Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

197 reviews

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*

---

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. 

---

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

kadyk59's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Death of parent, Racism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Cultural appropriation

zoeysdigest's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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

A fictional masterpiece. I could not stop reading. The plot was fast but you wouldn't be left feeling unsatisfied. The twists that I didn't see coming were very rewarding as a reader. It was exhilarating, tender, thought-provoking and nerve-racking all the same. 

🎯 The parallel of Monique's life and Evelyn's life added a special layer to the story unfolding. Monique's reactions were what mine would have been at most points, and witnessing Evelyn's response to her reaction made it feel like Evelyn was responding to me in real-time as she told me her story
🎯

The obvious twist that is: Celia was her true love, and how this question was dangled from the start. I felt that it was such a genius drop and perhaps because I was too immersed in Evelyn's story, I did not see it coming. I loved the irony of it all, that the title is about her 7 husbands; and how the general reader's curiosity would be 'which is her true love; and how her true love in that sense was none.

🎯

The last twist; the mystery from the start: why did Evelyn choose Monique? Amazing and brilliant build-up that caught me off guard.

🎯 Evelyn's energy, self-awareness and straightforwardness helped move the story along at a brief yet thoughtful pace
🎯 The exploration of a kind of love (Cameron) beyond just romantic love that is so vital and fulfilling in our lives. And the emphasis that connection and intimacy is more than just sex.
🎯 The plight and struggle of people who were the 'outcast' be it due to sexuality, wealth or ethnicity.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse

lizzyjean's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective tense fast-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

4.5

This book was fantastic! Reading about the complicated life of an actress, from the politics of it all to the emotional sides of the characters, was an incredibly unique experience, and was done to absolute perfection.

Just as Evelyn wanted, I both love and hate her after reading that book!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Car accident, Suicide, Cancer, Terminal illness, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Pregnancy, Racism, Abortion, Drug abuse, and Outing

There are multiple depictions of domestic abuse between Evelyn and

Don Adler

. Evelyn

gets an abortion

. Evelyn, Celia St. James, and Connor are

diagnosed with terminal illnesses, including breast cancer

. AIDS, as well as the deaths behind it, is mentioned. While it doesn’t outwardly say that

Evelyn committed suicide

, it is strongly implied, arguably it is exactly what happens.

kteliza28's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

Listened to this in audiobook format and absolutely loved it. I was hooked right away and loved the story within a story narrative. I love a good timeline and though the events and characters were fictional, this story felt so raw and real and really shed a light on the complexities around being queer in the midcentury. Evelyn is one of those characters that you love despite all her flaws, even at the end when you see her for her worst flaw, she is still human and unapologetically herself. I felt there were so many questions I had that all were answered at the end. The only perfect character in my eyes in this story is Harry and I loved how real their love for each other was throughout decades. There’s so much to say about this book but I think it really holds dear all of life’s tragedies and presents them in a digestible light that anyone can relate to.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Addiction, Pregnancy, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Death

Minor: Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Suicide

teaz_readz's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

This book was beautiful. So sad and romantic, the perfect “right-person-wrong-time.” Evelyn’s character was tragically human and flawed. Incredible read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Biphobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, Car accident, Infidelity, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Abortion

lauraharbo's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Violence, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault

starlitpage's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

The book was well written, and extremely engrossing. However, I found it hard to enjoy when I often disliked the characters and disagreed with their actions morally. The writing is such that I understand their motivations, but my star rating is strongly colored by how I personally liked it, and I have very different views on things like marriage than someone with seven husbands.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, Lesbophobia, Death, Racism, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Suicide, Abortion, Biphobia, and Terminal illness

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Outing, and Homophobia

This book looks at discrimination (racism, etc) that Evelyn faced in Hollywood; the book does not condone that, though, and does not excuse it as a product of its time or otherwise.

joymaxineb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Sexual content

Moderate: Abortion, Death, Drug use, Cursing, Death of parent, and Drug abuse