I loved this! I wasn’t a huge fan of The Familiars so I wasn’t expecting much from this but I was very pleasantly surprised! The characters were all well-drawn individuals, each with attributes that allows the reader to empathise with them in some way. The plot was strong and intriguing yet still gave room for the characters to take centre stage. This is a triumph of a novel and one that I’m sure will be a great success.

In 1847, Charles Dickens, backed by various benefactors (including banking heiress Angela Burdett-Coutts) opened Urania Cottage in Shepherd’s Bush as a home for “fallen women”.
This book by Stacey Halls fictionalises the life of a number of inmates and their previous lives.
Sadly, Dickens, who had a major stake in every aspect of Urania Cottage is being pushed to a footnote level whilst the story of Angela Coutts is made prominent. Several hefty disagreements between Coutts and Dickens, re clothing, spiritual and musical education of the girls, have also been omitted.
Although a solid historical yarn, the constant to-ing and fro-ing between the Coutts plot and the different girls’ stories left me reaching for my smelling salts.
Further reading: Jenny Hartley: Charles Dickens and the House of Fallen Women. The University of Michigan, 2010.

‘Life is a balance sheet of who you have in your life and who you’ve lost. And very often they aren’t fairly weighted’

"The Household," is a real treat captivating the reader with its rich tapestry woven from real historical figures and events. Set in London, 1847, the narrative unfolds in the secrecy of Urania Cottage, a refuge for fallen women co-founded by Charles Dickens and heiress Angela Burdett-Coutts. The characters, diverse and nuanced, reveal the complexities of second chances and the price of freedom.

Halls masterfully combines lesser-known historical events with a sprinkle of fiction, bringing Urania Cottage and its residents to life. The novel delves into the lives of these women, offering a glimpse into their pasts and the opportunities the charitable institution provides. As the worlds of Angela Burdett-Coutts and the residents collide, a captivating story of redemption and sacrifice emerges.

The historical accuracy, peppered with imaginative storytelling, creates a compelling reading experience. The exploration of Dickens's philanthropy and the challenges faced by the "fallen women" adds layers to the narrative. The book's thematic focus on kindness, justice, and questioning societal norms resonates, making it a valuable addition to historical fiction.

Stacey Halls's meticulous research is evident, providing readers with a glimpse into Charles Dickens's project and Angela Burdett-Coutts's benevolence. The novel seamlessly intertwines fiction and historical facts, making it both educational and entertaining. Halls's ability to transcend social classes and highlight female characters adds to the book's charm.

If you are a fan of well researched historical fiction, Dickens or masterfully written female characters, this will be a real gem for you. You can get your hands on it from April 11th 2024

A heartfelt thank you to @netgalley, @manilla_press, and @staceyhallsauthor for graciously providing me with this captivating e-arc in exchange for my sincere review.

Tags: historical fiction, XIX century, Victorian, based on real events, suspenseful, mystery,

I lost myself in this enchanting historical fiction. I especially enjoyed following the lives of the differently classed women and also the connection to Charles Dickens.

Historical fiction at its best: elements of fact and truth seamlessly interwoven with a strong storyline. I knew nothing about this side of Charles Dickens and it was fascinating to learn about the cottage and his attempts to help fallen women. The characters were all believable and well-written and drew me into the story; I particularly enjoyed how the girls pulled together and formed bonds in difficult circumstances. Recommended to anyone who enjoys quality historical fiction.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Stacey Halls' previous novels, I eagerly anticipated reading The Household, and it certainly lived up to my expectations. Set in 1847, the narrative unfolds at Urania Cottage, where a group of young women, each burdened with unfortunate pasts, are offered the chance to embark on a fresh start, under the condition that they keep their histories secret from one another.

The novel, like its predecessors, captivated me from start to finish, presenting a compelling blend of historical fiction, endearing characters, and an evocative mystery that held me in its grip.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the opportunity to read and review this title in advance. This book has not only enriched my literary experience but also reaffirmed my admiration for Stacey Halls' storytelling prowess. Highly recommended for those who appreciate a perfect blend of history, compelling characters, and a touch of mystery.

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.

I've read four books already by this author, and this one is the best. Set in Dickensian London it is based on a real story of a house set up to help fallen women develop their lives and teach them to better themselves. The characters in this book feel real from the start. Very good read. Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy.

I love Stacey Halls novels so when I saw she had a new book I requested it without even reading the synopsis.

The Household is set in 1847 London and its suburbs. It is centred around Urania Cottage which has been established to help "fallen" women improve their lives.

Angela is a benefactor of the cottage who has many demons of her own.

The relationships between the women, both "fallen" and "respectable", develop quickly and deeply.

I adore the way Stacey Halls writes and draws you into the story and makes the characters feel so real.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I have enjoyed all of Stacey Halls previous books, and was thrilled to receive this copy of her latest book to review. One of this author’s strengths is her historical research, with her books based on true events, and yet again we are transported to Victorian England and become engrossed in the period. This is a steady paced book with characters that readers become invested in and I enjoyed it. Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advance review copy.

Never been grateful for getting a bad cold at Christmas before, but it gave me a great excuse to immerse myself in this book! Loved every minute of it and couldn’t wait to grab it and return to each thread of the story. The characters were great, with human depth and contradictions, not at all one-dimensional. I found myself pondering how well-intentioned help is not always received as such, and also how the early Victorian era was not immune to the concept of celebrity stalkers. I’ve read all of Stacey Halls’ books and am just disappointed I’ll have to wait a while for the next one! Sincere thanks to the publishers for the advance copy, in return for this honest review.

💫Book Review 💫

The Household by @staceyhallsauthor

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication date: 11 April 2024


Set in 1847, Charles Dickens has set up Urania Cottage, a home for “fallen” women to help them prepare for a better life. They go to school and learn to sew before eventually emigrating to Australia for a better life.

The story follows wealthy Angela Coutts who has funded the house as she becomes entwined with the fallen women and involved in their stories.

I went into this book pretty blind but definitely didn’t expect it to be a mystery/thriller. There was suspense throughout with a stalker, missing women and a plot twist.

I’m really into historical fiction at the moment so this book was made even better knowing it was based on a real house and that Charles Dickens and Angela Coutts are real people. I loved getting to know about the fallen women and the bond they all form from being women in a time where women very rarely get second chances to amend their mistakes.


Thank you to @netgalley, @staceyhallsauthor and @manilla_press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#thehousehold #staceyhalls #netgalley #book #bookstagram #booklover #bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookish #bookishpost #bookishlove #whatimreading #charlesdickens #historicalfiction

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy - 2/5

Requested this one on NetGalley before I’d read Mrs England - another Stacey Halls that was an impulse Waterstones buy and had been languishing on my TBR pile. Needless to say, if I had read her earlier novel I wouldn’t have requested this …

Another twisty melodrama, this time set in Victorian England and involving the real life heiress to the Queen’s bank Angela Coutts, Charles Dickens and their house for “fallen women”. This book had it all - poverty, prostitution, stalking - but still failed to captivate.

The book was competent enough, but it was plot heavy and felt like nothing was happening, full of fascinating characters and lacked fascination and again, really poorly paced.

Would not recommend

Contemporary readers, familiar with the stories of Charles Dickens, will know that mid-nineteenth century England did not look upon women as remotely equal to men and woe betide them if they made a mistake or committed a crime, be it ever so minor. What readers might not know is that Dickens was founder of a safe haven for former well-behaved prisoners, named in ‘The Household’ as Urania Cottage, alongside Angela Burdett-Coutts, a philanthropist and one of the richest women in England.
Those living at Urania Cottage were expected to learn how to manage a household, becoming accomplished cooks and seamstresses so that they might emigrate to Australia when the committee decided they were ready, putting their past lives behind them.
Stacey Halls introduces us to the redoubtable Mrs Holdsworth, a sympathetic yet shrewd instructor and her household of women, in particular Martha, Polly and Josephine. As the story unfolds, we learn a great deal about the girls and their families, as well as their wealthy female benefactor. Whilst the latter has all the creature comforts one could wish for, she is just as troubled and tortured as those who have been punished by the law.
This is a wonderfully told and fully involving story. Stacey Halls has clearly researched her subject matter in great detail and the narrative feels authentically nineteenth century without tipping into clumsy pastiche. Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK, Manilla Press for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I'm a big supporter of Stacey - we have successfully launched both the Familiars and the Foundling when they first came out, and I stayed close to her writing since. I was looking forward to the Household with it's excellent premise originating from the history of Urania Cottage. As always, it was educating and interesting to read about this unknown piece of London history and to imagine what that life could have looked like. The book was quite gentle, the pacing was also a little slow, but I enjoyed the setting and following the characters' journey. I'd be very keen to learn more about it and to have a glimpse into the writing process behind it.

An absolutely brilliant historical novel, set in Urania House, a home for unfortunate women based on a real place set up by Charles Dickens (who features in the book in a supporting role) One of the benefactors of the home is a wealthy young woman, Angela, whose life has been blighted by a stalker who has remained persistent for over 10 years.
Most of the characters are the young women who become resident at this charitable insitution, whoch provides a safe haven and comfortable lodgings for lasses who have recently left prison, been orphaned, mistreated or otherwise fallen by the wayside.
The characters are wonderfully drawn and the story of their lives is satisfying and complex.
There is Mrs Holdsworth the matron/ housekeeper put in charge of the women, and the residents themselves, scarred Josephine, lonely Martha, seeking her missing sisters, to name just two.
The twists and turns are manifold and the story weaves and winds keeping the reader turning the pages. It provided me with great entertainment over some dull winter days and I applaud the author whose previous works I have also greatly enjoyed.

I found this book very interesting especially as it us loosely based on actual events. I had no idea of Charles Dickens interest in setting up a home for 'fallen' women so this book was a history lesson as well as a great story.

Urania cottage was set up by Charles Dickens. This is a fictional account of some of the women who lived there, which was extremely interesting. I could not put this book down and have since found out more about Urania cottage which I had never heard of before reading this book.

A brilliant book for fans of Historical Fiction. Readers are transported back to Dickensian London to a very real home for ‘fallen women’ - Urania Cottage and given numerous perspectives surrounding life there. Routed in social commentary and capturing the essence of the time of expertly, this was a book I couldn’t put down and read in a matter of days. A skilful novel of intrigue, deception and escape, not to be missed!

Having read Stacey Halls’ previous novels, when I saw proofs had been released, I was very hopeful I’d get a copy and was gripped by this. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bonnie Books for the ARC.

The incredible resilience of the women in this book was the thing I enjoyed the most. Based on real people - such as Angela Counts, Charles Dickens and Richard Dunn, the author weaves an intimate, dark and compelling story imagining the other women's lives and emotions in this vivid story. The pace at the start gave space for me to get to know each character and to understand motives..The writing is beautiful and evocative. The menace palpable. The loyalty and love deeply moving.