My top read of the year so far - Sadeqa Johnson is now an auto author for me. Her story telling is beautifully written!

Unfortunately just average for me - pretty formulaic as far as historical fiction goes, though one of the few books I've come across that even attempts to tell a black woman's story. I found the two POVs and multiple phases and events a bit jarring - I would have preferred more continuity and seamlessness in telling the story.

From the book blurb, I was not expecting this kind of story but I did enjoy. I like books where I can understand other culture’s perspective and this book sure provided that. I don’t wan to give too much details about how the story progresses as I feel the reader should be surprised as I was.

We read about 2 African American girls and their hopes for the future in the 50s. Love, family and to get their rightful place onto society.

I especially enjoyed the author’s note who expressed why she chose to explore this personal topic.

High praise for the ending!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a complimentary e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story goes back and fore by chapter of two young girls, both get pregnant by guys who ‘live on the other side of the tracks’ from them. Eleanor is poor but meets a rich guy. Ruby is rich but meets a poor guy. It is quite a fascinating story of how they both manipulate their lives to do what they feel is best for them……influenced by the rich parents families!
An emotional roller coaster ride, but one that is well worth the read.

FIVE TREMENDOUS STARS!

What a powerhouse of a book! There is so much to unpack here: racism, colorism, classism, reproductive rights, female ambition; matriarchal families, mother/child relationships... but at its heart are two amazing young women, Ruby and Eleanor, who will capture your heart and have you rooting for them to not just persevere but ultimately triumph. It's a riveting, heartbreaking, unputdownable read that will stay with you long after the book is over!

This was a powerfully poignant, beautifully written, emotional read.

This story was set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington DC, and is written with dual POV between our two main MC’s, Eleanor and Ruby

It explores what life was like for women and mothers during a time of heightened racism and sexism, as they both strive to make a better life for themselves and their families.

This was quite a fast paced read, and I was fully engrossed in the story from start to finish.
Johnson’s knack for doing her research is clearly evident in her writing. While we all have heard and read the stories during this time, I learned even more about what I would call this dark period in history and what some of these young girls had to endure.

It was absolutely heart wrenching, but also filled with hope as we followed along with our MC’s journey, as each woman was shaped by the decisions they, and others around them, made.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Please
do yourself a favour and pick up this book!

The House of Eve is a look at motherhood, women’s choices, education, class and colourism in 1950s America wrapped up in a bit too much of a romance-heavy bow for me.

Eleanor and Ruby are both young black women striving to be the first in their families to go to college when of course men from other worlds swoop in to mess it all up for them.

From here, their love stories are a little too similar for me, a little too MAKE BETTER CHOICES, but where this book excels is in its historical depiction and issues it engages with. I loved Eleanor’s interactions with her MIL and wished there was more of that. About half way through we finally see what The House of Eve actually is and it’s horrible, the things religious organizations are willing to do to people of colour. This is the crux of the book and I found it came in a little late. But so well done, difficult and important to stare these truths in the face. I was fully invested up until this point but then as things wrapped up it was all a little too convenient and predictable for me. A little too forgiving of side characters, the glossing over of complication just seemed like a bit of a storytelling cop out but who am I to say it shouldn’t have a big happy ending.

I liked this book a lot but didn’t love it, going back and forth between 3.5 and 4 stars I decided it deserved to be rounded up because I did look forward to listening every day, the narration was top notch, and I enjoyed being enveloped in their world. I would definitely recommend it, especially to people who like a star-crossed lovers historical romance with a side of real deal issues.

As for me, I’m going to put her other novel Yellow Wife on my tbr since it’s widely said to be even better.

Another brilliant novel by Sadeqa Johnson. I loved Yellow Wife, and couldn't wait to read this one too. It did not disappoint! The author has crafted another moving and compelling novel; one that looks at pregnancy in Black unwed mothers in the 1950s. Told from alternating points of view; that of Ruby, a 15 year old girl living in Philadelphia, and Eleanor, a university student in Washington D.C., the book is interesting and emotional albeit a bit predictable. Definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read if you like: dual perspectives
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In this book, we get to read about Ruby and Eleanor, two young Black women in the 1950s. Ruby is a smart teen working hard to be the first member of her family to go to college. Eleanor is a student at Howard University and her life changes forever when she meets William.
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I loved reading about these two characters. They were great and I was intrigued throughout the whole book. This book tackles racism in the 1950s, pregnancy, miscarriage and adoption in a poignant way, but these topics can be difficult to read about so be aware.
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Overall I loved this book!

