I'd previously read and enjoyed The Familiars, so was looking forward to reading this. Unfortunately it was pretty slow paced and by the time any action or the three separate povs began to come together I was kind of bored of it. There was a lot of set up and the way it connected was a bit outlandish for me. I was also slightly put off by it mentioning real people, I think it would have been less jarring to have not used the names of real people (Charles Dickens) and the actual cottage name. I also work in a similar industry to the overall vibe of Urania cottage and so it felt a bit like a bus man's holiday at times.

I really enjoy Stacey Halls books, I am left wanting to learn more about a subject and the existance of the real life Urania Cottage was no exception. You can tell that an enormous amount of research has been conducted by Halls but you arent force fed information. The characters are well written and your absorbed into their world. I particularly liked the character of Martha and found her search for her sister really moving. The novels shows how little agency women have during this time, even Angela with all her money is not really involved in decisions about the house and its inhabitants. The female friendships are really important in the book but not everyone is what they seem. Another great read from Halls and I look forward to reading her next book.

As a big fan of Stacey Halls’s previous work I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an early copy of ‘The Household’. I'm pleased to report that it lived up to my high expectations. I didn't know that Charles Dickens was a benefactor to disadvantaged women and I enjoyed how some characters, and places, in the book were based on real life. I loved all the characters and found the story really heartening and uplifting. I'm sure this will be another hit for Halls!

I was introduced to Stacy Hall's books by our Reading Group choice of The Foundling and really enjoyed it; I was therefore delighted to be given the opportunity through NetGalley to read he latest novel, The Household.

How fabulous to learn about historical facts in respect of Urania Cottage in Shepherd's Bush, it being established by Charles Dickens and Angela Burdett-Coutts (banking)?

This is a great book, I thoroughly enjoyed this advance copy and will be reading the missing ones from her list.

A captivating historical story set in Victorian London. Stacey Halls has produced another superb well-written book. The characters of the girls are so engaging, I felt I just had to keep reading to find out what happens to them. The story starts with a gentle, sustained pace and gradually speeds up towards the end. There are plenty of surprises as the story progresses and the atmosphere of Victorian London is clearly captured. This is a book about prisons in their various forms and the struggles women face to find a sense of freedom. Highly recommended.

Excellent historical fiction written by a skillful author. This is a genre that I really enjoy so it was a complete pleasure to read. The characters, setting and concept were engaging throughout and I didn't want the book to end.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Set in 1847, Urania Cottage provides a refuge and safe haven, a second chance at life for a group of previously criminalised young women.

Based on real places, people (Charles Dickens was a benefactor of Urania Cottage), and events, accompanied with wonderfully imagined characters and relationships, Stacey Halls brings Urania Cottage to life.

Halls creates atmosphere and setting, building a dark and gloomy, intimidating London, offset with a busy, warm, and inviting safe place for both the women who live there, and its beneficiaries to visit.

I did feel that there were a few too many characters, which meant at times it was a little difficult to keep track of each, and also, whilst each was endearing in their own way, I didn’t feel each of them received the full character development or story arc they deserved. I think this could have been developed quite easily into a longer series exploring the characters moving in and out of Urania Cottage.

I really enjoyed this book, I looked forward to picking it up, and was fully invested in the characters. It’s only my second Stacey Halls, but won’t be my last, and it’s my favourite so far! The Household is released on 11th April, but is available for pre-order now.

Thank you Netgalley, Bonnier Books and Stacey Halls for an advanced copy of this book to read.

I have already read all of Stacey Halls’ previous books, The Familiars, The Foundling and Mrs England. I loved them all and so I was excited to receive an arc of this book, based on historical fact. It is set in the Dickensian period at Urania Cottage, a home set up by Charles Dickens and Angela Coutts for fallen women. The purpose of this was to teach the girls to read and write, instruct them in the ways of looking after a household and give them religious teaching. The aim was to send them to Australia to begin a new life there.. We are introduced to some of the girls and follow their friendships and day to day lives. We have Martha, whose sister has disappeared, Josephine who is scarred, Polly and Lydia to name a few. Martha’s aim is to find her missing sister Emily. We also are introduced to Mrs Holdsworth, who is in charge of the cottage. I found I was engrossed in each of the characters and was rooting for them to be successful in their exploits. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction, I would recommend this book. My thanks go to NetGalley, Stacey Halls and Manilla Press for an e-arc of this enjoyable book.

This book was nothing like the rest of Stacey’s other books. I was really excited for the one because the previous books were all 4 to 5 stars for me. This one left me disappointed. There were no surprise elements to the book. The entire time we are trying to figure out why he’s so obsessed with one of the characters, but it’s never revealed to us, which I think is what frustrates me the most. There are many plot holes and elements that just didn’t need to be added.

Loved this fictionalised version of something real, involving real people - a real house that Dickens set up with some other people, which helped 'fallen women'. These women have not had easy lives and it is easy to sympathise with them even while you know they need second and third and fourth chances. Equally, Angela needed sympathy even in her gilded cage

This book was just so much fun. It was fascinating to say the least. It was easy to get through. Every time I put it down, I couldn’t wait to pick it up again. Overall, this was a full 5 stars read.

This is my favourite of Stacey Halls's books so far (although I haven't yet read The Foundling)! A really good work of historical fiction, it tells the story of a number of people all involved somehow in Urania Cottage, a house designed to rehabilitate 'fallen women' in the Victorian era. I thought everything was really great: the writing, the atmosphere, the characterisation, the historical detail, and especially the way it was all woven together. Less plotty than her other books but I think this is why I enjoyed it more!

WOW! My first book by Stacey Halls and her others have not been put on my to be read pile.

This was such a good read, it was historical and felt factual, I felt that the author had done her research about the times that she was writing about. The characters all felt credible and I loved how the story developed around it's characters. The story dealt with the lives of "fallen women" in such a sympathetic way, all were considered as victims and I really liked that detail about each character's past was included. By doing this, the author made you feel that she was drawing you into their lives.

I would recommend this book without hesitation and have already recommended it to a number of friends.

This is a well researched and beautifully written historical novel based in London in 1847. It provides a glimpse of different social classes, the challenges that each face with some interesting dynamics when these different worlds meet. The main characters are well developed and the story has a strong start with a good balance of suspense and intrigue.

My only minor criticism is that the closing chapters felt a bit rushed and some key questions were left unanswered.

I enjoyed this compelling historical novel from the author of Mrs England. At first I found it difficult to get into, because there were so many characters and I wasn't sure what the hook of the story was. As I read more, I became interested in the story, although I felt that there should have been fewer characters to allow them to be better developed.

The story is based on a real situation, Urania Cottage, a home for 'fallen women' founded by the author Charles Dickens and financed by the heiress Angela Burdett-Coutts. The idea is that the women come to the cottage from prison and are trained for eventual careers in domestic service in the colonies. We follow the fate of the inmates and the matron who is employed to look after them. The different elements of the plot include the heiress' stalker, the missing sister of one inmate, and the separation of two women who were lovers in prison. The author's attention to detail is excellent and I could imagine the novel as a costume drama on TV, so clear were the events and settings in my mind. If you enjoy historical fiction with a focus on women, set in Victorian times, this is definitely one for your wishlist.

[Review will be on my blog, 3rd April]

While Stacey Halls has managed to create another set of characters that endear themselves to you and capture your heart, I found this book quite hard to get into… it felt a bit disjointed, with a lot going on but not much happening…and until 75% in, things don’t start to really come together and be woven together. While the ending is good, it feels a bit rushed and like quite a few things are just left to fizzle out… so, while I enjoyed it, it did not quite meet the high standards I’ve come to expect from her books

I was a huge fan of the previous books by this author but I found this one slower and less interesting.
I actually really enjoyed the final 25% as I felt more happened in thus portion of the story than the rest of it.
I also preferred the parts set at the house over the side stories.
A bit disappointing to be honest as I had high hopes for it.

I really enjoyed this one! It took me a bit to get into it due to the amount of characters and then I was super invested. A bunch of strong women doing their best despite their circumstances in Dickens times. I didn't know a thing about that side of Dickens, helping women to reform themselves to find a better life by placing them at The Household. It is very atmospheric and mysterious, really good historical fiction. I have to say, I enjoyed this book more than The Familiars and The Foundling!

The Household by Stacey Halls

It’s Dickensian London, where Angela Coutts, Society Lady, together with members of a committee of do-gooders,set up Urania Cottage, a refuge for so called fallen women. Here they are taught new skills and rehabilitation back into a meaningful life probably in the Colonies. An unlikely array of characters, rich, poor, kind and shady, shaped by their backstories, find their worlds intertwine across a canvas covering absolute poverty to almost unimaginable opulence.

There is an afternoon tea style pacing to this novel, which picks up speed towards the end, reminiscent of Pip’s exploits at the climax of “Great Expectations”. By the end, I had an affection for many of the protagonists and wondered what the future held for them.

Stacey Halls is one of my all time favourite, go to authors, and this is not a disappointment! As always she paints a thoroughly intriguing and hard to put down story. I was engrossed with it all, not knowing how it was going to turn out, but I loved every second.
I was ecstatic to receive an e-arc.

Thank you to the author, publishers and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.