Ivy Hill takes you on an unforgettable journey through the turbulent mid-20th century, and it’s a story that will be deeply relatable to anyone who has experienced loss, upheaval, and/or the personal search for identity. The author Arthur Ruben captures the essence of the era in a way that really immerses readers. Love, death, and fate come together and shape the main character Eddie’s life in ways he never could have foreseen. Ruben’s storytelling draws you in with its raw authenticity and his humor.
I love coming of age tales, I find them extremely nostalgic. So I found Ivy Hill to be quite the compelling read. The characters are flawlessly crafted. They really come to life, each with their own struggles and complexities just like that of any other human being in real life. Eddie’s journey from childhood to adulthood is both heart-wrenching and inspiring… It makes me think of the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.
Ivy Hill has a universal appeal in general. While the story is set against the backdrop of the 1950s, its themes are timeless. Humans from all ages have gone through hardships and self transformations. I truly think it’s something that would resonate with readers from any background or culture. Ruben’s vivid writing transports you back in time, you too will experience the sights, sounds, and emotions of a bygone era.
This novel is an emotional and gripping story that you’ll find yourself reminiscing upon even after you’ve finished the book. Whether you’re a fan of historical fiction, coming of age stories, or simply enjoy a well-crafted narrative, this book is for you! I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful story, and maybe a little bit of a tear-jerker.
Ivy Hill: A Novel Inspired by True Events
What happens when a loving family man dies suddenly and a stranger takes his place?
IVY HILL is a thoroughly American coming-of-age story set in the mid-20th century. Earthy, realistic, and mordantly funny, it is rich with details of that iconic era. It is also a timeless, universal tale of 
redemption, morality and conquering adversity, with nearly-mythic elements anyone from any century and virtually any culture would recognize: there’s a wicked giant, a good grandmother and a bad one, a “ghost” or two, and even, in a manner of speaking, a dark potion.
And at the center of the story, an innocent child.
Love, death, danger and fate intertwine in this novel, which was inspired by author Arthur Ruben’s actual life. It takes place in Brooklyn from 1952-1957, then Newark from 1958-1970. Ruben’s protagonist, five-year-old “Eddie,” is devastated following the death of his beloved 34-year-old father. He waits in vain and with a slowly breaking heart for Daddy to return. His mother’s disastrous remarriage, plus the family’s wrenching move from Brooklyn, NY, to the Ivy Hill section of Newark, NJ, turns Eddie’s life inside out. Over the next thirteen years, he is transformed from helpless brokenhearted child into an entirely different creature. The post-war society he was born into is also transformed: the repercussions of that potent and turbulent time, still in living memory-Viet Nam, Woodstock, the Mansons, and especially now, civil rights-are with us to this day, and will resonate with millions of readers.
