Scan barcode
thelibraryofjen's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Wow. Evelyn Hugo feels to me like a real icon. When reading It felt so real, I thought she was a real person in my head. This story crosses the line between fiction and real life. The love story between two queer people in the early 50’s to the 90’s was so beautiful written. I understand the hype around this book. This was a roller coster of emotions, that I feel everybody needs to read at least once. The racial discrimination in this book, forcing people of color to hide there true self. Reallly represents what hollywood standed for back then. The topics of AIDS and how queer people could be punished back then was also well written. This book is for people to feel SEEN and to be their true authentic self. Don’t coware away from who you truely are, don’t like you life in regret. Evelyn Hugo was a raw and sometimes bad person, as well as an icon, but most of all she was human. That is what drove this story, she felt so human to be I couldn’t help but sympathize with her. AND THE ENDING HELLO ? Wow. I want this to be a movie or tv show ASAP.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
drachihuahua's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-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
4.0
Esperaba más por los comentarios, pero no está mal, aunque no es un libro que leería más de una vez
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Racism
Sal al mundo y toma todo lo que quieres, que no te detengan lo merecespernrider's review against another edition
Overdue at the library...so I bought another edition in order to finish it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism
katie0528's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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
5.0
I was really expecting to feel meh about this book and went in with low expectations. How wrong I was! I couldn't put the book down. Evelyn was so captivating, a deeply flawed and selfish woman who at the same time was deeply self-aware about it. Toward the end of her life, retired actress asks reporter Monique Grant to write her biography. Together the two women analyze Hugo's life as Hugo takes what is believed to be the truth of her love life and flips it on its head. A riveting tale of star-crossed love and a woman who will sacrifice whatever and whoever she must for fame until life forces her to take stock in the choices she's made.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
baebushka's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps a beautiful read, if only you are willing to only concentrate on the story and not at all the at-large implications that come with its setting.
Taylor Jenkins Reid seemingly starts this book with a single focus in mind – to tell a challenging story of a latina woman navigating the complex ups and downs of Golden Age Hollywood. Its mystical charm is promised to be destroyed early on when we meet Evelyn Herrera and her tramatising past – a mother that passed away and her abusive husband, the marriage of convenience for which she trades what the patriarchal society holds most dear above a woman's head.
And I could have – and should have – believed the author, should I not come along to the realisation that she does no more and no less than write from priviledge and misunderstanding. From beginning to end, Evelyn is presented as an oversexualised (even through the eyes of her so-called true love) latina woman, who can only rely on her body to propell her forward. Of course there is a – white – more talented actress out there, in spite of her efforts. Of course men lust for her, the idea of her, but only one – gay – man sees her for how she truly is. Of course her herritage must be sacrificed – out of ambition, and hardly ever a trace of regret is seen through her youth.
The book sets us up for most of its length to believe that Evelyn regrets whitewashing herself. Only, the poor twist we see through Monique's eyes reveals that Spoilerit was not her internalized racism, healed during present time, that caused her to choose a woman of colour to tell her story. Not at all. In fact, we find out that it had been the personal connection primarily that made Evelyn choose Monique and her talent only secondary.
Maybe TJR forgot, herself, through the book that Evelyn was not white and, therefore, only edited in the few other scenes we have of latino representation. Her maid, Maria, who is in no way any better than a racist stereotype from a 2000s romcom. SpoilerWithout apparent reason, Maria leaks information about Evelyn's marriage to Don Adler and, overall, is a plot pivot that feeds into yet another stereotype.
And the other person of colour you meet in this book? SpoilerA gay man that stays unnamed until the every end – for a cheap plot twist –, who dies within 2 pages of being introduced.
And, at long last, the reason I have picked this book up to begin with – the promised relationship between Evelyn Hugo and Celia St. James. Whatever allyship I had been promised by the TikToks that drowned my FYP for months had disappeared as soon as Celia made her first Spoilerbiphobic remark and, instead of apologizing for it, she drives it home a second and a third time.
It's unclear to me why Celia had been the love of Evelyn's life – on top of seemingly only sexualising her girlfriend, Celia frequently acts in her insecurity and making the biphobia in the lesbian community all the more obvious to the reader. Thanks, I've got plenty of that in real life! Evelyn remains not straight enough – Spoilerand I'm hereby overlooking the d-slur being dropped several times –, nor gay enough to the end of the book.
This book has bad representation and, around rounded edges, bad writing too – but it feeds into our desire to hear of the unturned pages of Hollywood and celebrities, which makes me understand why this book is as popular as it is.
Lastly, one note regarding continuity: I'm not sure how the in-universe gossip newspaper manages Spoilerto find out about Ernie Diaz, Evelyn's first husband and why that was not a bigger blow to her career. Somewhere between Don and Harry we jump a number up in husbands. Why? I didn't see any explanation!
Taylor Jenkins Reid seemingly starts this book with a single focus in mind – to tell a challenging story of a latina woman navigating the complex ups and downs of Golden Age Hollywood. Its mystical charm is promised to be destroyed early on when we meet Evelyn Herrera and her tramatising past – a mother that passed away and her abusive husband, the marriage of convenience for which she trades what the patriarchal society holds most dear above a woman's head.
And I could have – and should have – believed the author, should I not come along to the realisation that she does no more and no less than write from priviledge and misunderstanding. From beginning to end, Evelyn is presented as an oversexualised (even through the eyes of her so-called true love) latina woman, who can only rely on her body to propell her forward. Of course there is a – white – more talented actress out there, in spite of her efforts. Of course men lust for her, the idea of her, but only one – gay – man sees her for how she truly is. Of course her herritage must be sacrificed – out of ambition, and hardly ever a trace of regret is seen through her youth.
The book sets us up for most of its length to believe that Evelyn regrets whitewashing herself. Only, the poor twist we see through Monique's eyes reveals that Spoilerit was not her internalized racism, healed during present time, that caused her to choose a woman of colour to tell her story. Not at all. In fact, we find out that it had been the personal connection primarily that made Evelyn choose Monique and her talent only secondary.
Maybe TJR forgot, herself, through the book that Evelyn was not white and, therefore, only edited in the few other scenes we have of latino representation. Her maid, Maria, who is in no way any better than a racist stereotype from a 2000s romcom. SpoilerWithout apparent reason, Maria leaks information about Evelyn's marriage to Don Adler and, overall, is a plot pivot that feeds into yet another stereotype.
And the other person of colour you meet in this book? SpoilerA gay man that stays unnamed until the every end – for a cheap plot twist –, who dies within 2 pages of being introduced.
And, at long last, the reason I have picked this book up to begin with – the promised relationship between Evelyn Hugo and Celia St. James. Whatever allyship I had been promised by the TikToks that drowned my FYP for months had disappeared as soon as Celia made her first Spoilerbiphobic remark and, instead of apologizing for it, she drives it home a second and a third time.
It's unclear to me why Celia had been the love of Evelyn's life – on top of seemingly only sexualising her girlfriend, Celia frequently acts in her insecurity and making the biphobia in the lesbian community all the more obvious to the reader. Thanks, I've got plenty of that in real life! Evelyn remains not straight enough – Spoilerand I'm hereby overlooking the d-slur being dropped several times –, nor gay enough to the end of the book.
This book has bad representation and, around rounded edges, bad writing too – but it feeds into our desire to hear of the unturned pages of Hollywood and celebrities, which makes me understand why this book is as popular as it is.
Lastly, one note regarding continuity: I'm not sure how the in-universe gossip newspaper manages Spoilerto find out about Ernie Diaz, Evelyn's first husband and why that was not a bigger blow to her career. Somewhere between Don and Harry we jump a number up in husbands. Why? I didn't see any explanation!
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
heyitsbkay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Great retelling of fame and fortune and what you give up to have it. I found the ending reveal upsetting and triggering as a Black reader. Even once Monique “made peace” with it. Still, it was a thoughtfully written book worth reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
greentearex's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, and Classism
kyra_johnson_'s review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.25
A great book that would’ve been interesting even on its own, but the final reveal at the end and the messages it’s puts out into the world are what really make it great. It really gave a unique perspective on fame and the human behind it all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
earth_to_mars's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.25
My thoughts on Evelyn Hugo are conflicted, so I wanted to start on the technical aspects of Reid's writing. She is a good writer, great even. From descriptions to dialogue, there's not much I can complain about. Her descriptions are vivid but not flowery and the dialogue feels as real as it can, each character has enough of a personality and unique voice that I could probably tell you who said what without tags.
I like her additions of the articles, both old and new as it adds to the believability of this being a biography of an Old Hollywood movie star.
The pacing is good, slow enough to digest everything that Ms. Hugo is telling us, but not slow enough to feel like a drag when trying to read through each marriage. All in all, her technical skills are the reason I rated this book higher than I wanted to.
My issues lie within the representation within the book. And while yes, I understand this is historical fiction, there's a way to write bigotry without incorporating homophobic and biphobic tropes in a way that almost seems positive. She incorporates Harry as The Gay Best Friend and Celia as The Bitchy Lesbian both of which are not enjoyable in the slightest. She incorporates the downright biphobic trope - The Cheating Bisexual - twice. Once with Evelyn Hugo herself and possibly again withMonique's father at the end of the book, and I say possibly because Reid does not confirm his sexuality . I, after listening to POC talk about this book, realize the racial representation is not the best either. While barely incorporating how Evelyn's race effected her career and social status in an era that was incredibly racist to having the only other two Latine characters being a maid and abusive father, the descriptions of "how Evelyn's blonde hair doesn't match her bronze skin" and Monique's fixations on being mixed race, it comes off as ignorant/insensitive at best and bigoted at worst.
It definitely feels as though Reid did not have any sensitivity readers or did any sort of research on marginalized groups or even listen to marginalized voices, which has soured the book for me and why I feel I can only give it a 3.25.
In the end, it's a solid book and the characters and their complexities and flaws are what make the book as good as it is with moments that made my eyes water. But, Reid is in desperate need of making sure her biases/ignorance don't bleed into her writing.
I like her additions of the articles, both old and new as it adds to the believability of this being a biography of an Old Hollywood movie star.
The pacing is good, slow enough to digest everything that Ms. Hugo is telling us, but not slow enough to feel like a drag when trying to read through each marriage. All in all, her technical skills are the reason I rated this book higher than I wanted to.
My issues lie within the representation within the book. And while yes, I understand this is historical fiction, there's a way to write bigotry without incorporating homophobic and biphobic tropes in a way that almost seems positive. She incorporates Harry as The Gay Best Friend and Celia as The Bitchy Lesbian both of which are not enjoyable in the slightest. She incorporates the downright biphobic trope - The Cheating Bisexual - twice. Once with Evelyn Hugo herself and possibly again with
It definitely feels as though Reid did not have any sensitivity readers or did any sort of research on marginalized groups or even listen to marginalized voices, which has soured the book for me and why I feel I can only give it a 3.25.
In the end, it's a solid book and the characters and their complexities and flaws are what make the book as good as it is with moments that made my eyes water. But, Reid is in desperate need of making sure her biases/ignorance don't bleed into her writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Xenophobia, Car accident, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
poisonviolet's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship