The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 390
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★★★
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 390
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★★★
Reclusive Hollywood 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 to write her story, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.
From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950’s to leaving 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. But as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950’s to leaving 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. But as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
My thoughts:
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 surprised than Monique herself.
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.
Invited along to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. The legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine. As is evident from the book’s title, Evelyn has been married on seven occasions and the story reveals the reality behind these marriages and the truth about just who truly was the love of Evelyn’s life.
We follow Evelyn from the very start; losing her mother very young, her body developing very quickly, noticing others noticing her developing body, marrying a man so she can leave the dead-end city she grew up in, so she can become something more. Evelyn is unapologetic with her actions, and it is one of the most empowering things I’ve ever read. She plays so many more parts than the roles she is cast in. And Evelyn learns really quickly how to play each and every man she is forced to interact with, and she quickly learns what she can gain from each and every one of them, too.
It is ultimately a story about strength, what it means to be a woman and being true to yourself. I loved the character of Evelyn, she is portrayed as tough and ambitious but this portrayal never strays into negativity and criticism as happens so often with strong female characters.
From her ambition for stardom, the relationships that made her, the friends that supported her, the sacrifices she made to reach her career goals, I kept forgetting that Evelyn was a fictional character. It felt like I was reading her actual memoir. Everything about her felt real, even up to the last page when I had to close it and dry my eyes.
I was completely hooked reading this and zoomed through most of it in one evening. The writing was so lyrical and addicting.
Whilst I loved the flashback narrative of this book and found it incredibly compelling, I did feel the modern-day storyline focusing on Monique was less interesting and underdeveloped. To me, Monique seemed more like a convenient plot device rather than an authentic character. Her role was much too passenger-like and because of that, the developments at the book’s climax did not have the gravitas it should have had. If the author had offered further insight and detail into Monique’s character, I think it could have brought even more impact when the link between Monique and Evelyn was revealed.
Nevertheless, I stayed fully engrossed in the story of Evelyn Hugo from the opening chapters when Evelyn demanded an interview with only Monique, through decades of Hollywood in all its shimmering ugliness, right until the ending's final reveals.
I enjoyed every moment and cried like a baby at the end.. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is an intoxicating read. one of the best books I've read this year. It's easy to read, highly addictive and Evelyn Hugo has a life story that will leave you forever enthralled.
Overall reaction:
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 surprised than Monique herself.
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.
Invited along to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. The legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine. As is evident from the book’s title, Evelyn has been married on seven occasions and the story reveals the reality behind these marriages and the truth about just who truly was the love of Evelyn’s life.
We follow Evelyn from the very start; losing her mother very young, her body developing very quickly, noticing others noticing her developing body, marrying a man so she can leave the dead-end city she grew up in, so she can become something more. Evelyn is unapologetic with her actions, and it is one of the most empowering things I’ve ever read. She plays so many more parts than the roles she is cast in. And Evelyn learns really quickly how to play each and every man she is forced to interact with, and she quickly learns what she can gain from each and every one of them, too.
It is ultimately a story about strength, what it means to be a woman and being true to yourself. I loved the character of Evelyn, she is portrayed as tough and ambitious but this portrayal never strays into negativity and criticism as happens so often with strong female characters.
From her ambition for stardom, the relationships that made her, the friends that supported her, the sacrifices she made to reach her career goals, I kept forgetting that Evelyn was a fictional character. It felt like I was reading her actual memoir. Everything about her felt real, even up to the last page when I had to close it and dry my eyes.
I was completely hooked reading this and zoomed through most of it in one evening. The writing was so lyrical and addicting.
Whilst I loved the flashback narrative of this book and found it incredibly compelling, I did feel the modern-day storyline focusing on Monique was less interesting and underdeveloped. To me, Monique seemed more like a convenient plot device rather than an authentic character. Her role was much too passenger-like and because of that, the developments at the book’s climax did not have the gravitas it should have had. If the author had offered further insight and detail into Monique’s character, I think it could have brought even more impact when the link between Monique and Evelyn was revealed.
Nevertheless, I stayed fully engrossed in the story of Evelyn Hugo from the opening chapters when Evelyn demanded an interview with only Monique, through decades of Hollywood in all its shimmering ugliness, right until the ending's final reveals.
I enjoyed every moment and cried like a baby at the end.. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is an intoxicating read. one of the best books I've read this year. It's easy to read, highly addictive and Evelyn Hugo has a life story that will leave you forever enthralled.
Overall reaction:
