Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
1053 reviews
mangofraiche's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Infidelity, Outing, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexual content, Classism, Biphobia, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Abandonment, Death, Alcoholism, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Violence, Cursing, Lesbophobia, and Miscarriage
james1star's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
With over one and a half million 5⭐️ reviews and an average rating of 4.44 on Goodreads, thousands of BookTokers, BookTubers and Bookstagramers singing it’s praises… what are my thoughts?
I was a bit hesitant to start Evelyn Hugo because of how well loved it is and had built it up as a book I was bound to adore. But I am glad I have finally gotten around to it. It’s a great read and, like nearly everyone else who’s read it too, would certainly recommend it. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t cry - despite being close a few times - but it was a very emotive read.
A quick plot summary: we start with the unknown reporter Monique Grant being requested to talk with the now seventy-year-old (I think) Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo. When there, her true intentions come known and she wants Grant to tell her life’s story to the world, everything on show, and in doing so we’re transported back to 1950s America. Hugo details her escape from poverty and a harsh life into that of Hollywood where beauty is everything. She uses her wits and, in many ways, callousness to get the parts she wants, make the necessary connections and throughout her life; seven husbands. At her side throughout is her best friend Harry, and they’re there for each other along the way with Hugo ending her story in the present. As the biography unfolds to its conclusion, a tragic connection between the two women becomes known.
What I really appreciated in this book is that Reid doesn’t wait till the end for one of the two main ‘plot twists’ to come out. Sorry to spoil anything but after the first third (or there about), the true love of Evelyn’s life becomes known… and they’re a woman. This was great because as the reader we get to experience what it’s like to be a queer person from the 50s to the present. It’s a really heartbreaking portrayal at times, knowing that even with all that fame and money she wasn’t able to be her true self (the same to the other queer characters we come across, especially Harry and Celia who had me). But then there’s some really lovely moments too and throughout you’re wishing and hoping things will go one way but mostly they don’t. I also loved how Hugo grapples with exploring her bi identity, it’s really natural and internally she’s unapologetic but sadly due to the time she’s living in has to hide this part of herself. The characters are very well realised with Hugo being extremely complex. She’s not perfect (none are) by any means but she’s undoubtedly a icon, you really root for her despite the methods she applies to get what she wants but at the end of the day, she did what she did to survive and was only acting in accordance with a male-dominated, misogynistic society that places beauty and whiteness with too high a regard. Despite a later negative, I would say she’s certainly well-written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Personally I wasn’t the most keen on the domestic abuse storyline in the book. It was mostly done well but some parts did irk me. I also found the writing to be a little basic, not being the masterpiece I was promised in all honesty. A final note of meh was a certain thing that happens but I won’t expand ~ it’s to do with Harry if you’ve read it.
This book wasn’t the epitome of great literature with there being some parts to be desired but overall it was a very decent read and one I’d be happy to recommend. I also think I’d be giving this a re-read in the future as there’s more to be uncovered and generally it’s an entertaining, fast-paced novel that is deserving of the hype… but there are better books in my opinion.
I was a bit hesitant to start Evelyn Hugo because of how well loved it is and had built it up as a book I was bound to adore. But I am glad I have finally gotten around to it. It’s a great read and, like nearly everyone else who’s read it too, would certainly recommend it. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t cry - despite being close a few times - but it was a very emotive read.
A quick plot summary: we start with the unknown reporter Monique Grant being requested to talk with the now seventy-year-old (I think) Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo. When there, her true intentions come known and she wants Grant to tell her life’s story to the world, everything on show, and in doing so we’re transported back to 1950s America. Hugo details her escape from poverty and a harsh life into that of Hollywood where beauty is everything. She uses her wits and, in many ways, callousness to get the parts she wants, make the necessary connections and throughout her life; seven husbands. At her side throughout is her best friend Harry, and they’re there for each other along the way with Hugo ending her story in the present. As the biography unfolds to its conclusion, a tragic connection between the two women becomes known.
What I really appreciated in this book is that Reid doesn’t wait till the end for one of the two main ‘plot twists’ to come out. Sorry to spoil anything but after the first third (or there about), the true love of Evelyn’s life becomes known… and they’re a woman. This was great because as the reader we get to experience what it’s like to be a queer person from the 50s to the present. It’s a really heartbreaking portrayal at times, knowing that even with all that fame and money she wasn’t able to be her true self (the same to the other queer characters we come across, especially Harry and Celia who had me). But then there’s some really lovely moments too and throughout you’re wishing and hoping things will go one way but mostly they don’t. I also loved how Hugo grapples with exploring her bi identity, it’s really natural and internally she’s unapologetic but sadly due to the time she’s living in has to hide this part of herself. The characters are very well realised with Hugo being extremely complex. She’s not perfect (none are) by any means but she’s undoubtedly a icon, you really root for her despite the methods she applies to get what she wants but at the end of the day, she did what she did to survive and was only acting in accordance with a male-dominated, misogynistic society that places beauty and whiteness with too high a regard. Despite a later negative, I would say she’s certainly well-written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Personally I wasn’t the most keen on the domestic abuse storyline in the book. It was mostly done well but some parts did irk me. I also found the writing to be a little basic, not being the masterpiece I was promised in all honesty. A final note of meh was a certain thing that happens but I won’t expand ~ it’s to do with Harry if you’ve read it.
