5⭐

Excuse me while I try to pick up the pieces of my heart and put them back together again. While not as heartbreaking as Yellow Wife, House of Eve proved to be just as emotional and these characters will also be living in my head rent free. Sadeqa Johnson is truly a powerhouse writer in historic fiction and I will read everything she writes. And hopefully convince everyone else to do the same!

I loved following Eleanor and Ruby's stories throughout this novel. It was so interesting because they were both similar class and aspirations, but had such different circumstances. I loved watching them both fall in love and became so attached that the characters that their heartbreaks became mine. Sadeqa's writing also spoke at such a higher level where it was easy to see how the past mirrors the present in several scary ways.

I learned so much about pregnancy and stigma and forced adoption and family life and nuances of race from this book that were all so important! I truly savored this book while reading it and it won't be leaving me anytime soon. This book is a masterpiece and if you enjoy historic fiction, you need it when it comes out in February!

And for those who read Yellow Wife, there's a reference to it at the end that's perfection!

Two young Black women. Both in a similar predicament. One is Ruby, 15 and trying to be the first in her family to go to college. She wants to be an ophthalmologist to help people like her grandmother. Second is Eleanor, attending Howard University when she meets handsome William. While he quickly falls for her, his family believes he is too good for her. Both unwed and now pregnant, the world takes these two down two very different roads, yet brings them together in the most unexpected of ways.

Ok so @basicbsguide hates some of my favorite books, but for the most part, we tend to agree. So when she posted herself crying after finishing The House Of Eve, I had to request it! I never read Yellow Wife, but after finishing this one, I need to get it asap! This book had me in a trance from page one. I could not stop reading to find out what happened to both Ruby and Eleanor. My heart broke for the battles each faced, and I really wanted to slap some of the side characters that only made their lives harder (iykyk.) This book broke my heart, put it back together a little bit, broke it again, and tried to tape the super broken pieces together. I highly recommend this stunning read!

4+ stars rounded up

One of the reasons I love historical fiction is that sometimes non fiction accounts of elements of history are too tragic for me to bear. To experience narratives of little or unknown events through the eyes of fictional characters often humanizes the experience for me, especially when the author does justice to those affected. This is the case in Sadeqa Johnson’s latest novel The House of Eve.

Two young Black women living in two different cities in the 1950s share a drive for academic excellence and personal enrichment under very different circumstances. They each battle overwhelming challenges of racism, colorism, religious bias, economic disparity and insurmountable family dynamics. Filing in the framework of a very sad period of our history had this appreciative reader immersed in their worlds, in a way that only the best historical fiction authors can manage. Perhaps reading the summary of this novel in advance provided too many spoilers and left me wondering when things would happen, so I feel strongly that entering the world of this novel without preconceptions is the way to go. The Author’s Note is not-to-be-missed, and revealed her personal connection to the story which left me stunned. I am very much looking forward to discussing this fantastic story with readers after publication and will be promoting it on my social platforms with great praise.

For readers who enjoyed Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan, Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez and The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Love, Courage and Sacrifice

What a wonderful book of love, courage and sacrifice. Two young women forced to make choices which would change their lives forever. Both girls were from low income homes and were trying to better themselves by attending college. Eleanor's parents had sacrificed and scraped to send her to college. Ruby was in a program to win a four year scholarship.

Eleanor meets William in College and they fall in love. He is studying to be a doctor, she to be a library archivist. When Eleanor falls pregnant William marries her against his parent's wishes. He is from a wealthy family and Eleanor did not fit their lifestyle and was not the girl they had picked out for him. They were married anyway.

Ruby meets Shimmy at the candy store. He is the son of their Jewish landlord. Black girls and Jewish boys are not allowed to be together, but Ruby and Shimmy fall in love. Shimmy's mother is horrified and Ruby is given the option to go to a home for unwed mothers and she will be ensured a full four year scholarship to collage. She must give the baby up for adoption.

These two girls are heartbroken, scared and they both feel so alone. Circumstances will intertwine their lives together in a very unique way.

This story was very good and I enjoyed reading it. The way the author tells the story and portrays the characters in a very realistic way. You can almost feel their pain and their feelings. I have very little knowledge of the homes for unwed mothers except what I have read in books, but they sound like very inhospitable places. I felt so sad for these girls. I also felt sad for Eleanor that she was treated so poorly by her mother in law.

I am glad I read the book and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Sadeqa Johnson for writing such a great story, to Simon and Schuster for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I was extremely excited to get an ARC of The House Of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson and it did not disappoint. Yellow Wife was an all time favorite of mine by the same author.

It is loosely based on the authors family. It tells the story of two black women trying to make their lives better in the late 1940’s, early 1950’s. Ruby and Eleanor are both strong willed, black women who need to balance getting an education, love, money and happiness while deciding which is most important to them. I loved both women and both their stories equally.

The story is very realistic, something that for sure happened to black women during that time. I am hoping there is a sequel to this book and even a movie!

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

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

This was an excellent book and had me hooked from the very beginning. I was so off in how I thought Eleanor and Ruby's lives were going to intersect. This book is about about two young women who lives in different cities and what they are going through a given time. The book starts in 1948. Throughout the book we go through different years with each character and how they are progressing through life. Each of their stories are very interesting.

This book is also full of history I didnt know. I kept looking things up to find out more information about the things I read. I had no idea Frederick Douglas' son founded a beach community, that still exists (though it doesnt seem to be open to outsiders lol no B&B's or anythings which is kind of funny considering WIlliams family) and also Lane Bryant has been around since 1904!. These are just to name a few.


So far this is the 2nd book by this author and I loved both. I loved this one even more than Yellow Wife. Also there are so many possibilities of other characters. If this author were to write other books in this same world I would love to read about Aunt Marie and what her life was like especially during that time period! That would be interesting. Nene was also a mystery. As a character she was just there but there was something about the brief moments she was that made me curious about more. She had to be a young grandmother. Her personality (the little shared) didnt match with how she ended up. She seemed like the type that would have still been doing what she wanted not holed up in a room but I digress. I would also wouldnt even mind a sequel to see what happens after but the story had a satisfying ending.

I would definitely recommend this book. I liked it so much I will probably even buy a hard copy to add to the collection. (less

5 Stars. Thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review an advance release copy of “The House of Eve” by Sadeqa Johnson.

I really enjoyed this well researched work of historical fiction. Sadeqa Johnson does a marvelous job of weaving together the experiences of two young black women as they navigate difficult life circumstances.

“The House of Eve” follows, in alternating chapters, the lives of two young “negro” girls in the 1950’s in Philadelphia and Washington D.C.. Ruby is a talented high school student who aspires to be the first in her family to attend college but comes from a family that makes that dream hard to imagine. Eleanor is a second year student from Ohio who attends Howard University. Her parents have sacrificed a great deal to allow her that opportunity. Both girls work very hard toward their goals.

Both girls find themselves in loving relationships that don’t fit into societal norms and dealing with inconvenient pregnancies. Marriage for Ruby would have meant a move to California. Marriage for Eleanor meant striving for acceptance in a family of affluence that could have passed for white.

Woven into the story are issues of class, race, family relationships, infertility and the experience of girls who were sent to homes for unwed mothers.

I highly recommend this heart warming book for anyone who thrives on learning more about life circumstances and experiences of other people in other times. This would make for excellent book club discussion. Sadeqa Johnson is a talented story teller and I will be going back to read her previous books.

This book was amazing! So captivating! Sadeqa Johnson is a genius at storytelling. I was moved and captivated by every word of this story. I truly did not want it to end. Kudos to Ms. Johnson! Very well written!

After reading and loving YELLOW WIFE by Sadeqa Johnson, I knew I needed to read this one, and I loved it too! Set during the 1950s, this is the story of two young black women, Ruby and Eleanor. Told through alternating POV. Both of them are trying to make their way in a world and time that is full of discrimination, racism and poverty. They both end up pregnant, and this is definitely frowned upon. They now have to navigate the role of motherhood and both their lives take an unexpected path, and in the end, they connect with eachother. I loved reading about both of these driven characters. It was heartbreaking to read about how black women struggled back then. Such a beautiful book.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub, goodreads, and Amazon once it publishes on Feb. 7.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC. Loved this new historical fiction tale set in the early 50’s. The story of Ruby Pearsall and Eleanor Quarles unfolds in alternating chapters. Two young black women trying to get ahead. The women must deal with poverty , racism, forbidden love, Unplanned pregnancy, and motherhood. This is both heartfelt and heartbreaking. I also highly recommend the author’s book The Yellow Wife.

What a beautiful, yet heartbreaking story! This book follows the stories of two young and wonderful African American women…both of whom find themselves pregnant in the days when this was absolutely not acceptable. Their lives will follow such different path, each path full of determination and pain. I completely enjoyed reading this book!

Sadeqa Johnson is officially an auto-read author for me.

Set in 1950s Philadelphia, the House of Eve tells the stories of two characters, Ruby and Eleanor. Despite leading different lives, both women possess immense academic ambition and strive for a better future. When unplanned pregnancies, taboo romances, and complicated family dynamics get in the way, however, Ruby and Eleanor are faced with difficult decisions, and their stories will come together in a powerful way.

I absolutely LOVED The Yellow Wife, so I was beyond excited when Sadeqa Johnson came out of with another book. This book, although historical fiction, also has elements of women's fiction: resilience, themes of motherhood, and the struggles Black women experience surrounding education and opportunity. Additionally, she writes about the privilege of "lighter" Black families, and she addresses the resulting tensions among Black people head on. Finally, the way that she briefly brought in Pheby from the Yellow Wife at the end really highlights the skill Johnson has.

Thank you Atria and Book Club Favorites for the ARC!

Two for two with this author. 5 brilliant stars for Ruby and Eleanor. This author writes characters that stay with me long after turning the last page. I will read anything she writes and be singing its praises all year long.

Absouletly phenomenal.
As someone who has a heart this storyline hits close to, I will say, the writing and the care in which the story is told with feeling and merit is absolutely breathtaking.

I loved Yellow White, but man, Sadeqa, you hit another home run here!

🏡The House of Eve🏡

“Knowing about racism and being abused by its wrath were two different things.”

“I turned my fork over on my plate wondering why it was always my responsibility to worry over what grown men might be thinking.”

Ruby and Eleanor are both young, smart, resilient, and determined Black women in the 1950’s. Told in alternating view points, their lives take unexpected turns and beautifully intersect at the end.

Yellow Wife was an incredible historical fiction book and quickly made me a fan of @sadeqasays! The House of Eve is another beautiful, heartbreaking story that shines a light on the sacrifices Black women were forced to make. Themes of resilience and sacrifice throughout. It reminded me a bit of The Cradles of the Reich with the similar positions the pregnant women were put into. I really loved the nod to The Yellow Wife (I love when authors make connections to their previous books). The ending pleasantly surprised me and I love how it all came together ❤️

The House of Eve is out February 7th and I recommend adding it to your list! Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the ARC!

This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking follow-up to The Yellow Wife. I couldn’t stop reading. I enjoyed the shift between first person for Ruby’s perspective and third for Eleanor’s. The cast of characters as rich and multifaceted. I went in without checking trigger warnings, and as someone who has suffered miscarriages, was grateful for how carefully Johnson handled those scenes without being gratuitous.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The House of Eve is another beautiful book about Black women’s history, this one set in the 1950s. However, with it set in the not-so-distant past, it also focuses on an issue that has once again become relevant in political conversation today: women's reproductive choices. The narrative follows two Black women: one of whom ends up pregnant out of wedlock, potentially jeopardizing her promising future: the other, who wants a child with her husband, but is unable to carry one to term.
It can be hard to make a story with two separate narratives that don’t intersect for most of the book work, but Sadeqa Johnson makes it work by remembering to set up the thematic elements, and to establish what each respective woman needs that the other has. I expected more intersection between them than just a bit at the end, but ultimately respected the choice to keep things ambiguous, simply highlighting the nature of how most traditional closed adoption processes work.
And it also helps that both Ruby and Eleanor are compelling and easy to root for. I wanted Ruby to succeed academically and get the career she wanted, even if it meant making the ultimate sacrifice. And I truly felt for Eleanor, marrying into an upper crust world and struggling to belong, feeling a child would provide that, and then not being able to have a child.
This is a beautiful book highlighting elements of history that remain relevant today. If you’re interested in Black or women’s history, I recommend picking this one up!

I was so excited to read the newest title from the author of Yellow Wife and The House of Eve didn’t disappoint. Set in the 1950s in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C, main characters Ruby and Eleanor are women with goals and struggles with their families and careers.

Ruby could be the first woman in her family to attend college but her first love with a white, Jewish boy could derail her plans. Eleanor has moved to Washington for a fresh start when she meets and falls in love at Howard University. William Pride is from a different class of elite, rich, black families and Eleanor is desperate to be accepted.

Sadeqa Johnson’s historical writing will keep the reader engaged from the beginning. The women’s journeys were inspired by events that happened in the author’s life. The female characters are smart, relatable and likable. You will be rooting for these women’s happiness. The House of Eve is a coming of age story, a reflection of 1950s America and a story about motherhood. Told with compassion and intelligence, this one shouldn’t be missed!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this ARC before its release.

When I saw that NetGalley had The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson the author of the Yellow Wife (which I loved) I immediately requested it. I love her style of writing, it immediately grabs my attention. This story takes place in the 1950'sand it is about 2 black girls & what they go through in order to survive in a "white world". Both girls fall in love and go through a lot with the boys they love. Ruby falls in love with a Jewish boy & Eleanor falls in love with a black boy the is more light skin but of high society. Ruby gets pregnant and her boyfriends mom send her to a home for unwed moms. Eleanor gets pregnant and her & her boyfriend plan the wedding but she ends up having a miscarriage, they still get married. Ruby and Eleanor go through a lot, I highly recommend reading this book.