Reviews tagging 'Injury/injury detail'

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

116 reviews

liv_jones's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.5

Not gonna lie, when I started reading a book entitled “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”, I was not expecting it to be as sapphic as it was! But that’s the point - just as Evelyn had to mislead the public in order to control the narrative she was putting out, the title draws the reader in with the idea that Evelyn is an insatiable sex symbol who easily tires of men, and only when one is engrossed in the story is it revealed that she was actually completely devoted to one woman. This book is almost the opposite of the unreliable narrator trope - Evelyn has been an unreliable narrator all her life, and it’s only now that she is being completely, brutally, honest, even if that truth hurts. 

The Old-Hollywood world that TJR has built seems so realistic, down to the explorations of racism, sexism, ageism, and homophobia rampant in the industry. Every character is fleshed out with their own motivations so that no one person is painted as the villain and even Evelyn’s abusers receive some (somewhat undeserved) sympathy from her. Evelyn herself is not supposed to be a good person - she’s messy and complex, with a consistent set of principles that characterise her actions throughout the novel. 

However, I did find that the twist ending fell a little flat. There was so much build up to it and just not enough payoff. Perhaps if there had been more of Monique’s narration (which seemed to become less frequent as the novel progressed) or some actual foreshadowing to how Monique’s and Evelyn’s lives intersected instead of just “you’re going to find out why I chose you soon and it’s going to be super shocking and you’re going to hate me”, I think the twist would have had a greater effect. Even if the twist had been revealed earlier in the novel, as soon as it became relevant, that would have given Monique and the reader more time to process it and potentially increase its effect. 

Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Complex characters and a beautiful love story set perfectly within the context of Old Hollywood. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death of parent, and Terminal illness

mackenzieduric's review

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This was the first book I read to get myself back into reading. I’d been meaning to read it for the longest time because of the hype all over the internet from lesbians who love it. It sat in my room collecting dust but once I decided I wanted to get back into reading, it was the first of my neglected books I picked up. And I finished it in 24 hours. 

I loved it. I loved the way the book was formatted, jumping between Monique and Evelyn’s perspective. Going back and forth from Monique’s personal life to Evelyn and Monique speaking to just flashing back to the point in Evelyn’s life she was speaking about. 

I also really enjoyed how the book was cut into parts by each of the seven husbands, each husband representing a particular phase in Evelyn’s life. All those phases being so different and each marriage being for such different reasons. 

Every single character had purpose and none of the characters felt flat to me. Everyone had a reason for being. Each character is also very complex, all flawed in their own ways (some a lot more than others), which I appreciated. 

Spoiler

I did not expect the reason why Evelyn had specifically chosen Monique to be the author of her biography and I was genuinely surprised by the reveal and valued the true and tragic connection between them. 

 

Spoiler

I also adore the title being “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” when the main love story was Evelyn and Celia, the greatest love in Evelyn’s life was a woman. Her wife. I think this book is a beautiful historical fiction sapphic love story and I finally understand the hype around it. 

 

Spoiler

“I think once people know the truth, they will be much more interested in my wife.” 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Alcohol, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Abortion, Alcoholism, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Racism, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Racism, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, and Addiction

shaysnotokay's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

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

the_harlequin's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Misogyny, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, Biphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Sexism, Mental illness, and Infidelity

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Abortion, Suicide, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Child death

Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Injury/injury detail, and Infertility

passionatereader78's review

emotional mysterious 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

This is a beautiful book of reflection and the naked truth. Evelyn Hugo's unapologetic telling of her life story stirs an awaking in Monique. Evelyn helps Monique face some hard truths about her life. There is so much more to this but I don't want to give any spoilers. Taylor did a great job!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Infidelity

Moderate: Abortion, Cancer, Child death, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Car accident

Minor: Child death, Blood, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Outing, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Death

livvmarks's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Alcohol, Cancer, Chronic illness, Outing, Pedophilia, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Classism, Infidelity, Abortion, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Car accident, Cursing, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Injury/injury detail, and Lesbophobia

ambersbakesandbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Car accident, Alcohol, and Grief

Minor: Racism, Injury/injury detail, Suicide, and Sexual content

ularoyal's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

So good and heartwarming and sad and amazing 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/injury detail and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual content, Death, Sexism, and Car accident

potatokao's review

adventurous emotional 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

4.0

i didnt know much going into the book and i really do prefer it that way. the story was paced and structured really well, i love that each section header is husband-at-the-time's names. just when i thought the story found its path and got steady, it took me for a turn with unannounced drama. the intrigue! honestly the perfect setting and time period too.

evelyn is a very confident, self assured woman, her unwavering strength comes across really well in her present day character and in her past, she is very determined to get what she wants and she's smart with it. but even strong smart women can end up in tricky situations with men and in her career, no fault of hers imo. 

there is so much love in this book, familial (born family via monique, chosen family via evelyn), platonic (harry), and romantic. i'm so glad i didnt know going in who her true love was

Spoiler

but the tension in that one scene made it so clear to me, i loved the way it was written. the way bisexuality was represented was also beautiful, chefs kiss. it's not that there was something in her that couldn't be satisfied while dating a woman. it's that she didn't know when to stop prioritizing herself and her career, even when she had stability and other options. i really do believe her love for celia was whole and pure. and her love for harry, god i wept.

her life experience, what she's lived through without regret, gives her so much wisdom. i feel like i learned a lot about intimacy, trust, sex, and sexuality. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Car accident

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Homophobia, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Death, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Abortion

tree_branch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Injury/injury detail, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Misogyny, Outing, Eating disorder, Abortion, Racism, Suicide, Biphobia, Rape, Sexism, Cancer, Lesbophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Homophobia, and Pregnancy