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Reviews
The House of Eve: Totally heartbreaking and unputdownable historical fiction by Sadeqa Johnson
kstarr321's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
soflo365's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
aniclou's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? No
4.25
kendragaylelee's review against another edition
4.0
When I got the ARC for The House of Eve, I didn't even read the back cover. It was already getting a lot of buzz, and I knew I wanted to read it. Plus, I hate to spoil a good story for myself by knowing too much about the book before I event start. When I discovered it was historical fiction, though, I got a little shifty. I don't always go all in for historical fiction.
But The House of Eve is the kind of historical fiction that really sparks a fire in me to understand more about history from the perspective of marginalized populations. In short, The House of Eve made me curious about what else I don't know about Black history in the United States (there is a LOT, I am sure. So, I appreciate a book that will ignite my curiosity and give me a place to start inquiring and learning).
The main section of the book covers two young Black women's lives starting in 1948 and running through 1951. Ruby is poor and in high school in Philadelphia. Eleanor is slightly less poor and enrolled at Howard University in Washington, DC. Both see education as their way into the life they want. Both get derailed by boys they fall for--both seemingly unattainable for different reasons. But the outcomes for the two women are wildly different.
I spent the whole book wanting to go to bat for Ruby, wanting to help her find her a way out of simply scraping by and losing each scrap of joy that came her way. Sadeqa Johnson wrote a character I ached for, wanted better for, and believed in. And she wove a narrative about Ruby's journey that rendered a painful education about the realities of motherhood in the early 1950s that I hadn't even stopped to consider.
Read this one, for sure. It's compelling, informative, and just good storytelling.
Get it from Bookish: https://bookshop.org/a/4334/9781982197360
But The House of Eve is the kind of historical fiction that really sparks a fire in me to understand more about history from the perspective of marginalized populations. In short, The House of Eve made me curious about what else I don't know about Black history in the United States (there is a LOT, I am sure. So, I appreciate a book that will ignite my curiosity and give me a place to start inquiring and learning).
The main section of the book covers two young Black women's lives starting in 1948 and running through 1951. Ruby is poor and in high school in Philadelphia. Eleanor is slightly less poor and enrolled at Howard University in Washington, DC. Both see education as their way into the life they want. Both get derailed by boys they fall for--both seemingly unattainable for different reasons. But the outcomes for the two women are wildly different.
I spent the whole book wanting to go to bat for Ruby, wanting to help her find her a way out of simply scraping by and losing each scrap of joy that came her way. Sadeqa Johnson wrote a character I ached for, wanted better for, and believed in. And she wove a narrative about Ruby's journey that rendered a painful education about the realities of motherhood in the early 1950s that I hadn't even stopped to consider.
Read this one, for sure. It's compelling, informative, and just good storytelling.
Get it from Bookish: https://bookshop.org/a/4334/9781982197360
cayleyhundt's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
sharkyray'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
4.75
Very emotional, but a worthwhile read
liziev's review against another edition
emotional
informative
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: Abortion, Infertility, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, and Racism
ajamessuperreader's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
nbranca628's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0