Very well written. This story captivates you as you hear two different young women’s viewpoints. Set in the 1950s when racial prejudice is widespread. Compelling and heartbreaking, this book is a must-read. I have already recommended it to several people. Thank you Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for arc!
I look forward to reading more from Sadeqa Johnson.

The House of Eve is a true look at race within race and what it means to be a woman and a mother in the 1950’s. The characters all felt extremely real and so easy to like. I loved Yellow Wife and The House of Eve did not disappoint.

The House Of Eve was sheer perfection. The characters, the storyline, and the writing were all exquisite. The two main character in this book are both women who will stay with you for a very long time. I don’t typically read historical fiction but this book is a must read for all. Im in awe of this book. All the stars. Many thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.

I wasn't really sure at the beginning how the parallels of the two main characters would tie into each other. Ruby's story echoed in a familiar trauma survival that is still present in young women of color from all demographics steeped in over sexualized rhetoric reflects the innocence of a teenager equates her success or failures to the amount of love she can expect from her family. In contrast Elanor who is somewhat living the life Ruby is fighting so hard to get to, yet her story and experiences delve into the stigma of black elitism while touching on other sensitive subjects including colorism, expectations of gender roles and mental health. Sadeqa did a great job of bringing together the lives of Ruby and Eleanor without overshadowing either character with the others narrative.

This was a great read! The story of two women who's lives are intertwined by unlikely circumstances. This book introduces you to true events that some women went through during this, at times, heart wrenching story. I have fallen into the historical fiction genre with force and glad I was able to read this ARC through NetGalley. I almost didn't request it and a coworker said it was a must read, so I did. I am so glad she told me about this book and will recommend to family, friends and patrons. I look forward and will look for more by Sadeqa Johnson.

I loved this book and I’ll never forget this story or the characters. I was so emotional while reading but when I’m crying while reading I know a book will be a forever fav.

When I tell you that I just absolutely devoured this book. It is incredibly well-written and the story is heartbreaking and moving. It was also incredibly eye-opening to me as to what America was like in the 1940s. I loved both Ruby and Eleanor and my heart just broke for them at times. Not loved by her mother, and coming from a poor family has Ruby working hard to change her circumstances. Until she falls in love that is, and not just in love, but in love with a white boy. This could change her life forever. Eleanor is working hard to earn her degree from Howard and when she meets William Pride they fall madly in love. Eleanor doesn’t quite fit in with his family, but she hopes a baby will change that.

This was such a well written, thought provoking, and moving book all around. The characters were so vividly crafted I felt as if I knew each of them intimately. Thank you so much for telling the stories and experiences of girls and women who once upon a time weren't able to share their journeys openly and unashamedly.

In The House of Eve, we follow the perspectives of two young women during the late 1940s and early 1950s. One is Ruby, who is trying desperately to earn a college scholarship and lift herself out of poverty. The other woman is Eleanor, who is a student trying to fit in at Howard University.

Both women are similar in that they fall in love with someone that is unacceptable to the people in their lives. The characters are well-developed, and the author does a great job in showing their growth. I also appreciated the detail in the descriptions making the book accurate to the time period.

The House of Eve was definitely a book I did not want to put down. I’ll be checking out other books by the author in the future for sure.

What a book! I loved this story, the characters, the setting, and the writing is lovely and easy to sink into.

Ruby and Eleanor are both strong women striving for success. I also especially loved Ruby's Aunt Marie, who took her in and helped Ruby through the toughest decision of her life.

An excellent historical fiction with a fresh perspective and important story.

The House of Eve, by Sadeqa Johnson, is an insightful look into the realities of racism, inequalities, and disregard for human kind while growing up in the 1950's, America. The story is thought provoking, emotionally triggering, and at some points, simply disgraceful in terms of human respect and treatment. It is hard to phantom that not only did this obscene and unacceptable behavior exist less than 100yrs ago, it is harder yet to understand why we are still seeing these same distasteful traces of existence here and now today.

In summary we follow two young ladies as they are faced with serious challenges and are forced to make life altering decisions with little life experience to extract upon. The story lines are written from the POV of each of the characters separately, yet twist to eventually become one. Issues include race, relationships, sex, pregnancy, abortion, money, deceit, secrets, family, death, and religion. Everyone has hopes, dreams, and aspirations of a happy and successful future.. Unfortunately hard work does not guarantee the achievement of ones' goals. Love is not a promise of happily ever after. Certainly we are responsible for our own actions and must face the consequences. However, too often the thoughts and actions of others are forced upon us. It seems that too often people are willing to make decisions with little care as to what is best for you. and the future you must endure. We become vulnerable and fearful that people are not who they seem to be. Sometimes we are even surprised by our own reactions when faced with harsh realities. Ultimately we decide or decisions get made. For better or worse, we survive, we carry on.

Thank you to #simonandschuster, #netgalley, and #sadeqajohnson for allowing me to read and express my feelings in review of #thehouseofeve. I encourage others to read and give thought to the many complicated i issues that surface within this novel. It is not an easily forgettable story.

Thank you for this ARC! I really enjoyed Sadeqa Johnson's book The Yellow Wife so I was very excited to read her latest book. This story was hard to read at times and it did have some content warnings for miscarriage and infertility, sexual abuse and racism. It is the story of two women whose lives are forever entwined. Both stories are equally engaging and I cared deeply for these characters. I did think it was slow to start, but once you get going, I couldn't put it down.

I really enjoyed The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson! Despite it covering very heavy subject matter I found it to be a quick read and easily fell into the world Johnson painted.

I do recommend checking the trigger warnings on this book as it does heavily deal with miscarriage, stillbirth, and infertility. The topics are handled in a compassionate yet realistic and heart wrenching manner and I think that is a testament to Johnson’s writing.

This book gave me so many things I want from historical fiction: I learned something new, was able to see the world through another person’s eyes, and connected with the characters. I especially loved Ruby and her storyline.

The only reason the book is not a five star read for me is because I wanted more resolution for the characters I’d come to be so attached to. To me, the ending felt rushed and a little too neatly settled for a book that covered such heavy and heartbreaking topics. Both Ruby and Eleanor experience real grief, pain, and loss - and the ending felt a little too neat and tidy.

But, this is a minor critique from me. Overall, I loved the book and would happily recommend it to others.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of The House of Eve. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars! I can see why so many people have loved House of Eve. I really loved the writing in the first part of the book especially. The second half was more difficult context, but I thought it was a moving story of love and loss, family and marriage.

When reading about these two young ladies, it gives perspective on the times, and how we didn’t have rights to our own bodies and how we would be able to handle things because it seems like other people always was one step ahead. I loved reading the stories of Eleanor and Ruby, I want more of their lives and how this is going to affect them and how this is going to play out in the future Sadeqa Johnson is an amazing writer, and is able to always captivate stories to make these characters come alive, and rent a vintage little space in my head.

I loved this book! I am so glad that Reese Witherspoon picked it for her book club-I am not sure that I would have heard about it otherwise. The book tells the stories of two young black women, and pregnancy, wanted or not, is a theme that runs throughout the book. I learned a lot, as well as enjoying the reading, and I look forward to recommending this book to our library patrons.

Genre: Historical Fiction/Multiculturalism
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pub. Date: February 7, 2023

Mini-Review

Will someone please tell me when historical fiction became melodramatic women’s fiction/romance? Because this novel is all romance, a genre I have never cared for. Stereotypical characters. As for multiculturalism, well nothing new regarding racial biases. In the future, I will need to look more closely before reading what is marketed as historical fiction.

The House of Eve
By Sadeqa Johnson
Pub date: Feb 7, 2023
Simon and Schuster
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Where the book worked for me: pacing! The writing provided all the necessary details without slowing me down I loved the author’s choice of ending for Ruby. The story is divided in multiple sections each dealing with a specific phase or event in the girls lives, Don’t miss the author’s note at the end it has a great tone of authenticity.
I haven’t read the author’s most popular book”Yellow Wife” but I thought this book would make more of an impact on me. I would recommend this book to historical fiction lovers with a dab of romance.
4 stars

Such a fantastic book, I couldn't put it down and now I can't stop crying.

Lyrical writing brings the reader into the tale of two black women in the 1050's from different sides of the track. The characters are beautifully developed and the reader is almost immediately vested in both of them. The story takes an inside look at the sacrifices of almost all women and mixed pains and joys of motherhood.

Highly recommend this wonderful title and grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which I read in one day, in exchange for my review.

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A wonderful historical fiction can’t put down book.The book is about 2 ladies from different cities and tough decisions that they are faced with making,.The book is set in the 1950’s in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The book explains what it means to be a woman and a mother. Ruby and Eleanor both make decisions that will shape the rest of their lives.