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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
Repetitively boring with a despicable lead character who is obsessed with herself, her fame, her career, and her money. I did not like this book at all, and the only infuriating reason why I gave it 2 stars instead of one is because I wanted to find out this woman’s secret, cleverly revealed in the last few pages to keep me hooked.
I know I was supposed to feel for Evelyn Hugo and the denied “forbidden” Hollywood love she held (no spoilers), but I despise being told by an author - over and over - what the character feels and how I should feel about it. Let me experience it. Let me decide what to think without banging your point over my head with the sledgehammer of your pen.
The 7 husbands could have easily been whittled down to 2, maybe 3. The way that Hugo would dispose of people, whom she readily admits she uses and manipulates for her own gain whether for sex, power, prestige, or movie roles was so callous and irritating, and it dwarfed the small empathy I may have had for Hugo, swallowing whole any vestige of concern or care that may have been extended to her. Frankly, Evelyn Hugo was incredibly annoying, and I wanted her to suffer at the end like she had made me suffer for hours of torture pushing through Reid’s novel.
I will say that Reid does try to paint between the black and white moral lines of a person’s intentions and actions, but the consequences are far more serious and, I felt, treated in a cavalier fashion. She also did try to show how being in a woman in Hollywood was incredibly difficult considering the chauvinistic male-dominated culture, and she slyly figured out how to use her “assets” as a means to her end.
I had hopes that this would be somewhat decent considering how popular this book has been and the rave reviews it has received. I simply don’t see it, and I am more annoyed with spending as much as I did with Reid’s book. I can only hope she is able to write better, more substantial books in the future.
I know I was supposed to feel for Evelyn Hugo and the denied “forbidden” Hollywood love she held (no spoilers), but I despise being told by an author - over and over - what the character feels and how I should feel about it. Let me experience it. Let me decide what to think without banging your point over my head with the sledgehammer of your pen.
The 7 husbands could have easily been whittled down to 2, maybe 3. The way that Hugo would dispose of people, whom she readily admits she uses and manipulates for her own gain whether for sex, power, prestige, or movie roles was so callous and irritating, and it dwarfed the small empathy I may have had for Hugo, swallowing whole any vestige of concern or care that may have been extended to her. Frankly, Evelyn Hugo was incredibly annoying, and I wanted her to suffer at the end like she had made me suffer for hours of torture pushing through Reid’s novel.
I will say that Reid does try to paint between the black and white moral lines of a person’s intentions and actions, but the consequences are far more serious and, I felt, treated in a cavalier fashion. She also did try to show how being in a woman in Hollywood was incredibly difficult considering the chauvinistic male-dominated culture, and she slyly figured out how to use her “assets” as a means to her end.
I had hopes that this would be somewhat decent considering how popular this book has been and the rave reviews it has received. I simply don’t see it, and I am more annoyed with spending as much as I did with Reid’s book. I can only hope she is able to write better, more substantial books in the future.
Love it. Beautiful. Couldn't put it down. Truly impressed with the author's creativity and writing, it was perfectly constructed beginning to end.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed the plot but didn't find the characters particularly well fleshed out, nor were they super likeable. I did like Evelyn, but Monique was fickle. If there was a bit more world-building/descriptions to balance out the dialogue I think I would've enjoyed this book more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Car accident
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Suicide, Terminal illness, Abortion, Death of parent
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
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
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes