The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson

Pub date: February 7th Today!!!
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

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

“Every single day we had to fight for food, for carfare. And this trip downtown had showed me that we even had to fight for what should have been free: our dignity.”

The House of Eve is a story about two black women- Ruby and Eleanor, both struggling to get an education, and both let down by society and even at times their own family members. It deals with themes of poverty, racism and discrimination, romance, pregnancy, miscarriage and adoption. It moves back and forth between both storylines that eventually begin to intertwine. It was a beautiful and heartbreaking story that comes full circle in the end. I highly recommend it!! Thank you to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the advanced ecopy!

Book: The House of Eve
Author: Sadeqa Johnson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pub Date: February 7, 2023

I loved both of these women. I loved the gracefulness of Eleanor and the roughness of Ruby. We know this is not my kind of book but I wanted to try and read all of Reece’s Book Club books. It really was a great story and very well told. The character development was great but she didn’t bog you down with too much information. The story was told from alternating POV’s which was perfect to understand both of these women. When Ruby gave birth to Grace I cried while she sang You Are My Sunshine. I always sang that when mine was little. The ending couldn’t have been any better. This story was beautifully told and came full circle in the end.

Thank you Simon Schuster and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is February 7, 2023.

Excellent! I can not say enough good things about this book! These characters and their stories became part of me and I don’t think I will ever forget them.

Ruby is a girl with a sad story from a poor family who has an opportunity to go to college through a special program in the Philadelphia schools. Her pregnancy could derail her entire future. Eleanor grew up in a shotgun house, but is now married to a light-skinned Black man from a well-to-do DC family and her body does not seem able to sustain a pregnancy. You can probably see where their stories come together, but the devil is in the details here and it’s a powerful story, inspired by the author’s grandmother’s story.

Trigger warnings: physical, sexual and emotional abuse; miscarriage; unwanted pregnancy

I already checked one of the author’s other books, The Yellow Wife, out of the library and am hoping to get to it next. I loved the writing, the characters, the story and I learned so much.

House of Eve explores culture, class and the sometimes heartbreaking complications of motherhood within the contrasting worlds of Black families in Washington DC and Philadelphia in the late 1940s and early 50s. Eleanor is the first of her family to go to college but she comes from a loving, middle class family determined to push her upward. It isn’t until she arrives at Howard University that she realizes there is a whole other Black world (called Negro in this novel in deference to the polite term of the time) of light-skinned, wealthy professionals who are less than pleased when their medical student son William brings Eleanor home. In contrast, fifteen-year-old Ruby has one shot out of the poverty that has been her family’s permanent birthright, a scholarship to college, and when she falls for the son of their white Jewish landlord the consequences upend her life. Told in chapters alternating between Eleanor and Ruby, we follow both women as Ruby tries to fight her way out of her world and Eleanor to find her place in William’s. The author’s choice to cast Eleanor’s voice in close third person and Ruby’s in first gives Ruby’s chapters a physicality and grittiness that contrast with Eleanor’s more interior upheavals. At the center, almost from the beginning, is the question of motherhood. Eleanor and Ruby and most of the women surrounding them wrestle in one way or another with what it means to be a mother, to raise a child, abandon a child, to long for a child you can’t have, to raise someone else’s. The answers they come to are fraught, even at the end, with potential anguish as like every other mother in the novel, they do the best they can with what they have.

Amanda Cockrell

I was first introduced to Sadeqa Johnson after reading Yellow Wife and she's easily become one of my favorite storytellers ever since. As a reader, I deeply appreciate the author's notes she includes at the end of her books to give the reader context for the inspiration of each story.

Johnson writes that The House of Eve was inspired by the story of her late grandmother who became pregnant with her mother at the age of fourteen. As a result of a lack of options Johnson's mother was brought up to believe that her grandmother was her mother and she did not know her who her mother was until she was in the third grade. These themes of motherhood, womanhood, self-actualization, race, and family are all embedded into the ways this novel amplifies the stories of Black women and our struggles in the 1950s to the present day.

The House of Eve tells the two intersecting stories of Eleanor and Ruby. Ruby is on track to become the first in her family to attend college before an interracial love affair changes her course. Eleanor is an ambitious librarian with dreams of her own and when she and William Pride fall in love she is forced to navigate the judgements, expectations, and hostility from others that comes with dating one of the most wealthy members of a Black elite family in the Washington, D.C. community.

At the tail end of the story, Ruby and Eleanor end up saving each others lives though they never actually meet. What others would deem their failures or mistakes were the very things that ended up clarifying who they are and what they want out of life in the long run. This is a beautiful story of redemption in many ways and the power of family and community towards helping us navigate troubled waters. I cannot stop thinking about Ruby's Aunt Marie- a give it to your straight but always have your back type of auntie. The character development is so lush and is most definitely my favorite part of this story!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!

5 Star👏👏 This book was not what I expected from reading the synopsis. It is so much more. The two main characters Ruby and Elenor find themselves searching for happiness and finding many obstacles along the way. I will say that the occupants of the House of Eve touched me deeply. This is a book that I will not easily forget. The author has gained a fan and I look forward to more from her. I highly recommend reading this book.

****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

This book explores wealthy black society in DC and how it shapes many people’s lives. It is told in 2 POV and how they end up colliding. Eleanor and Ruby are strong women with different circumstances but both will deal with barriers they didn’t expect.

I really liked the ending and definitely read the authors note.

Wow❣️ I really enjoyed this book and learned new history about infertility, adoption, and the shame most African American women had to endure if an unexpected pregnancy occurred. The women alone were humiliated and had to live with the cohesion and manipulation to give a child up for adoption. This was set in the late 1940’s, so was at a time when Black and White People often were not allowed to marry even if they wanted to.

This story takes place in 1948 and explores the story of Ruby, who longs to be the first woman in her family to go to college and become a doctor. This may turn out to be much more difficult then she planned when she meets a young Jewish boy and their relationship develops. She thinks she should pull away since it is impossible for a Black Girl and a White Boy to be together. If anything goes wrong, she will be the one to bear the consequences and is determined to find a way out of the poverty and neglect she has lived with when her own mother got pregnant as a young teenager. I found her story quite compelling.

Then there is the story of Eleanor, who is going to Howard University. However, life is not as she expects. Her mother has spent years saving for her to have this opportunity, so she does not come from the privilege many of her classmates take for granted. Eleanor has to confront prejudice from fellow students and their families since the shade of your black skin matters a lot. So, she is surprised when William is interested in her. Although he is the love of her life and plans on becoming a doctor, this still does not ease much pain that is to come.

So, both Ruby and Eleanor experience different types of shame and silencing.

Certain subjects just weren’t talked about in the late 1940’s. Topics I did not know much about were explored and I found this compelling. Both Ruby and Eleanor are very bright women, yet even the smallest slip up can derail their ambitions.

The biggest complaint I had with this story was it explored many serious topics, yet I found the ending wrapped up too neatly. The experiences both Ruby and Eleanor went through I think would have caused much more grief and hardship. Some of the characters too neatly changed and fell into place for me just to make for an easy ending. I think the characters feelings and decisions were taken too lightly.

Overall, though I find Sadeqa Johnson to be an excellent storyteller and enjoyed learning about events I had no idea occurred at that time period. I was engrossed in the book and read it quickly. I just wish the book explored hard topics with a bit more depth.

Thank you NetGalley, Sadeqa Johnson, and Simon & Schuster for this book. I always leave reviews of books I read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the eARC of this book. All opinions are mine.

I loved The Yellow Wife, but I especially loved Sadeqa Johnson's writing style. She can TELL a story! So when I saw that she had a new book coming out I immediately requested it! I was not disappointed.

The House Of Eve is the story of two young black women in the 1950's Ruby is in high school in Philadelphia has dreams of going to college to become an Opthalmologist, and She would be the first in her family to go to college. She has a great opportunity to do so, but Shimmy, a Jewish boy, interrupts those plans and Ruby finds herself in love with a boy she knows is going to be nothing but trouble. But her heart won't let her stay away. Eleanor is in college, is working in the library and has dreams of becoming an archivist. She meets William in the library. William is from an elite black family and even though William is black, he is light skinned and Eleanor knows she will not fit in.

I learned a lot while reading this book. I always do when I read a book by Sadeqa Johnson. I loved each of the girls stories and I loved how strong they were! I believe neither know how strong they were until they absolutely had to be and then they roared! This story was so hard to read at times, brutally so, but the author manages to tell a great story about an awful time in both girls life. 4⭐

I read this book in one sitting. Ruby and Eleanor are two young black girls growing up in the 1940s and 1950s. They end up in similar situations with completely different circumstances. What follows is an amazing story of two strong young women making the best of the paths their lives are taking. I rooted for both of these amazing girls/women the entire book. Five gigantic stars for this amazing read!!!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this fantastic book!!!

Sadeqa Johnson knows how to craft a story that makes you feel for the characters. I enjoyed the different storylines between Ruby and Eleanor and was eager to see what would happen. I went into this book without knowing much and I feel like that’s the best way! It was a little slow to build and get into the story but once part 2 started I was really immersed. I think the last few chapters were my favorite!

3.5 stars
Set in the late 1940s in Philadelphia and DC, this story follows Ruby and Eleanor in alternating POVs. Each woman faces challenges from within and without as they attempt to create better lives for themselves while dealing with the issues of class and race in the US. It’s a moving character driven tale. I’m not sure how to fully comment without spoilers. These two separate stories merge together in a very powerful and emotional way. You’ll be left thinking about the lives of girls and women, especially black girls and women, that can be both a product of their time as well as transcending that time long after you’re finished reading.
*Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advance audiobook copy for review.

In a Nutshell: Works in bits and pieces but I wanted far more. Quite predictable. Covers important themes and certain elements of African-American history that I wasn’t aware of.

Story Synopsis:
1948. Philadelphia. Fifteen year old Ruby, the illegitimate child of a self-obsessed single mom and raised by her grandmother, dreams of going to optometry college. However, when she meets a white Jewish boy, her future threatens to spill away from her grasp. Can Ruby take a chance at forbidden love while retaining her ambitions?
1948, Washington. Eleanor has joined Howard College with great dreams. After all, her working class parents have slogged to send their only daughter for further studies. When she meets the rich and handsome William Pride, she falls for him despite the huge difference in their status. But to become the wife of the wealthy Mr. Pride while coming from a poor family isn’t going to be a cakewalk. What will Eleanor need to do to fit in?
How the lives of Ruby and Eleanor are interlinked is for you to find out by reading the book.
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Ruby and the third person perspective of Eleanor, with the two perspectives presented in alternating chapters.

PSA: The blurb reveals too much. (Yet again!)

Where the book worked for me:
😍 It is quite fast paced. The writing provides all necessarily details without bogging you down with frivolous details.
😍 Ruby’s track is much more interesting and cohesive than Eleanor’s. I loved the author’s choice of ending for Ruby.
😍 The story is divided in multiple sections, with each section dealing with a specific phase and event in the lives of the two girls. I liked this compartmentalisation.
😍 I’ve never read any book that details the lifestyle of the wealthy Blacks of the 1940s. Their classist thinking, their preference for ‘white’ or ‘light’ skinned people from among their own race, and their wannabe-white attitude is interesting to read.
😍 Without going into spoilers, all I can say is that the place where Ruby lands in the third section is a shameful part of American as well as Christian history. While the writing goes down the stereotypical part in its portrayal, milking every negative and ignoring any positive, it is still worth reading.
😍 The author’s note at the end adds the right tone of authenticity to the content.

Where the book could have worked better for me:
😐 Almost every character except for Ruby and Eleanor are clichéd. There are no surprises from any character.
😐 The link between the two stories can be spotted a mile away, or rather, at least 50% before they actually intertwine.
😐 Eleanor’s story started off well, but her track with William soon becomes irritating, what with her thoughts about him going back and forth between trust and doubt. It becomes too repetitive after a while.
😐 There are no surprises in the story except at the very end. Every part is predictable.
😐 Surprisingly for such an intense topic, the writing feels almost lightweight. Except in the above-mentioned third section, emotions aren’t explored consistently. The first half feels especially superficial.
😐 Though the writing is quick, the plot development is clunky in the first half. There’s a greater stress to the romantic relationships than to the social struggles.

