The best part about historical fiction books is learning about a time period or group of people that you wouldn’t have otherwise. “The House of Eve” by Sadeqa Johnson follows two women in the late 194os: Ruby, a Black teenager who falls in love with a white boy, and Eleanor, a Black college student who falls in love with a man who’s way above her in stature. As much as I was immersed in this story, there were a few elements that didn’t work for me.

First off, Ruby’s story is told in first person, and Eleanor’s is in third person. This led to me feeling way more connected to Ruby’s story, but I also just felt kind of distracted every time I started a new chapter because I felt like I had to get used to that transition in perspective. Once I got to the end of the book, I realized that I would have liked it better if only Ruby’s POV had been included. I think the story would have felt less predictable that way, since the reader wouldn’t have been anticipating how the characters’ lives would connect.

There were still many aspects of this book that I appreciated. The story didn’t really drag in any parts, and I gained a new insight into the colorism and classism that was so present in the Black community at that time in history. I would have liked if not all the Jewish characters were villains, but I appreciate that Johnson was showing how prevalent racism was, even in neighborhoods where Jews and Blacks were living side by side.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or who is interested in the many ways that pregnancy, infertility, and motherhood can affect women (especially pertaining to a group of women whose rights and feelings were not valued).

4 stars

*Free copy provided by Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review*