Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

This was the first book I read to get myself back into reading. I’d been meaning to read it for the longest time because of the hype all over the internet from lesbians who love it. It sat in my room collecting dust but once I decided I wanted to get back into reading, it was the first of my neglected books I picked up. And I finished it in 24 hours.

I loved it. I loved the way the book was formatted, jumping between Monique and Evelyn’s perspective. Going back and forth from Monique’s personal life to Evelyn and Monique speaking to just flashing back to the point in Evelyn’s life she was speaking about.

I also really enjoyed how the book was cut into parts by each of the seven husbands, each husband representing a particular phase in Evelyn’s life. All those phases being so different and each marriage being for such different reasons.

Every single character had purpose and none of the characters felt flat to me. Everyone had a reason for being. Each character is also very complex, all flawed in their own ways (some a lot more than others), which I appreciated.

I did not expect the reason why Evelyn had specifically chosen Monique to be the author of her biography and I was genuinely surprised by the reveal and valued the true and tragic connection between them.

I also adore the title being “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” when the main love story was Evelyn and Celia, the greatest love in Evelyn’s life was a woman. Her wife. I think this book is a beautiful historical fiction sapphic love story and I finally understand the hype around it.

“I think once people know the truth, they will be much more interested in my wife.”

Content Warnings

natashahillier's review against another edition

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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

4.5

I really enjoyed this! It was fun to learn about Evelyn’s life with little bits of Monique’s life sprinkled in. I liked how the book was divided into 7 sections for Evelyn’s 7 husbands, but the book and Evelyn’s story was about so much more than her husbands.

Content Warnings

avaa_reads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

Everyone was telling me to “WAIT FOR THE PLOT TWIST.” The final plot twist (personal opinion) was initially shocking; then it wasn’t… However definitely still and interesting twist.
I also predicted three very large parts of the book- but I don’t hold that against the book because in all honesty I loved it. I’d give it 4.25/5 stars.

Content Warnings

keeliroe's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense 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

4.25

Content Warnings

cdoubet's review against another edition

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challenging emotional medium-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

Content Warnings

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