I haven’t yet read the author’s most popular book ‘Yellow Wife’, so I can’t make a comparison. But based on what I had heard about that novel, I had expected this to create a far greater impact on my mind. I still can’t pinpoint what exactly about the writing left me like a bystander, but I couldn’t find myself gripped by the story or the characters at any point. I liked it enough, but other than Ruby, no one will make a mark.

Recommended to historical fiction lovers who want to read about a not-so-common angle of African-American history.

3.5 stars, rounding up for the theme.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the DRC of “The House of Eve”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Sadeqa Johnson did it again, in her new book The House of Eve! Ruby Pearsall 15 year old has plans to be the first in her family to attend college. She never anticipated having to deal with grown-up problems, starting with a mother who chose current boyfriends over adequately raising her, and facing the reality that the color of her beautiful skin in the 1950s would interfere with her relationships and change the course of her life.

Eleanor Quarles a Howard University student, hailing from Ohio bringing her smartness and secrets with her, she meets William Pride from one of DC’s elite Black families.

Divergent paths that somehow intersect, collide and produce problems that force both to make hasty decisions. These decisions leave legacies of lies that will need to remain hidden. These decisions leave fractured relationships that are irreparable. This is a must read for those who love Women’s fiction or Historical fiction!

**the epilogue thoughhhh** come thru sequel! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Sadeqa Johnson for the privilege of an ARC for my honest review!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. i went into this book blind and note a huge fan of historical fiction but the author has changed my perspective. The joys, hopes and emotions send you on a ride you didn’t know you needed.

I am a fan of Sadeqa Johnson having read her debut, Yellow Wife and loving it. In her follow up novel she offers an important look at a point in time where 2 young black women have unplanned pregnancies pre- Roe V. Wade.

From the blurb: "1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.

Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his par­ents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done."

While their situations may be different, both these women have dreams and are disappointed by what life throws their way. Both face decisions of class, shame, prejudice, and forbidden love. My heart went out to these young women. House of Eve takes you through loss, love, hope, courage, discrimination, adoption and more. And Johnson has given us 2 women we cant help but love and want the best for.

Read the book and then stay for the author's note at the end. That's where you will learn Johnson's personal story of how her grandmother became pregnant with her mother when she was only 14 years old. I find it fascinating when a story resonants with the times and then you discover the author has a direct link to the story shes telling. It makes it all ring so very true!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Sadeqa Johnson for an opportunity to be transported back in time. Sadeqa Johnson is a master of real books, with real characters living real lives - ones you just feel so close to! I am secretly hoping theres a book #2 for these characters.

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson had me hooked from the very beginning and I couldn't wait to really enjoy the story. This story is told from altering perspectives and it's set in Philadelphia in the 1950's. I might suggest this book to my bookclub because you will think about this story long after reading the book plus it will lead to some great conversations. I highly recommend this to anyone.

The story of both Ruby and Eleanor will stick with me for a very long time. These are characters that you can't stop thinking about. You immediately feel immersed in their stories of trying to find their way while also trying to fit certain society norms. This is one of my new favorite historical fiction novels and I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is a book that drew me in right from the start and had me coming back for more whenever possible. It is a story told in alternating chapters by the two main characters, Ruby Pearsall and Eleanor Quarles. The settings are Philadelphia and Washington DC in the 1950s. Both young ladies come from humble backgrounds, one quite a bit more than the other; they both yearn for an education and love. This is a story that will permeate your heart and have you thinking about it long after you finish reading. I can't say much more without giving things away, so I recommend adding it to your TBR list and reading it sooner rather than later. My book club will be reading this book in a couple of months and I can't wait to discuss it with everyone!

Fantastic!! Sadeqa has done it again! This novel was absolutely captivating and I could not put it down.