4.5

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Taylor Jenkins Reid
Book
July
2021

Review:

Wow!! This was a really good book! It had a level of realness that is hard to find even in realistic fiction. I loved how it was a book inside a book and how moving the story was. The way the authors wrote it made me go and look up if Evelyn Hugo was actually a real person. The way they showed the struggle of being bisexual or gay in a time that was not accepted. It was fascinating to see the different stages of her life and how each one affected her differently. It was very heartbreaking to see how there are these problems even now. The ending was good, but it was sad how everyone died around her. The twist was great because it was big enough to be shocking, but it didn’t overpower the story it added to it. The characters were all very developed, and I felt like I knew them. I love the fashion and drama behind this book, and it reminds me a little bit of singing in the rain, which is nice. This book was great, but I would say certain parts got slow, so I took a star off. I would highly recommend this book!

Trigger Warnings:
sexual assault, rape, domestic abuse, cheating, homophobia, biphobia, alcoholism, and mentions of suicide

Synopsis From Book:

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.
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