Welcome to Litsy!

3-23-25: My 20th finished book of 2025! 1950. Ruby, a high school sophomore, is in a program in Philadelphia that could garner her a 4 year scholarship to college. Eleanor, attending Howard University, is studying to be an archivist. Both fall in love with men they probably shouldn‘t. Their paths will cross in ways they can‘t imagine. The time period is fraught with racism and classism but these women try their best to prevail. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣0️⃣

This is my book clubs February read. I‘m ahead of the game. I really like this book. I also liked “the yellow wife” by the same author. The subject matter made me feel so sad for these women. That made the characters both relatable and likable. I gave this book 5 stars and I highly recommend it.

I enjoyed listening to both perspectives from the two protagonists who you root for the whole time. A lot of emotions which made me very invested.

I finished this book in two days. I instantly was immersed in Ruby and Eleanor‘s lives and couldn‘t wait to find out how it all ended. This book dives into the history of black women in the late 1940s with a story that instantly reels you in as both girls fall in love with boys they are not good enough for. It‘s a heartbreaking story that I will remember for a long time.

I listened to this one over audio. I liked the book & can see why it‘s been so popular. It‘s an engaging story about two different Black women in the 1940s facing different difficult circumstances. As with many inequities in the US how women are treated racism, education and money all play a part. #bookspin

This historical fiction read wasn't a slam-dunk for me, but I did appreciate the insight into the colorism and classism present during the late 1940s. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/02/20/the-house-of-eve-book-review/

#NEWYEARNEWBOOKS
@Eggs
@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks
@LitsyEvents
#LitsyEvents

PROMPT: FACE/BODY ON THE COVER

We meet Ruby who is trying to break out of the cycle her mother has been in her entire life and is still in.  

We meet Eleanor who is at Howard University studying library science and works in the library.

Beautiful, descriptive writing and a story line that completely captures your interest.

http://tinyurl.com/ymsmmkkx

I picked this book up at the library knowing nothing about it, and I ended up loving it. I could not put it down. It follows the stories of Ruby and Eleanor, and eventually how their lives come to intersect with one another. I loved the characters and the solution did a great job of making me want to keep reading to see how everything would turn out.

Book 4 off my #AuldLangSpine list from @MallenNC . A historical fiction set in 1948 with dual storylines for Ruby and Eleanor, whose lives become intertwined by pregnancy. I sympathized with both characters and the book was well written, but I thought it was fairly predictable and the ending felt rushed. Still, a decent read.

One of my favorite books of last year! #NewYearNewBooks #Luggagecvr @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#12booksof2023 June @Andrew65

I really enjoyed this book. Makes you realize how hard it was for young women in the fifties.

Loved it!

Ever snag a large print book because the wait is too long otherwise?

Perfect lazy Saturday morning. Really enjoyed this split narrative story of two ambitious young black women in the late 40s and the exploration of adoption houses in the US. A really strong read up until the final few chapters which felt a bit rushed and didn‘t do either Ruby or Eleanor‘s story what I think they deserved

Is there ever a lot of hype about this book! It‘s deserving as it‘s very well-written and engaging. But as other reviewers have mentioned , it‘s somewhat predictable and aspects of the ending were a little too pat for me. This novel deals with some important issues and I‘m glad I read it. Rating: 3.5/5⭐️ It reminded me a lot of another novel that I read last year and which I highly recommend, “Looking for Jane.”
(August 14, 2023)

THE HOUSE OF EVE has beautiful, descriptive writing and a story line that completely captures your interest.

You will love both Ruby and Eleanor and feel their emotions, triumphs, and disappointments.

You won‘t want to put the book down. 5/5

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/dy6dbdc8

@sadeqasays
@simonandschuster

FULL REVIEW WILL BE ON 8/11

DO NOT MISS READING THIS BOOK. AN AMAZING READ!!

HISTORICAL FICTION - ROMANCE

THE HOUSE OF EVE has beautiful, descriptive writing and a story line that completely captures your interest.

You will love both main characters, Ruby and Eleanor, and feel their emotions, triumphs, and disappointments.

You won‘t want to put the book down.P5/5

Thank you @tlcbooktours - PUBLICATION DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2023

@sadeqasays

I really enjoyed this story between two women from@different backgrounds going through two different, but similar issues, with intertwining stories. And I love how it came together at the end.

#UnpopularOpinion This just felt very predictable although I did appreciate all the compelling content the author researched and included in this historical fiction novel. Two young women,, both African American, both intelligent, hardworking and determined- one college bound one already in college find their lives unknowingly linked. I think having just read and LOVED another HF ( Lady Tan) this one fell short. #BookSpin

This book reminds me why I like historical fiction so much. Two black women find themselves in two different scenarios. One cannot get pregnant and the other is pregnant but doesn't want to be. It explores how black woman/families handled both of these types of scenarios in the 1950s.

I loved this so much! #aardvark

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚
#boleybooks #TheHouseOfEve #sadequajohnson #bookbeast #bookjoy #bookbuds #bookchat
What are you reading? 😊

My #bookspin and #doublespin picks. Lots of houses this month I guess. Lol @TheAromaofBooks

Beautiful story and resilient African America female protagonists. Such a real and endearing story about stark truths and love. Every woman should read this.

Historical fiction set in the late 1940s where two young black women‘s lives intersect. One is a Howard Univ student who marries an affluent soon to be doctor. She never feels accepted by his well-to-do family and is further crushed when she can‘t bear a child. The other a teen in a gifted program that fall for a Jewish boy and finds herself pregnant. Her story is particularly horrific…. But everything just kind of fell apart for me at the end.

Boring. Stereotypical characters and predictable storylines. I‘m so dis.

I had heard great things about this author but hadn‘t read her before. This was a great introduction to her. There are two stories in the book that of course come together. It was good to read historical fiction set in the U.S. about topics that are still relevant.

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.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. It tells a story of two Black women in the 50s, the choices they try to make, the choices made for them—and ultimately, how their lives intersect. It is once again a reminder of how important bodily autonomy is, the role of reproductive justice.

Shown: Florence Critton Home in SC, founded 1897. It saddens me that these places still exist.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a moving tale of two Black women in the 50s - their strength, ambition, love, and difficult decisions. I thought Ruby and Eleanor‘s stories were equally compelling and the bittersweet way their lives intersected was beautifully told. The epilogue was perfection. The audiobook narration was also wonderful! 🎧 #reesesbookclub

3.5 good book but a bit underwhelmed! Yellow wife was better!

This is the February Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, so I just started reading it

Read for book tour review last week. I love good historical fiction that gives me different perspectives & this one certainly did. About two strong young black women from different backgrounds in the 1950s & the difficult choices they were forced to make. I‘ve read multiple books on unplanned pregnancy in the era but none from a black perspective. Told from both points of view, one in first person & one in third, it had me engrossed. While a bit⬇️

I was unsure whether to try this or not, but I‘m glad I did. It follows 2 women from 1948 forward a few years as each strives to overcome racism and societal expectations. It‘s themes work well, reflecting our current era and our expectations/control of women by society. Plus, it has some absolutely fabulous lines.

An emotional look at the story of two very different Black women bound by a secret. Johnson does a beautiful job of fictionalizing her grandmother‘s origin story.

Ruby is trying desperately to better herself and escape her neighborhood, but a chance meeting with a Jewish boy may upend her plans. Eleanor is a student at Howard when she falls for a medical student from an upper class family. Despite their love, she has trouble entering his world.

“This is my first book by this author. I do own a copy of THE YELLOW WIFE and intend to read it when I get a break.
This book is like none I have ever read. It's about two young women, one in high school and one in college, who are both black and both fighting for what they want out of life. To rise above their stations in life. To make something out of their lives. To be proud black women.“

Full review: https://tinyurl.com/42uk6av7

This story is told from dual perspectives by two women in the 1950s. Ruby is in Philadelphia where she is working to be the first person in her family to graduate from college. Eleanor lives in Washington DC where she‘s training to be a library archivist. Both women fall in love before they finish their goals and are looking for redemption. This bittersweet tale intertwines race, social status, family, and love in one dramatic and riveting novel.

I started this while visiting Philly last week, and it was the perfect read while I was there! Started off slowly, but I quickly got sucked into the dual storyline. I ended up making a playlist of all the different songs referenced and even took a trip to the old Wanamaker‘s store (now Macy‘s) that was mentioned in the book. How could a Mannequin fan not do that? These things made the story come alive for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I think I felt all the emotions possible reading this. Mostly anger. It's a powerful story that needs to be told and that the author tells so well.

This was somewhat predictable, yet interesting read touching on racism, colorism, how education is critical and choices are limited for those without a boost by generational wealth. (There‘s an interesting twist on generational wealth here.) Those Catholic homes for unwed mothers - no excuses - nuns knew better.

Today was nothing short of amazing as the Book Pearls jump started the year with their first author signing of 2023 @rvabookbar. @sadeqasays is a New York Times Bestseller and proud is an understatement. Yellow Wife tugged at our soul and left us grappling with a reality that the world wants to erase. The House of Eve has shown up at our doorstep and walked right up to the front door to say hello. Finally meeting a IG friend was more than amazing

Weekend reading

Wow. Just a really well-researched and honest look into the realities of life for different classes of black Americans in the 1950's.

My Aardvark box arrived today. I used up my two extra credits from previous months and then cancelled. I might consider rejoining if they start giving the option to skip a month and not be charged, like Book of the Month.

This story about two young black women in early 1950's America is about ambition, love, racism, pregnancy, abortion and adoption and is a wonderful read. Johnson did a great job of creating women who had ambition beyond their families circumstances and how easy life can get in the way. She also captured the difficulties of being female at that time in history. I also loved her novel “Yellow Wife“ and look forward to more by this author. 4.5!

Ok so I filled both my #Aardvark and BOTM boxes this month. It's been a stressful few weeks and there are too many good options. Sue me 😂

Word on the street is that this will be an #Aardvark pick in the near future! Pub date is Feb 7, so if not in Feb than March 👏🏽