BookBrowse Reviews This Here Is Love by Princess Joy L. Perry

BookBrowse:

Two enslaved people and one indentured servant struggle under the yoke of oppression in Colonial Virginia.

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This Here Is Love is the debut novel of Princess Joy L. Perry, a winner of the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Award and recipient of a Virginia Commission for the Arts Fellowship. It has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, and high ratings from our First Impressions readers, with 23 out of 24 awarding it 4 or 5 stars.

What it's about:

This Here Is Love is a powerful and moving debut novel that pulls you deep into the lives of three unforgettable characters living at the close of the 17th century in Virginia. Princess Joy L. Perry writes with heart and honesty, showing how love, family, and freedom are tested in the harshest of times, conveying the grit and sorrow of slavery and indentured servitude.

Bless is taken from her mother to serve their enslaver's daughter in the house, and must decide where she truly belongs. David, sold away from his family, keeps his feelings hidden while quietly longing for connection. Jack, an indentured servant, tries to change his future, but risks losing his sense of right and wrong in the process. Their lives come together as they challenge each other and confront painful truths. They struggle with their pasts and their choices, and each must decide what love and freedom really mean (Jill).

Readers found the subject matter and Perry's delivery very emotionally affecting.

I've struggled with how to summarize this book in a few words. It's filled with heartbreak and suffering. Yet, at its core, this is a story of love and of hope, which shines above all the rest. I found myself awed at the author's beautiful writing—the people, the emotion, the landscape and world-building. While the people and stories are fiction, we know the heartbreak and injustices told in this book are seeded from a reality not so distant from today. It's a powerful story, without a doubt a 5-star read (Krissy). This book will affect me for a very long time. The story of enslaved and indentured people and how their stories are similar yet so very different. Ms. Perry writes from a poignant and deep perspective of people who are placed in horrible circumstances. How do you love someone that you know you could lose at any moment? How do you live when your child is certain to be taken from you? This Here Is Love will burrow into your soul and show you the pain of our historical past (Wendy F).

They appreciated the writing and character development, with many expressing surprise that this is the author's debut novel.

The book's greatest strength lies in its language. Perry writes with lyrical intensity, often capturing the harsh beauty of Tidewater, Virginia, in prose that feels both poetic and precise. Her characters are fully human, filled with longing, fear, and flashes of hope, which gives the story a deep emotional pull. Readers will find themselves invested in Bless and David's struggles, in particular, and the ways they fight for dignity in an unforgiving world (Stephen B). I really enjoyed this beautifully written, haunting, and captivating novel, filled with unforgettable characters. The emotional depth and historical detail pulled me in from the start, and I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished. It's hard to believe this riveting saga of love, betrayal, and resilience is the author's debut—I'm excited to see what she brings us next (Jill).

Readers highlighted how This Here Is Love stands out in a crowded field of historical fiction novels.

I've read many novels about enslaved people, but all have taken place in the 19th century. In This Here Is Love, many enslaved individuals remembered where they came from and who they left behind when they were taken. This time period is a new perspective for me and added to my knowledge base (Diane S).

Many also pointed out that it would be an excellent choice for book clubs.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of realistic historical fiction. It is an important reminder of the pain and suffering that built our country. There are many themes for book clubs to discuss (Catherine O). This book would be a perfect choice for book clubs looking for a discussion that delves into choices people make, moral issues, and the dark stain of slavery on American history (Kate S).

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in November 2025, and has been updated for the December 2025 edition. Click here to go to this issue.