leah08855'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: Homophobia, Addiction, Car accident, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content
tigcr'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: Homophobia, Death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Cancer
Minor: Abortion
cathy_alice'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
5.0
Graphic: Death and Homophobia
Moderate: Death of parent and Domestic abuse
Minor: Cancer and Drug use
librerin'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
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide
Moderate: Abortion, Homophobia, and Cancer
Minor: Racism
leahlesle'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
4.5
I am very conservative with my book ratings, and this is the highest I have ever rated a book, to date -- because I cannot think of any other books that felt quite as honest, and as human, as this one.
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, and Suicide
allapaz's review against another edition
3.0
was expecting evelyn hugo to be at least minimally likeable, but man, I had a rough time with her character. there were golden nuggets in here for sure, and something about TJR's writing keeps me reading even when I'm less than hooked. I just really wanted this one to blow me away like it has for so many people
Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexism, Rape, Sexual content, and Cancer
hobbit_at_heart'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: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Death, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Car accident, Grief, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Suicide, Abortion, and Miscarriage
smolfrog'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
4.25
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.
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
caitlyn_drago_1226's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Grief, Fatphobia, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Chronic illness, Child death, Cancer, Biphobia, Blood, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Car accident
Moderate: Suicide
archiviodisilvia'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
3.5
Minor: Abortion, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content