Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

395 reviews

librerin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• 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

I was riveted to Evelyn's story the whole way through. I loved how much space was given to let her character reflect on and own her history. I also enjoyed the various examples of what it means to be a family, to be in a partnership, and to be loved. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide

Moderate: Abortion, Homophobia, and Cancer

Minor: Racism

kedalrymple's review against another edition

I was very excited to read this book as it seemed to tick a lot of the categories of what I like. Even the start seemed to be more engaging than a lot of books. However, it didn’t take long for the language to start to feel uncomfortable, specifically when discussing race and body image. Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that this is an author who is writing popular fiction with the goal of it being picked up by Hollywood. It seems odd that the author would choose to develop main characters of different races, gender identities, and body types than her own, and do so little work to actually research what it is like for people who identify with those traits. Sadly it came across as stereotypical, heteronormative, and  sexist. Clearly this author is trying to fill her books with the types of characters that Hollywood is desperately seeking to  “include” but is skipping the hard work necessary to check her own priorities and privileges beforehand even attempting to write about a character from a different culture than her own. How disappointing. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Misogyny, and Lesbophobia

allapaz's review against another edition

3.0

underwhelmed and sad about it
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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexism, Rape, Sexual content, and Cancer

te_ss_i's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Terminal illness, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Misogyny, Addiction, Outing, Suicide, Car accident, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Violence

fanboyriot's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

4.5

Read For:

Bi Icon

Sapphic

Actress MC

Old Hollywood Setting

Interview Style Storytelling

I’m not sure what I was expecting when I started reading this but this was not it but not in a bad way.  I’ve had this book for so long that I kind of went into this knowing nothing.  

I loved how this was told, the interview, and the old newspaper articles, it isn’t something I read often so it was kinda cool.  This book definitely has a charm to it, the world of old Hollywood and the dreams and damage it caused.  There were happy moments, a little spice, and some good old angst as well.

Evelyn was an icon and while she might not have been a good person she sure was captivating and the life of the party.  You either wanted to be her or be with her.  She kind of gave off Marilyn Monroe vibes.

The line at the end: 

“Doesn’t it bother you?  That your husbands have become such a headline story, so often mentioned, that they have nearly eclipsed your work and yourself?  That all anyone talks about when they talk about you are the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo?”

And her answer was quintessential Evelyn.

“No,” she told me.  “Because they are just husbands.  I am Evelyn Hugo.  And anyway, I think once people know the truth, they will be much more interested in my wife.”

      - (Chapter 69, Page 385)

I waited the whole book to read that line alone and it was so worth it.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ (4.5/5)

Release Date: 13, June 2017

POV: First Person

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Rep:  Bisexual (MC), Lesbian (LI), Gay SCs, Latinx MC 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Cursing, Mental illness, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Death, Suicide, Classism, Emotional abuse, Biphobia, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Child death, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Car accident, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Outing, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Body shaming, Toxic friendship, Murder, Cancer, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, and Drug abuse

Minor: Vomit, Abortion, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Self harm, Xenophobia, and Fatphobia

hypofocus's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring 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

Never has a book about an outlandish Hollywood star made me feel so deeply. A beautiful tale about what it means to love, to be loved, and to love yourself despite your faults. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Racism

historicalmaterialgirl's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

This book completely lived up to the hype for me. It was funny, reflective, twisted and I was hooked the second Evelyn's character begins speaking. I was so impressed to see a story fit for a soap opera or telenovela become knotted up with a commentary on celebrity, women's objectification, greed, pain and love. This book was written with a capital W! This book was edited with a capital E! High school English teachers everywhere should ditch Gatsby's green light for Evelyn's emerald dresses.... 💚 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Homophobia and Sexism

Minor: Racism and Suicide

renciti's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring 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

I think something I've realized about myself is how much I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing. This is the second book of hers I've read that I've found myself completely hooked by. I swear I think about at least one of her books once a day. 

Spoiler

Making the main character of the book a queer woman of colour and the love of her life actually being a woman instead of any of her husbands was amazing to read. The rockiness of their relationship and the hardships they had to go through just to be together without losing everything they had will send you through about a million emotions. The ending of the book was definitely something I would not have predicted as well. I knew Monique Grant's dad would be involved with Evelyn at some point, I definitely did not expect that ending, however I loved it.

Spoiler

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Content Warnings

Minor: Misogyny, Outing, Car accident, Cursing, Drug abuse, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Drug use, Sexism, Racism, Blood, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Addiction, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Classism, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse

rory18's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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

4.5

A really lovely book, and the plot is tied together well. My only complaint is that at times the emotional scenes between the central pair seem a little stilted, as if the author isn't very confident at writing a love story between two women, although it still feels authentic. A captivating book, and it says something that its appeal transcends genres so much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Sexism, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Misogyny, Biphobia, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Outing, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Violence, Cancer, Death of parent, Racism, Terminal illness, Suicide, Death, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Police brutality

rodent_scribbles's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• 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

4.0

A beautiful and complex story about fame, womanhood, queerness, and race. The characters around Evelyn Hugo feel complex and multi-dimensional.

I was not a big fan of the voice in Monique's POV, especially at the beginning, but don't let that put you off. Once Evelyn starts talking, the pages just fly by.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Death, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Car accident, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Abortion