Usually, historical fiction doesn’t tickle my fancy. I love history and I love books but the characters in this genre of novels fall flat for me and, despite being historically accurate, I find the language puts me off as I struggle to connect with the story when the language is used like that.
Stacey Halls, however, manages to write accurate historical fiction all while using contemporary language that fit’s within the natural dialect of the characters. This is a big plus for me.
Usually, Halls novels focus on one central character and their story, but the mix of different perspectives, backgrounds, and class is an engaging way to see how the world treats these women and how different their situations are. Especially since she shows the juxtaposition of the women in the cottage and the high society heiress Angela Burdett-Coutts. It’s really refreshing to see especially since Angela genuinely cares about these women like they are all her little sisters.
If I had to give any criticism it would be having more of a backstory on one of the young women Martha. She is one of the only women who is well educated and not come from prison but from a Magdalen laundry. I know it’s implied what the story behind that was, but I would have liked a bit more. I also didn’t really understand why Richard Dunn stalked Angela for over a decade (this isn’t a spoiler by the way they tell you at the start!).

I loved Stacey Hall’s “The Familiars”, not such a fan of her other books (I read all of them hoping for the familiar vibes of “The Familiars, excuse the pun, none of them lived up to my expectations). I was prepared to be disappointed but “The Household” was better than I expected. There is no doubt Stacey has a way with language and a talent of a great storyteller. Finally she once again finds an interesting story to tell – a story of a home for unfortunate (read “fallen”) women based on a real place set up by Charles Dickens (who also features in the book). I only wish the book was longer so all the multiple story lines were examined in depth. All in all – a very good book. Enjoyed!

When I heard about this book being released, I was beyond excited! I'd waited (quite impatiently) and it had a great deal to live up to after I had enjoyed the previous books by Stacey halls so much.
I was delighted to find I absolutely adored this just as much as the previous books.
Being launched into dickensian London was atmospheric and enlightening. I love how this author really makes the past come alive.
Urania House was inspired, a pet project by the rich, to rehabilitate young women in trouble. It made the divides of the time centre stage, but also threw you into a confronting and heart string pulling story, of women supporting women. I loved how friendships and relationships were formed, regardless of class, past and circumstances.
I finished this book reluctantly, knowing that books this spellbinding, are a rare treat. I am waiting (impatiently) for the magic this author conjures up next!

I do like a historic drama and was intrigued by the Dickens being part of the characters within the book. It is hard to imagine how women were disregarded as members of society and the concept of a woman having her own means and being able to live as she wishes and spend the money as she wished must have been unusual and unseemly.

The difference between the have and have nots in the book are a theme along with how being 'given' an opportunity might not always be welcomed. A harsh existence and an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalleyUK and the publisher (Bonnier Books Uk, Manilla Press) for an eARC of The Household in return for an honest review.

The Household is set in Dickensian London where a rich heiress, along with Dickens and other beneficiaries set up a rural cottage household, a place for wayward young women to have a second chance at life.

When I heard the synopsis of this book I was keen to read it, I have read two other books by Stacey Halls, The Familiars (okay), and The Foundlings (I really enjoyed). I was engrossed with the setting of an older London, and intrigued by the premise of the rich helping the poor in a pragmatic endeavour. The first 50 pages with the introduction of the women was promising, but as the story progressed I didn't feel attached to any of the characters; there were far too many with not enough character development of any. The plot, although I overall enjoyed, lacked some structure. I felt that the ending was predictable, with far too many pages remaining; although the story was finished quite nicely.

Overall I am glad that I have read The Household, feeling that it offered a diversity to my reading, and the plot line was somewhat enjoyable. I look forward to what Stacey Halls has to offer in the future.

A 2.5 star rating rounded up to 3 stars for Goodreads.

This was a brilliant book and I really enjoyed it.

The premise is good and, in a way, timeless - rich people thinking they understand the lives of poorer people & that they can ‘save’ them if they throw money at it & try to make them conform to their own ideals. The main characters are all distinct, interesting & have their own story arc. This helps build the plot well. The prose is well written, as always.

If I had one comment it would be around the character of Dickens, yes Charles Dickens makes an appearance (though he’s only really referenced in passing). He makes a lot of visits and notes on the girls in the cottage. I can’t help but feel this sets up a sequel with him as the main character. His appearance didn’t take anything away but I felt a bit more could be done.

Anyway, this was yet another great book from Stacey Halls. Read it. :)

Thanks to the author, publishers & NetGalley for access to this arc in return for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6053528988

Enjoyable Dickensian novel which is definitely head and shoulders above your average historical fiction, but didn't quite make it to four stars for me. Centered on the lives of a handful of 'fallen women' being rehabilitated in Urania Cottage, a charitable institution set up by Charles Dickens, the main characters are all interesting and well drawn and the plot keeps the page turning with lots of twists and turns (sometimes to the point of stretching credibility). I can't quite put my finger on what held it back for me but probably a lack of depth and nuance in addressing the social issues that a book like this inevitably has to cover, and a propensity to tie everything up with a nice neat 'happy ever after' bow at the end.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I love Stacey Halls' books and The Household was fabulous. I was gripped by the characters' struggles as they tried to live their lives in Victorian England. Rich or poor, these women were so constrained by their circumstances yet the strong relationships they developed between them were often the only thing keeping them going. Strong friendships help them triumph over despondency. I want to find out more about some of the real people in this story, and more about Urania House. A truly wonderful read.

Stacey Halls is a favourite author of mine and "The Household" is an excellent addition to her growing catalogue. I was unaware of Urania Cottage social experiment and the famous names of Charles Dickens and Angela Burdett-Coutts who were behind it. The main stars were the girls that occupied the house and their stories of how they got there and what they did afterwards. A touching story about giving girls a second chance.

