A review by natashaleighton_
The Household by Stacey Halls

dark sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Based on the very real house for Homeless Women (Urania Cottage) founded by Charles Dickens and Angela Burdett-Coutts, Stacey Halls has once again managed to explore the poignant realities of life in 19th C Britain, and giving us an insight into the struggles many women faced. 

I’ve read and loved all of Halls’ previous books so was beyond excited for the chance to review this. Unfortunately, though I did enjoy reading, it just didn’t live up to my expectations or the depth and emotion that her previous books seem to have. 

The writing was still good and the characters (particularly Martha and Josephine) quite relatable and complex but, with the slower pace and muddled plot lines (one of which is never really resolved) I just felt disconnected from our protagonists, which was a shame I saw soo much potential in the opening chapters.

Josephine’s character arc in the second half, and her experiences with poverty, prostitution and crime was interesting, and if we’d had the chance to focus on this a bit more (along with the widespread issues that forced women into such situations) I feel like I would’ve enjoyed it more. 

Overall, this was a good story, I just felt some of the plot was a little lacking. 

Thank you to Readers First for the finished proof. 
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