rat_girly's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Infidelity, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Blood
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Outing
Minor: Abortion, Suicide, Infertility, Incest, and Drug use
laneelizabeth's review
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, Outing, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Biphobia, Bullying, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, and Pedophilia
Minor: Rape, Child abuse, Blood, Abortion, and Miscarriage
cheye13's review
- 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: Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Homophobia, Biphobia, Cancer, Child death, and Infidelity
Minor: Classism, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Abortion, Infertility, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship
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: Cancer, Blood, Alcohol, Abortion, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Racism, Outing, Pregnancy, Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Homophobia, Grief, Death, 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: Lesbophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Cancer, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Abortion, Alcohol, Biphobia, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicide
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.
Spoiler
like no. I literally screamed out of frustration (over the writing) when I read this part. Like what is this"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.
Spoiler
Evelyn telling herself that her career is more important than Celia and Celia demanding that Evelyn leaves everything for her, it's just not good.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: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexism
Moderate: Car accident, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Biphobia
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, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Gaslighting, Car accident, Grief, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Body shaming, 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: Death of parent and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Pregnancy, Abortion, Lesbophobia, Suicide, and Misogyny
Minor: Medical trauma, Infidelity, Infertility, and Miscarriage
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: Alcohol, Homophobia, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Death, Car accident, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide, Terminal illness, Cancer, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Misogyny, Cursing, Blood, Racism, Xenophobia, Sexism, Medical content, and Infidelity
Minor: Infertility, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Drug abuse, and Drug use
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: Infidelity, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Abortion, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Outing, Death, Car accident, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Grief, Cancer, and Physical abuse
Minor: Infertility, Drug use, and Miscarriage