The House of Eve
Fiction
Simon & Schuster
February 7, 2023
Advance Reader Copy
384
Free from publisher
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. With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.
My review:
This author is adept at taking a piece of history and framing a novel around it. I very much enjoyed her look at slavery in The Yellow Wife, and this book takes on the institutions (let's call it like it was) that existed for wayward girls faced with pregnancy back in the mid 20th century. The book is told from two women's perspectives. Both Ruby and Eleanor are young black women looking to better themselves through education when unplanned pregnancies leave both in a bind. The aftermath for each woman turns out very differently, but the thread of motherhood runs deep within the plot. The eye opening look at the homes that young girls go to while waiting out their pregnancies shines a grave light on the adoption policies of the 1940's and 50's. Also highlighted is the taboo around adoption itself, and why so many people of my generation grow up never knowing they have been adopted! The pacing in this novel is well done, and the characters very well portrayed. My one tiny complaint would be that I never really connected with either character (particularly Eleanor, who was whiny at times). You suspect fairly early on how Ruby and Eleanor's stories will intersect, but you would only be partly right. The ending was very satisfying (although pretty implausible), and I would love to see a sequel.
This is a well written book exploring not only the theme of motherhood, but also race, class, and education. I'm excited to see what this author tackles next!
