Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Die sieben Männer der Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

611 reviews

lizbuono's review against another edition

emotional 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

5.0

With the novel being framed as focusing on the seven husbands of Ms. Hugo, the book’s path felt entirely unexpected. It felt impossible to put down the novel as I anxiously awaited to learn the next motivation for a choice in Evelyn’s life, Monique’s reaction, and how what we knew as the reader would knit them together. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicide

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!

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy

katiegfish's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective tense 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Car accident

Minor: Drug use

mbelle97's review against another edition

challenging hopeful lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I wanted to love this book because as a biracial person I don't think I've ever read a book with a biracial protagonist, but it just kinda fell flat for me. I predicted the plot twist at the end almost immediately, and I didn't feel all that compelled by the main love story between E and C. They seemed, frankly, bad for each other lol I didn't understand how they fell madly in love besides just being queer, closeted, and in close proximity (which I guess is relatable but not really what I wanted from the book). Monique was kinda forgettable, her mom had more personality in like 3 lines of dialogue than Monique did in the whole book. It also didn't feel authentic to the time period. I always felt like I was getting whiplash when they said the date or Evelyn's age, because she talked the same way at 16 as she did at 79. I didn't get the old Hollywood vibe at all. Everytime a phone rang I thought it was a cellphone. Also, man there was so much unnecessary sex in this book. It felt like every other intimiate emotional moment was followed up with someone touching Evelyn's breasts. I don't care that it was supposed to be

building up to her getting breast cancer at the end of the book.

It felt male gazey and reductive. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, and Car accident

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

vinyadoggeroo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Loved this book, couldn't put it down. Want to reread it again after the reveal at the end. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Body shaming, Death, Abortion, and Death of parent

Ok I got tired of classifying which trigger warnings are minor or major so put almost all of them as moderate. Based on the trigger list the book might seem intimidating

oliviawalls's review against another edition

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault

an_actual_floof's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

4.5

Emotional, passionate and surprising, this book always had me wanting to read more. Reid has a talent of leading you into the story without becoming repetitive with all the chapter cliff hangers - I was genuinely stunned by some of them, left gawking at how abrupt yet emotional the reveals were. I’m so deeply impressed by the level of detail put into the world building of a fictional Hollywood, I truly started to believe Evelyn, Harry and Celia were all real. The distinct style of when Evelyn was telling her story made it so easy to imagine what kind of woman she is, tactful, direct, but still deeply caring and sentimental about parts of her life. I loved reading this book, even though my heart broke getting through. A lovely read and a beautiful queer story.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Cancer

marina_bookreadah's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

cozy_soul_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

5.0

bisexual representation

Wow this book is always on my mine, I'm in love with how layered and intense Evelyn was and the twists and turns that came with her life. I cried and I have never stopped thinking of this story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Car accident, and Abortion

jenniferbowman's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Incest, Abortion, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Sexual assault