Book Information

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Romance
Published: Simon & Schuster UK, October 2021

About the Book

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 1950s 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 her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

My Review

Hi! Welcome to my first book review! The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, is my current favourite book, and has been for a while. So let me tell you why! As you probably already know, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a very popular book on BookTok, so I must admit that I went into this book with very high expectations, and they were certainly met!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo tells the tale of reclusive Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo as she finally reveals the true story of her life to journalist Monique Grant. The story is filled with things you wouldn’t quite expect, so it grabbed my attention and didn’t loosen its grip. I hung onto every word of this beautifully written book.

I really enjoyed the way Evelyn's story is revealed. She has spent years being a famous Hollywood actress and carefully controlling the public's perception of her, so there is something really fascinating about finally hearing the truth from Evelyn herself. She doesn't hold back, and she is very honest about the decisions she made throughout her life. Some of those decisions are difficult to understand, but I found myself wanting to know what had happened to make Evelyn become the woman she was.

The fact that Evelyn chooses Monique to tell her story to is also really interesting. At first, Monique doesn't understand why Evelyn has chosen her, and neither did I! There is a mystery running through the whole book because you know that there must be a reason Evelyn specifically wants Monique to write her story. I kept wondering what the connection between them could possibly be, and this kept me turning the pages.

As the title suggests, she wed seven husbands. Ernie Diaz, Don Adler, Mick Riva, Rex North, Harry Cameron, Max Girard, and Robert Jamison. Move over Henry VIII! I’ve got to say that I definitely preferred some to others and the kind-hearted, brilliant, and tortured Harry Cameron was my favourite of the seven.

Evelyn's marriages are a huge part of the story, but I don't think the book is really about the seven husbands themselves. Instead, they are part of Evelyn's much bigger story. Each relationship reveals something different about her and about the world she was living in. Some of her marriages are about love, some are about survival, some are about her career, and some are about protecting herself or the people she cares about.

This is one of the things I found so interesting about Evelyn as a character. She is ambitious and determined, and she knows exactly what she wants from life. She is also prepared to do whatever she needs to do to get there. That doesn't always make her likeable, but it certainly makes her interesting. I found myself constantly trying to work out whether I agreed with her choices, and there were definitely moments when I didn't!

I really like Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing and became attached to the characters of Evelyn, Harry Cameron, their daughter Connor, and Celia. The bond between Harry, Evelyn, and Connor is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. There were some hard-hitting moments in the book that, I must admit, made me tear up.

Harry Cameron was definitely one of my favourite characters. He is such a kind-hearted person, particularly considering the pressures and expectations surrounding him. His relationship with Evelyn is one of the parts of the book that I found most moving. Their friendship, loyalty and love for each other make their story incredibly special.

I also loved Evelyn's relationship with Celia. Their story is complicated, and there are plenty of moments when things don't go smoothly, but I was completely invested in them. Their relationship is one of the biggest reasons the book feels so emotional. Taylor Jenkins Reid manages to show how complicated love can be, particularly when people are trying to navigate a world where they cannot always be open about who they are.

Connor is another character I became attached to. Seeing Evelyn as a mother gives us another side of her personality. Their relationship isn't perfect, but there is clearly a huge amount of love between them. Some of their moments together were incredibly emotional, and Connor's place in Evelyn's life becomes increasingly important as the story progresses.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo also gives us a fascinating look at Hollywood. Evelyn is determined to become a successful actress, and the book shows the sacrifices she makes along the way. Fame isn't presented as being all glamorous and exciting. There is a darker side to it, with people being judged by their appearance, relationships being used for publicity and personal lives becoming public property.

I particularly enjoyed the little details that made the story feel like a real biography. The inclusion of newspaper cuttings and other pieces of information made it feel as though Evelyn Hugo was a real Hollywood star whose life had been documented for decades. It added another layer to the story and made it even easier to forget that I was reading fiction.

Overall, I loved tThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, the way it was written, especially the inclusion of newspaper cuttings and the characters. It’s one of those books that makes you forget that you’re reading!

There are so many twists and revelations throughout the story, and I loved discovering them alongside Monique. I won't say too much about them because I don't want to spoil the book for anyone who hasn't read it, but there were definitely moments when I had to stop and think about what I had just read.

I think The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo belongs on the shelf reserved for my favourites! 5 stars!