Fiction / LGBTQ

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Average Rating:   5 / 5

Trigger Warnings:

Evelyn Hugo hasn’t stepped into the limelight for decades. Now the aging starlet, who was at the height of her power and influence during Hollywood’s Golden Age, is finally ready to tell the scandalous truth that was lurking behind the makeup and the cameras. But the mega-star chooses a nobody to write her story. Monique Grant is an unknown journalist with one minor success. What was Evelyn thinking? How did she even know Monique’s name?

Monique isn’t exactly on her way up the corporate ladder. She receives uninspiring assignments from her editor and there’s no sign that things will change. Her personal life isn’t working out either. Her husband just left, taking the coffee table and leaving a gaping hole behind. So when the directive to meet with Evelyn reaches her, she’s stunned. Who is she to Evelyn? To anybody? But Monique is smart enough to know that this is her chance to establish her place in the literary history books. 

One doesn’t ignore a summons from Evelyn Hugo. Still a little dazed, Monique soon finds herself sitting in Evelyn’s sumptuous apartment, listening intently as the legendary superstar unravels a tale of unrelenting ambition, forbidden love, surprising friendships, and harsh lessons. Evelyn is brutally honest, detailing how she found her way to L.A. in the 50s, all the way to her departure from the business in the 80s. Monique starts to feel like she’s finally getting to know the woman behind the facade, but as Evelyn’s tale nears its end, it becomes clear that there is a tragic and unforgivable connection between the actress’s life and her own. 

Corinna : 5/5

I had no real expectations of this book or really knew what it was about. I had just heard it mentioned so many times that I thought I should give it a go. I first listened to the audiobook and loved it so much I bought a physical copy too. I really enjoyed the way it was written in an interview format and jumped from present to past, and also inserted relevant historical news clippings. The production of the audiobook was so well done that I had no problem following the switch in timeline. 

The inside look at early Hollywood and what was expected of women in the industry was eye opening. I did not realize just how much the media presentation was crafted and influenced by the company the actress had a contract with. Evelyn used her body as her main commodity, and while I am sure that many people wouldn’t agree with her choices, I found it refreshing that she took ownership of herself, instead of just letting herself be exploited. 

The inclusion of a bi-racial point of view from Monique and how Evelyn had to lose her heritage to become famous was well done. I felt the author explored the subject matter relevantly. I also liked the discussion of placing labels on people related to their sexuality. As a general society we often feel the need to label people into groups. Some love having a label and embrace it but it doesn’t always feel good or accurate to everyone. The discussion of LGBTQ characters throughout the storyline has a good presence, reinforcing that they have always been here. 

That ending completely surprised me, but it made me love the story even more. It is, for sure, a contender for my favorite read of the year.

Lydia : 5/5

I had originally started this book on Audible, however, found it hard to concentrate so I switched to the paperback version and wow, am I glad I did.

This book is phenomenal. Evelyn is such an in-depth character and her stories are to die for. I loved how it showed the dark sides of humans and Hollywood. I very much appreciated how the author decided to integrate LGBTQ into the characters’ storylines – it was clearly meant to be there and drove the story along rather than being a simple addition in order to get it published under this sub genre.

I adored how this book was separated between the different husbands that Evelyn married, but what was really the winner for me was that Evelyn always stayed true to herself (at least as much as she could in that society). She wasn’t afraid to use her sexuality and sex appeal, and made it work to her advantage. 

Megan : 5/5

When I picked this book up, I didn’t know what to expect. A woman married seven times is an intriguing plotline and not one that’s been done before (at least to my knowledge). I fully expected it to be about the various, likely silly, reasons why this woman married and divorced so many times. What I was not expecting was the cunning and intelligence of the main character and the calculated decisions made behind each one of her marriages. It was refreshing to read about a woman who was not ashamed of her actions. She did what she could do to minimize the fallout for the unintended victims, but not once does she apologize for what she did to get where she’s at.

The book deals with some heavy and emotional topics, the main one being love. One quote from the book that hit home for me was: “When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is ‘You’re safe with me’ – that’s intimacy” (pg. 112). There were some wonderful quotes in this book and this was just one of many. I appreciated that the book didn’t only focus on the intimate love in a relationship, but that it also looked at the love between friends and family (chosen or blood). The setting of Old Hollywood definitely added to the allure of the story and I loved reading about the glitz and glam of that lifestyle.

The ending wasn’t what I was initially expecting, but knowing the characters, it made sense. I shed a few tears when things finally made sense. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

Sharaya : 5/5

The quality of this novel caught me by surprise. I love classic movies, so a book set in old Hollywood was right up my alley. As the story progressed, I was expecting to rate the novel as a solid 4/5, but the last 10% really struck me. I thought that when Reid pulled all of her threads together, the story that she had woven was immaculate. I can’t think of a thing that I would change. 

The look into early Hollywood, the politics and backdoor dealing was intriguing, and I was not surprised by the calculating manipulation and sacrifice that was required for Evelyn to “make it” in the business. One of my favourite things was how beautifully flawed the characters were, but none more so than Evelyn. She’s absolutely ruthless when it comes to getting what she wants or protecting those she loves. She’s completely willing to get in the mud and do awful things, and even more, she’s unapologetic about it. Her ability to read people and then take charge of her body, her fame, or her perceived truth in order to achieve her goal is something to behold. 

The biography aspect was well executed as Evelyn told her story to Monique. I didn’t find the time jumps to be awkward at all, and the inclusion of article clippings was brilliant. It highlighted the difference between printed gossip and reality. The articles showed why it was so important for Evelyn to share her story, because the press had gotten everything wrong. Granted that was often because that’s exactly what Evelyn wanted them to print. 

I would definitely recommend you give this read a chance, and I look forward to reading one of Reid’s other novels, as her ability to write real, desperately human characters is incredible. 

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