The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Posted Sun Dec 22 2024
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 nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
Wow, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the most engaging realistic/historical fiction books I've ever read. It follows the life of Evelyn Hugo, a once-superstar actress known for marrying seven times.
I fell into the trap of judging a book by its cover and thought this book would be a young adult romance book about an actress who marries seven times. However, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is so much more. The book tackles issues like sexism, domestic abuse, homophobia, and racism. I won't go into spoilers, but a main idea of the book is hiding one's identity. As an actor, Evelyn had to go to great lengths to deceive the public and hide significant parts of her identity.
The book does a great job of showing Evelyn Hugo's complexities. By the end, I understood the reasons behind her seemingly immoral actions and didn't know how to judge her, which is a testament to how well Taylor Jenkins Reid developed Evelyn as a character. I admire her pragmatic approach to life and how she doesn't regret or apologize for actions that others may find unethical.
Almost every character should be unlikeable due to traits like shallowness, vanity, or cutthroatness, but I surprisingly came to empathize with and care for many of them.
The book is riveting, and I breezed through it in two days. I loved learning about Hollywood in the 1950s and Evelyn's ascent to stardom. I also liked how the book included snippets from tabloids to progress the story. This accelerated the plot and gave insight into how the public views the characters.
I highly recommend The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It changed the way I view celebrities, marriage, and love. It also made me more confident and assertive in getting what I want. Any book capable of such profound impact earns a high regard in my heart. It's a gripping, heartfelt book about a superstar's rise to fame that will have you crying, cheering, and more confident in life.