Taylor Jenkins ReidFiction · Contemporary Literature·b. 1983
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
- Pages
- 398
- Published
- 2017
- Language
- English
Synopsis
Aging Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo, now a reclusive septuagenarian, finally decides to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. To do it she summons Monique Grant, an unknown magazine writer, and offers her the story of a lifetime — an exclusive biography that will only be published after Evelyn's death.
Over a series of long afternoons, Evelyn recounts her rise from a poor Cuban neighborhood in Hell's Kitchen to the pinnacle of mid-century stardom: the seven marriages that made headlines, the ruthless ambition that fueled her career, and the one great love she spent her whole life protecting. As the confession deepens, Monique begins to wonder why Evelyn chose her, and what the fading star still stands to gain by telling everything.
Told largely through Evelyn's own unflinching voice, Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel is a story about the cost of fame, the compromises women make to seize power in a world designed against them, and the difference between the public image and the private heart.
How it reads
- I went into this one with some reservations. Having read another book by Taylor Jenkins Reid and absolutely adored it, I was hopeful, but the premise of this one didn’t immediately grab me. Seven husbands? A Hollywood icon? I wasn’t entirely convinced I was going to be invested. As it turns out, I was very happy to be wrong. What I expected to be a story about glamour, fame and a string of marriages became something far more compelling. There are so many stories woven into this one, each revealing another layer of Evelyn Hugo and the world she spent her life navigating. Beneath all the Hollywood spectacle is a much more intimate story about love, identity, ambition, sacrifice, and the things people bury to survive. Evelyn is a fascinating character: complicated, calculated, flawed, and impossible to reduce to a simple judgement of right or wrong. I found myself far more invested in her life than I ever expected to be. It didn’t win me over from the premise alone, but the storytelling did exactly what it needed to. Sometimes the books you approach with the least enthusiasm end up surprising you the most. This was one of them.
- Super gripping, evelyn is one of the greatest charactersThis book was both beautiful and devastating. At first I thought it to be a bit slow, waiting for something exciting to happen. It felt like I was reading about this queer actress who was afraid of coming out. But that was too shallow and superficial. Once you pay real close attention, the character of Evelyn Hugo might be your biggest life lesson, not when it comes to sexuality, no. But when it comes to love, loss, friendship, self-esteem, fighting for you believe is yours, not letting anyone take your spot, standing up for yourself, your self-image, etc .. all are in one person. I might start introducing this book as my life’s greatest lesson, I mean of course aside from my unending traumatic experiences. Just be prepared to both love and hate the characters so much you’ll be confused throughout the 69 chapters there are. Evelyn Hugo, you’ll always be a fictional legend.
- This was definitely one of my top reads of the year. Taylor is a fantastic writer and I can’t wait to read the rest of her books. I do want to say something. People tend to say this book is life changing and made them cry, those are false. This is a brilliant book to read and felt like a real story but it did not feel life changing at all to me and didn’t make me cry at all. Maybe it’s because books have a very hard time to make me cry and the fact I’m living with someone who is dying from the same thing as Evelyn, but it didn’t make me cry at all. Nor do I feel like my life has changed. Either way it’s still a fantastic book and Taylor should be proud of what she’s done
- This one caught me by surprise. Though I'm all over historical fiction - contemporary and romance are not genres I gravitate to at all. I'm glad I put that aside for this book. I love the fact that love was talked about as a complicated thing - so often you see people say it's simple or black and white. Love is a gray area of many nuances and doesn't fit into a square box. It's one of the best takeaways from the book.
- ¡Qué bella lectura acabo de terminar! No le tenía nada de fe a este libro, superó en cada aspecto todas mis expectativas. Tenía una vaga idea de lo que significaba Los Siete Maridos de Evelyn Hugo, pero ahora estoy enamorado de toda la historia. Una excelente lectura, recomendada 100%. Quiero olvidar todo lo que leí y sentir todo lo que sentí leyéndolo por primera vez.
- F••• a duck it’s 4 am and just going to bed because I could not put this book down. My first 5 star book since April. This is worth all the hype. I don’t think I would have read this book if it were not for SOTTB. I can’t wait for everyone in our Traveling Books group to read this.
- "I pretend that I am not furious and confused and heartbroken and torn up and disappointed and shocked and uncomfortable. I pretend that I am simply captivated by Evelyn Hugo. Because, despite everything, I still am."
- Who would’ve thought that following a woman’s life would keep me on edge ?! The writing was so good I couldn’t put it down. For someone who loves drama and gossip, this was a 10/10 read.
- I loved this book so much more than I thought I would. I was non stop crying for the last few chapters. Such a tragic love story that will stay with me for a very long time.
- I loved it so much I'd definitely consider reading it again I loved the enemies to lovers Harry was my favourite character ❤️
- 3.5 This was entertaining, that's all!




















