Sweetie, a mysterious letter sets Jo off on a search for her own past and the parents who abandoned her as a baby. But when her efforts put her in the crosshairs of Atlanta's most notorious criminal, Jo must decide whether she, a girl used to living in the shadows, is ready to step into the light.
Purchase Your Ingredients:
Have you read The Downstairs Girl?
What did you think of it?
What are some other Historical Fiction books that you would recommend?
17 Comments
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i just bought a physical copy of this book a little while ago and reading your review makes me 10 times more excited for it!! i am a sucker for deep and well-developped characters and historical fiction, so i have reaaally high expectations for this one!!
great review! ❤️
I hope you end up loving it as much as I did! 💛💛
I read this as well and totally loved it!! Jo is truly an awesome MC and like you, I really loved how the romance was there, but also not there at the same time 😊 A really great HF series that I also adored is The Agency Series by Y. S. Lee!! I totally loved it 💖
I’m so glad you loved it as much as I did! 💛💛Also, now I’m super interested in The Agency Series you mentioned. *hurries off to add yet MORE books to my already overcrowded TBR*
ooh, i’m so happy you loved this one, kat!! one of my friends has convinced me i need to read it soon, and though i don’t usually love historical fic, i’m making an exception for it since it sounds so good! i’m definitely excited to fall in love with the main character like you did, and i’m happy to hear the romance doesn’t overtake the story haha. great review!! 💞
I’m not usually a historical fiction person either, but this one was SO MUCH FUN! I hope that it doesn’t disappoint if you decide to pick it up! I would love to hear your thoughts when you do :)
Anyways, thanks for the absolutely lovely comment, May 💛💛
I wasn’t sure about this book originally, but now that I’ve read your review I kinda, like, want to devour it right now lol :D And I could really go for some waffles with it too <3 Every time I read one of your posts I get hungry haha! But The Downstairs Girl is definitely going on my list! Great review Kat!!
If reading my blog makes you want to eat waffles, then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED WOOT haha. But thank you so much for your kind words and I hope that if you end up reading it, that you enjoy this book as much as I did 💛💛
I really loved The Downstairs Girl! Amazing setting, sympathetic protagonist. I did think the ending was a little too pat and unbelievable, though.
I totally agree with you that the ending was a bit too neat to be 100% believable, but that small part of my heart that secretly loves to watch Hallmark Channel movies with my mother somehow was able to overlook it haha. Anyways, thanks so much for stopping by 💛💛
I get that YA books generally need to have hopeful endings, so I’m not really surprised everything worked out. Also, I love Hallmark movies, too!
a perfect review for a fantastic book!! i’m so glad you loved it too kat, this book was so smart and sassy but also so deep and insightful ugh it was the best kind of experience 🥺🥺
YES I AM SO GLAD YOU LOVED IT AS MUCH AS I DID. And I totally loved the mix of sassy and insightful as well. I need to read more of this author’s books, tbh 💛💛💛
I’ve had this on my TBR list for quite a while now, but I think it just got moved way higher! Great review. 😃
Thanks so much, Rayna! I really hope that you enjoy it as much as I did! 💛💛💛
This is such a beautiful review. I was eyeing this book already, but now all I want is to order a copy and READ IT right this second, even if I’m not usually a historical fiction fan…. so you’re a wizard, Kat, you really are ahah. This sounds amazing. <3
I’m so glad you liked this review, Marie! 💛I’ve been playing around with the way I format my reviews, so it’s nice to get some positive feedback. AND I’M A WIZARDDDD??? My life’s goal has been accomplished haha 💛