The House of Eve

The House of Eve tells the story of Ruby and Eleanor. Two young African American woman living in the states in the late 1940’s. A time when racism and classism was rampant.

Ruby is 15 and has had a very difficult childhood, bouncing around between her mothers, grandmothers and aunts house. Ruby is very bright and wants to be the first in her family to attend university. But due to living in poverty her only hope of achieving her dreams is to win a scholarship to Howard university. On the weekends she attends We Rise, an educational program that helps bright, young African Americans students obtain scholarships to attend university. But when Ruby starts secretly dating Shimmy, a young white Jewish boy, and becomes pregnant, her future dreams start to crumble right before her eyes.

Eleanor is already attending Howard University majoring in history and working part time in the library. Eleanor grew up in a small town in Ohio. She comes from a loving but uneducated working class family. Eleanor and her parents have high ambitions for her future. But when she meets and falls in love with the dashing William Pride, an affluent medical student at Howard, her dreams collapse as she too falls pregnant.

What unfolds is a story about two young women who try to better their lives while having to contend with racism, classicism, poverty, marriage, unplanned pregnancy, miscarriage, abuse and confinement at a home for unwed mothers. Ruby and Eleanor were such strong, driven, independent young women who exuded resilience and determination.

The House of Eve really moved me. It opens the readers eyes to the horrible racism that existed, and still exists, for African American men, women and children. The author also shed light on discrimination and classicism that took place within the African American community dependent on socioeconomic status and the lightness of your skin.

I was horrified to learn about the “house of eve” and how the Catholic Church forced young unwed pregnant women and teens to give up their babies at birth. And how these pregnant women often lived in forced confinement, in deplorable conditions, suffering horrendous mental, emotional and physical abuse.

I had high expectations going into this book as Yellow Wife, also by Sadeqa Johnson, is one of my favourite books. I was not disappointed, it was every bit as wonderful, heartfelt and eye opening as Yellow Wife. Sadeqa Johnson writes in such a vividly descriptive way that I felt like I was watching the story unfold before my eyes. I also loved the fact that the author wrote in a character from Yellow Wife. However the reader doesn’t realize this until the end.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for my e-arc of The House of Eve. I loved it so much I went out and bought a physical copy.

Thank you so much @simonschusterca and @netgalley for my e-arc of THE HOUSE OF EVE by @sadeqasays ! This one is available now!

Swipe to read the synopsis!

I read Sadeqa’s debut novel, YELLOW WIFE last year, and absolutely loved it! While I didn’t feel quite and emotionally invested reading her latest book, I still really enjoyed it!

This book is heartbreaking, timely, memorable and full of important details that were very important in the 1950s, and still are in today’s society. Women’s rights have come a long way since this time, but there’s still a lot more that needs to be done.

While this book also has romance, and does it so well, it also touches on women’s rights, being a black person (especially a black women), and being married to a white man from a wealthy/higher society family. It also has great discussions on motherhood and getting pregnant, and some talk on abortion, especially in the 1950s.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, and have read Yellow Wife, then I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is amazing!!

This story follows the lives of two young black women, Ruby Pearsall who is 15 and Eleanor Quarles who is 19, growing up in the 1950's.
Ruby is from a poverty stricken family with a mother who is more interested in her boyfriends then in raising a daughter. Ruby has ambitions to become an ophthalmologist and was accepted into an academic scholarship program where the top two students will be offered the scholarships. She is focused on this future until she meets Shimmy, the son of her aunt's landlord. This relationship could derail all her plans for the future.
Eleanor's parents have worked multiple jobs and made many sacrifices to earn enough money to help her attend Howard University. Eleanor soon meets William, from a very wealthy family, and they fall madly in love. The relationship advances and results in a pregnancy and a marriage proposal. Even though Eleanor loves William to death, he comes from a very different background, one that makes Eleanor uncomfortable, especially since she has never felt accepted by his parents.
Both women must make difficult decisions that could alter their futures, sacrifices that could lead to happiness or regret.

I highly recommend this book full of love, loss, heartbreak and happiness.
Characters are very relatable, story flows smoothly and ends with a jaw dropping scene that feels totally right!

Having enjoyed this author's The Yellow Wife, I was eager to read this new book. I was not disappointed! The exploration of what it means to be a woman and mother and the struggles of the two women, Ruby and Eleanor, are well examined. Sometimes horrific, sometimes poignant, a well written book and recommended.

This truly an amazing story of two amazing women.

Eleanor and Rudy are two incredibly strong women, with scholarly ambition and that’s were their similarities end. Living in different cities, one in high school with big ambitions, the other a student at Howard University; yet these two will soon have an unbreakable connection.

I have to say, that it took me about half way through before I figured out the connection between Ruby and Eleanor, and as I sit here in reflection, I have tears in my eyes. The ending so seemingly perfect that I did not want it to end. I sit here with my daydreams of the potential happenings beyond this ending. A moot point, but I want to know more.

Also reading the Author Notes is a must, knowing the women who inspired this story.

5 stars.

I loved The yellow wife and this latest from Sadeqa Johnson was another win for me! Set in 1950s America, the story follows two young Black women from different backgrounds as they try to find happiness in love and life and have different challenges with motherhood. Their lives eventually intertwine in unexpected ways in this very moving historical fiction story that is the February Reese Book Club pick. Perfect for fans of Heather Marshall's Looking for Jane. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada. This was a great read. It speaks so clearly to the 1950's in a time where these black people suffered and struggled because of their skin colour. This book was so real and raw that I was crying and amazed so many times in this book. I would hate to spoil her book. I suggest to read it. If you loved Yellow Knife and you were looking for something more, Sadeqa has done it again.

After the success of her book Yellow Wife, Sadeqa Johnson is back with another riveting and emotional read. Inspired by the author's own family experiences, she weaves an interesting story that incorporates the lives of two Black women in 1950's Philadelphia and Washington, DC.

Ruby and Eleanor come from different backgrounds and social classes, yet both have similar struggles. They are each in relationships that society doesn't approve of, and they struggle with the lack of agency they hold over their own bodies - a power that remains at the mercy of government, society and religion. Through these two characters, Johnson includes important themes and issues of race, class, education, reproductive rights, prejudice, and the role of the Catholic Church's homes for unwed mothers.

It took me a bit to get invested in the characters, but once their stories firmed up, I was pulled into the lives, struggles, loss and hope of these two women. There is some predictability to the plot, but I liked how Johnson incorporated many important topics. My only issues with the book were that Ruby and Eleanor's lives don't connect until very late in the story and that the long-held rift between Eleanor and another character was rectified too quickly and easily to be wholly satisfying. I encourage readers to be on the lookout for the brief but wonderful connection between characters from Yellow Wife within this story.

We have come a long way with respect to women's reproductive rights - but I fear we have a long way to go since some topics in this book remain issues that today's women continue to face. This is a well-researched and compassionately told story that successfully balances history and emotion within its pages. The issues it raises makes it great fodder for book club discussion and the perfect pick for fans of Heather Marshall's Looking For Jane.

This is an incredible novel! It's an evocative commentary on how class and race intersect, but also a stirring, often heartrending, exploration of motherhood. The history captured by the author is fascinating, as is her exploration of colorism within the Black community. It often feels uncomfortable, as it should. However, this book goes well beyond a searing critique of American society and norms in the 1950s; all of the traditional storytelling elements are equally strong, creating an immersive and emotional experience for the reader. The time period is captured exquisitely, there's a cast of complex but relatable and (mostly) likable characters, the story is perfectly plotted and paced, and the stakes feel real. This was a joy to read!

This book is everything it promises to be and more. After reading Yellow Wife, I knew I needed to read more of Sadeqa Johnson's books. The House of Eve continues that feeling.

We follow Ruby and Eleanor. Without giving away spoilers, their storylines are heartbreaking and raw. We get a real look at the 1950s for Black people, especially young, poor Black women. Sadeqa doesn't shy away from some of the real horrors of the time, including the forced adoption rings run by the Catholic church—and they weren't just for Black girls!

The characters come to life with the way Sadeqa has written them. I can hear their voices as clear as day in my head, even now. I would love more of the story of Ruby and Eleanor after the events of the book, but I'm also ready for new stories from Sadeqa.

Did you ever have a book where you just could not put your feelings down in words? The House of Eve is that for me.

I really struggled as to what to say about this book because I truly loved it and I want to do it justice.

My heart was broken and mended so many times while reading this book.

This book is a dual POV between two women, Eleanor and Ruby. They are both striving to leave the poverty their families have been in by achieving a college degree.

They both have a challenge face them to achieving this dream. I don’t want to say too much about their stories because I am afraid to give too much away. All I can say is if you loved Yellow Wife, you will love The House of Eve. They are two different stories but both are equally important.