The House of Eve

So good! Sadeqa really takes us THROUGH IT in these books, and the endings can only be classified as bitter sweet. I'm nervous to read her other works because I don't know if I can take It...but I'm going to read them anyway!

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.

It was a good book to read while passing my time traveling.. not a page turner but a good story overall

This book is sooo goood! It grabbed me right from the beginning and I finished in 2 days. This is a beautifully written novel about 2 young African American women growing up in the 1950's. They both struggled with racism, colorism, motherhood and many other hardships. Chapters alternate between Ruby (1st person) and Eleanor (3rd person) POV's. Ruby is a young 15-year-old girl growing up in Philadelphia trying to be the 1st in her family to go to college but a new young love threatens her plans. Eleanor is a student at Howard University in Washington, D.C. who is also smart and ambitious like Ruby, when she meets William Pride. He is a handsome, smart med student and from the D.C. wealthy elite Blacks. They fall madly in love but is it enough to fit into William's world? Eleanor wants a baby and hopes that it will make her family feel more complete, but she also has her own secrets from her life in OH.

I loved both of these stories. Although I could tell how these stories were going to collide, I didn't care. Both women still faced hardships and they each had their own "story". The plot was very realistic, part historical fiction with a love story. The epilogue was great-did not see that coming! Be sure to read the author's notes-lots of research went into this book. I will definitely read more from this author.

Mesmerizing. Heartbreaking. I'm still so touched by this book and praying for and about the circumstances that each woman endured.