Another winner from Stacey Halls !
Urania Cottage is a project helping "fallen" women get back into society and giving them a chance at a new life abroad .
Loved it !

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

I found this so interesting that I was compelled to go and look up how much of this story was true after reading it and to learn the historical basis for the book. The Household centres around Urania Cottage, a home for fallen women (criminals and prostitutes) set up by Charles Dickens to educate them, provide them a real home and prepare them to emigrate where they could start a new life.

The book has many characters but we primarily focus on two of the residents Martha and Josephine, the woman in charge of the house and the wealthy woman funding the endeavour. Charles Dickens is frequently mentioned but he’s not a character we follow. Martha is looking for her sister who has disappeared but is restricted in what she can do. Josephine wishes to pursue a romance and is stifled by the house. We also have a fascinating plot line with our wealthy benefactor miss Coutts and her terrifying, delusional and dangerous stalker.

I found this book fascinating. The writing is excellent, it’s engrossing. There’s multiple characters but we still have distinct voices and desires for all of them. The setting of Urania Cottage is described so vividly. The social themes one may associate with Charles Dickens gently interwoven through the girls’ stories. His intense interviews and capturing of their tales suggesting an inspiration for his work.

A wonderful historical novel. I would recommend and read this again.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley.

Rating- 4.5 stars
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK and the author for letting me have an E-ARC of this book and allowing me to give my honest review of this book.

I honestly love the author’s work and when I saw this advertised on NetGalley I knew I needed to request this book. I honestly feel so honoured that I was able to get an ARC of this book. As with any of the books that the author has written, the author did not disappoint with this book. I think this book is honestly her best book yet.

The Household is a novel that follows Urania Cottage, a cottage that has been set up for women who have fallen on hard times. The cottage is set up to give these women a second chance at life- a chance to be able to become part of society. But how badly do women want a second chance? The cottage is based on a real place that was set up by Charles Dickens that was benefacted by Angela-Burdett-Coutts. This novel is historically accurate and has real historical figures and events.

In this book, you get to see many different points of views throughout. You get to see a lot of views and thoughts from the girls who live there who all have different problems and issues. You also get to see Angela’s point of view throughout the story, who is dealing with a male who has been stalking her for ten years.

I especially felt like this book highlighted the way women were treated back in 1846 and how many women resorted to stealing and other crimes to be able to suivre in a world where they had nothing or were viewed as nothing. The cottage gave the girls a second chance at life- whereas if these girls were not offered this opportunity they would not be known to society. Charles Dickens believed that these girls could be saved and redeem themselves by learning skills before emigrating to a new country for a fresh start. For these girls, they had given up on themselves and did not feel that they were worth saving.

It also highlighted the way in which women’s opinions were not valued in Angela’s point of view. Often she was left out of important decisions and not told about things ahead of time. She often found out after the decision had been made despite being the class she was in. Even with the money and class she was, she still was not viewed as equal to men.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a great historical fiction book. Yet another amazing book by Stacey Halls which I recommended for anyone who is a fan of Charles Dickens or historical fiction books.

Halls gets better and better: this is a lovely novel. It's particularly interesting in the way that a good way - possibly more than two-thirds - through the narrative, different strand twist together in a quite unexpected way. It's a risk, and with a less assured and talented writer might have gone badly wrong, but here it *works*. I hugely enjoyed it.

Stacey does it again but somehow even better than before! The writing from Halls in this novel seems to have come on leaps and bounds from her already great previous work, and if you were a fan of any of her back catalogue you will surely not be disappointed with The Household. Gripping, heartfelt and warm, you will fall in love with the characters and be thrilled with every twist and turn they’re taken on.

After The Familiars' I did wonder if Stacey Halls could do it again!
The good news is, yes she has and maybe this is even better. There is suspense aplenty, twists and turns and lots of interesting historical little asides where you find yourself thinking - wow, really? But yes, really!
I enjoyed it very much - the wind blew hard against the windows while I read this and somehow, it seemed to be the perfect read when the lights flickered and we might be left in the dark!

Stacey Halls' books are always such a treat, and this is no exception. Her biggest yet in terms of scale - encompassing the lives of multiple women as they battle through stifling expectations of life in London in 1847. Such immersive storyline, with all the varies plots and woes so wonderfully interwoven. Such a treat to read!

This was a cosy tale and it really reminds you how poorly women were treated in a different time. I really admire Angela for being so supportive to the women of that house and truly wanting them to succeed.

It was abit slow paced in parts but i really enjoyed Martha & Josphines characters. Their stories really captivated me and I really wanted the best outcome for them.

Stacey Halls novels are always a cozy read. This one focuses on the fallen women of Urania House - a charity set up by Charles Dickens to take women from difficult situations and prepare them for new lives in service in Australia. I enjoyed this one — a slower pace than I’m used to, but it allowed me to get to know the cast of characters well enough to root for them. Out in April.

#netgalley #bookstagram #bookreview #fiction #historicalfiction

I absolutely loved The Household. What a beautifully written, harrowing and emotional story. I loved the multiple POV's, and felt such a big emotional connection to both Josephine and Martha and their stories. There are some darker subjects covered, and triggering content for some so I think warnings are potentially needed. It's such an eye opening look into what the lives of women were like in that time period and so sad to see and read about the challenges they faced as women. I loved the found family and strong characters this book gives us. I'm excited to read more from Stacey Halls!

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

I have read all of Stacey Halls previous books and would class her as one of my favourite authors...therefore I was really happy to see she had a new one coming out.

I was drawn to the setting of this book with the home for fallen women...it sounded very intriguing and in a setting I knew little about. I liked that it was based on fact as I enjoy learning things from the books I read too.

It had me gripped from the first chapter and kept my interest til the end.