the seven husbands of evelyn hugo by taylor jenkins reid | book review

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published on July 6, 2021 by Penguin Life

Genres: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 389

Format: Kindle

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★★★★★

From the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six—an entrancing and “wildly addictive journey of a reclusive Hollywood starlet” (PopSugar) as she 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.

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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I originally heard about this book on BookTok, as most people often do, and the premise of the story immediately caught my attention. I was allured by the old Hollywood aesthetic and was intrigued to read about the scandals of a fictional celebrity.

I'm sure Reid was inspired by real life celebrities--Marilyn Monroe who was known as one of America's most famous sex icons, Taylor Swift and the way the tabloids paint her to be a boy-crazy serial dater, and so on.

This book is divided into sections whose titles are the names of all the husbands that Evelyn's had during her life, and each husband represents the best and worst parts of celebrity fame. There are themes of abuse, domestic violence, and sexual blackmail that may very well reflect the not-so glamorous sides of Hollywood and its abuse of the women it decides to exploit.

During each glimpse into Evelyn's life, the reader follows her on her journey as she discovers strength in sexuality, the strength in and importance of female relationships, and even as her definition of intimacy and trust changes.

“People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is 'you're safe with me'- that's intimacy.”

This book often comes with mixed opinions and reviews, some praising and some critiquing. I find myself in the former group of readers who laud Reid's sophisticated writing style and three dimensional characters. She paints such a realistic landscape of the celebrity world that one might even think that she was a famous actress in another life and was writing based on her own experiences.

Evelyn is a realistic character who has flaws. There were moments where I disagreed with her choices, but as a woman, I couldn't help but sympathize with her. How can one blame a woman who uses her body as leverage when she's told that that's the most valuable thing she has?

There are also themes of LGBTQ+ relationships that Reid explores and that make for an interesting contrast when compared to the heteronormative, conservative ideologies of old Hollywood.

By the end of the story, I was unsure of how to view Evelyn. Did I like her? Did I hate her? Perhaps the reason I disliked her was because she made me think about my own intentions and what I would have done if I was in similar situations as her. And perhaps I liked her because she didn't do what I would have done.

“It’s always been fascinating to me how things can be simultaneously true and false, how people can be good and bad all in one, how someone can love you in a way that is beautifully selfless while serving themselves ruthlessly.”

While this book is named for and organized by the important men in Evelyn's life, it becomes increasingly obvious that those men do not define Evelyn, despite the misogynistic lens of society that seems to make people think that women are only important because of the men in their lives.

In reading about her seven relationships, the reader learns most about Evelyn herself and the other, lesser known relationships that she kept hidden from public scrutiny.

“Evelyn looks at me with purpose. "Do you understand what I'm telling you? When you're given an opportunity to change your life, be ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen. The world doesn't give things, you take things. If you learn one thing from me, it should probably be that.”