Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
178 reviews
gracieec's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Drug use, Misogyny, Cancer, Death, Grief, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Addiction, Biphobia, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Outing
Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, Abortion, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Racism, and Blood
big_nerd'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: Lesbophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Cancer, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Abortion, Alcohol, Biphobia, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicide
nhacco'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
4.75
Spoiler
Célia’s biphobia that isn’t treated as such in the book and is instead treated as a fair reaction. I also find it ridiculous that you would have an actress jealous of another actress filming a sex scene. That makes no sense for an actor and Celia was supposed to be a good oneGraphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Biphobia
thebookwhale's review against another edition
4.25
This book, I absolutely love the concept and the idea. I mean, I love historical fiction, especially when it's sapphic, and this story about Evelyn and also about the film industry is amazing.
I liked that we were introduced to Evelyn through Monique who is writing her biography.
Though, Monique's story felt entirely unnecessary. It felt like it was only there to fill the book, and I would give this book a 5 star review immediately if it weren't for the absolutely unbelievable plot twist.
Spoiler
like no. I literally screamed out of frustration (over the writing) when I read this part. Like what is this"oh you remember the guy I left at the car accident? Yeah that's your father."
Yes, we were waiting for the explanation on why Evelyn chose Monique, but please, it was just so forced. I would have believed it more when the reason was something like "I liked the article you wrote about the struggles of suicidal people".
Also, I just couldn't care less for Monique as a character. I didn't care for her failed marriage or anything, but I understand that we needed to see the influence Evelyn had on people back at her time and also in the present.
Now, let's talk about Celia and Evelyn. I don't get why they are shipped everywhere on social media. Personally, I found both of them extremely toxic together.
Spoiler
Evelyn telling herself that her career is more important than Celia and Celia demanding that Evelyn leaves everything for her, it's just not good.I think what made it even harder for them and had a huge impact on how the relationship went is the taboo that was (and is) on gay relationships. It's interesting to see how the world evolves on queer rights during that time period and also how the importance of Celia's and Evelyn's career in comparison to living out who they are changes throughout the book.
So overall, this was great and the only thing that stops me from a 5 star review is Monique. I didn't like her, I didn't care for her, she felt unnecessary, and I was inclined to skip the parts where she was talking with Evelyn ( I didn't tho).
Still, a great book that's worth a read.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexism
Moderate: Car accident, Biphobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Infertility
idontread'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Biphobia, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Addiction, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Chronic illness, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Child death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Car accident, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Biphobia, Cancer, Grief, Incest, Outing, Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
giannasoph'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
3.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Car accident, Homophobia, Grief, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Biphobia, Infidelity, Suicide, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Cancer, and Animal cruelty
anneschreurs'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Abortion, Body shaming, Cancer, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Fatphobia
cc24680'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? No
4.25
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Death, Lesbophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Biphobia, Car accident, and Homophobia
foxo_cube's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's sort of a framed narrative: the present-day parts of it are from the perspective of Monique, but Evelyn's past - which makes up the bulk of the book - is recounted by her as they sit in her office recording. As Evelyn tells her story and they spend time together, Monique takes some aspects of Evelyn with her, becoming bolder and more forthright. There are cute little newspaper clippings and the like from the time period being spoken about, too, which mostly serve to show the view of complete outsiders divorced (ha) from Evelyn's perspective entirely.
Honestly, I do just adore Evelyn. She's not exactly a beacon of morality, nor does she pretend to be - she knows how to manipulate the people and places around her and does so, compromising herself and others if she sees fit to do so. But that's kind of what makes her so compelling. She's calculating and smart and, overall, dedicated. Most of all, she feels real. Larger than life, for sure, but like a whole person. I'll never not be amazed at fictional characters like that, that make you forget sometimes that they're not real people. Also, she's a bisexual Latina queen. Interesting to me was the aspect of herself who wanted to connect more with her identity as a Cuban, having buried it for the sake of her own marketability. I related to that sense of estrangement to (part of, in my case) one's ethnicity, because I was raised in the UK and barely know my Tico family, and I do cling to any little bit of connection I can get with it.
A big part of the plot is Evelyn's relationship with her sexuality - the internal struggle she has with keeping her career together while not wanting to deny herself her adoration of Celia (and attraction to women as a whole). Owing to the way Evelyn is as a person, and Celia's own flaws, the turbulence of their relationship doesn't feel ridiculous or like conflict has been put there for the sake of it. It's an intense relationship in a time that was unaccepting, and that inevitably strains things. They do just love each other so much, though.
Spoiler
I'm so glad that they were able to live out Celia's final years together without conflict and judgement. Their little wedding together in their bed was just the cutest!!Really, this book is about love in all of its forms, and I am a sucker for that. Evelyn experiences platonic, familial, and romantic love at different points; she discovers the feeling of lust early in her relationship with Don; she is loved as a concept and not as a person by Max; she uses a total lack of love to her advantage in a few of her marriages; she experiences a whole load of emotions over the course of her daughter's life. Even her whole reason for getting Monique to write her biography is influenced a lot by love.
The ending is bittersweet, as seems fitting. It was one of those books that I closed and was like, "well. fuck" and had to take a minute. This is one I look forward to rereading again in the future - although what a shame I won't be able to experience it for the first time again!
Moderate: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Sexism, Racism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicide
mclinc'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
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, and Sexual violence