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idontread'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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
racheleanne06'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
4.5
It’s a book about love, in all it’s different forms, but it’s also about grit, determination and survival.
This book feels real, as if Evelyn is a star that we have known for ages on our screens, that she’s a real person with real hopes and desires. That Monique is the one writing about Evelyn’s life.
Especially when it comes down to the heartbreaking truths of LGBT+ history, which is included heavily in this book, and the devastating themes of loss and grief.
It’s not something I would normally pick up, but after hearing a lot of people talk about Jenkins Reid, I wanted to give it a go. I am VERY glad I did.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Outing, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
livvmarks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
itsmeaemma'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Car accident, Abortion, and Death of parent
barefootbetsy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, and Alcohol
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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abortion, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
camiandkitread's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Minor: Biphobia, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship
aimee_aj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
jamiejanae_6'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
3.75
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ellaticonstellation'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: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment