n a word: Disappointing.

I looked forward with much enthusiasm to this fictionalized account of the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickok (aka "Hick"). While historians are in near universal agreement about the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings (and the children that resulted from their union), the jury is still out on the exact nature of the arrangement between Roosevelt and Hick -- was it friendship? platonic? consummated? I was curious to see how Bloom would treat the subject.

The author gives us a story from Hick's point of view that veers off in every direction imaginable. I felt as though I was on a canoe ride exploring every little tributary off the main river. By the time I got to the end, I wouldn't have been able to retrace the route if I tried. This, combined with lots of obscure Roosevelt-era name dropping, made the book more of a chore than a treat.

2.5 stars rounded down.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley the author and publishers for a copy of this book.
Intense and passionate novel on the relationship between the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickok known as “Hick”. This friendship builds as Franklin Roosevelt’s career takes off and Eleanor Roosevelt seems to take a backseat in their marriage. Interesting take on this period in history and I felt this was just going to be another light read, however the relationships between the three characters and others in the White House is engaging and I enjoyed the read.

WHITE HOUSES is a fascinating book that gives insight into one of the most fascinating couples of the 2oth century, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Long before Bill and Hilary Clinton, Franklin and Eleanor formed an alliance for the betterment of our country that did not resemble a conventional marriage. While Eleanor overlooked her husband's numerous affairs, she sought love, comfort and intellectual honesty from journalist Lorena Hick. WHITE HOUSES is a memorable account of this unusual friendship that makes the reader examine how much is sacrificed in the name of the name of public service.

This book is a fictional take on the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok. This was a relationship that I didn't have much background on, so it was interesting for me to learn about some of the speculation and what may have been. The author had done extensive research for this book and that really paid off in the story that she was able to weave.

3.5 stars

This is a love story, one not like any romance I have ever read where my eyes roll at the sugary sweet dialog. Amy Bloom writes of love as if it's a part of the most beautiful birds, flowers, and sunsets found in nature. I found her descriptions just breathtaking.

This is a forbidden love between the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and a female journalist known as Hick. To read the author's take on their relationship, their intimate moments, you understand it fully even though Bloom took their intimacy just to the brink, allowing the readers their imaginings.

Being a fan of Eleanor and Franklin, the book held many points of historical interest to me and the writing is superb; but something in the presentation failed to engage me 100%. The chapters count off the days following FDR's death, with mostly flashbacks to old times filling the pages. Ultimately, the women go their separate ways but remain close friends. I was glad to learn the details of this relationship, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

This book brought a fast friendship and love into my awareness and I am better off for it. If you are interested in history and love, this is the book for you. Skillfully written and carefully told, this story will sweep you off your feet.

While White Houses is not one of my favorites of 2018, I did find it to be an interesting work. It is a fictionalized account of the relationship between Lorena Hickok "Hick," and Eleanor Roosevelt. A friendship at its core between two women who came from different backgrounds. While Eleanor's was a more privileged one of private schools and an elaborate wedding; Hick's was that of a runaway from trauma and loss.
While FDR held numerous affairs, including one with his secretary Missy; Eleanor's affairs with women were not as widely heard in the circles of White House rumors. Bloom's account tells the fallout of some of FDR's blatant affairs with these women, while Eleanor upheld Franklin's public persona. I didn't know any of this history coming in to the book. What I knew of the Roosevelt's had more to do with public rather than private policy. In fact, whether or not Hick and Eleanor's relationship was physical is debated.
There were times that I felt that Bloom took for granted that readers knew all of the characters. This made parts of the book confusing to me. Who were all of these cousins, aunts, uncles? Maybe I should have done more research. However, some of the secondary characters were what made this book memorable for me. Parker Fiske is Eleanor's cousin who was gay; however, his relationships were mostly "excused" due to drinking...as aberrations as a result of his alcohol fueled nightlife. The comparison between what was accepted and what was not during this time were explored quite effectively through the cousins. Parker was described more of an eccentric who knew of the two women's affair and had several frank discussions with Hick about it. Missy, FDR's secretary with whom he had a long-term affair with, was a rather heartbreaking character who highlighted Bloom's portrayal of FDR as a selfish, cold individual. Poor Missy, Hick and Eleanor would say. Oh, the irony. Some would say the sidebars of the secondary characters were a way to add length to the novel and are a distraction to it. I disagree. I would go far as to say that they were purposeful (why wouldn't they be?) and enhancing.
Amy Bloom's writing turns this book into the pleasure that it was. She's prone to metaphor: "our legs entwined like climbing roses," and brief but encapsulating descriptions of people and places. The story is told by talking with tea, taking New England vacations, and mundane activities like getting ready for bed. Her methods add to the quaint character of this piece of historical fiction. Readers should be left happier having taken this off of their TBR pile.

If I should think of a subtitle to the book, to describe it precisely and in a few words, I would say: "White Houses. A love story". The book focuses on the love story between Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady, and Lorena Hickock (known as "Hick"), a journalist who followed the presidential campaign of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This is the way Hick and Eleanor meet and the beginning of their love story, a potential scandal. Amy Bloom gives voice to the protagonist Hick who tells us about her Eleanor, going back and forth to episodes of her life and analyzing the very strong bond between these two women. Then we immerge ourselves in the presidential time, mostly during its last phase in 1945, and we find out more about the president, his life, his entourage, his disease, deepening in that historical period. But around that there's also the fiction and the description of an intense love story, which was nonetheless true. In conclusion, "White Houses" by Amy Bloom is an enjoyable reading which depicts a historical moment looking closer to something it was happening behind the surface. Beyond that it gives a picture of the USA at that time, which wasn't always a positive image. Maybe some scenes could have been deepened less, because it seemed like the author lost the balance of the story. But at the end the whole doesn't suffer too much from these digressions as it all comes back to Eleanor and Hick, the center of the book. To read and enjoy!
I thank NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Se dovessi pensare a un sottotitolo da dare al libro, per descriverlo precisamente e in poche parole, direi: "La Casa Bianca. Una storia d'amore". Il libro si concentra sulla storia d'amore tra Eleanor Roosevelt, la First Lady, e Lorena Hickock (conosciuta come "Hick"), una giornalista che ha seguito la campagna presidenziale di Franklin Delano Roosevelt. È questo il modo in cui si incontrano Hick ed Eleanor ed è questo l'inizio della loro storia, un potenziale scandalo. Amy Bloom dà voce alla protagonista Hick che ci racconta della sua Eleanor, andando avanti e indietro tra gli episodi della sua vita e analizzando il legame molto forte tra queste due donne. Così ci immergiamo nell'epoca presidenziale, in particolare durante la sua ultima fase nel 1945, e scopriamo di più sul presidente, la sua vita, il suo entourage, la malattia, approfondendo quel periodo storico. Ma oltre a ciò c'è anche la finzione e la descrizione di un'intensa storia d'amore, che è realmente esistita. Concludendo, "White Houses" di Amy Bloom è una lettura piacevole che rappresenta un momento storico soffermandosi su qualcosa che stava accadendo oltre la superficie, ma che dà anche un ritratto degli Stati Uniti a quel tempo, restituendo un'immagine non sempre positiva. Forse si sarebbe potuto approfondire meno alcune scene, in cui è sembrato che l'autrice avesse perso un po' di vista il centro della storia. Ma alla fine nel complesso non si risente molto di queste digressioni, dato che tutto si ricongiunge a Eleanor e Hick, il fulcro del libro. Da leggere!
Ringrazio NetGalley e Random House per avermi dato l'opportunità di poter leggere un ARC di questo libro in cambio di una recensione onesta.

This is a charming book, a quick read and one that made me curious about the real-life subjects of the book. It was a little jumpy at times -- moving between memories of past times and current in the narrator's voice -- but nothing that hampered my enjoyment. This book has me musing about how the PEOPLE behind the historical, iconic figures we know and admire are at the same time so much more complex and so much more real than we imagine. I really want to learn more about both Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorene Hickok. A four-star review is a LITTLE generous, but this book is RECOMMENDED. Note: A shout-out to "An American Marriage" author Tayari Jones in the author's notes.

Not really sure how I felt about this book. I didn't dislike it but I didn't really like it either. It was very well written but I can't really put my finger on why I didn't really care for it. Sorry :(

An interesting take on what Eleanor Roosevelt's relationship with Lorena Hickok might have looked like. Parts are taken from historical accounts, letters, journals etc so there is some historical fact, along with the fiction. I would have liked for these differences to be explicit- perhaps footnotes indicating there is some record of an event occurring, or that this was an actual letter, etc. the narrative goes back and forth in time, which was unnecessarily irritating to me. I found the book to drag also, perhaps it was hard to marry fact with fiction. Still an interesting story, that tends to get ignored, or glossed over and diminished. I would like to look more into this relationship with what sources are around. It is not something I would have known about without this book, so I am glad to have happened upon it.

I ventured into this book knowing only a little about the relationships Eleanor Roosevelt had with her female friends. It was a topic that intrigued me, but I did not need explicit details. I soon realized that this book was a great read, giving me just the insight I needed into the Hicks relationship. The historical fiction aspect of the book was more than satisfying. My expectation with any historical fiction title is that I will learn enough about another place and time, that I will feel like I actually was there. Amy Bloom surely delivered that to me.

A very interesting novel about the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and her long time friend, Lorena Hickok. This is a story about a great friendship that becomes a great love of many years. I enjoyed the book.

Any Bloom continues to examine the emotional depths of the characters in her novels with the breadth of her knowledge and experience as the psychotherapist she was before she came to wider attention as a writer. If it's more difficult to accomplish when the characters are real people, especially historical figures about whom one already has a prior knowledge,, rather than fully fictionalized individuals, it certainly doesn't show in this brilliantly realized story of the thirty year love affair between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, the hardscrabble reporter who first encounters her as the wife of the governor of New York. Their tender, passionate relationship spans the Great Depression, the Second World War, and the years of Eleanor' s adulthood; even the secondary characters, from Franklin's mistresses to his political cronies and the couple's difficult children, are/were real rather than composite individuals; although their wiki entries reveal their salient details, Bloom is more compelling when she fills in history's outline.
It almost doesn't matter whether she has written the real story of their affair; it feels that way, enough to hope it truly was.

I have removed my review at this time, and apologize for any inconvenience this has caused people trying to view it. My removal of the review is not intended as reflection of either it's content or quality. Thank you for your patience, I truly look forward to posting more reviews in the future.

I really enjoyed this novel—based on real life—of Eleanor Roosevelt and her relationship with journalist Lorena Hickok (and told from Lerena’s POV). Amy Bloom is a great writer and did her research. It is a page-turning read. How true it is to the reality I don’t know, but it certainly gave me a wider view of the US politics of the time, Franklin Roosvelt’s weaknesses as well as his better-known strengths, as well as the humanity of Eleanor and what made her the person she was. Thank you to Netgalley and he publisher for an advance review copy.

Growing up less than an hour away from FDR's Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia, I knew a lot about him but not as much about the first lady. This book was a fascinating, albeit fictionalized, look into FDR and Eleanor's lives both in the white house and out. It really made me wonder what would have been if they had lived in modern times. Our world might have wound up very different from what it is today.

This was a heartbreaking and important love story.

I’ve just finished reading this, and feel as though I’ve just emerged from the past with two extraordinary women as guides. Although it is fiction, it is based on extensive research, including over three thousand letters, so I felt confident that the relationship between these two prominent women, Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, was well portrayed. Most of the major events of this time are well documented, so I allowed myself to more fully accept that what I was reading was mostly accurate, and happily immersed myself in this era, the 1930’s until the 1960’s.
Lorena Hickok, aka Hick, was a prominent journalist. At that time, being a woman in this field, especially a highly successful one, required being a very tough cookie, and Hick was definitely that, and more. Described through her eyes, this tumultuous time in history, as well as her deep love and devotion to Eleanor Roosevelt, is fascinating. Her voice is quirky and spunky, which added to my enjoyment of the book. I found myself smiling often at her clever and insightful words.
While covering the beginnings of FDR’s presidency for the Associated Press, Hick met Eleanor Roosevelt and began a friendship that grew into a lifelong love between them. This love eventually became romantic and they became inseparable, with Hick even living at the White House for a time. Because of FDR’s continuous philandering, Eleanor was lonely and heartbroken, and readily embraced this relationship. FDR’s was aware of the sexual nature of their relationship, and was content that his wife was finding a source of happiness elsewhere, while he spent time with his various mistresses. The sexuality is understated, tasteful, and very much an expression of their deep love. They remained devoted to each other for decades, until the end of Eleanor’s life.
Homosexuality being scandalous,and a serious crime at the time, great care was taken by those who knew of their secret romance to keep it secret. If this had become public knowledge, of course, the Roosevelt presidency,which lasted 12 years, would have been imperiled and many of the social protections we take for granted today might not have been enacted: Social Security, child labor laws, the forty-hour work week, Workers Compensation, disability insurance, and many others.
Hick’s description of the time they had together is searingly honest and straightforward. Words like heartfelt, bittersweet, and poignant come to mind. It is a beautifully written love story of an deep and lasting relationship between two extraordinary women.
I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy well researched historical fiction with a heart.

Note: I received a copy of the ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I bailed on this one. Just could not get connected to the characters. Also, the author portrayed Eleanor as a bit of a weenie. That is not really my opinion of her. I could not make a go of this read!