Happy Land

De: Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Narrado por: Bahni Turpin, Ashley J. Hobbs

A 2026 NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

A woman learns the incredible story of a real-life American Kingdom—and her family’s ties to it—in this enthralling novel from the New York Times bestselling, NAACP Image Award-winning author of Take My Hand.

As featured in The Washington Post ∙ People ∙ Harper's Bazaar ∙ NPR ∙ TODAY ∙ ELLE ∙ PopSugar ∙ Reader's Digest ∙ SheReads ∙ Woman’s World ∙ Real Simple ∙ BookBrowse ∙ and more!

Nikki hasn’t seen her grandmother in years. So when the elder calls out of the blue with an urgent request for Nikki to visit her in the hills of western North Carolina, Nikki hesitates only for a moment. After years of silence in her family, due to a mysterious estrangement between her mother and grandmother, she’s determined to learn the truth while she still can.

But instead of answers about the recent past, Mother Rita tells Nikki an incredible story of a kingdom on this very mountain, and of her great-great-great grandmother, Luella, who would become its queen.

It sounds like the makings of a fairy tale—royalty among a community of freed people. But the more Nikki learns about the Kingdom of the Happy Land, and the lives of those who dwelled in the ruins she discovers in the woods, the more she realizes how much of her identity and her family’s secrets are wrapped up in these hills. Because this land is their legacy, and it will be up to her to protect it before it, like so much else, is stolen away.

Inspired by true events, Happy Land is a transporting multi-generational novel about the stories that shape us and the dazzling courage it takes to dream.

I AM IN TEARS. SO BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN

I loved the way this story was weaved together. It’s beautiful. I am a DC girl named Nikki, I went to Bennett College. I am inspired by my grandmothers in so many ways. From learning about fragrance through their vanities to gardening. The way the author tells these two stories floored me by the end. I’m heading to DC to go hug my grandmother.

A wonderful story

I love the character development and the twists and turns of the story. I highly recommend. Not to mention, I can listen to Bahni Turpin's voice all day long!

Inspiring

I liked the impact of generations of women in a small community. It is thoughtfully written and well researched.

I found myself swept up in the relationships between mothers, grandmothers, daughters and grandmothers. I cared about all the characters including the men intertwined with the women.

I found the illustration of the strife between mother and daughter too realistic .

Wonderfully satisfying

The story made me think of my own multi-generational maternal lineage. My daughter not only got to know her great-grandmother but also her great-great grandmother!!! I’ve always believed that knowledge of our ancestors, saying their names, honors them and strengthens who we are. This book had me crying and smiling at the same time!!!

Vivid storytelling

Characters, descriptions of the land, weaving together the two timelines. I spent most summers in this area and I loved her descriptions of a place I've actually been !