The framing device with Monique is crap but I found Evelyn Hugo to be a fully realised character. Her personality was so readable and everything she did, even her poor choices, made sense because she was internally consistent and well developed. She felt distinct and real to me.

I love romances set against difficult circumstances and so this ticked the box for me and I enjoyed their relationship thoroughly. All in all, I enjoyed it alot but things hit differently for everyone. I don't get any of the hype for Song of Achilles for example and people rave about that romance when it felt nothing but shallow to me. All in all, I understand the book not blowing your socks off, especially when half of it (the stuff set in the present day) isn't great