Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

1082 reviews

augie_grabenstein's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, and Suicide

Minor: Car accident, Pregnancy, and Abortion

zojbean's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

As the singer Laufey once said: “Oh I’m boOOOOREEEEDDD!!”

I really don’t know what to say about this. On one hand I enjoyed how human Evelyn felt but overall I just didn’t really care about anything? Without any spoilers, the final wedding might be the only scene in the book that made me emotional. 

Some of the quotes that I liked:

You are the only thing on this planet worth worshipping.

You are not capable of giving it up and you never will be. And it will be the tragedy of my life that I cannot love you enough to make you mine. That you cannot be loved enough to be anyone’s.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Death, Car accident, Cancer, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicide

pinkshark's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Homophobia, Biphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

ksmith_23's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death, Homophobia, Alcohol, Car accident, and Infidelity

Moderate: Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Cancer, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Chronic illness, and Addiction

Minor: Child death

mcath_hartmann's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.5

Based on how others have reviewed this book, I really was looking forward to reading it.  I was disappointed, however, by how cliche (is that the right word?) the story was.  Maybe "mainstream" is a better description.  Basically, I can see how it could hold popular appeal, based on its themes of female empowerment and an intriguing mystery.  But, it was mostly the style of prose that turned me off from the book.  Call me a book snob if you like, but -- to me, at least, -- the author's prose and word usage were kind of low-brow.   

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Xenophobia

carlytenille's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Classism, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Suicide, Alcohol, Car accident, Child death, Cancer, Grief, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Death, Homophobia, Pregnancy, and Sexism

etherealisnt's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

 Oh my god, this is one hell of a story! I heard so much good about this book, and I finally got to read it myself. I'm not crazy over it, but I recognize it's a remarkable piece of literature, as word on the street said it was. 

Don't ignore half of me so you can fit me into a box. Don't do that.

 Evelyn Hugo is perhaps one of the more complex characters that I've had the pleasure of meeting in recent history. It's been absolutely lovely to get to know her story and the complexities of her life. I love that she doesn't fit in a box in more ways than one; she's a surprise. She is not necessarily "good" or "bad", but rather simply a human with her own motivations and reasons. We got to learn a lot about Hollywood, moral and emotional issues, and sexuality. 

It’s always been fascinating to me how things can be simultaneously true and false, how people can be good and bad all in one, how someone can love you in a way that is beautifully selfless while serving themselves ruthlessly.

I quite enjoyed the sectionalization: how the 'smaller' chapters were paced and the 'bigger' sections had Evelyn's husbands as the titles. That was a smart way to do it, plus it gives you a chance to be more intimate with the other characters. I got to love Harry till the bittersweet end, he had me in his corner pretty early on.

But let's not forget Monique and her story! Even though she was mostly out of the picture, the times she did show up were well-fitted into the story. She didn't get lost or overshadowed by Evelyn (maybe a little, but come on, she's a star). It had a great unbalanced balance, if that makes sense. Most of the characters had a chance to shine in their moments. Nevertheless, strangely, the star of it all shone the most and the least - we got to know Evelyn like no one else, but she's still a total mystery. And that's intricate storytelling for you. 

I’m under absolutely no obligation to make sense to you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Homophobia, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, and Cancer

Minor: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Abortion

depressed_cat07's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a reread from 2017 when I first read the book (which was also the time that the book was not that famous as it is now), and I feel that the book still holds up! I swear TJR laced this book with drugs- fast paced, easily readable, with a central character I couldn't take my attention away from, and heartbreaking too. Still has some sour spots here and there but overall a great book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

star_witch's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I borrowed the book from a friend, after she insisted I read it, and now I don't know if I'm supposed to thank her or make her pay for my therapy.

SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING:

I didn't even think I was going to cry. 
I didn't cry when Harry died, or Celia, or Connor. Or even Evelyn.
I cried when Monique's mom started reminiscing about her husband (and Monique's father).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Death, Alcohol, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death of parent, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia

barbaracanadian's review against another edition

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship