Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

126 reviews

msradiosilence's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

0.5

TLDR; 1.5 rating, I hate this book and everything it stands for. I get a little rant-y. Sue me.
Content warnings at the bottom. :)

I gave this 1 star on GR because it’s a hellsite, but it gets .5 stars because I did in fact read this in only a few days. I’ll say this about TJR, her books aren’t badly written. She just sucks as a person.

First off, TJR is a white woman. I have very strong opinions about staying in your lane as a white woman, and TJR swerved all over the goddamn highway. Not only is the main character a Black woman, but the other main character is a Latina woman. Does TJR belong to either of those communities? No. And to yadda yadda their communities, TJR

kills Monique’s father in a horrific way so she doesn’t have that connection to her heritage

and has Evelyn repress everything about her Latina roots. When this book came out, there was huge backlash from the Latine community about a white woman taking up space in the publishing industry that could have been made for a Latine author to write in (do not get me started on racism in publishing, we’d be here all day) and she apologized and said she wouldn’t do it again, she’d lift up own-voices authors, etc. And then she didn’t do that and instead wrote Carrie Soto is Back, which had a whole thing about the title in Spanish that — shocking! — once again TJR didn’t understand the complexity and nuance of and insulted an entire community of people. The Black and Latine perspectives are just some that white authors cannot ever have, considering their whiteness, and therefore should not be writing in the perspective of Black and Latine characters. No one is saying white authors CAN’T have diverse casts, because white authors should, but rather that they shouldn’t try to write from a perspective they can’t conceivably share. I don’t care how much research they do, it is not enough when compared to lived experience. 

(sources: google is free, but https://www.feministbookclub.com/taylor-jenkins-reid-is-back-with-her-bs/, https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dJ54Fp/, https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dJPbaD/, https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dekrA8/, and https://shelit.com/2022/10/04/carrie-soto-is-back-and-the-problem-of-white-authors-creating-main-characters-of-color/#:~:text=Book%20influencers%20expressed%20concern%20about,character%20against%20an%20Asian%20character.)

Secondly, I’m bi. To this day, there are still biphobic members of the LGBTQ+ community that say we’re either not gay enough, or that we need to pick a side, or that we’re lying, etc (few and far between, but always a take I see in online spaces around Pride Month). And to have that thrown back in my face while I’m reading a book by a straight author? What the fuck? Celia is constantly being biphobic, and it doesn’t help that Evelyn is lesbophobic in the beginning. TJR wouldn’t know this, being that (again) she’s not a part of the community, but a lot of people use the term ‘gay’ as an umbrella term. Just like the pride flag encompasses the whole community, gay can be a term to mean any sexuality within the LGBTQ+ spectrum. But Evelyn reacts with such immediate vitriol to being called gay, it just leaves such a horrible taste in my mouth, especially when there is such animosity between certain corners of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s just not something a straight author gets to comment on, especially when they don’t understand the nuance surrounding that conversation.

Also the ending?

Not only are you writing perspectives that aren’t yours, you had Monique forgive the woman that killer her father???

What the FUCK. Eat the rich, even the fictional ones. 

Anyway. Considering both of my major points cover basically the entire book, fuck TJR and no, I don’t care if Daisy Jones is a good show, or if Malibu Rising is a good book. I will not read anything else by this woman, and I’ll be getting rid of Evelyn Hugo as soon as I’m able.

Rating: 0.5
Would I recommend? Abso-fucking-lutely not. 

Content warnings: Blood, Cancer, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Ableism, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Car accident, Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Racism, Sexual content, Death, Gaslighting, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Pregnancy

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Biphobia, Body shaming, Cancer, Homophobia, Blood, Car accident, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Outing, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

wackzo's review against another edition

emotional informative tense slow-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Hate crime, Abandonment, Death of parent, Homophobia, Child abuse, Death, Biphobia, Cancer, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship

elliereadsthings's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

5.0

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

“If you are intolerable, let me be the one to tolerate you.”

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, and Car accident

Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide, and Vomit

the_harlequin's review

emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Misogyny, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, Biphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Sexism, Mental illness, and Infidelity

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Abortion, Suicide, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Child death

Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, and Infertility

keeliroe's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Outing, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Cancer, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Car accident, and Adult/minor relationship

gabhopesreads's review against another edition

5.0

This is a beautiful tragedy. This is painful, ugly, and hard to hear as someone that's grieving. But it was needed. I needed to cry with Evelyn. I needed to feel with her. 
 I loved and hated the characters and everything that they did and that happened to them .

I listened to this on audio and I'm so glad I did! It was an experience of writing that flowed beautifully, never felt like it was dragging on. I felt like I was truly engulfed in the story. 

I loved all the queer representation and this was ultimately what made me pick this book up after it was recommended to me & put back on my radar. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Grief, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Death, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Alcoholism

cdoubet's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Grief, Homophobia, Body shaming, Classism, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Lesbophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Drug use, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Outing, Gaslighting, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Hate crime, Body shaming, and Blood

Minor: Police brutality and Abortion

aspenfcoleman's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Car accident, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Stalking

thatswhatshanread's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

An utter, earth-shattering masterpiece. “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is both a stripped-down version of the bitter reality of Hollywood through the decades, and a glamorous tribute to unequivocal love and loss.

It’s quite shocking that it took me so long to read this, though I suspect a lot of it had to do with the fact that I had such high hopes and had heard so much unadulterated praise. Ever the pessimist, I was afraid it would disappoint me.

I’m VERY GLAD to report, that it did not disappoint me at all, and actually was much more than I hoped for. An incredible epic of a story-within-a-story, a biographical account of a fictional starlet with many marriages and headlines, but only one true love kept secret for most of her life.

I love TJR’s writing, her layered and complicated story building eclipsed only by the bold and complex characters she creates. Evelyn isn’t supposed to be someone you just love, but she is someone you absolutely root for, despite all her flaws. Because there’s Celia, the truth behind it all. (And Harry, whom I adored so much.) 

One of the best novels I’ve ever read that accurately tackles the duality of humanity and fame, with a central focus on the LGBTQ+ community. Phenomenal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Chronic illness, Classism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Racism, Suicide, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Drug use, Outing, Physical abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Self harm, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexism

Moderate: Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Abortion, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, and Eating disorder

camiclarkbooks's review

dark funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid tells the story of the titular Evelyn Hugo. 

Evelyn Hugo was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars from the 1960s to the 1980s and won international attention for her striking beauty. At age 79, Evelyn is ready to share all the details of her glamorous—and scandalous—life. 

She decides to give her story to Monique Grant, a virtually unknown reporter, to the surprise of everyone, including Monique. Recently separated from her husband and stuck in a dead end position at work, Monique seizes the opportunity to boost her writing career by agreeing to write Evelyn’s biography. Besides, if she didn’t agree to, Evelyn would have taken the sordid details of her life to her grave. 

As the two work together, going through the timeline of Evelyn’s struggle to break into Hollywood in the 1950s until her decision to retire from the business in the 1980s, Monique developed a connection to the icon. She rationalizes many of the cutthroat, calculated decisions Evelyn had to make along the way. Monique is also captivated on the reveal of Evelyn’s forbidden love, her greatest love out of all of her seven husbands. As the two women near the end of the interviews, Monique realizes that her life is irrevocably entwined with Evelyn’s in the most tragic ways. 

This was a book I’d been looking forward to reading for months and waited impatiently until I could check it out from my local library. Everyone in the bookish community has spoken so highly of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” for years and after being blown away by the artistry of “Daisy Jones and the Six,” I had high expectations. But this book fell short. 

With the exception of Evelyn Hugo herself, the characters were bland. The b-plots were forgettable and even the overarching plot was largely predictable and uninspired. With that being said, the representation and diversity the characters and plot threads offered are excellent. Jenkins Reid did an excellent job balancing representing such a wide range of people for a modern audience in a way that was appropriate for the setting of the book. 

It is undeniable that Jenkins Reid has tremendous talent. Most authors steer away from overly explaining movements and describing items, but Jenkins Reid doesn’t and it works. Rather than inundating the reader with too much information, it creates a very specific image in the reader’s mind as they go through the book. 

Overall, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is an interesting tale of a fictitious version of Old Hollywood loosely inspired by several real people from the time period. It subverted expectations in many ways, but was also predictable in others. The characters weren’t as complex as other characters Jenkins Reid has written, but the writing style of the book is unique enough to partially make up for that. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Miscarriage, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Terminal illness, Cancer, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Biphobia, Death, Toxic friendship, Lesbophobia, and Toxic relationship