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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: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Sexism, 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
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Racism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Sexual harassment, and Classism
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: Racism and Classism
mwetzel's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion
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: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, and Classism
jenbosen's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Grief, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Trafficking
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Pedophilia and Rape
noble_editorial'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
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Classism
martachbc'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
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Antisemitism, and Abortion
mmrohbock'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
5.0
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!
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity