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sarahsbookstacks's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Racism, and Abortion
Moderate: Medical content
hckilgour's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
So I will say the book has good narration, likable characters, and an unsettling root in history. But the plot was… lacking in certain aspects.
My biggest issue was that it took over half the book for how the two women’s lives were even relevant to reveal itself. Which made me sit there and be like… what is the damn point. This could’ve easily been fixed but starting with grace/Wilhelmina being taken from Ruby, then backtracking to how it all started.
The epilogue left me wanted. Cool we know how Eleanor and family are doing. But then to have Ruby show up as the optometrist and that’s it. Like is Ruby still heartbroken by what happened, does she and shimmy ever work things out?
I’m also confused as to how the doctors thought a fourth miscarriage for Eleanor could’ve been life threatening?
The historical aspect of this book is extremely unsettling. Worldwide having a baby before marriage carries a stigma. But to thing young girls who found themselves pregnant were treated so poorly and literally had their children stolen from them is sickening.
Moderate: Racism, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Classism, Infertility, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Abortion
helenehannailona'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
5.0
<Spoiler>And the way you see Eleanor‘s and Ruby‘s story slowly interlacing… the ending, when they finally meet, didn’t leave me, even after I closed the book. Do they know how they are connected? Will they know?
Graphic: Pregnancy and Racism
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Infertility
kartrikk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Abortion, Racism, Medical trauma, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Grief, and Adult/minor relationship
hansbookshelf's review against another edition
Graphic: Racism, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Abortion
amcghig's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Infertility, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Confinement, Miscarriage, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
dr_readmore_17'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
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Miscarriage, and Racism
Moderate: Abortion, Forced institutionalization, and Racial slurs
Minor: Suicide
bookishbilingual's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Infertility, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Racism, and Sexual assault
_theliteraturevillian_'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
Again, I am stunned. ‘Yellow Wife’ made me a fan but ‘The House of Eve’ has made me a Stan 😩. This story was beautiful, but heartbreaking. I felt for Eleanor but Ruby, I wanted to embrace her in a way her mother couldn’t.
This has been my best read so far this year. Can’t wait for what Mrs.Johnson has in store for us next…
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Abortion, Abandonment, Classism, Grief, Infertility, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault
bek67'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? Yes
4.25
I also loved the fact there is a very small (but not insignificant) tie-in to characters from her book Yellow Wife.
The author's note at the end is definitely worth the read. She describes where the fictional characters of the book came from as well as background on the real life characters. Fascinating info.
Moderate: Racism and Miscarriage
Minor: Abandonment, Racial slurs, Classism, and Abortion