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kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Title: The House of Eve
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."
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."
Content Warnings
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, povertydrownedinfictionx's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Self harm, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Racism, and Suicide attempt
odifranco23's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Infertility, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
maddiet425's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Loved this one! I was nervous to buy it since I didn’t love Yellow Wife, but this one kept me interested throughout the entire read. I did find Ruby’s story more interesting than Eleanor’s, and the characters didn’t really develop, but overall a good read.
Content Warnings
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
editoryalizing's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, Xenophobia, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Trafficking, Infertility, and Gaslighting
jamiebethreads's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
mmrohbock's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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
5⭐
Excuse me while I try to pick up the pieces of my heart and put them back together again. While not as heartbreaking as Yellow Wife, House of Eve proved to be just as emotional and these characters will also be living in my head rent free. Sadeqa Johnson is truly a powerhouse writer in historic fiction and I will read everything she writes. And hopefully convince everyone else to do the same!
I loved following Eleanor and Ruby's stories throughout this novel. It was so interesting because they were both similar class and aspirations, but had such different circumstances. I loved watching them both fall in love and became so attached that the characters that their heartbreaks became mine. Sadeqa's writing also spoke at such a higher level where it was easy to see how the past mirrors the present in several scary ways.
I learned so much about pregnancy and stigma and forced adoption and family life and nuances of race from this book that were all so important! I truly savored this book while reading it and it won't be leaving me anytime soon. This book is a masterpiece and if you enjoy historic fiction, you need it when it comes out in February!
And for those who read Yellow Wife, there's a reference to it at the end that's perfection!
Excuse me while I try to pick up the pieces of my heart and put them back together again. While not as heartbreaking as Yellow Wife, House of Eve proved to be just as emotional and these characters will also be living in my head rent free. Sadeqa Johnson is truly a powerhouse writer in historic fiction and I will read everything she writes. And hopefully convince everyone else to do the same!
I loved following Eleanor and Ruby's stories throughout this novel. It was so interesting because they were both similar class and aspirations, but had such different circumstances. I loved watching them both fall in love and became so attached that the characters that their heartbreaks became mine. Sadeqa's writing also spoke at such a higher level where it was easy to see how the past mirrors the present in several scary ways.
I learned so much about pregnancy and stigma and forced adoption and family life and nuances of race from this book that were all so important! I truly savored this book while reading it and it won't be leaving me anytime soon. This book is a masterpiece and if you enjoy historic fiction, you need it when it comes out in February!
And for those who read Yellow Wife, there's a reference to it at the end that's perfection!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Classism, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Infertility, Medical trauma, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity
More...