Ruby aspires to be the first in her family to attend college and climb out of poverty. She spends her days studying, taking care of her grandmother, and painting, until she meets a boy. Falling fast, Ruby must decide her fate quickly. 

 

Eleanor falls for William, an affluent, medical student, as they both attend Howard University. To Eleanor’s delight—and everyone else’s surprise—William falls for her too. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage, right? 

 

Historical fiction often brings to light some of the darkest parts of history and The House of Eve is no different. Laced within its pages, we glimpse the racism, hardships women faced (often on their own), societal expectations, and prejudice of the 1950s. Despite the struggles and sacrifices that are forced onto both women, the story hones in on the resilience both characters display. Class/poverty was a huge focus, especially when it comes to reproductive issues, slamming me with deja vu to the current political landscape (don’t get me started on repro rights being political). This was a beautiful albeit emotional read.