Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

Los siete maridos de Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

87 reviews

aurora4847's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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

4.0

This book really captures the complexity of a woman who would do anything to further her own goals and protect those she loves. Evelyn Hugo's story is captivating and deeply sad in some ways. It was a wonderful read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Lesbophobia, and Outing

Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Suicide, Blood, and Classism

Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Racism, Sexual content, Abortion, and Pregnancy

This book isn't generally graphic in nature, but there are a number of triggering experiences recounted. Especially the loss of loved ones.

cara_anne's review against another edition

emotional funny sad fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Abortion, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

samshort's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring sad tense 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

4.25

great book, very interesting. i love the style of writing interspersed with relevant news articles. i think evelyn is very complex and real. i wish monique's story had more presence throughout the book, although i understand the focus was primarily evelyn.

my only other qualm was that celia's characterization seemed to shift weirdly during their second relationship, maybe that's just me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Racism

Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

holsphilo's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Abortion, and Alcohol

Minor: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Suicide

michaelakeast's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Car accident

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Abortion, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Blood, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

kaylynnlock's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I thought that the overall story line was enjoyable and interesting. The pacing is well done and the writing is interesting and engaging. However, I did not think that the bipoc characters were written in a manner that was authentic or compassionate, which was my main grievance with the book. The main character's own Cuban heritage seemed like a tacked on afterthought or a shallow attempt at diversifying the cast rather than an actually aspect of her identity. And the inclusion if LGBTQ+ characters almost seemed to be used as a driving factor for trauma and hardship rather than a commentary on the complexities of social expectations and love, which the author seemed to be trying to convey. It was not a poorly written book and the story line was intriguing, however, I felt that the execution and portrayal of certain groups of people was poorly done. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

williamabookworm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, and Blood

creationwing's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective 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

4.25

A fun book I finished in a little over 3 sittings. I'm not sure it needed 3 narrators, and I echo the thoughts of the other reviews when I say the Monique portion of our story could be dropped without affecting the main allure of this book. She wasn't fleshed out enough to have the Devil Wears Prada learning from your mentor win moment. We had a lot of insight into what was going on in her life, sure, but the character of Evelyn is so full-bodied that our understanding on Monique in turn feels more like the author is telling us who she is and telling us to root for her only because we're told she is an underdog with talent. Her career is summarized in a few paragraphs when we get Evelyn's through the whole book.

The twists both with her father and Evelyn's ultimate decision were far too predictable. The main character having written an article on euthanasia was a little too neat and on the nose.

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

found

family in the story, and realized how much I had grown to enjoy the book when I felt I cared for the characters in it. I also really enjoyed the depiction of queerplatonic relationships, but I agree with other reviews that the story lacks any platonic relationships that matter.

I would recommend this book, with the caveat that you'll probably find yourself skimming past the parts about Monique.

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Content Warnings

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.

captainclark's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring 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

5.0

fantastic book covering all the nuances and beauty of unconventional love and relationships and marriages, the deep complexities of humanity and emotions, its just so beautiful. these people are fantastic and horrible and i love them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Car accident

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol

Minor: Fatphobia, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

james1star's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

With over one and a half million 5⭐️ reviews and an average rating of 4.44 on Goodreads, thousands of BookTokers, BookTubers and Bookstagramers singing it’s praises… what are my thoughts? 

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. 

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Content Warnings

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