renciti'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
Spoiler
Making the main character of the book a queer woman of colour and the love of her life actually being a woman instead of any of her husbands was amazing to read. The rockiness of their relationship and the hardships they had to go through just to be together without losing everything they had will send you through about a million emotions. The ending of the book was definitely something I would not have predicted as well. I knew Monique Grant's dad would be involved with Evelyn at some point, I definitely did not expect that ending, however I loved it.Spoiler
Minor: Misogyny, Outing, Car accident, Cursing, Drug abuse, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Drug use, Sexism, Racism, Blood, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Addiction, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Classism, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
kolee_c'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
5.0
I went into this book not expecting much as I’ve never read anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid before. I also haven’t read many books on the publishing industry so I don’t have much contextual knowledge on the background of this book but I still greatly enjoyed reading it. I actually recently read Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, which has ignited a desire to read more about the publishing industry.
The story starts with Monique Grant, a writer for an online company called Vivant who dreams of making a name for herself. She is called into her boss’ office to discuss a potential interview job. The Hollywood starlet, Evelyn Hugo, who has vehemently refused to sit for an interview for decades, has asked to be interviewed by Monique. Of course, Monique takes the job because she would be a fool not to. When she arrives, Monique finds that it is not just some article that she is being asked to write, no, Evelyn wants Monique to write her biography. A tell-all expose about her rise to fame in Hollywood, life as a ‘60s starlet, and the stories behind her seven marriages. As Monique learns more about Evelyn’s life, she starts to realise that she was chosen to write this book for a reason and she may not be able to walk away once she finds out.
The more I read, the more I wanted to consume this book completely. The book alternates between Monique in the present-day sitting in Evelyn’s office and trying to navigate her own life, and chapters from Evelyn’s perspective as she looks back on the past. It was cleverly done and I was pleasantly surprised when I reached the first of Evelyn’s chapters. I read this book in sections; I read up until the story changed to another husband and then stopped to digest what I’d just read. It made it easier to separate each husband’s character otherwise I know I would have gotten confused trying to differentiate each of them. After finishing this book, I can see why it got so many mixed reviews; despite everything you learn about Evelyn, she says doesn’t regret what she did, which many would consider to make her a bad person/character. Personally, I thought this made her seem more realistic and human. Evelyn shows you what it means to be human; that a person can’t be just good or bad, that we have our flaws and that we can also have our merits. I am glad that this was the first book by Taylor Jenkins Reid that I read. It has made me excited to read more of her works.
I am wavering between four and five stars for my rating for several reasons. Firstly, I haven’t read a book like this before, which is a point in its favour. Usually, if a book makes me feel really emotional or even makes me cry, then it would instantly get an extra star added to its rating. I did not cry while reading this. However, I was unable to put this book down once I got to husband number two. Evelyn Hugo felt like a real person to me while learning her story.
So, after thinking about it, I think this book deserves five stars.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Violence, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief
Minor: Abortion, Miscarriage, Suicide, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, and Cancer
akirma'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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Biphobia, Death, and Infidelity
Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape, Terminal illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Death, and Outing
mjs_18'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: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Alcoholism
laneelizabeth'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
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, Outing, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Biphobia, Bullying, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, and Pedophilia
Minor: Rape, Child abuse, Blood, Abortion, and Miscarriage
fkshg8465's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Also thought the book did an excellent job of explaining bisexuality and and limited agency, as well as appreciating LGBTQ historical context.
Graphic: Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Cancer, Death, Car accident, Outing, Alcohol, Biphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Blood, Lesbophobia, and Suicide
amandaquotidianbooks'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
4.0
Moderate: Cancer and Death
Minor: Suicide and Alcoholism
rory18'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: Lesbophobia, Sexism, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Misogyny, Biphobia, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Outing, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Violence, Cancer, Death of parent, Racism, Terminal illness, Suicide, Death, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Police brutality
bluenarcissus'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
5.0
Spoiler
I knew right away that this book would end with the star’s assisted suicide, and I want to emphasize that this is not a weakness or a flaw in this book. Being able to guess the resolution to a mystery simply means that one has correctly picked up on the author’s cues, that we both played our parts. It felt earned, like every good ending. Especially since, like Monique,In addition to its compelling heroines and excellent storytellIng, I’m rating this 5 stars because I so appreciated the complex representation of
Spoiler
queerness. Still women with a lot of privilege, mind, steeped in the self-centered glamour we might expect. But the abiding and contradictory love of two women and how they navigated it, and failed to… The wish and fear to give your all and show it to a world that might instantly reject you… I have felt that, in my own insignificant way. I have hidden from myself and the world be of the certainty I would be thrown away for who I am. It’s oddly impressive to feel so seen in a story so unlike my own.This is a powerful, imperfect, complicated book.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Cancer
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexism, and Biphobia
Minor: Abortion
mesta'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
5.0
kudos
Graphic: Grief, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Death, Cancer, Misogyny, and Infidelity
Moderate: Car accident, Suicide, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Biphobia
Minor: Abortion