sofiazee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Violence, Pregnancy, Car accident, and Infidelity
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Cancer, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Homophobia
srulon'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
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Cancer, Death, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Death of parent
the_chocolate_bookshelf'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
4.5
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Cancer, and Pregnancy
link_reads's review
- 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: Biphobia, Blood, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Abortion, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Alcohol, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Pregnancy
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
aspenfcoleman's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Car accident, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Stalking
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
marmarmoo123's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Grief, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Death, Cancer, and Car accident
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicide, Chronic illness, Outing, Alcoholism, and Addiction
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