The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: The Sunday Times Bestseller

I’m so late to the party on this book, which is why I added it to my list for the #20BooksOfSummer Challenge. Having loved all the previous books I’ve read by TJR, I am eager to catch up on her backlist and this seems to be most people’s favourite. Also, my two step-daughters were reading at the same time while we were on our recent holiday so we decided to have a mini book club.I really enjoyed the format of this book, split between the events of the modern day in Monique’s real life and her sessions with Evelyn Hugo, and then flashbacks to the past as Evelyn tells her story, split between the periods with each of the seven of her husbands. The story takes us through the golden age of Hollywood and really immerses us in that world, and it was a joy to read.TJR has a real knack for developing complex and interesting characters, and the two main protagonists in this book are no exception, particularly in the way they interact with each other. Monique’s feelings towards Evelyn change over the course of the novel and end up being extremely complicated to mirror the way the plot and the relationship between them unfolds. Evelyn is not at all what people think she is, and her reasons for telling her story to Monique could not be guessed at, and Monique’s contradictory feelings towards her by the end are completely understandable.This is a beautifully written, captivating story that had me up until the wee small hours finishing it off because I had to know the answers to the questions that TJR had cleverly implanted in me over the course of the book. I haven’t managed to get through one of her novels without shedding a tear yet, and this one was no exception. I was totally in love with Evelyn by the end, and I also felt very deeply for Monique. I can see why so many people adore this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an emotional page turner with great characters, and unobvious plot and a bittersweet aftertaste.

I recently finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and it was an enthralling read from start to finish. Here’s why this book stands out:Intriguing Plot: The novel follows the glamorous yet tumultuous life of Evelyn Hugo, a legendary Hollywood actress who recounts her seven marriages to a young journalist, Monique Grant. The story delves into Evelyn’s rise to fame, her personal sacrifices, and the secrets behind her high-profile marriages. The narrative is compelling and keeps you hooked as Evelyn’s true self gradually unfolds.Rich Character Development: Evelyn Hugo is a complex, multi-dimensional character. Her journey is depicted with such depth and nuance that you can’t help but become emotionally invested in her story. The exploration of her character reveals the price of fame, the pursuit of love, and the quest for personal fulfillment. Monique, as the interviewer, provides a contrast that adds depth and context to Evelyn’s reflections.Beautifully Written: Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing is elegant and evocative, capturing the glitz of Hollywood and the intimacy of personal struggles. The prose flows smoothly, making the book hard to put down. The dialogues are sharp and engaging, and the storytelling is both heartfelt and poignant.Themes of Identity and Resilience: The book explores themes of identity, love, and the quest for authenticity in a world that often demands conformity. Evelyn’s story is one of resilience and reinvention, and it challenges readers to reflect on their own lives and choices.Emotional Impact: The novel elicits a wide range of emotions, from sadness to admiration. The relationships and personal battles depicted are profoundly moving, and the twists and revelations throughout the book are expertly crafted to keep readers emotionally engaged.Engaging Structure: The dual narrative structure—Evelyn’s recounting of her life and Monique’s present-day story—adds layers to the plot and enhances the overall reading experience. It creates a dynamic interplay between past and present, enriching the storyline.Memorable and Thought-Provoking: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a memorable read that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of love, sacrifice, and the price of fame, wrapped in a captivating narrative.Overall, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a brilliant novel that combines glamour, depth, and emotional resonance. Taylor Jenkins Reid has crafted a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling, character-driven read.

It's a good read, plenty to keep you turning the page, engaging characters although the pace of the book does prevent them being developed to any great extent. But it's enjoyable and a delight to finally see a bisexual woman represented honestly as well as not shying away from reflecting biphobia even within queer relationships. On that front alone bravo!

Monique Grant writes for a Magazine and is unexpectedly presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. Handpicked by Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo to write her biography, Monique finds herself drawn into the life of the legend that was Evelyn Hugo. A life that would ultimately impact her own. Despite her own marriage falling apart, Monique is allowed into the world of Evelyn who discusses her rise from unknown poor girl from Hell's Kitchen, and her marriages along the way that charted her rise to fame and notoriety. However, Evelyn has one or two surprises in store for Monique that will not only shock her but the rest of the world. It seems Evelyn Hugo was more than the image she portrayed. Evelyn Hugo has secrets that she now wants the world to know about. Evelyn Hugo no longer wants to hide the truth.To say that this book blew me away is an complete understatement. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting when I picked up the book. I'd seen it talked about a few times in some of the online reading groups I'm in and to be honest I did wonder if it would live up to the hype. It totally did. I was lucky enough to be purely self indulgent and took the book with me when I went to a writing retreat for a few days. The story was as breath-taking as the view from my window. And it was heart-breaking too.The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is the type of book that's difficult to write a review on without giving away too much. So, I won't. The pure joy of finding out the secrets that the book holds should never be denied to anyone. That being said, the book is a whirlwind of emotion, Hollywood glam, lies, deceit and one of the greatest love stories ever told. A love that spans the decades. But, be prepared for the characters to jump out of the page and totally claim your heart. At first Evelyn Hugo is viewed as a vacuous and ruthless young woman who will do and say anything to find fame. She wants her name in lights. She needs to escape the hell that her life was and she will do that all all costs, leaving a trail of heartache and scandal along the way. However, as we get to gain a little more insight into just what makes her tick and the things she must endure, she becomes so much more than the career obsessed starlet. She's a woman of courage who is capable of the most intense love. I think I fell in love with her a little myself. Harry Cameron, her producer is possibly one of the greatest secondary characters ever. Everyone needs a Harry in their life.This is an excellently written book that is hard to put down. It's an emotive book that looks at issues that were prevalent during Evelyn's lifetime and still are today. Issues that stifled her and kept her one true love from her. I absolutely loved it. By the end of it I was ugly crying! This book broke me! It made me want to hug the greatest love of my life just that little bit tighter. It opened my eyes and made me want to stand up for injustice. This book is so much more than just a story. Its a lesson and an important one at that. Always be who you're supposed to be. Never hide. Hold your head high and love fiercely. Highly highly recommend.

This book has been all over TikTok for a few years now and so it has always been on my radar, but I had just never gotten around to reading it. Finally, I just gave in and bought a copy because I wanted to read Carrie Soto and I heard you should start with Seven Husbands. Boy, am I glad that I finally started reading this book. I went into it not knowing what to expect because I have heard both good and bad reviews about this book, but I am happy that I stuck it out so I could form my own opinion.I went into this book not expecting much as I’ve never read anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid before. I also haven’t read many books on the publishing industry so I don’t have much contextual knowledge on the background of this book but I still greatly enjoyed reading it. I actually recently read Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, which has ignited a desire to read more about the publishing industry.The story starts with Monique Grant, a writer for an online company called Vivant who dreams of making a name for herself. She is called into her boss’ office to discuss a potential interview job. The Hollywood starlet, Evelyn Hugo, who has vehemently refused to sit for an interview for decades, has asked to be interviewed by Monique. Of course, Monique takes the job because she would be a fool not to. When she arrives, Monique finds that it is not just some article that she is being asked to write, no, Evelyn wants Monique to write her biography. A tell-all expose about her rise to fame in Hollywood, life as a ‘60s starlet, and the stories behind her seven marriages. As Monique learns more about Evelyn’s life, she starts to realise that she was chosen to write this book for a reason and she may not be able to walk away once she finds out.The more I read, the more I wanted to consume this book completely. The book alternates between Monique in the present-day sitting in Evelyn’s office and trying to navigate her own life, and chapters from Evelyn’s perspective as she looks back on the past. It was cleverly done and I was pleasantly surprised when I reached the first of Evelyn’s chapters. I read this book in sections; I read up until the story changed to another husband and then stopped to digest what I’d just read. It made it easier to separate each husband’s character otherwise I know I would have gotten confused trying to differentiate each of them. After finishing this book, I can see why it got so many mixed reviews; despite everything you learn about Evelyn, she says doesn’t regret what she did, which many would consider to make her a bad person/character. Personally, I thought this made her seem more realistic and human. Evelyn shows you what it means to be human; that a person can’t be just good or bad, that we have our flaws and that we can also have our merits. I am glad that this was the first book by Taylor Jenkins Reid that I read. It has made me excited to read more of her works.I am wavering between four and five stars for my rating for several reasons. Firstly, I haven’t read a book like this before, which is a point in its favour. Usually, if a book makes me feel really emotional or even makes me cry, then it would instantly get an extra star added to its rating. I did not cry while reading this. However, I was unable to put this book down once I got to husband number two. Evelyn Hugo felt like a real person to me while learning her story.So, after thinking about it, I think this book deserves five stars.

Well this was a pleasant surprise! Firstly let me say I never read historical fiction. It’s not a genre I have an interest in and I would never normally choose it to read, however, Emma-Louise suggested a buddy read so I somewhat reluctantly agreed with trepidation and fully expected it to be a slog. Yet, somehow within the first 10% I realised I’d thrown myself in to it and surprised myself by absolutely loving it and adding it as a top read of 2024.I fully immersed myself into Monique and Evelyn’s life stories and was intrigued to see where her story took me and what their connection was.I loved the set up of the novel with the expertly written retelling of Evelyn’s life and intermittent accounts of Monique questioning Evelyn.The love of her life was not a surprise to me. I’d been expecting this however I feel heartbroken at some parts and the fact this book almost had thriller elements with the intrigue of the big reveal of the 'Why Monique?’ It really captivated me and I fully felt all the emotions in one book.There was so much I loved about this novel. Following Evelyn Hugo’s life through her eyes, from her younger life in Hells Kitchen to the glamour yet tragic life of a Hollywood film star and the lengths Evelyn Hugo went to, to get the fame she wanted. She could easily fit in with the likes of Hollywood film stars Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly. I equally loved the way the author created such a tragically beautiful account that was twisted expertly through her lives with her seven husbands.I was lost in the glamour of film, tragedy in life, immersed in such a well written representation of sexuality that was sensitively done and of course the link between Evelyn & Monique.This novel completely broke me in ways no other novel has. I laughed, I marvelled at the authors storytelling and completely lost myself and was in a state of disarray and tears from the last third of the book.An amazingly beautiful novel that I wish I could read again for the first time. This heartbreaking brilliant masterpiece of a novel gets a tremendous five stars from me!

I picked a copy of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo up years ago when it was first published. I am not sure where I have been or what I have been doing, but I am sad to say that the book has been sat on my bookcase collecting dust until recently.I am in no way exaggerating when I say that The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a masterpiece. I fell in love with the characters, the writing, the story building, and the pace of the book. Seemingly modelled after movie legend Marilyn Monroe, Evelyn feels dynamic and authentic. She is a woman who dominates the page and draws you into her life with the promise of glamour, sex, romance, and sacrifice.Through Evelyn we gain an unabashed insight into the often dark and exploitative world of Hollywood and the silent suffering of women who dare to venture within. Sexual exploitation and domestic violence are topics Reid does not shy away from. Exploring Evelyn’s rise to fame is anything but glamorous or endorsed. It showcases the real and raw, the often difficult methods women have to implore to reach the top, as their male counterparts benefit from their exploitation. The book deals with serious issues both women in the 1950’s and in todays society face, and it does so in a manner that’s impactful and sensitive.The plot is broken down and revealed in various parts of Evelyn’s life, all of which begins with the marriage to one of her husbands. When it comes to men, Evelyn’s not had much luck. However, the men are not the main romantic subplot in this book. It’s the love story that’s going on between Evelyn and her co-star Celia. The title of the novel purposely misleads you to think that Evelyn is a promiscuous dater and a serial monogamist. However, we learn that the opposite is in fact true. The reader watches as Evelyn and Celia navigate the restrictions of a queer relationship in the 1950’s as they hide their love for each other from one another and the watchful eye of the public. I absolutely love that there is lesbian and bisexual representation in this novel and how it has not shied away from bringing queer issues up to the surface.Even to this day, I still think about Evelyn and her memorable life. The book helped me realise that life is too short to do what other people expect from you. You should always go after what you want, and do what makes you happy. You should also tell all your loved ones how much you love them, before it’s too late. The book almost feels like a life-lesson from a famous and well-known fictional actress, who seemingly has it all, but in the end, has nothing, and she knows it.

When I finishing reading this book I wasn't sure whether I loved it or hated it. I think itwas because I wasn't sure about Evelyn herself; did I love or hate her? The more I pondered that I realised that I actually didn't know enough about her to decide whether I even liked or disliked her. And that was the problem with this story for me, none of the characters were fully fleshed out, I didn't know enough about any of them, their characters, their thoughts. All of them, including our heroine herself were simply two dimensional. Oh I knew lots of minor things; about her glorious breasts, her favoured colour for the gowns she wore to the annual academy awards ceremonies, but of the woman herself, the passion that drove her I learned very little indeed. And that held true for every other character who passed in and out of her life, from Don all the way to Connor, including Celia. For me the whole book read as an outline for a book or a film, it was an interesting framework which was just waiting for the padding to be added. Something to sell as an idea for a script; sadly the detail, the padding never materialised, and as one by one each character disappeared from her life, I found that I didn't miss them at all, because I had never really gotten to know them in the first place. And thus it was for Monique also, and her David. As for the whole issue of homosexuality in tinseltown, there was a whole seam of gold to be mined there, but again sadly, annoyingly!, it was hardly explored at all. And as for the great denouement about Monique's father, it seemed simply tacked on for effect, as was the fact that she and he were black, it actually added nothing to the story at all. This potentially had the makings of a great book but sadly this wasn't that book. It left me sadly disappointed.

It made me cry so much. The book is so passionate, romantic, and beautiful. I recommend it!! 100%!!

Moving and captivating. Heartbreaking and real. The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo was a joy to read. I loved getting to know the main character and how her and the other characters’ stories unfolded. Taylor Jenkins Reid really captured the magnificence of Evelyn Hugo so brilliantly, I was completely bewitched by the character, just as I imagined her fans were with her in the book.

A gun and quick read. The author leaves you guessing throughout the chapters so I found I just HAD to keep reading to find out what happens next!

L’histoire est originale et très bien construite, avec une narration fluide qui donne envie de tourner les pages sans s’arrêter.Le personnage d’Evelyn est fascinant : complexe, ambitieuse et profondément humaine. Au fil de ses confidences, on découvre une vie marquée par des choix difficiles, des sacrifices et des relations marquantes. Chaque “mari” apporte une nouvelle dimension à l’histoire, ce qui rend le récit dynamique et jamais monotone.L’autrice Taylor Jenkins Reid réussit à créer une atmosphère immersive, presque cinématographique, avec des thèmes forts comme l’amour, l’identité, la célébrité et le prix du succès.Petit point à noter : le livre est en anglais, donc il faut avoir un niveau correct pour en profiter pleinement.En résumé, une lecture prenante et émotionnelle que je recommande sans hésiter. Parfait pour celles et ceux qui aiment les histoires profondes et les personnages marquants.

I love it so much omg