skyeuqx'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
3.75
i don't like the magazine cutouts and it took me a long time to care for monique, but it works just perfectly by the end, i nearly forgot.
Moderate: Biphobia, Misogyny, Abandonment, Car accident, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Alcohol, Outing, Racism, and Infidelity
cdoubet'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: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Grief, Homophobia, Body shaming, Classism, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Lesbophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Drug use, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Outing, Gaslighting, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Hate crime, Body shaming, and Blood
Minor: Police brutality and Abortion
orangecloud's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Abortion
lindsayslibrary22's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Biphobia, Sexism, Cursing, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion, Suicide, Death, Drug use, and Pregnancy
marslotus's review
- 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
Graphic: Biphobia, Grief, Infidelity, Car accident, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Terminal illness, Sexual content, Homophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Suicide, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Terminal illness, Violence, Pregnancy, Sexism, Child abuse, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
tree_branch'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
5.0
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
thatswhatshanread'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
It’s quite shocking that it took me so long to read this, though I suspect a lot of it had to do with the fact that I had such high hopes and had heard so much unadulterated praise. Ever the pessimist, I was afraid it would disappoint me.
I’m VERY GLAD to report, that it did not disappoint me at all, and actually was much more than I hoped for. An incredible epic of a story-within-a-story, a biographical account of a fictional starlet with many marriages and headlines, but only one true love kept secret for most of her life.
I love TJR’s writing, her layered and complicated story building eclipsed only by the bold and complex characters she creates. Evelyn isn’t supposed to be someone you just love, but she is someone you absolutely root for, despite all her flaws. Because there’s Celia, the truth behind it all. (And Harry, whom I adored so much.)
One of the best novels I’ve ever read that accurately tackles the duality of humanity and fame, with a central focus on the LGBTQ+ community. Phenomenal.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Chronic illness, Classism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Racism, Suicide, Homophobia, Injury/injury detail, Terminal illness, Drug use, Outing, Physical abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Self harm, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Abortion, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, and Eating disorder
slayharrie28's review
- 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
Graphic: Car accident, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Outing, Death, Grief, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Homophobia, Drug abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gaslighting, Abortion, Biphobia, Cursing, Terminal illness, Sexism, Outing, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Mental illness
Minor: Dysphoria
victoriousbookworm'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Alcohol, and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Cancer, Homophobia, Biphobia, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Abortion, Sexual content, Violence, Misogyny, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent
seadeepy's review
- 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
Graphic: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Infidelity, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Classism, Biphobia, Sexual assault, Grief, Misogyny, Cursing, and Homophobia
Minor: Racism, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, and Abortion