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why_eliza_reads 's review for:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
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
This is one of those books where when I'm done I just need to put it down and think about it for a little bit...
Because wow.
There are so many facets to this book, I don't even know where to start.
For one, all the different kinds of love, relationships and marriages that were shown and portrayed. Love of yourself, love for others, familial love, romantic love, platonic love, it's all there to warm your heart.
That takeaway seems to be the easiest, given that the title tells the reader straight away that Evelyn has a series' of marriages. And diving into a story about love won and lost is exactly what I was expecting.
What I didn't expect was to have a fictional character so neatly tie together so many women from cinematic history. Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Elizabeth Taylor and so many more I'm sure.
Did you know that Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Carmen Cansino? That she had to dye her hair and change her name to make it big? So much of women are erased for the male gaze. So many BIPOC people have to rid themselves of their ethnicity to appeal to the masses. Queer people literally closet themselves. People lose bits of themselves to fit a narrative for an easy life. This book not only highlights that, but shows how much you lose while doing so.
Evelyn is probably one of the most nuanced and three-dimensional characters I've ever read. She had drive, she had growth, she had achievements, she had regrets. And I liked her, despite all her selfish misgivings. Because she's human. And I think everyone can see a bit of themselves in Evelyn Hugo.
The hype of this book is justified. There were a few places that I thought the symbolism was too on-the-nose, and the big plot twist was a little predictable. But otherwise? It was amazing. Might change to 5 stars later, who knows.
Because wow.
There are so many facets to this book, I don't even know where to start.
For one, all the different kinds of love, relationships and marriages that were shown and portrayed. Love of yourself, love for others, familial love, romantic love, platonic love, it's all there to warm your heart.
That takeaway seems to be the easiest, given that the title tells the reader straight away that Evelyn has a series' of marriages. And diving into a story about love won and lost is exactly what I was expecting.
What I didn't expect was to have a fictional character so neatly tie together so many women from cinematic history. Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Elizabeth Taylor and so many more I'm sure.
Did you know that Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Carmen Cansino? That she had to dye her hair and change her name to make it big? So much of women are erased for the male gaze. So many BIPOC people have to rid themselves of their ethnicity to appeal to the masses. Queer people literally closet themselves. People lose bits of themselves to fit a narrative for an easy life. This book not only highlights that, but shows how much you lose while doing so.
Evelyn is probably one of the most nuanced and three-dimensional characters I've ever read. She had drive, she had growth, she had achievements, she had regrets. And I liked her, despite all her selfish misgivings. Because she's human. And I think everyone can see a bit of themselves in Evelyn Hugo.
The hype of this book is justified. There were a few places that I thought the symbolism was too on-the-nose, and the big plot twist was a little predictable. But otherwise? It was amazing. Might change to 5 stars later, who knows.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Car accident, Abortion, Lesbophobia, Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death