This evocative, entrancing story of one woman’s struggle against oppression had me riveted until the very end.

Full review up soon on my blog, Instagram & Tiktok.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another amazing piece of historical fiction from Sadeqa Johnson. Like Yellow Wife, it had a mostly happy but bittersweet ending. I like how she connected the two books and how there was a little bit of hope at the end about a certain something. Her books are a slow burn, but get really good in the second half.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free e-reader copy of The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson in exchange for an honest review.

This superb novel set in the late 1940s features two young Black female protagonists in alternating chapters. Ruby is a whip smart high school student living in poverty in Philadelphia with her aunt while working to become one of a small number of Black students to earn a college scholarship through a program called We Rise. When she begins a forbidden friendship with her white Jewish landlord’s son Shimmy, she puts everything she’s worked so hard for in jeopardy.

Eleanor is a brilliant college student attending Howard University while working in the school library as an assistant archivist and at a department store to afford her tuition when she meets William, the son of a well to do Black DC power couple. His parents don’t think she’s good enough for him, but they only have eyes for each other.

How both women overcome their challenges is just part of the story. Underlying the novel are the challenges big and small that young women, especially Black and economically disadvantaged women, faced in the post-war era when the path for women was all but laid out by society, and woe to those who did not follow.

As with Johnson’s The Yellow Wife, the character development, story line and historical details are spot on and the writing is just gorgeous. An easy five stars, and I can’t wait for what theis brilliant author does next.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read Yellow Wife and fell in love with this author so I was excited to see this book come up. Sadeqa Johnson is such a powerful writer and both books have been phenomenal at bringing truth to what was happening at the times. This book is well written and instills emotions into what both these young women struggle with. It does deal with forced adoption, differences in race and class, infertility, poverty, miscarriage, and abortion. I loved how the book ended where it brings all the characters together full circle. 5 star read that deals with hard issues that women faced in the 1950's.

5/5 stars! Sadeqa Johnson is one of the best authors! I loved The Yellow Wife, and I loved this book also! Her books transport me to the time period, and I find myself rooting for her characters and feeling their heartbreaks and love! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is both powerful and timely. Set in the late 1940’s the story alternates between the perspectives and voices of two intelligent black women who are looking toward their futures. The two women are Eleanor and Ruby. Their futures are derailed when each have unplanned pregnancies. Both women are forced to make hard choices that could possibly impede their future and their dreams.

These two women are memorable characters. The chapters of the book alternate between Eleanor and Ruby’s stories. While each are at different stages of their lives, one in high school and one in college many of their experiences are quite similar. There are some very tiny webs that grow throughout the story. As the story grows Eleanor and Ruby’s lives collide in the most unbelievable way. Ms. Johnson explores issues of race, prejudice, shame, class distinctions, rumors, illicit love, familial love and internal guilt.

The House of Eve took place in the 1940’s prior to the passage Roe vs Wade. Knowing that fact it is obvious to see that there were not many choices available for unwed women that found themselves pregnant. The House of Eve explored some horrible options that were available to both women.

Ruby and Eleanor become stronger than they ever dreamed they could be. I enjoyed The House of Eve very much. I would highly recommend it and look forward to seeing what Ms. Johnson has in store for us next. Well done.

I would like to thank Sadequ Johnson, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For starters, this book was phenomenal.

Set in the 1950s. this book intertwines the story of two young minority women in the 1950s, one in college and one in high school hoping to be the first in her family to go to college. Both women have the lives upended by pregnancy and how the author resolves it and brings the two women together at the end is a fascinating story (and enveloping read) as well as an education in a lesser-known bit of American history.

Having enjoyed both this novel and the author's previous work of historical fiction, Yellow Wife, I am looking forward to her next work.

Ruby is a 14 year old negro girl hoping to be the first girl in her family to attend college and become a doctor. She then meets Shimmy, a white Jewish boy who works in a local shop... Eleanor is attending Howard university, working two jobs and still figuring out how to pay the rest of her tuition. She then meets William, a medical student from an upper class negro family in DC. (Negro is used as that was the preferred word indicated in the book in the 1950's.)

Sadeqa has officially become an auto-buy author for me. I loved Yellow Wife and now The House of Eve. I love that her stories transport you back in time while bringing all the emotions and awareness of social injustices.

Miss Sadeqa you played with our hearts once more! I read this and I held every single word so close to my heart. You brought this book and characters to life. I feel in love with the entire story. You showed us what heartbreak and love feels like.
The characters were so relatable and the plot was addicting. I couldn’t put this book down. I am excited to purchase this book and add it to my library.

A story told from multiple perspectives about life - and the experiences that deal with multiple family hardships all revolving around the idea that life so often comes full circle. What happens when someone gets pregnant far too young? Do you give that child up? Will someone take care of it? What of the idea of those struggling with infertility? What happens with those just struggling to fit in? Does everyone find their place? What happens when you don’t? It’s a bit of a heavy topic but very well done. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

I have not read Yellow Wife, the previous Sadeqa Johnson novel, and so The House of Eve is my first opportunity to read a Johnson novel. The House of Eve is a novel about women--mothers and daughters and the goals and future they hope they will achieve. Some of these characters, especially the mothers, tend to be solidly cliche, but the daughters, Ruby and Eleanor, are better defined and developed, although even they became predictive in some ways. For instance, Ruby makes the kind of mistake with men that readers will see forthcoming very early in the novel.

However, there is much to appreciate in The House of Eve. For instance, Eleanor's experience in college and her struggle to pay her tuition definitely rings true. The effort it takes Ruby just to get across town to her high school and her struggle to earn a college scholarship, which results in the need to make a painful life choice, is heartbreaking. The secrecy and shame involved in adoption are very accurate and will remind readers how important it has become to remove the secrecy and mystery involved in adoption. The conclusion of this novel really did not work well. The House of Eve is not a fairy tale, but the conclusion tries to create this happy ever after world for everyone. As a result, the ending fails.

I do want to thank the author and publisher for providing this ARC for me to read and review. As my comments suggest, The House of Eve has much to offer to readers, especially those who know so little about the life of women in 1950. However, the problems that Ruby and Eleanor face are not unique. These were the same problems that many women faced, not just women of color. A desire for college but the struggle to pay for it was a common struggle for many young women. Thank you also to NetGalley for suggesting this novel.

The House of Eve examines infertility, forced adoption, poverty, race, and class differences during the 1950's making it one triggering, yet eye-opening historical fiction book.

The author doesn't shy away from the emotion that these themes entail and does so with a gentleness that is needed for such tough subjects.

I did like how it ended with the crossing of paths from both parties. It gave a sense of closure when you didn't think it could be possible.

This book does feature many miscarriages and a stillbirth which can be a very delicate subject matter for those in the throws of infertility and pregnancy loss.

Special thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a review copy to read! Sadeqa Johnson’s newest novel, THE HOUSE OF EVE, published on February 7, 2023. Spoiler: all the yes to this one!

Ruby is part of the special We Rise program hoping for a scholarship to be the first in her family to attend college. Eleanor is studying at Howard University where she falls in love with one of DC’s elite, William. Both women are searching for a place to belong, and their stories collide in a way that will forever forge them together.

Let me name the things I loved about this book. 1) Sadeqa’s writing immediately draws you in and makes you connect with her characters. 2) The story has significant historical implications, but it may also be one you’re unfamiliar with currently. 3) You will be so satisfied with the ending, and the epilogue will take it to the next level. This is historical fiction. Read it, and then let’s chat.

Now I have to go read YELLOW WIFE. Have you read either of Sadeqa’s books? Are they on your TBR?

CW: sexual abuse, infertility, infant loss, pregnancy, labor, racism

I thought this was well written, thought provoking, and page turning. I don’t know that it was the best historical fiction I’ve read, but it was good, and I think my customers will love it. Ruby and Eleanor were both smart, well developed women who, as usual (and this is such a pet peeve) had to be smarter, stronger and just better than any man in the novel. I loved the insight into both of their different and yet all too similar worlds, and I did love the eventual surprise connection.

"𝘞𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦: 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺."

Eleanor and Ruby are two young Black women in the 1950s who came from humble beginnings but are working toward a brighter future. But when they both fall in love with men whose families disapprove of them, the sacrifices they make to ensure their futures entwines them in ways they never would have expected.

𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗘𝗩𝗘 is eye-opening and heartbreaking but also full of hope. Sadeqa Johnson writes so many layers into the women's stories, and it's no wonder it was a @reesesbookclub pick - there is so much to discuss and dissect! And don't miss the author's note at the end...

4.5 stars

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the copy to review.

This historical fiction in the vein of The Patron Saint of Liars and Take My Hand had me turning the pages to see what happens next. A good story, well told, and be sure not to miss the author's note!

Well written story that kept my interest. It takes a while to get to the heart of the story, I wasn't thrilled with the ending, a bit too convenient, but overall, a good story.

House of Eve examines the impact of poverty, race, class and color have on unwed mothers in the 1950s. I particularly liked the mother/daughter dynamics. Brilliant characters in a well told story. Historical Fiction fans will love this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the copy. All opinions are my own.

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is a gripping historical fiction that shows The challenges and triumphs of two black women in the 1940s. The story is full of history and relevant events but also has a ton of heart and soul that makes it feel personal. Both of the main characters are beautifully written with rich personalities and show an amazing amount of growth throughout the tale. Ruby was my favorite character because she was so persistent in chasing her dreams and I loved her motivation for becoming an ophthalmologist. Her artistic nature made her way of working at the world beautiful, even when it was heartbreaking. I was utterly appalled at her treatment in the middle of the story and it's even worse to realize that that was a common occurrence in the 1940s. Eleanor was an amazing character as well and it was great to see her friendships and personality mature throughout her life. The House of Eve was easy to get drawn into and reading it felt like catching up with an old friend. Sadeqa Johnson Is a talented storyteller who makes you really think about the characters of the world that they live in. The way that she wove personal history, US history, and fiction together to create a tale that is challenging and inspiring is nothing short of magic. I loved the way the two women's stories intersected towards the end and the last little surprise twist was Perfect. I'm excited to read Yellow Wife and more by this author.