Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

753 reviews

1jessicabearx's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

"Evelyn always leaves you hoping you’ll get just a little bit more. And she always denies you."

This book broke my heart and mended it at the same time. The character arcs and relationships were gripping and shocking and beautiful. Harry Cameron you have my absolute heart. 

There were lots of twists and turns, some expected and some completely out of the blue.
There were a few chapters that felt a little slow so that's what dropped this down to a 4 star - but looking back, all was necessary and made perfect sense at the end. 

I’ve learnt so much from this story, I think a little part of me has changed because of this story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Racism, and Pregnancy

fierygecko's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

I think this is the kind of book that deserves to -and should- be read twice. It is written uniquely; its incredible how different enough Monique and Evelyn’s storytelling styles are that you can tell who is the narrator of each chapter without ever being told. Each character is diverse, complex, and so fleshed out. Evelyn is a fantastic protagonist, partly because she has had a wild and morally gray life but also because she’s an unfiltered, brutally honest 79-year-old lady. As the reader you are never told to love or hate her; that is up for you to decide. I think that given the message of the story, you would decide on both. Monique is a lens for Evelyn’s story, almost. She processes Evelyn’s life through her own, and vice versa. She learns from Evelyn, and it’s so satisfying to witness. This book is about love, loss, and learning from your ex-Hollywood elders with a chip on their shoulder. I look forward to reading it a second time in the future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Misogyny, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, and Biphobia

Minor: Pregnancy and Grief

louisa_pre's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

Ich habe das Buch wegen des Hypes angefangen und kann sagen es ist den Hype wert. Es ist definitiv nicht mein Go-to Genre. Obwohl ich auch nicht weiß in welches Genre ich es einordnen würde. Das Buch ist im Prinzip wie eine fiktive biographie geschrieben. Man erfährt alles über das Leben von Evelyn Hugo, die ihr Leben in vollen Zügen gelebt hat. Evelyn Hugo hat alles getan was nötig war, um an die Spitze zu kommen. Wenn sie eines nicht war, dann ist es naiv, sie verstand wie die Welt funktionierte und machte es sich zu nutzen. Sie erlebte Liebe, Leid, Glück, Ruhm, Verlust, 7 Ehen, das  Muttersein und alles was das Leben zu bieten hat. Was ich an dem Buch so mochte, war, dass ich an keinem Punkt geahnt habe, wie die Geschichte enden wird. Der Leser erfährt auch von Monique, die Evelyns Biografie auf ihren Wunsch schreiben soll. Doch warum ausgerechnet Monique das Buch schreiben soll erfährt man erst am Ende. Mir hat der Schreibstil auch sehr gefallen und wie das Buch aufgebaut war. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Car accident, Cancer, Abortion, Suicide, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Sexism

bellasierra's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Biphobia, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Abortion, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Outing and Suicide

badbadwolf's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Outing, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Homophobia, Suicide, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Cancer, Drug use, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Sexual content

amandaacat's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is one of the best books that I’ve read in a long time. I actually listened to the audio book and couldn’t put it down. Taylor Jenkins Reid has written something so timeless and in a way that keeps you entertained throughout. The characters are so real and Evelyn’s story is so heartbreaking and magical. I’ll be thinking of this book for awhile.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, Grief, Child death, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Sexism

jess_always_reading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective 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

5.0

Big breath, okay. 

I'm writing this after just finishing this incredible novel and there are still tears drying on my face because THAT ENDING. 

If I could rate higher than 5 stars I would, this story is beautiful. Jenkins Reid has crafted a suite of characters that are so completely human, complex and evolving, lovable and flawed. A story of love in all its forms, of survival and the way the wounds of our childhood stay with us. Of the pain of living in hiding and in fear. Of a life filled with love, struggle, and loss. 

Evelyn Hugo is a bisexual icon and my heart hurts for her and the many real people who lived and continue to live now in hiding. As a bi+ queer myself, this was so powerful that it left me teary. Don't we all want to find our Harry and Celia?

Lastly, I love the way Jenkins Reid writes Evelyn telling her story. It reads like someone sharing their truths and, in its telling, reveals even more about Evelyn's incredible character. 

100/10 would recommend!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Cancer, and Sexism

emjay2021's review

emotional 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

4.5

Absolute page turner. If you had asked me before if I was that interested in the lives of Golden Age Hollywood movie stars, I would have said, eh, not really. But I could not put this down and essentially read it in two sittings. The story works like this: Monique Grant, a junior writer at a Vanity Fair type magazine, is given a plum writing assignment, a cover story on the glamorous 80 year old former movie star Evelyn Hugo. It turns out Evelyn asked for Monique specifically but won’t reveal exactly why. So, Monique turns up at Evelyn’s New York apartment and hears her life story, warts and all. Interspersed with Evelyn’s rags-to-Hollywood-riches story are snippets from Monique’s life: newly separated from her husband, who has moved from New York to San Francisco for a job.

I thought the parts with Evelyn far outshone the bits with Monique. But we do discover by the end why Evelyn chose Monique specifically, and the book earns back a little bit with that ending.

I thought it was an excellent yarn, and the way the story was told (first person narrative by Evelyn for the most part) was a wise choice. You really do feel like an old movie star is telling you about her life.

There’s nothing particularly earthshaking in here, but that said, I was pleasantly surprised at how much of the narrative addressed social issues like homophobia, racism, and sexism. I was also a little surprised at just how moved I was by the ending of the book.

I enjoyed this at least as much as Daisy Jones and the Six, maybe a little more. I didn’t listen to it as an audiobook but I bet it would be a good one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, Sexism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion and Racism

lucyhicks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

This was such a beautiful look into how much life can change in the span of just a few years, and how complex human relationships are. That love comes in so many shapes and sizes and your entire life can be turned around by just one decision is so beautifully highlighted here. It’s well-loved for a reason!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Homophobia, Grief, Abortion, Biphobia, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Sexual violence

heidi_thompson's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

Just from the dedication, I knew this would be a good book and wow… was I right. I love how it highlighted the complexity of human nature because, after all-

 “no one is all good or all bad… but sometimes it’s easy to forget how true it is. That it applies to everyone.” (Page 366)

I also enjoyed both her primary romantic and non-romantic love stories. There’s many different forms of love and this book emphasized that well. 

Finally, the way that women lived her life despite the patriarchy and even manipulated the male gaze to her benefit was inspiring. Yes, all us women are gorgeous but we are also so much more than that. We are intelligent, strong, courageous, kind, and cunning in our own ways and I think the character Evelyn Hugo encompassed these feminine qualities well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Sexism

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death

Minor: Suicide