Scan barcode
vinyadoggeroo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Abortion, and Death of parent
Ok I got tired of classifying which trigger warnings are minor or major so put almost all of them as moderate. Based on the trigger list the book might seem intimidatingearth_to_mars'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
3.25
I like her additions of the articles, both old and new as it adds to the believability of this being a biography of an Old Hollywood movie star.
The pacing is good, slow enough to digest everything that Ms. Hugo is telling us, but not slow enough to feel like a drag when trying to read through each marriage. All in all, her technical skills are the reason I rated this book higher than I wanted to.
My issues lie within the representation within the book. And while yes, I understand this is historical fiction, there's a way to write bigotry without incorporating homophobic and biphobic tropes in a way that almost seems positive. She incorporates Harry as The Gay Best Friend and Celia as The Bitchy Lesbian both of which are not enjoyable in the slightest. She incorporates the downright biphobic trope - The Cheating Bisexual - twice. Once with Evelyn Hugo herself and possibly again with
It definitely feels as though Reid did not have any sensitivity readers or did any sort of research on marginalized groups or even listen to marginalized voices, which has soured the book for me and why I feel I can only give it a 3.25.
In the end, it's a solid book and the characters and their complexities and flaws are what make the book as good as it is with moments that made my eyes water. But, Reid is in desperate need of making sure her biases/ignorance don't bleed into her writing.
Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Xenophobia, Car accident, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
mcath_hartmann's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Xenophobia
dizzyizzyy'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infertility, Xenophobia, Stalking, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
tessvosper'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
Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Blood
aceatratus'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
4.75
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Xenophobia, and Car accident
carefulfearanddeaddevotion'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
4.75
the story was captivating, the characters were well-rounded and complicated, and the dual timelines were well-executed. she managed to make me care for Monique even though we spent significantly less time in the present. i liked the way the husbands were split up into their own little segments and the little qualifiers before each of their names.
i really really really liked it until the last maybe 100 pages—
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Abortion, Lesbophobia, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Xenophobia
pershie13'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: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Outing
creationwing'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
4.25
Overall, however, the author did a very good job establishing a voice for Evelyn and making me care about her character even if I wouldn't have liked her as a real person.
I love the
I would recommend this book, with the caveat that you'll probably find yourself skimming past the parts about Monique.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Blood, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Classism
I've put minor mentions of eating disorder above, but more accurately it's portrayals of dieting culture/actors restricting their weight for roles.james1star'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? It's complicated
4.5
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.
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Xenophobia, Car accident, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment