The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Not for the faint of heart, covers emotional and important topics, may be triggering to some, read at your own discretion. An actual 5 out of 5 stars, I remember gripping the edge of my seat in anticipation as I pondered over what connection Monique actually had to Evelyn. The truth was sad, astounding, and made me feel an ocean of emotions in just one moment.

Summary

 Evelyn Hugo is a Hollywood starlet who built a career off of her looks and kept it going with just the right amount of drama and wit. It’s true enough that only the problematic ones know what it takes to stay relevant.

Well into her 70s in the present, the story recounts Evelyn’s life from the beginning of her career to her retirement, as well as the juicy details of all seven of her husbands, who, by hook or crook, seemed to slip away from her.

A tale of doomed love and sad endings, Hugo is the type of fictional character that you truly feel to be real. At one point, I was convinced that I was missing something, was Evelyn Hugo a real person? Had I been living under a rock all this time? The answer is yes and no. Yes, I live under a rock. No, Evelyn Hugo is NOT a real person so be relieved. 

Favorite Character

Characterization seems to be Reid’s strong point as she fleshes out Harry, the ‘gay best friend,’ and Celia, the life-long love. Everything seems realistic, and I got my first real look at what arguments may arise in an actual relationship. Most novels I read are fantasy stories with just a hint of background romance to keep the story moving forward. 

Storyline Development

The perfect blend of past and present, Reid manages to seamlessly transition between the two, without making me confused. In the past, I read a few novels that did this such as The Silent Patient and Ninth House, however, both succeeded to confuse me as I wondered which events were in the present of the story. Overall, Reid did a great job, and you can tell that this book isn’t her first rodeo.

Worldbuilding: 

Set in the real world, realistic fiction isn’t really about worldbuilding, it’s about choosing the right backdrop for your story to take place. Reid is like an acclaimed movie director, showing the twists and turns of a career-driven life, led by an overly ambitious woman. Except, in life, there’s really no such thing as being too ambitious, is there?

For those who’ve already read this amazing novel you should read Reid’s other novels, many of which have intriguing plots and juicy twists on the old cliches.