lilly0009's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, Homophobia, Sexism, and Drug use
Minor: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Racism, and Death of parent
heoleen'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
5.0
Graphic: Car accident and Alcoholism
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Chronic illness
Minor: Racism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Outing, and Pregnancy
saricostanzo'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
Graphic: Child death, Outing, Self harm, Sexism, Car accident, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Death, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Abortion, Biphobia, Cancer, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
giulianalb99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Sexual harassment, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Racism, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Death, Sexism, Biphobia, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Grief, and Sexual content
liv_jones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Old-Hollywood world that TJR has built seems so realistic, down to the explorations of racism, sexism, ageism, and homophobia rampant in the industry. Every character is fleshed out with their own motivations so that no one person is painted as the villain and even Evelyn’s abusers receive some (somewhat undeserved) sympathy from her. Evelyn herself is not supposed to be a good person - she’s messy and complex, with a consistent set of principles that characterise her actions throughout the novel.
However, I did find that the twist ending fell a little flat. There was so much build up to it and just not enough payoff. Perhaps if there had been more of Monique’s narration (which seemed to become less frequent as the novel progressed) or some actual foreshadowing to how Monique’s and Evelyn’s lives intersected instead of just “you’re going to find out why I chose you soon and it’s going to be super shocking and you’re going to hate me”, I think the twist would have had a greater effect. Even if the twist had been revealed earlier in the novel, as soon as it became relevant, that would have given Monique and the reader more time to process it and potentially increase its effect.
Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Complex characters and a beautiful love story set perfectly within the context of Old Hollywood.
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
mackenzieduric's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spoiler
I did not expect the reason why Evelyn had specifically chosen Monique to be the author of her biography and I was genuinely surprised by the reveal and valued the true and tragic connection between them.Spoiler
I also adore the title being “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” when the main love story was Evelyn and Celia, the greatest love in Evelyn’s life was a woman. Her wife. I think this book is a beautiful historical fiction sapphic love story and I finally understand the hype around it.Spoiler
“I think once people know the truth, they will be much more interested in my wife.”Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Alcohol, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Abortion, Alcoholism, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Racism, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Racism, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, and Addiction
particledamage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.75
Seeing good reviews for this books feels like I am on another planet.
This book is genuinely dreadful. It is both rushed and a slog. It is both biphobic and bisexual, racially inclusive and racist, about misogyny and sexist. It's preachy but only ever about like... basic decency things we all agree about. Finding out the author is straight and white clarified the book for me, truly felt like someone had just lovingly pried open my third eye so I could see the truth of the matter.
I honestly don't even think I can neatly summarize all of my complaints here. I sent myself emails with incoherent notes to myself about every new thing that set me off--her "soulmate" being emotionally abusive in patterns identically to her physically abusive spouse. The weird bullying about coming out as if was a CW show handling its first gay plotline and not about two grown women in the 50s and 60s. The weird contrived bit where whenever someone needed to get exposed for something, everyone would suddenly become letter-writers so that the letters could be found. The plot twist that was so insanely stupid I dropped the book.
The way that not only did the book pause to go on diatribes to know that terms like "whore" are bad but also spent an entire chapter knowing every single historical event that has happened, Evelyn was on the right side of it. She's complicated and obsessed with herself and money and glory but don't worry, she was right about Vietnam and treats her hired help well.
God, her character was repugnant but mostly in a dull way. Every character in this story was uninteresting, heinous, or both. Even Harry gets ruined in the end and he was the single enjoyable character the entire way through.
Just... what an awful experience. I'm speechless.
Read it just in a day though, so at least there's that.
Moderate: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Death, Cursing, Biphobia, Abortion, Sexism, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Car accident, Cancer, Outing, Physical abuse, Incest, Homophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Classism, Toxic relationship, Racism, Pedophilia, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Eating disorder, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
bluegenes'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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Death
Moderate: Racism, Cancer, and Physical abuse
Minor: Biphobia and Homophobia
sirenricobooks'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
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Biphobia, Cancer, Chronic illness, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Death, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Abortion, Addiction, Cultural appropriation, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Child death
the_harlequin's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Misogyny, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, Biphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Sexism, Mental illness, and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Abortion, Suicide, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Child death
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Injury/injury detail, and Infertility