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cheye13'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
3.0
For a story about the golden age of Hollywood, and for a story spanning decades, the narrative felt very unrooted from the time to me. I couldn't tell which decade we were in until Evelyn made a pointed comment, and when the time is the story, I'd rather it be more immersive. I also found the interviewer's storyline very weak and paint-by-numbers. The end also felt like a cop-out.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Biphobia, Cancer, Child death, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Abortion, Sexual harassment, and Classism
tdhuck'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
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, and Classism
big_nerd'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
Graphic: Biphobia, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
thebookwhale's review against another edition
3.75
This book, I absolutely love the concept and the idea. I mean, I love historical fiction, especially when it's sapphic, and this story about Evelyn and also about the film industry is amazing.
I liked that we were introduced to Evelyn through Monique who is writing her biography.
Though, Monique's story felt entirely unnecessary. It felt like it was only there to fill the book, and I would give this book a 5 star review immediately if it weren't for the absolutely unbelievable plot twist.
"oh you remember the guy I left at the car accident? Yeah that's your father."
Yes, we were waiting for the explanation on why Evelyn chose Monique, but please, it was just so forced. I would have believed it more when the reason was something like "I liked the article you wrote about the struggles of suicidal people".
Also, I just couldn't care less for Monique as a character. I didn't care for her failed marriage or anything, but I understand that we needed to see the influence Evelyn had on people back at her time and also in the present.
Now, let's talk about Celia and Evelyn. I don't get why they are shipped everywhere on social media. Personally, I found both of them extremely toxic together.
I think what made it even harder for them and had a huge impact on how the relationship went is the taboo that was (and is) on gay relationships. It's interesting to see how the world evolves on queer rights during that time period and also how the importance of Celia's and Evelyn's career in comparison to living out who they are changes throughout the book.
So overall, this was great and the only thing that stops me from a 5 star review is Monique. I didn't like her, I didn't care for her, she felt unnecessary, and I was inclined to skip the parts where she was talking with Evelyn ( I didn't tho).
Still, a great book that's worth a read.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Car accident, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Infertility
fadeddpages'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
shaylee_n_20's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Suicide, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Medical trauma
kananineko'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
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Car accident, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Sexual harassment
vero_lee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Infertility, and Miscarriage
anielabooks'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
Graphic: Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
msradiosilence'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
0.5
Content warnings at the bottom. :)
First off, TJR is a white woman. I have very strong opinions about staying in your lane as a white woman, and TJR swerved all over the goddamn highway. Not only is the main character a Black woman, but the other main character is a Latina woman. Does TJR belong to either of those communities? No. And to yadda yadda their communities, TJR
(sources: google is free, but https://www.feministbookclub.com/taylor-jenkins-reid-is-back-with-her-bs/, https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dJ54Fp/, https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dJPbaD/, https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dekrA8/, and https://shelit.com/2022/10/04/carrie-soto-is-back-and-the-problem-of-white-authors-creating-main-characters-of-color/#:~:text=Book%20influencers%20expressed%20concern%20about,character%20against%20an%20Asian%20character.)
Secondly, I’m bi. To this day, there are still biphobic members of the LGBTQ+ community that say we’re either not gay enough, or that we need to pick a side, or that we’re lying, etc (few and far between, but always a take I see in online spaces around Pride Month). And to have that thrown back in my face while I’m reading a book by a straight author? What the fuck? Celia is constantly being biphobic, and it doesn’t help that Evelyn is lesbophobic in the beginning. TJR wouldn’t know this, being that (again) she’s not a part of the community, but a lot of people use the term ‘gay’ as an umbrella term. Just like the pride flag encompasses the whole community, gay can be a term to mean any sexuality within the LGBTQ+ spectrum. But Evelyn reacts with such immediate vitriol to being called gay, it just leaves such a horrible taste in my mouth, especially when there is such animosity between certain corners of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s just not something a straight author gets to comment on, especially when they don’t understand the nuance surrounding that conversation.
Also the ending?
Anyway. Considering both of my major points cover basically the entire book, fuck TJR and no, I don’t care if Daisy Jones is a good show, or if Malibu Rising is a good book. I will not read anything else by this woman, and I’ll be getting rid of Evelyn Hugo as soon as I’m able.
Rating: 0.5
Would I recommend? Abso-fucking-lutely not.
Content warnings: Blood, Cancer, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Ableism, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Car accident, Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Racism, Sexual content, Death, Gaslighting, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Pregnancy
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism