Book Review of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
ISBN: 978-1-5011-3923-9
Publisher: Atria Books
Type of book: 1950s-2000s, Hollywood, glamour, LGBTQ+ romances, acting, Oscars, the system, interview, family, friends, hiding self, California, New York, secrets
Year it was published: 2017
Summary:
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.
Written with Reid's signature talent for creating "complex, likable characters" (Real Simple), this is a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means—and what it costs—to face the truth.
Characters:
Main characters include Evelyn Hugo, Celia St. James, Harry Cameron, and Evelyn's six other husbands or so. Out of all the people, Evelyn Hugo and Celia St. James are the ones that are fully fleshed out as complex individuals who have to tread on rocky ground. Evelyn Hugo is unapolgetic and accepts herself as she is. She often thinks of reputation and appearances first and of consequences last, which make her a delightful character. She has to learn things the hard way and is a very strong woman who is loyal to her friends and her lover. Celia St. James is a lesbian who is in love with Evelyn Hugo and quite often Celia seems to be more socially savvy, or at least far more talented because she has won far more Oscars than Evelyn and she has to navigate between what attracted her to Evelyn versus letting Evelyn be herself. Harry Cameron is Evelyn's fifth husband, but prior to that he has his own secret and is a dedicated producer to Evelyn. The two have always continued to be lifelong friends through thick and thin. Evelyn's other six husbands are drawn well, but I sense they are more secondary characters rather than primary ones, and in case of Evelyn's first husband, tertiary.
Theme:
Nothing is what it seems
Plot:
The story is told in first person narrative primarily from Evelyn Hugo's point of view, and from time to time her interviewer, Monique also tells the tale in first person narrative. Although I wanted to like Monique, I admit that I fell more in love with Evelyn Hugo rather than Monique, and a lot of the tale was spent with Evelyn Hugo, (at least I couldn't wait until we got back to Evelyn Hugo.) There were no slow or boring parts and reading SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO was like eating an expensive and gourmet meal at a finest restaurant. The tale also covered Hollywood from 1950s up until 1980s and described a lot of what LGBTQ+ actors had to face in order to remain employed and famous.
Author Information:
(From the book)
Taylor Jenkins Reid lives in Los Angeles and is the acclaimed author of ONE TRUE LOVES, MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE, AFTER I DO, and FOREVER, INTERRPUTED. Her novels ahve been named best books of summer by PEOPLE, COSMOPOLITAN, GLAMOUR, InSTYLE, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, USA TODAY, US WEEKLY, PARADE, POPSUGAR, BUZZFEED, BUSTLE, BRIT+CO, Goodreads and others. To learn more, visit TaylorJenkinsReid.com
Opinion:
First of all, I can't believe I have waited almost two years to read and review this wonderful gem. I received the book in 2017, months after it was published because I kept seeing it everywhere on the 'net. But once I got it, I kept putting off reading it, and this year I finally decided to plunge into it namely because the author has a new book coming out: DAISY JONES AND THE SIX (which yes, I want to read it now...) and diving into this book is an experience that I haven't yet had before because its a beautiful and addictive tale that will long keep you past bedtime to squeeze one more chapter, and the reader will find themselves falling in love with Evelyn Hugo and half hoping she is real instead of a wonderful figment of imagination. The love story is both unexpected, explosive and breathtaking because even the romance novels I have read pale to this novel, as I was happy yet sad for Evelyn. The tale will also expose the ugly side of the 1950s to 1980s Hollywood as a lot of movie stars have to hide themselves at the cost of being famous. I also should mention that there are elements of LGBTQ+ in the story and there is heavy focus and balance on LGBTQ+ romance.
I reviewed it out of my personal collection
5 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
Comments
Post a Comment