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
amys_hygge_reads'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
4.75
The Story 📚
Possibly a story that needs no introduction! The book tells the biography of a fictional 1950s/60s actress, Evelyn Hugo. Evelyn is an icon of the glamorous era of Hollywood. Through her years, Evelyn was married to seven different men, something which the tabloids of the time loved to write stories on. But what is Evelyn’s truth? Did she love these men, and was Hollywood as glamorous as the world betrays?
The Review 👩🏻💻
I have been trying to think of what to say about this book all weekend - and in particular what rating! In the end I went with 4.75 (that extra .75 makes a difference - thanks StoryGraph!!).
I started this book on a recent holiday to Cyprus, and it really was a perfect holiday read. Honestly going into the book, I thought it sounded a bit boring and not my cup of tea. But I quickly became lost in the world that Taylor so colourfully and vividly created. I was quickly hooked, wanting to find out more. The newspaper articles were a really interesting addition, that really made you feel like you were in that time too. Also helpful for the date, to keep track with the timeline.
There was some brilliant characters throughout this story. At times we weren’t supposed to like Evelyn, but I found the character development brilliant. A special mention has to go to both Harry and Cecilia, loved their storylines. I do wish we seen a bit more of Connor though.
The ending is where the book looses the fifth star. While the twist was interesting, it fell a little short for me. Almost like it was mentioned and done with so quickly, after all the build up. I didn’t really care for it, and it’s not a part of the story that will stick with me.
That being said, I really enjoyed this read, quite unexpectedly. Would definitely read more of Taylor’s work. Any recommendations of which one to read next?
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Biphobia
Moderate: Cancer, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, and Sexism
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
minimicropup'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: Sexism, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Terminal illness, Infidelity, Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Abortion
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
wackzo'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Hate crime, Abandonment, Death of parent, Homophobia, Child abuse, Death, Biphobia, Cancer, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
shaysnotokay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Chronic illness, Death, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Biphobia, Body shaming, Drug use, Rape, and Sexism
marslotus'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
4.25
She's introduced as honest and forthcoming, but is often presumptuous when speaking to Evelyn. It almost feels like two different people wrote the book, as I felt talked down to when explained bisexuality and LGBTQ+ issues by Monique's perspective. I would expect this from a teen novel, not from this story.
But I can't deny my eyes watering at least twice near the end of the book. This is a good story, maybe my personal preference is just getting in the way of fuly enjoying that. I didn't feel it had a strong start, but I'm glad it got better the farther along I read.
Graphic: Infidelity, Car accident, Death, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Cursing, Death of parent, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Outing, Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Physical abuse
Minor: Sexism, Violence, Child abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
imaginationindex'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
- Once again, TJR delivers in the writing style. It is so captivating and descriptive and emotional and so many more words that I don’t know how to explain it. But she does
- Hollywood Era, glitz and glam aesthetic (but ya know, minus all the racism and sexism)
- Monique’s POV. You only ever here about the titular character and mentions of Celia, so I’m glad Monique was there as an outside perspective and given a character arc of her own.
- Clever Evelyn
Spoiler
(I’ve placed this lower because as much as she was two steps ahead and used her body to her advantage, she’s not a great person.) - The twist… didn’t see it coming
- The hyper sexuality of bisexuality. Not all bi people want to sleep with everyone. Not all bi people cheat. Not all bi people use their partners.
- I had to read about Mick Riva again. Ew.
- Certain Husbands
Spoiler
specifically #2, #3 and #6 - The twist… didn’t see it coming, but it’s also here because I didn’t find it necessary. We already had a great story, why was this included?
Moderate: Suicide, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Sexism, Rape, and Terminal illness