Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson

17 reviews

bookishevy's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

OMG! I can't believe I went this long without having read The House of Eve. 

Philadelphia, 1950s: Intelligent fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearshall is on her way to becoming the first in her family to go to college. When a taboo love affair threatens to squash her dreams, Ruby must decide what kind of future she wants and how much she is willing to sacrifice to have it.

Washington D.C.: Eleanor Quarles leaves her small town in Ohio to attend Howard University. She and William Pride, who hails from one of D.C.'s elite Black families fall in love, but his colorist mother already has a woman from another wealthy, light skinned Black family picked out for her son. Eleanor is hoping a baby will ease her assimilation into William's world, but she has a secret that could jeopardize their plans to start their own family. 

Eventually, Ruby and Eleanor's stories intercept when they both make decisions they believe would secure their futures. 

In this story that explores Black womanhood and motherhood, the reader is taken on a journey of the lengths some women would go to to get what they want. I'm not just talking about Ruby and Eleanor. Yes, they're the main characters, but Ruby's mother is one of the reasons she did what she had to do. Ines is one of those mothers who puts men over her daughter, and Ruby is determined not to end up like her mother, having to depend on a man. Eleanor's mother-in-law Rose is a meddling busy body who would do anything for William and her family's reputation. 

Ruby and Eleanor must confront racism and classism on their journeys. Ruby has to navigate a racist system to give herself a chance at the life she envisions. Eleanor has to put up with Rose's attitude, which is fueled by this belief that close proximity to whiteness equals success. 

I really enjoyed this audiobook. Alexis Blake and Nicole Lewis are excellent as Ruby and Eleanor, respectively, and their portrayals of the supporting cast kept me engaged. That epilogue gave me chills.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse

reutermiriam's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Child abuse

daniber's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, Infertility, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Child abuse, and Grief

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Blood, and Bullying

_booksandbells's review

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Infertility, and Child abuse

thissagreads's review

challenging reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

There were times that book moved slower than I’d like, and I felt that the characters held back in moments they could’ve spoken up about, but that’s the 50’s & 60’s unfortunately. Because the book is historical fiction, there was some insight and knowledge gained about the old catholic boarding houses for pregnant girls (including the coercive tactics). I think I wanted more happy for both characters, and at the I got that nice “happy ending” plot twist, but it wasn’t enough. 

Ruby becomes the doctor she dreamed of, while Eleanor raises her baby unbeknownst to the both of them.

 
All in all, I thought the story was a fresh perspective with the 2 character perspectives.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Racism, and Child abuse

Minor: Racial slurs and Abandonment

Ruby got pregnant by a white Jewish boy who’s mom offered her a scholarship for college if Ruby cuts off communication with her son, AND must stay at a boarding house while pregnant, and then give her baby up for adoption. Mom keeps end of bargain so Ruby unknowingly gives her daughter up to Eleanor and her husband the elite William who’s well know in the black community in DC. Eleanor has already lost 3 babies -before the baby can be brought to term- and her mother-in-law suggests adoption from the boarding house to William unbeknownst to Eleanor- and William suggests it to Eleanor who says yes even though she’s riddles with guilt and shame for not being able to carry full term.

squintingqueen's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This book definitely pulled at the heart strings and kept me in my feelings. The author did a great job of pulling me in and giving me a clear understanding of the thoughts and feelings of the characters.

It not only showed the struggles of race/colorism, it shows how opportunities and treatment differ based on class/wealth which isn't unusualunfortunately.

I appreciated the journey I was taken on while reading for sure.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Infertility, Child abuse, and Classism

moniipeters's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Death, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Confinement, and Cursing

chinelo_'s review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcohol, Classism, Infertility, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault

ruffian23's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Infertility, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, and Racism

Minor: Slavery and Rape

kayjchan95's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, and Child abuse