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bxnny's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Lesbophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Biphobia, Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Hate crime, Drug use, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Outing, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
vi_holmes'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
5.0
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 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:
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.
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
whenmalanereads'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? It's complicated
5.0
"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.
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
zayzay2'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Hate crime, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, and Outing
samshort'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
4.25
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Car accident, Homophobia, Misogyny, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Biphobia, Sexism, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Racism, Infidelity, and Child abuse
Minor: Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Blood, Abortion, Medical content, Outing, Police brutality, Eating disorder, Hate crime, and Miscarriage
kteliza28'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
4.5
Moderate: Drug abuse, Addiction, Pregnancy, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Death
Minor: Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
violetbentbackwards1036'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
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Car accident, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Blood, Cursing, Suicide, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Outing, Hate crime, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Violence
undecidedpersonality'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Car accident, Blood, and Misogyny
Moderate: Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Grief, Lesbophobia, Outing, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Terminal illness, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Medical content, Suicide, Biphobia, Child death, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
disneyfan_1711'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
5.0
Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Cancer, Death, Classism, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Grief, Hate crime, Mental illness, Outing, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
valsometimesreads'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
4.25
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Hate crime and Suicide