So happy to have finished reading this book on International Women’s Day!

I gave this one 2 tries, but it is going to be a DNF book for me. I wanted to like it, but I didn't like the author's narrative style. Too much telling, not enough story.

I cried at the end. This was really so much better than I expected. Bittersweet, funny, personal, lovingly told. To me it's a love story filled with sorrow and joy.

Here is a blurb, and I can't really say it any better.
"Lorena Hickok meets Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while reporting on Franklin Roosevelt’s first presidential campaign. Having grown up worse than poor in South Dakota and reinvented herself as the most prominent woman reporter in America, “Hick,” as she’s known to her friends and admirers, is not quite instantly charmed by the idealistic, patrician Eleanor. " BUT, she does fall in love. And it's quite a love story. I laughed, I cried. I re-read parts and chatted with friends about it. This is historical fiction and the kind I enjoy.

Hick begins living in the white house and gets close to Eleanor. A mutual attraction develops. They become friends and lovers. There is more to this story than just the romance. We are taken thru many events and relationships in Lorena's life. But, she always comes back to her great love, Eleanor. It's beautifully written and entertaining. I found it heart wrenching at times. Lots of passion and the stuff true love (and friendship) is made from.

I highly recommend this to readers of Literary Fiction as well as Historical Fiction. Thank you Amy Bloom, NetGalley, and the publisher for a digital copy to read and review. I look forward to adding more books by Bloom to my reading adventures soon.

Skipped this one, Once I realized that I have already read 2 of this author's books, I chose not to read this one. I read Lucky Us, and found it tedious. I always give writers a second chance, so I read Away. Again, I was disappointed, even more so as the description was a story I was drawn to. I guess Amy Bloom books just aren't my cup of tea.

Such an interesting story about the love affair between Eleanor Roosevelt and her close friend, Lorena Hickock (Hick). As I read this story I began to wonder how much of it was true so I did some basic Googling and discovered that historians argue about how deep this friendship was and if it ever blossomed into a physical relationship. Apparently two of Eleanor's children published conflicting accounts about both of their parents' extra-marital affairs and friendships; one to be salacious and sell books, and the other to preserve the parents' reputations, I would assume. As with most differing accounts I bet the truth is probably something in between.

As the author states in the afterward, the book is fiction. However, world events, events in the Roosevelts' lives, and events in the country are all well researched and fold into the story. As with all historical fiction, the dialogue and nature of this private relationship can only be guessed at.

The characters had complicated very public lives with equally complicated relationships and power dynamics. I enjoyed this glimpse into the personal lives of the Roosevelts, although I realize that much of it is supposition. It also kindled an interest in them and FDR's presidency. Of course I know him as the president who created the New Deal and guided the country out of The Depression, as well as the president who led the country through WWII, but other than famous quotes attributed to Eleanor, I didn't really know much about her political life and causes nor her role as a humanitarian in the world.
My only complaint was sometimes I lost track of where the story was in time when we rambled through Hick's memory. Our memories are often not straight and linear so it felt natural, but I would get confused with trying to figure out the nature of Eleanor and Hick's relationship during a given memory.

Beautifully crafted - it was a joy to watch Bloom's writing evolve and unfold before my eyes. I enjoyed Lucky Us, but White Houses is a step above. Well done.

A truly captivating book. I really enjoyed this fictional tale of history based on real life. Would definitely recommend to others.

Lenora Hickok was a formidable woman for her time. In fact, she'd probably still be considered a formidable woman. From a childhood of deprivation and abuse she went on to become a renowned reporter, which, in the 1930s, was a huge achievement in and of itself. In 1928 she interviewed Eleanor Roosevelt for Life magazine, went on to cover Eleanor's part in her husband's 1932 campaign for president, and even lived in the White House for a time during his presidency. Her life alone would make for fascinating fiction, but in White Houses author Amy Bloom looks at her through the lens of her longtime affair with Eleanor, another strong, fascinating woman.

The beginning of White Houses is a recap of Hickok's early life, before her success as a journalist. From there the novel jumps to the weekend of FDR's funeral in 1945. Once the public ceremonies are completed Eleanor retreats to an apartment in NYC with Hickok and in the span of three days Bloom recounts their years together with piecemeal bits from the present leading to deeper memories of the past.

Written from Hickok's perspective, Bloom does a wonderful job in capturing the voice of a woman who had little interest in anything feminine, but was a journalist through and through. The tone of White Houses borders on brusque, as Hickok relays the various historical moments she was not only privy to, but experienced through Eleanor. She is reporting events as she saw them without sugarcoating. She softens only in reminisces of their times together. I appreciated Bloom's ability to bring to light what lived in the shadows, even if it is a fictional accounting.


For some, particularly those who will be offended by the thought of Eleanor Roosevelt in love with a woman, White Houses will not be a novel of interest. Historians are divided on just how far the relationship between the two went-dear friends or something more? For me, I sincerely hope that, beyond the artistic license Bloom takes with private conversations, Eleanor was deeply loved by Hickok. She deserved it. Her husband was unwilling to stick to his marriage vows and showed little interest in anyone's feelings beyond his own, meaning his mistresses were installed at the White House and paraded in front of Eleanor. There is no historical doubt about Eleanor as a woman of principle, who fought for the vulnerable of this country, so if she found some small measure of happiness I'm pleased. And grateful to Bloom for her tender portrayal of the two.

"Did not finish....very disappointed in this one. No emotion, no depth to the characters...with the unlimited potential for this story, there was nothing to hook me in."

I received an ebook of White houses by Amy Bloom from NetGalley and Random House.

Lorena Hickok grew up destitute and abused, but she perseveres to become a successful AP reporter who is assigned to cover FDR's presidential campaign in 1932. Hr relationship with Eleanor moves from professional to friendship and eventually intimacy.Throughout the years of FDR's presidency and in their later years, their love remains.

I was aware of the relationship between Eleanor and 'Hick', and appreciate Ms Bloom's expressive and witty novel. Her portrayal of Hickok's childhood was gaunt and desperate. She conveys all the nuances of their affair while in the White House, while FDR conducts his own illicit relationships. I enjoyed this novel and it's piqued my interest in FDR and Eleanor's lives.

The book opens a short time following the death of FDR and moves forward and back to this time period often. Told in the voice of Lorena Hickok, an American journalist who is well known for her close relationship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Hickok had an unhappy childhood marked by isolation and abuse. She ventures out on her own at an early age and becomes successful. We begin our journey with Hick as a young girl in the first quarter of the book. (The part of the book I liked the best)

Lorena goes on to reveal intimate details of her relationship with the First Lady; for this amount of detail the author did an exceptional job in her research. We learn that Eleanor was a compassionate and loving woman. We learn only that the Roosevelt children are difficult and devoted to their father. We discover very little about FDR other than he was a philanderer and a good president (I wanted more, I already knew this). As an insider in the White House, I had hoped for a more rounded story of the life the three led (FDR, Eleanor, and Hick). After all she is having an affair with the First Lady!

My take away was much less than many other reviewers. The first half of the story held me captive, then it fell away to redundancy as Hick relives the times where she is in and out of favor with Eleanor. I couldn't understand why the author chose to include Eleanor's cousin, Parker Fiske in many parts throughout the story (other than he was gay) while at the same time excluding Eleanor's relationship with her children. I would have thought her relationship with her children, good, bad or ugly much more relevant. Typically in a historical fiction novel (my favorite genre) there is usually a little something that I can take away that I didn't know. This one was disappointing.

Read it for yourself, I hope you take away what so many others have and much more than I did
Many Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review an ARC copy of White Houses. Best of Luck.

Did they or didn’t they? The question of whether or not Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok were more than friends has been a hot topic ever since their passionate letters were made public in the late 1970s. While historian Doris Kearns Goodwin declared that “whether Hick and Eleanor went beyond kisses and hugs” can never be known, others find the correspondence makes a convincing claim for Roosevelt’s queerness. Here’s an article featuring excerpts from a number of their more romantic letters. Sample: “Hick darling, I just talked to you, darling, it was so good to hear your voice. If I just could take you in my arms… Someday perhaps fate will be kind & let us arrange a life more to our liking.”

