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michela_ognibeni's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Fatphobia
junglejelly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Grief, Cancer, and Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol, Biphobia, Child death, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Abortion
saricostanzo'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
Graphic: Child death, Outing, Self harm, Sexism, Car accident, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Death, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Abortion, Biphobia, Cancer, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
giulianalb99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Sexual harassment, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Racism, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Death, Sexism, Biphobia, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Grief, and Sexual content
kelburke'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
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Car accident, Biphobia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Fatphobia, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Minor: Abortion
adalinemccormick'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
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Biphobia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, and Pedophilia
Minor: Fatphobia, Abortion, Terminal illness, and Mental illness
anniefwrites'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
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Sexism
Moderate: Abortion, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness
Minor: Racism, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, and Fatphobia
bookaddictlt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Most of it read like Reid set out to see how many trigger warnings, toxic behaviors, and problematic representations as she could. Off the top of my head, the book includes misogyny, abuse, grooming, sexual assault, disordered eating, death, racism, homophobia, suicide, and miscarriage/infertility.
The “twist” was neither surprising nor necessary. The primary relationship of the book is one of the most toxic things I’ve read trying to pass as romantic.
While the problematic items weren’t overt, they walked the line of falling to extremely problematic easily.
I have not read any of Taylor Jenkin Reid’s other novels, but after some research, feel the need to call out how she is on the verge of becoming problematic herself, not just her novels. She is a wealthy, cis, straight, white woman who has opted in her last few novels to only write POC and LGBTQ+ characters. She states it’s to help with inclusion efforts, which is a good intent. I believe her. However, the publishing industry is riddled with the strangling of Own Voices not being published. Reid’s books are decidedly successful. As such, she is now in a position where instead of furthering inclusion, she is part of the problem by proving to publishers they can both make money and not make strides to actually diversify publishing. Add to that that her POC characters' stories are problematic and stereotyped, and she is quickly starting to profit off the appearance of diversity without making a positive impact.
Overall, the book is written well enough. The story is not for me. I don’t like trauma for trauma’s sake, I find it neither shocking nor exciting when written that way. I will most likely not read any other of Reid’s books, and will definitely not buy new as she is not an author I care to support.
This hyped book is just that - hyped. Don’t waste your time.
Graphic: Grief, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Death, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Moderate: Grief, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
Minor: Car accident, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Alcohol
thatswhatshanread'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
It’s quite shocking that it took me so long to read this, though I suspect a lot of it had to do with the fact that I had such high hopes and had heard so much unadulterated praise. Ever the pessimist, I was afraid it would disappoint me.
I’m VERY GLAD to report, that it did not disappoint me at all, and actually was much more than I hoped for. An incredible epic of a story-within-a-story, a biographical account of a fictional starlet with many marriages and headlines, but only one true love kept secret for most of her life.
I love TJR’s writing, her layered and complicated story building eclipsed only by the bold and complex characters she creates. Evelyn isn’t supposed to be someone you just love, but she is someone you absolutely root for, despite all her flaws. Because there’s Celia, the truth behind it all. (And Harry, whom I adored so much.)
One of the best novels I’ve ever read that accurately tackles the duality of humanity and fame, with a central focus on the LGBTQ+ community. Phenomenal.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Chronic illness, Classism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Racism, Suicide, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Drug use, Outing, Physical abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Self harm, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Abortion, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, and Eating disorder
katiea714'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
Graphic: Drug use, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Addiction, Alcohol, Classism, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content, Sexism, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, Grief, and Terminal illness