This book wasn’t the epitome of great literature with there being some parts to be desired but overall it was a very decent read and one I’d be happy to recommend. I also think I’d be giving this a re-read in the future as there’s more to be uncovered and generally it’s an entertaining, fast-paced novel that is deserving of the hype… but there are better books in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Cancer, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Racism, Mental illness, Fatphobia, Car accident, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, and Homophobia
jillysmith's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Maybe I'm finally burning out on Taylor Jenkins-Reid as this is the third of hers I've read this year. Her stories are well crafted hugs and I get the sense she loves all her characters, and always finds redeeming qualities in them, even the ones you want to hate. Evelyn Hugo is a film star of old with seven husbands under her belt. She's a little bit Marilyn Monroe, a little bit Liz Taylor, and the narrative consistently tells us how edgy and difficult she is, while we see her be a warm hearted and intelligent protagonist. Her great love is fellow actress Celia, and the seven husbands are various ways for her to get close to and away from her great love as she tries to hide her sexuality in Hollywood. The book keeps alluding to a dark secret and much like other Jenkins-Reid novels wants you to believe peril is around every corner, even though the characters are all much too loved and too lovely to get what's coming to them.
A strange exception to this is Celia, who does not come across well, and the book's modern day protagonist, the journalist writing about Evelyn's life. Neither character is very compelling and instead I found myself very much missing the daughter's point of view throughout.
Complex sexual relationships are navigated with an exploration of consent and trade. But this one didn't land right for me. It didn't sparkle like the previous Jenkins-Reid books I've read
A strange exception to this is Celia, who does not come across well, and the book's modern day protagonist, the journalist writing about Evelyn's life. Neither character is very compelling and instead I found myself very much missing the daughter's point of view throughout.
Complex sexual relationships are navigated with an exploration of consent and trade. But this one didn't land right for me. It didn't sparkle like the previous Jenkins-Reid books I've read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Gore, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Child death, Homophobia, Death, and Rape
tillycrane's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Child death
Minor: Miscarriage
leah08855's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Addiction, Car accident, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content
ljpalgon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Cursing, Death, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Terminal illness, Suicide, and Car accident
cathy_alice's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Homophobia
Moderate: Death of parent and Domestic abuse
Minor: Cancer and Drug use
dariayune's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was like a much needed dive into the compelling world of books 📚 #bonusforreadingwithmygf
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, and Homophobia
lembagel's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
4.75
I reeeeeally didn’t like the “main character.” She bothered me to no end because in my eyes she was like cringey woke millennial. Evelyn Hugo on the other hand? LOVED her. I was so glad most of the book focused on her because she was so interesting and I was so invested in her life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Blood
smolfrog's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
I don't feel like I can give this 5 stars, as I don't think it was perfect, but it was a wild ride and one I'll probably think about for a bit. (And I did finish it in 2 days, so you know I liked it a lot!) This is my first TJR book and I didn't initially connect with her writing style; it felt a little "basic" during the book's initial exposition with Monique. That being said, I think her strength really lies in writing frank, honest dialogue between characters with opposing views/desires, so once those scenes started coming up, I enjoyed the writing a lot more. I think the emotional climax(es) are also written well, portraying the strong emotions the characters feel in the heat of the moment.
This is a book that I felt compelled to keep reading not necessarily because of "twists", but because I wanted to see how the story unfolded. The plot moves along at a quick clip (I would say somewhere between medium- & fast-paced), and I wasn't left unsatisfied when it came to finally seeing the full picture. Some parts of the story I saw coming, some I didn't, but I am very impressed at how TJR crafted a narrative encompassing much of one woman's 80-year life. I also really enjoyed the little clippings from gossip rags and magazines to expand on the plot/world-building in certain chapters.
This is a book that I felt compelled to keep reading not necessarily because of "twists", but because I wanted to see how the story unfolded. The plot moves along at a quick clip (I would say somewhere between medium- & fast-paced), and I wasn't left unsatisfied when it came to finally seeing the full picture. Some parts of the story I saw coming, some I didn't, but I am very impressed at how TJR crafted a narrative encompassing much of one woman's 80-year life. I also really enjoyed the little clippings from gossip rags and magazines to expand on the plot/world-building in certain chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Alcohol, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Misogyny
Minor: Suicide, Infidelity, Biphobia, and Abortion