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emmaura'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? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, and Racism
lexi2009'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
5.0
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Racism, Suicide, and Addiction
hanhantap'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
5.0
Just kidding. This book still haunts my every waking thought. Evelyn is that bitch after all. Meant both affectionately and otherwise.
Here's to continue the bullying campaign to make everyone in my life read Seven Husbands. Gonna slide into the DMs like I am part of a goddamn MLM.
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Original review from 2021:
There are few books that have made such an impact on me in so many different ways. I finished it two days ago and still processing it and I think I will be processing it for a long time.
Moments came where I was reading Evelyn's actions as a friend would after finding out what she did, but not out of judgment. Out of concern. I cared about her, her well-being, and her love. She is a flawed person but not a bad person.
I miss these characters so much already, further proof that Taylor Jenkins Reid could write out a note of insults about me, and I would love it.
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Car accident
Minor: Racism, Abortion, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Outing, Miscarriage, Blood, Lesbophobia, Suicide, and Drug use
creationwing'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
4.25
Overall, however, the author did a very good job establishing a voice for Evelyn and making me care about her character even if I wouldn't have liked her as a real person.
I love the
I would recommend this book, with the caveat that you'll probably find yourself skimming past the parts about Monique.
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Biphobia, Blood, Car accident, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Death, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Classism, Drug use, Xenophobia, Eating disorder, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Outing, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
I've put minor mentions of eating disorder above, but more accurately it's portrayals of dieting culture/actors restricting their weight for roles.alyliann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Cursing, Grief, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Biphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Physical abuse
Minor: Blood, Drug use, Pedophilia, Racism, Death of parent, Murder, Sexism, Suicide, Abortion, and Alcohol
sunniva174'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
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Rape, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Death, Suicide, Addiction, and Racism
Minor: Drug use, Outing, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
rebekkamafia's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Biphobia, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Car accident, Death, Abortion, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexism, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
nmsp123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Although Evelyn was not a likable character at times and everything she did had a motive I liked that most of her reasoning is the love she had for her person and daughter.
The plot twist at the end had me so shook that I had to stop reading and process a bit. Even though it basically for shadowed it a few times I still did not expect that exact storyline to have happened.
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Abortion, Racism, and Homophobia
ruby3836's review against another edition
- 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
I really like it, it always seems to get me out of a reading slump
it shows loving relationships within alot of differen dynamics
and the complexity of people' actions and choices
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide, Racism, and Sexism
james1star's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
I was a bit hesitant to start Evelyn Hugo because of how well loved it is and had built it up as a book I was bound to adore. But I am glad I have finally gotten around to it. It’s a great read and, like nearly everyone else who’s read it too, would certainly recommend it. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t cry - despite being close a few times - but it was a very emotive read.
A quick plot summary: we start with the unknown reporter Monique Grant being requested to talk with the now seventy-year-old (I think) Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo. When there, her true intentions come known and she wants Grant to tell her life’s story to the world, everything on show, and in doing so we’re transported back to 1950s America. Hugo details her escape from poverty and a harsh life into that of Hollywood where beauty is everything. She uses her wits and, in many ways, callousness to get the parts she wants, make the necessary connections and throughout her life; seven husbands. At her side throughout is her best friend Harry, and they’re there for each other along the way with Hugo ending her story in the present. As the biography unfolds to its conclusion, a tragic connection between the two women becomes known.
What I really appreciated in this book is that Reid doesn’t wait till the end for one of the two main ‘plot twists’ to come out. Sorry to spoil anything but after the first third (or there about), the true love of Evelyn’s life becomes known… and they’re a woman. This was great because as the reader we get to experience what it’s like to be a queer person from the 50s to the present. It’s a really heartbreaking portrayal at times, knowing that even with all that fame and money she wasn’t able to be her true self (the same to the other queer characters we come across, especially Harry and Celia who had me). But then there’s some really lovely moments too and throughout you’re wishing and hoping things will go one way but mostly they don’t. I also loved how Hugo grapples with exploring her bi identity, it’s really natural and internally she’s unapologetic but sadly due to the time she’s living in has to hide this part of herself. The characters are very well realised with Hugo being extremely complex. She’s not perfect (none are) by any means but she’s undoubtedly a icon, you really root for her despite the methods she applies to get what she wants but at the end of the day, she did what she did to survive and was only acting in accordance with a male-dominated, misogynistic society that places beauty and whiteness with too high a regard. Despite a later negative, I would say she’s certainly well-written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Personally I wasn’t the most keen on the domestic abuse storyline in the book. It was mostly done well but some parts did irk me. I also found the writing to be a little basic, not being the masterpiece I was promised in all honesty. A final note of meh was a certain thing that happens but I won’t expand ~ it’s to do with Harry if you’ve read it.
This book wasn’t the epitome of great literature with there being some parts to be desired but overall it was a very decent read and one I’d be happy to recommend. I also think I’d be giving this a re-read in the future as there’s more to be uncovered and generally it’s an entertaining, fast-paced novel that is deserving of the hype… but there are better books in my opinion.
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Cancer, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Racism, Mental illness, Fatphobia, Car accident, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, and Homophobia