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lazmataz's review
- 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: Cancer, Car accident, Blood, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Outing, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Suicide
Moderate: Racism, Abandonment, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infertility, Pandemic/Epidemic, Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Drug use, Pregnancy, Addiction, Eating disorder, Abortion, Stalking, and Cursing
tessvosper'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
Graphic: Sexual violence, Homophobia, Biphobia, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Outing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Rape, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Xenophobia, Infertility, and Body shaming
Minor: Blood
aceatratus's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, Car accident, Alcoholism, and Homophobia
carefulfearanddeaddevotion's review
- 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
4.75
the story was captivating, the characters were well-rounded and complicated, and the dual timelines were well-executed. she managed to make me care for Monique even though we spent significantly less time in the present. i liked the way the husbands were split up into their own little segments and the little qualifiers before each of their names.
i really really really liked it until the last maybe 100 pages—
Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Car accident, Terminal illness, Grief, Homophobia, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Outing, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Blood, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Abortion
Minor: Xenophobia
pershie13's review
- 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
Graphic: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Biphobia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Gore, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Grief, Lesbophobia, Medical content, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Abortion, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Drug use, and Miscarriage
creationwing'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
4.25
Overall, however, the author did a very good job establishing a voice for Evelyn and making me care about her character even if I wouldn't have liked her as a real person.
I love the
I would recommend this book, with the caveat that you'll probably find yourself skimming past the parts about Monique.
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Biphobia, Blood, Car accident, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Death, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Classism, Drug use, Xenophobia, Eating disorder, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Outing, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
I've put minor mentions of eating disorder above, but more accurately it's portrayals of dieting culture/actors restricting their weight for roles.james1star's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I was a bit hesitant to start Evelyn Hugo because of how well loved it is and had built it up as a book I was bound to adore. But I am glad I have finally gotten around to it. It’s a great read and, like nearly everyone else who’s read it too, would certainly recommend it. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t cry - despite being close a few times - but it was a very emotive read.
A quick plot summary: we start with the unknown reporter Monique Grant being requested to talk with the now seventy-year-old (I think) Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo. When there, her true intentions come known and she wants Grant to tell her life’s story to the world, everything on show, and in doing so we’re transported back to 1950s America. Hugo details her escape from poverty and a harsh life into that of Hollywood where beauty is everything. She uses her wits and, in many ways, callousness to get the parts she wants, make the necessary connections and throughout her life; seven husbands. At her side throughout is her best friend Harry, and they’re there for each other along the way with Hugo ending her story in the present. As the biography unfolds to its conclusion, a tragic connection between the two women becomes known.
What I really appreciated in this book is that Reid doesn’t wait till the end for one of the two main ‘plot twists’ to come out. Sorry to spoil anything but after the first third (or there about), the true love of Evelyn’s life becomes known… and they’re a woman. This was great because as the reader we get to experience what it’s like to be a queer person from the 50s to the present. It’s a really heartbreaking portrayal at times, knowing that even with all that fame and money she wasn’t able to be her true self (the same to the other queer characters we come across, especially Harry and Celia who had me). But then there’s some really lovely moments too and throughout you’re wishing and hoping things will go one way but mostly they don’t. I also loved how Hugo grapples with exploring her bi identity, it’s really natural and internally she’s unapologetic but sadly due to the time she’s living in has to hide this part of herself. The characters are very well realised with Hugo being extremely complex. She’s not perfect (none are) by any means but she’s undoubtedly a icon, you really root for her despite the methods she applies to get what she wants but at the end of the day, she did what she did to survive and was only acting in accordance with a male-dominated, misogynistic society that places beauty and whiteness with too high a regard. Despite a later negative, I would say she’s certainly well-written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Personally I wasn’t the most keen on the domestic abuse storyline in the book. It was mostly done well but some parts did irk me. I also found the writing to be a little basic, not being the masterpiece I was promised in all honesty. A final note of meh was a certain thing that happens but I won’t expand ~ it’s to do with Harry if you’ve read it.
This book wasn’t the epitome of great literature with there being some parts to be desired but overall it was a very decent read and one I’d be happy to recommend. I also think I’d be giving this a re-read in the future as there’s more to be uncovered and generally it’s an entertaining, fast-paced novel that is deserving of the hype… but there are better books in my opinion.
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Cancer, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Racism, Mental illness, Fatphobia, Car accident, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, and Homophobia
fanboyriot'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
“Doesn’t it bother you? That your husbands have become such a headline story, so often mentioned, that they have nearly eclipsed your work and yourself? That all anyone talks about when they talk about you are the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo?”
And her answer was quintessential Evelyn.
“No,” she told me. “Because they are just husbands. I am Evelyn Hugo. And anyway, I think once people know the truth, they will be much more interested in my wife.”
Graphic: Sexual assault, Cursing, Mental illness, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Death, Suicide, Classism, Emotional abuse, Biphobia, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Child death, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Car accident, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Outing, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Body shaming, Toxic friendship, Murder, Cancer, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, and Drug abuse
Minor: Vomit, Abortion, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Self harm, Xenophobia, and Fatphobia
rat_girly's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Infidelity, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Blood
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Outing
Minor: Abortion, Suicide, Infertility, Incest, and Drug use
singingshooter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, and Gaslighting
Minor: Homophobia, Abortion, Blood, Eating disorder, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, and Misogyny