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larareads's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Outing, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Car accident, Child death, and Suicide
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Abortion
carlytenille's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
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.
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
asteria_6179's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, Cancer, and Biphobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Abortion
star_witch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING:
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).
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Death, Alcohol, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death of parent, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
ebreheny25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse
Minor: Cancer, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, and Suicide
katyijaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Cancer, Sexual content, Alcohol, Death, Racism, Classism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Misogyny
hayleyw's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Sexual harassment, and Grief
Moderate: Biphobia, Blood, Terminal illness, Suicide, Sexism, Racism, Homophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Cancer, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Lesbophobia
ghost_cat_xo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Abortion, Body shaming, Biphobia, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Minor: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Cancer, Sexual content, Homophobia, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Car accident, Suicide, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Lesbophobia, Outing, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’m sobbing in my bed at 2am as I write this, and I adore this book so much.
Original review (May 2022):
Rating: 5/5 stars
Lowly staff writer Monique Grant is stunned and confused when she is personally requested by aging Hollywood superstar Evelyn Hugo to write an article for Monique’s magazine—and she’s even more confused when Evelyn reveals that what she really wants is for Monique to tell her life (and love) story to the world.
Before picking this one up, I regularly felt like the last person on earth who hadn’t read it, so there’s not much I can say here that hasn’t already been said elsewhere, and you almost certainly don’t need me to convince you to read this one. That said, I’m adding my voice to the chorus to say I absolutely loved this book and all the glowing reviews and rave tributes are 100% correct. It’s a thing of stunning beauty, hilarious wit, and breathtaking heart, and if you haven’t read it yet, you should.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: historical fiction; LGBTQ+ stories; Hollywood glamour vibes.
CW: Homophobia; misogyny; death (including death of child and death of parent); terminal illness; suicide.
Graphic: Child death, Sexual violence, Death, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Car accident, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse