4.5
a gripping book that talks about the story of a fictional movie star, that actually talks about love. Ultimately, it's about all the different ways that humans can love each other, both the healthy and unhealthy, good love and bad love; but above all it's about motherly love.
Evelyn Hugo is an extremely compelling character to read about, she's ambitious like hell and can work the world to get where she wants. We learn the complexity of her character throughout the book, we begin to see her not as the icon, but as a normal human, alongside Monique. By the end, even if she's irrefutably a terrible narcissistic person, you can't help but to care for her. And the feminist force that she represents, and that we see actively reflect in the character of Monique throughout the book.
The side-characters are interesting, even if many are not completely fleshed out. This makes sense (you hear only Evelyn's POV) and it's not inherently necessary for the story to make sense or for it to be a good story. That is not to say that you don't care for the characters. You do, a whole lot sometimes. I didn't even realize i had grown so fond of them until i couldn't read the words anymore from the tears falling from eyes.
As I said, the book was gripping, from a combination of the writing and the story. There's a component of mystery to it that really keeps you going. Some twists are predictable, and some aren't, but they still hit quite hard either way.
There's also strong component of chosen family that we see with Evelyn's life, that might be one of my favourite things.
but i know what really kept me going was the queer representation, lets bi real. (there's gay, lesbian and bi representation)

and miss hugo was right. i really do care more about the wife