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catalie07's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Racism, Classism, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Child abuse and Infertility
Minor: Cursing and Rape
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Author: Sadeqa Johnson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: February 7, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Redemptive • Haunting • Luminous
📖 S Y N O P S I S
1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.
Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.
With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.
💭 T H O U G H T S
As a lover of historical fiction, it will come as no surprise that The House of Eve was one of my most anticipated 2023 winter releases, so when it was chosen as an Aardvark selection for February, it was an easy choice. I went in without having read the synopsis, and I was blown away by this novel.
The writing provides everything the reader needs to know without being excessively detailed, making this novel highly readable. I honestly could not put it down! Sadeqa Johnson managed to bring the story to life through her memorable characters, and by hooking my attention from the very first page, straight through to the satisfying end. She explores many themes - womanhood and women's rights, motherhood and ambition, poverty and classism, race and colourism, as well as a snippet of wealthy Black history. And she does all of it with great knowledge and care.
Historical fiction is genre I typically gravitate towards because learning about new aspects of the past while reading is something I absolutely love. And this book certainly opened my eyes (and my mind) to an area of Black history I have very seldom encountered in my reading life. Even though it is a more of fiction, it's very important to read the author's note at the end. Sadeqa details her family history and the authenticity of the content.
I must say The House of Eve was the historical fiction novel I needed to get out of a streak of mediocre reads. Ruby and Eleanor, combined with the exploration of the price women pay for love, completely enraptured me, and I know this story will stay with me for a long time. It was a book that reminded me why I love reading so much - to find stories that need telling, to learn and have my perspectives broadened. I've definitely moved Yellow Wife up my priority list, and am already anticipating whatever Sadeqa publishes next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of dual timeline/dual perspective
• readers looking for women's right historical fiction
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Knowing about racism and being abused by its wrath were two different things."
"And this trip downtown had shown me that we even had to fight for what should have been free: our dignity."
Graphic: Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Infertility, Racism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, and Medical content
Moderate: Grief, Blood, Alcoholism, Classism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abortion, Rape, and Emotional abuse
colourism, adoption, povertycarriepond's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This book was so captivating. The characters, the setting, and the events of the novel were so layered and authentic, and it was very clear from the beginning how well-researched it is. (Like, even to the smallest details--one example: I had no idea that a common pregnancy test during this time was the "frog test," where a woman's urine was injected into a frog, and if the frog spawned, it confirmed pregnancy). I was immediately invested in both Ruby and Eleanor's stories (especially Ruby, she has my heart), and the way Johnson alternates every other chapter from each of their perspectives kept me turning page after page. This book explores race, gender, and social inequities in compelling and nuanced ways, and you really feel for the women in the novel.
I loved this impeccably researched historical fiction with complex and well-written female leads. Highly recommend to those who enjoy woman's fiction or historical fiction.
Graphic: Miscarriage, Classism, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Abortion
Minor: Rape
d0505's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Miscarriage, Classism, Racism, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Medical trauma and Abortion
Minor: Rape and Pedophilia
shawnna_reads2's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Infertility, Classism, Death, Abortion, Blood, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Racism, and Self harm
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Addiction, and Alcohol
maddiet425's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Blood, Medical content, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Grief, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Infertility
Moderate: Abortion, Classism, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual assault
bookdragon217's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson was absolutely fantastic. Historical fiction is my heart and this one did not disappoint. Johnson's storytelling is masterful and she weaves a story that wraps itself around you and beckons you closer. Both Ruby and Eleanor had unique voices and both their POV's were distinct and strong in presence. I was totally captivated by both their stories and how they eventually came to intersect. Johnson easily became an auto-buy after reading this one.
The novel was full of Black history in both Philadelphia and D.C. The story had elements of the Civil Rights beginnings blended in with women's reproductive history before the legalization of abortion. The story takes place in the 1950's when religion and "morality" rule and women are forced to take the blame for men's behavior. Black women have been at the center of these issues and had the harshest policing of their bodies since the very beginning. It wasn't surprising to read how the churches were complicit in forced adoptions and enforcing patriarchal beliefs about unwed women. I really learned a lot about these homes for unwed girls.
Johnson's writing style evoked so many emotions in me. Miscarriage and infertility are always hard topics for me to read but Johnson's writing style provided plenty of opportunities to process some of the heaviness. I really appreciated that it discussed classism and colorism among Black elites, as well as, racism. This story illuminates the hypocrisy of religion and how it reinforces misogyny and blames women for the poor behavior of men. It also spotlights how girls are sexualized at a very young age and have their bodies policied and shamed but men can rape, commit pedophilia and groom young girls without repercussions. This is a perfect read for Women's History Month since Johnson brings to the light so much unknown history.
Thanks to @simonandschuster and @tlcdiversity for the gifted copy. I know that this will be one of my top reads of the year.
Graphic: Miscarriage
Minor: Classism and Racism
mwetzel's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Infertility, Racism, Pregnancy, and Grief
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Sexual assault, Abortion, and Rape
inked_in_pages's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Pedophilia, Classism, and Forced institutionalization
jenbosen's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Classism, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Trafficking, and Racial slurs
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault