Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

560 reviews

cjfooks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Deadset one of my all time favourite reads so far. 

A beautiful fictional life story of a woman from humble beginnings in Hollywood 1960s etc. 

The plot, the writing style, Evelyn’s perspective and outlook on everything just makes it such a hard to put down read. 

It covers life, world and historic issues including domestic violence, LGBTQIA’s recent history

(through the eyes of a high profile closeted bisexual and her gay and lesbian loved ones in a way that feels subtle and powerful at the same time)

, misogyny, family relationships and the Hollywood industry. 

She also hits so many points that are hard not to relate to as a female reader, even just in passing thoughts or remarks. 

I think my absolute favourite part about it is how well it covers the grey in people and characters; that no character is all black or all white. There’s no fully blind romanisation of love interests, nor is there definitive hate for antagonists. 

I will never stop recommending this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment

happysoullovesyou's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Classism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Gaslighting, and Grief

Minor: Cancer

vi_holmes's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad 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

5.0

I absolutely loved this book!

I went into it apprehensively, just because this genre is so far out of my normal reading. It took me a month to read it for this reason, but I am so glad that I did!

This book was so phenomenal, even the things I didn't like about it felt purposeful and drove the story forward. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted by the time I finished it, but I feel like that's how you should come out of a story like this one. I honestly could have finished it the night before I did, but I had been crying so hard and so long at that point, I had to save the last 30 pages for after I'd had some rest. Definitely have the tissues at the ready!

I was absolutely in love with Harry! I will not get over how lovely of a human being he is.

I am unwell from that scene still

I have one thing that was a bit meh for me personally that didn't seem intentional, but I will have to hide it behind spoiler tape (I will not be specific about it, but I do think the tape is still necessary). But I will say that it didn't take away from the overall story/experience. It was just a writing choice that wasn't for me. So spoiler ahead:

In the second half (or maybe a bit before) it starts hinting a lot through Monique's perspective that something was going to be revealed that would make her hate Evelyn. I didn't like that blatant hinting to begin with, but then it also made it really easy to spot the twist well before it was revealed between the characters. Again it was a bit meh, but didn't take away from the story. Just didn't like that writing choice.

Evelyn is the most unlikeable person I have ever rooted for with my entire being and I love that Reid made me feel those mix of emotions! People are complicated and complex, and Evelyn (and several of the other characters in this story) embodied that so well! That is really what has me so in love with this story and what will have me coming back to it at some point! And I think that is what will make or break the Netflix adaptation, whether or not they are able to capture the complexity of people as brilliantly as Reid wrote it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Grief, Alcoholism, and Car accident

Moderate: Physical abuse, Outing, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Classism, Cancer, Biphobia, Death, and Suicide

Minor: Abortion, Body shaming, Hate crime, Child abuse, and Pregnancy

Evelyn discusses her daughter dying of cancer, but the daughter is nearly 40 at the time. so not really death of a child, but death of her child is discussed at the end

rushh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Minor: Blood, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Violence, Sexual harassment, Cancer, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Drug use, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Chronic illness

dizzyizzyy's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Blood, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Outing, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Suicide

Moderate: Racism, Abandonment, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Infertility, Pandemic/Epidemic, Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Drug use, Pregnancy, Addiction, Eating disorder, Abortion, Stalking, and Cursing

lunxchloe's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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

This was easily the most beautiful, heartbreaking book I've ever had the pleasure to read. Evelyn Hugo is an incredibly compelling, deep character that perfectly depicts the human experience with - or maybe because - all of its flaws.

5/5*

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Death, Infidelity, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Child death, Grief, Biphobia, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Drug abuse

whenmalanereads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

"I know the world prefers a woman who doesn't know her power, but I'm sick of that."
"The world doesn't give you things, you takes things."
"That's what I traded my virginity for...a ride to Hollywood."
"And it will be the tragedy of my life that I cannot love you enough to make you mine."
"Make them pay you what they would pay a white man."


I have to be very honest.  I started this book with the paperback copy and I couldn't get into it. It was slow-paced and I abandoned it for another book. This was last year. 

I'm happy to say I came back and finished the book. Clearly. Just in audio book format. I REALLY loved the audio book. I adored the narrators and I was very endeared with the voice of Evelyn. It in a way reminded me of my nanny's voice. The way words would be inflected and the way the sassy attitude comes out in tone of voice. 

I always loved the idea of this book and I'm glad I circled back to it sometime later. I found the old Hollywood glamour fun and exciting. I would think I knew where it was going and then be wrong. Which I appreciate in a book. Though about halfway through I did figure it all out. 

While I didn't particularly connect with any one character, I found myself being drawn to almost all of them. Except Don. Iykyk. 

I found times where the book was quite sad and I found times where I was laughing to myself. It was such a descriptive book that I really felt immersed into the world of Evelyn Hugo. I felt like I could have been at an Oscars event or on the red carpet or being a fan seeing her in an ice cream shop.

I thought her love for her friends and lovers was so genuine even though she could sometimes be going astray and I would find myself thinking "Oh my god Evelyn. Don't do that." It was interesting that Evelyn would go to the lengths she did to be with her one true love. 

I fiercely recommend this book. It is well worth the hype and you won't regret it. While I do recommend it in audio book form, I think however you prefer to partake you won't be disappointed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Abandonment, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Grief, Alcohol, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Terminal illness, Addiction, Abortion, Cancer, Car accident, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abortion, Cancer, Grief, Cursing, Drug use, Alcoholism, Violence, Alcohol, Addiction, Death, Biphobia, Suicide, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Body horror, Blood, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Chronic illness, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Car accident, Toxic friendship, and Terminal illness

noodlebrie's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Homophobia, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Biphobia

rissaread's review

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Cancer and Suicide

cara_m's review

emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

Though I enjoyed parts of this book, found the nuances of the characters and their flaws endearing at parts, it just was not my favorite book. I have seen so many positive reviews about how life changing this book is. To be honest, I just expected more. I love the idea of what it could’ve been. I thought it was going to be more of a historical fiction book that focused on the sapphic relationship in the book. I just felt like the only truly developed character was Evelyn, and I didn’t really enjoy some of how the time passed in the book. Parts went slow, then fast out of no where. It was hard to keep track of everything. I just feel like so much was missing/could’ve been improved upon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Death, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Child death