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Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
130 reviews
astrangewind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Despite liking the plot, I liked neither Monique nor Evelyn. I think Evelyn isn't meant to be a likable character; she herself even claims she's a bad person to Monique's face. That's the whole point of the book. She's beautiful, and cruel, and generous, and loving. All of these things at once. However, Monique was probably meant to be likable, but I found her mostly annoying, and her own story much less compelling than Evelyn's.
I am happy that this book is queer, and I'm happy that it's not just about being queer during puberty, as a lot of books with queer characters are. It's about being queer in Hollywood in the late 20th century, dodging the media and dealing with the AIDS crisis. That said, it bugs me that the only characters who treat Evelyn with any kind of respect are queer.
Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, and Car accident
amandaacat'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
celery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
thimi_time'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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Blood
mobymaize'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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage
craftysnailtail's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
The characters were so vibrant and their stories absolutely captivated me. Evelyn is unlike any other main character I've ever encountered. The nuance of love and loss and all the gray areas found in those things are highlighted beautifully in this novel. At times I was frustrated with Evelyn's choices, but once I finished it, I couldn't stop thinking about it. About her.
If you're in the mood for a reflective, historical, and rather melancholy read- I'd recommend it. I also think it's an important read if you're part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Suicide, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
whenmalanereads'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? It's complicated
5.0
"The world doesn't give you things, you takes things."
"That's what I traded my virginity for...a ride to Hollywood."
"And it will be the tragedy of my life that I cannot love you enough to make you mine."
"Make them pay you what they would pay a white man."
I have to be very honest. I started this book with the paperback copy and I couldn't get into it. It was slow-paced and I abandoned it for another book. This was last year.
I'm happy to say I came back and finished the book. Clearly. Just in audio book format. I REALLY loved the audio book. I adored the narrators and I was very endeared with the voice of Evelyn. It in a way reminded me of my nanny's voice. The way words would be inflected and the way the sassy attitude comes out in tone of voice.
I always loved the idea of this book and I'm glad I circled back to it sometime later. I found the old Hollywood glamour fun and exciting. I would think I knew where it was going and then be wrong. Which I appreciate in a book. Though about halfway through I did figure it all out.
While I didn't particularly connect with any one character, I found myself being drawn to almost all of them. Except Don. Iykyk.
I found times where the book was quite sad and I found times where I was laughing to myself. It was such a descriptive book that I really felt immersed into the world of Evelyn Hugo. I felt like I could have been at an Oscars event or on the red carpet or being a fan seeing her in an ice cream shop.
I thought her love for her friends and lovers was so genuine even though she could sometimes be going astray and I would find myself thinking "Oh my god Evelyn. Don't do that." It was interesting that Evelyn would go to the lengths she did to be with her one true love.
I fiercely recommend this book. It is well worth the hype and you won't regret it. While I do recommend it in audio book form, I think however you prefer to partake you won't be disappointed.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
rissaread'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
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer and Suicide
rayaufebay'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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Body shaming, Cancer, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
gomhearts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i found myself not being able to put the book down and honestly think i read through it a little to fast.
if not for the ending, it would be almost at a 5. honestly the ending was good. but the major plot twist i really found anticlimactic to be completely honest... but the rest of the book? gripping. phenomenal. worth the hype.
i didn't read this book last year because it was all over booktok and i was just so annoyed seeing it everywhere... but i GET it. i get the praise it's received.
i love the whole idea of a hollywood tell-all. i love generational books where we get to see her life progress so quickly but through the decades THROUGH the husbands she's married.
the biggest plot twist in the book speaking on
this book made me so excited to just keep reading (i texted my boyfriend a few times telling him that i don't want it to end) and then... just kept reading.
as for characters, i liked monique. i think she was a brave, daring individual. i think it's really cool that her story was eclipsed by the inner character, evelyn, and this book was basically monique's book in the book, no? monique wasn't the main character at all to me, but she made me feel like i was her? she was me? and MONIQUE'S DECISION AT THE END? brilliant. tragic. but brilliant. especially after evelyn was noted to be buried
i'm so... WOW. i'm very pleased by this book. :) excited for the re-read!
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Car accident, and Toxic friendship