The Hick/Roosevelt relationship has been explored in books like "Empty Without You: The Intimate Letters Of Eleanor Roosevelt And Lorena Hickok" and "Eleanor and Hick: The Love Affair That Shaped a First Lady," as well as a play, “Hick: A Love Story.” Now comes Amy Bloom with a fictionalized account of their relationship, which definitely comes down on the “yep, they were lovers” side of the equation. (Franklin Roosevelt, in this telling, is having a long-term affair with his secretary, Missy LeHand, another allegedly-romantic pairing which has been debated by historians.)

Bloom’s novel is narrated by Hickok, who describes her rough upbringing—her mother died when she was quite young, and she left home at the age of 14, escaping her abusive father. She eventually became a successful journalist, the first woman to have a byline in the New York Times. Assigned to interview Eleanor Roosevelt shortly after Franklin had been elected governor of New York, Hickok found herself drawn to her subject. She began covering Eleanor full-time during Franklin’s first presidential campaign. Their relationship heated up when Hickok accompanied Eleanor on a train trip; by the time FDR was in office, it became increasingly clear that Hickok could not cover the administration objectively, so she quit her job with the Associated Press. At times, Hickok even lived in the White House, but in Bloom’s telling, loving Eleanor was not easy—the beloved First Lady always had many demands on her attention. Hickok describes herself as “the brave and battered little dinghy” to Eleanor’s “lighthouse.”

While most of the people in "White Houses" are historical figures, I’m pretty sure that the Roosevelt cousin Parker Fiske, a key character in the book, is fictional. Fiske is a career diplomat and closeted gay man who is not above using a little blackmail to gain protection for himself; he pops up from time to time to beg Eleanor for a favor or threaten Hickok of the potential consequences if her relationship with the First Lady became public. “People didn’t see his homosexual self coming (unlike yours truly) and that bothered them. He didn’t look at all like that type of man, so everyone who liked him—smart and charming and so good at his job—pretended it didn’t happen, or that somehow it had happened but only due to a mix of bourbon and misunderstanding.” By today’s standards, the fact that Eleanor and Hickok were not able to live openly as lovers does seem sad, but Fiske’s story is ultimately far more tragic, a way for the author to shine a light on the genuine dangers of being gay in an earlier era.

"White Houses" is obviously not meant to be the final word on the subject, but it offers an interesting and poignant perspective on a relationship that continues to intrigue.

I always enjoy historical fiction so I was prepared to really really like this book, but, unfortunately, I was disappointed. There seemed to me to be unnecessary pages spent on the love life (sex) between Eleanor and Hicks. It's lovely to know that they had a truly meaningful intimate relationship for many years but what I expected to read was more on how Hicks dealt with her career during that time and then afterwards when Eleanor changed the nature of their relationship. At any rate, it was an enjoyable read and I appreciated NetGalley giving me the opportunity to review it.

The characters in this fictional account of a relationship between these women were actual people, it made for a good story but in some ways it did make me feel like I was intruding into their lives as well. I knew about this relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok intellectually because it is pretty much common knowledge but this tale is far more intimate and there were times I felt that I was reading someone’s private diary.

White Houses by Amy Bloom is the fictionalized account of the unexpected and forbidden affair between Eleanor Roosevelt and reporter Lorena Hickok. They meet in 1932 while Lorena is reporting on Franklin Roosevelt's first presidential campaign. The two women couldn't be more different - Lorena grew up poorer than poor, Eleanor is a Roosevelt. But there is an immediate powerful, passionate connection that develops into a forbidden-for-the-times love affair that endures through the years.

The story is fictional, but the history and characters are real. It's a fascinating glimpse into what was happening in the world, the United States, and the White House in those times.

White Houses has been described as an unforgettable novel, and it is certainly that. The prose is compelling. Eleanor and Franklin are not like you and me; they are part of an American Dynasty, and you feel almost uncomfortable as Lorena never quite fits in. "A Rooseveltian silence" is mentioned and you understand just what the author means to convey. Eleanor is wonderful and loving and caring, but for all that she can be thoughtless and cruel and often unlikeable. Franklin's reputation precedes him. He is presented as the man we've read him to be: many faces, so popular, determined, cruel, angry, and very, very needy. A formidable rival for Lorena.

Amy Bloom's writing is amazing. Moving, elegant, thoughtful, with turns of phrase that you will not soon forget, applicable to an enduring love between any two people. But in the end, although compelling, this story is also unsettling and sad, with tension running throughout. There is a marvelous description of so many love affairs: "…her wish to periodically forget that he was the whole world for her and she was a delightful little village for him." This was meant to apply to Franklin, but in a sense it described Eleanor's actions, whatever her feelings, as well. And through it all, she was the love of Lorena's life, "All those ups and downs, our separations and closed doors, those terrible fights and furies, our cruelties and our silences, seem like nothing, like losing a handbag or missing the morning train."

An excellent read, a reminder that love does not run smoothly, does not conquer all, and life is not a fairy tale, but well worth the living. Note I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This book started off being quite interesting and then became tedious and repetitive as the relationship between. Eleanor Roosevelt and her female friend Loerno Hickok developed . I enjoyed the historical element of the book as was unfamiliar with the Roosevelt ‘s and their years in the White House. I have visited their summer home on Campbello Island and familiar with locations in Maine so this was refreshing to read. I just thought the relationship although touching became stale . A decent read though into how two women expressed their deep affection towards each other. Thanks netgalley

Among the pantheon of gods of my childhood, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt stood tall. My parents, unwavering Democrats to the core, believed both to be above reproach, that he had single-handedly pulled the country out of the Depression, and she was a woman who deserved our deepest admiration for her championing of all the right causes. As an adult, I've read a book or two about their lives and visited Hyde Park, Valkill, and Campobello. Despite all this, plus my awareness of many of the facts about both Franklin's and Eleanor's open infidelities, White Houses was a revelation.  This beautifully written, fictionalized account of the love affair between Eleanor and Lorena Hickock is both moving and illuminating. What a different time it was! Hick, sometimes referred to as "first friend" lived off and on at the White House where there doesn't seem to have been much effort to conceal the lesbian love affair. For his part, Franklin had his girlfriends, likely including his ever-present personal secretary,  Missy LeHand. I guess the blatant quality of their arrangements should be no surprise, given the lack of public or media scrutiny at that time of FDR's inability to walk.

White Houses is a love story created by the author's imagination, though firmly rooted in its historical context. Bloom's lyrical prose cuts right to the heart, building an emotional reality that rings true.

I am no history scholar, and I had never heard of the love story between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickock. I absolutely loved learning about this little slice of history and the romance between these two women. I did find the book to be a bit difficult to read at times-it would jump from place to place and I would have to go back a page or two to figure out what was going on. And, I really wish the Author's Note included more of the research and history that went into this book. I would have loved to know about why Amy Bloom chose this topic and which parts of the book were taken from historical records.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel of historical fiction. The bittersweet love story and history between Hicks and Eleanor was compelling and lovely. It was so refreshing to read a novel about love that continues later in life and that it endures. I loved that they were both not traditionally pretty or young and still found one another attractive and saw the young love in each other's eyes. I also found the history of F.D.'s presidency and family informative and interesting. I would read this novel again.

White Houses is a historical fiction novel about the romantic relationship between Lorena Hickok and Eleanor Roosevelt, told from Lorena’s perspective, as it blooms and deteriorates and blooms back again over the course of their lifetimes.

There were aspects about the book I enjoyed—the complicated relationship between Hick and Eleanor, in particular, as well as the irreverent and opinionated voice. But I think the book really suffered from a convoluted and confusing timeline. I don’t mind a book that jumps between the past and present, but if it isn’t done right it can become extremely confusing. Unfortunately, that was the case with this book. It was often difficult to figure out where we were in the timeline—whether FDR had just died as at the beginning of the novel or Lorena was back living at the White House, relationship with Eleanora in full swing. I’m sure it doesn’t help matters that there was a bit of an on again off again nature to the relationship between Hickok and Roosevelt, but the sporadic timeline made the pacing of the book feel strange and clunky and definitely slowed my reading.

Overall, it was an enjoyable and interesting story, but the issues with timeline and pacing definitely knocked it down for me.