Title- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author- Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rating– 4.5/5
Genre- It was neither solely contemporary or historical fiction. Maybe it could be considered women’s fiction or literary fiction.
POV- It was hard to fit this one into a specific category since there were two points of view, Monique, a writer in present time telling Evelyn’s life story over multiple decades.
Trope- I appreciated the LGBTQ theme throughout but because of spoilers I can’t say more.
Similar Books/Comps- The Bourbon Thief came to mind but that’s not the best fit. Biographies of celebrities also popped up.
Cover– Beautiful and gives a great representation
My emotions- the all I s lost moment tugged on my heart strings but I still didn’t cry. That’s the ultimate goal… a book that’ll make me cry
Comments-
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a story within a story, which I love. Evelyn’s captivating story ranged from 1938-2017. Everyone likes a bit of Hollywood glamor and behind-the-scenes gossip. The newspaper clippings of her career were fun to read but the writing in this novel itself is quite dry so it took me longer to get through because most of the events are passive/retrospective. Page 181- Goodness the scandal and acting is amaze balls, lol. And the premise was unexpected. I felt like I was watching a movie with complex characters. I loved that each chapter was short and ended with a sweet cliffhanger to keep me turning pages. Page 359 was where everything came together. I guessed something different but it was still satisfying. The humanity of this book took a toll on me and I recommend this to anyone.
Characters–
Evelyn (rarely) apologized for who she was. She was a go-getter, assertive woman ready to do anything to get on top.
Plot/Blurb-
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
Best part- the journey
What I’d change- more emotion in the prose
Pacing- slower
Cassie Swindon 