The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A Novel

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a gripping historical fiction novel that follows the life of the iconic and enigmatic Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo. Written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the book explores themes of fame, love, ambition, identity, and the cost of success. Told through a dual narrative structure, the story unfolds as Evelyn recounts her scandalous life story to an unknown journalist, Monique Grant, revealing the truth behind her seven marriages and the great love of her life.Monique Grant, a struggling journalist, is unexpectedly chosen by legendary Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo to write her exclusive biography. As Evelyn recounts her rise to fame, her seven marriages, and the love she had to keep hidden, Monique realizes that Evelyn’s story is not just about glamour and ambition—but also deeply connected to her own past. Evelyn’s true love was Celia St. James, but due to Hollywood’s homophobia, she had to marry strategically to protect her career and secrets. As Monique listens, she uncovers shocking truths, including Evelyn’s involvement in a tragedy that changed Monique’s life. In the end, Evelyn, always in control of her own fate, makes a final, irreversible decision, leaving Monique to tell the world her real story, her way.Evelyn Hugo is one of the most compelling and multi-dimensional characters in modern fiction. She is ambitious, strategic, and unapologetically ruthless, willing to manipulate, seduce, and sacrifice to achieve success. Yet, despite her cold calculation, she is also deeply vulnerable, shaped by trauma, love, and the harsh realities of the Hollywood industry. Evelyn’s decision to marry certain men wasn’t always about love but for power, protection, or survival in an industry that often discarded women once they lost their youth. Her ability to adapt, lie, and reinvent herself showcases her resilience in a world designed to exploit her beauty.Monique is a relatively unknown journalist chosen by Evelyn to write her biography. As Evelyn recounts her story, Monique not only discovers hidden Hollywood scandals but also unravels a deeply personal truth that connects her to Evelyn in an unexpected way. Monique struggles with self-worth and identity, especially after her divorce. Through Evelyn’s story, she learns about agency, ambition, and the importance of owning one's choices.Harry Cameron is one of Evelyn’s greatest loves—not romantically, but as a soul-deep friendship. As a closeted gay man in Hollywood, he understands the necessity of keeping secrets, and their relationship highlights the theme of found family and the sacrifices required to live authentically. Their marriage, though not based on romantic love, is one of Evelyn’s most genuine and supportive relationships. He provides her with safety in an industry where honesty about identity was dangerous.Celia St. James is a talented actress and the person Evelyn truly loves, but their relationship is fraught with challenges due to societal expectations, career ambitions, and personal insecurities. Their on-again, off-again romance is filled with passion, but also miscommunication and pain, making it one of the most tragic yet realistic love stories in the book. Evelyn's fear of public scandal and losing her career leads her to make decisions that deeply hurt Celia. The tension between love and ambition is at the heart of their relationship.The novel spans several decades, from the 1950s to the present day, capturing the glamour and cruelty of Hollywood. Reid does an excellent job of portraying the oppressive gender roles, homophobia, and racism of the time, showing how stars like Evelyn had to navigate these barriers to succeed. Example: Evelyn, a Cuban-American woman, changes her identity by bleaching her hair blonde and changing her last name, highlighting the racial erasure required to succeed in Hollywood.Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing style in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is engaging, immersive, and deeply emotional, making the novel feel like a real-life memoir rather than fiction.She masterfully balances glamour and heartbreak, delivering a story that is both intoxicating and painfully raw. Reid uses a dual timeline structure, alternating between Monique’s present-day perspective and Evelyn’s past, creating a sense of mystery that keeps the reader engaged. The framing device of Evelyn recounting her life story to Monique adds a documentary-like feel, as if the reader is uncovering a secret Hollywood scandal alongside Monique. The book opens with Monique, an unknown journalist, being unexpectedly chosen by Evelyn for an exclusive interview. The question of "Why Monique?" becomes a driving force, adding suspense to the story.Reid’s writing style is cinematic, painting vivid images of 1950s-1980s Hollywood glamour, the struggles of LGBTQ+ actors, and the toxic beauty standards of the era. She describes fashion, settings, and emotions in a way that makes the reader feel like they are stepping back in time. Example: Evelyn’s entrance at the Oscars, described in lush detail, makes the reader feel as if they’re watching a movie scene:"The emerald-green gown shimmered under the flashbulbs, hugging my curves in a way that made men gape and women whisper."Reid’s prose is clean, accessible, and fast-paced, making the book unputdownable. She avoids overly flowery language, instead using sharp, direct sentences that deliver maximum impact. This makes even the slower, emotional moments feel urgent and compelling. Reid’s writing shines in its emotional authenticity. She explores themes of love, identity, ambition, and regret with deep psychological insight, making even the most glamorous moments feel intimate and personal. When Evelyn finally reflects on her life’s choices, her words feel like a confession to the reader:"I spent years pretending to be someone else, only to realize I lost the real me in the process."This kind of introspection gives the novel a powerful emotional core, making Evelyn’s story not just entertaining but deeply moving.At its core, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is about identity, sacrifice, and the complexity of human relationships. It is a portrait of a flawed but compelling woman who refuses to be defined by others. The novel raises profound questions:Is success worth losing yourself for?Can love survive when hidden in the shadows?How do we decide which version of ourselves to present to the world?Evelyn Hugo’s life is messy, heartbreaking, and inspiring—just like real life. Through her, Reid crafts a story that is not just about Hollywood, but about the universal struggles of love, ambition, and self-acceptanceStrengths:✅ Engaging & Addictive Prose – The novel reads effortlessly, with short, impactful sentences that make it hard to put down.✅ Cinematic Descriptions – The world of old Hollywood is brought to life with vivid, immersive details.✅ Strong Character Voice – Evelyn’s narration is bold, unapologetic, and full of personality, making her one of the most memorable protagonists in modern fiction.✅ Emotional Resonance – The book isn’t just about Hollywood glamour—it’s a deeply human story about love, sacrifice, and regret.The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a masterfully crafted story about love, ambition, and the price of fame. Taylor Jenkins Reid creates a bold and unforgettable protagonist in Evelyn, a woman who is neither purely good nor evil but entirely human. The novel is both a glamorous Hollywood scandal and a deeply moving story about identity, sacrifice, and regret.✅ Highly recommended for:Readers who love historical fiction and celebrity scandals.Fans of complex, morally gray protagonists.Those looking for strong LGBTQ+ representation in fiction.

“I spent half my time loving her and the other half hiding how much I loved her.”This is one of the best books I’ve ever had the privilege to read. It is probably in the top five for best books I’ve ever read in my entire life. I have been looking for a book like this my entire life, and no combination of words I’m about to type, and you’re about to read, is going to do this masterpiece justice. But I will say that Gabby, Joce, Amelie, and Elyse were all right, and I’m so happy I listened to them, because this book is worth every single ounce of hype.And when I say that this book is lifechanging, I truly mean it. This book is sold as a historical romance, where you learn about a fictional, famous, old Hollywood actress and all her marriages. What you get is a book that stars a bisexual, Cuban woman who was never allowed to talk about the love of her life; her wife. And when I say I cried during this book, I truly mean that I probably need to buy a new copy because I was the biggest mess you’ve ever seen.“And it will be the tragedy of my life that I cannot love you enough to make you mine. That you cannot be loved enough to be anyone’s.”On top of this being a powerful book about race, sexuality, misogyny, and having to conform to societies norms, the true meaning I took from this book is that life is short, so damn short, and we shouldn’t spend it pretending to be something we aren’t. And we shouldn’t spend it doing anything less than loving the people who are worthy and deserving of our love.“I didn’t need boys in order to feel good. And that realization gave me great power.”We follow Evelyn from the very start; losing her mother very young, her body developing very quickly, noticing others noticing her developing body, marrying a man so she can leave the dead-end city she grew up in, so she can become something more. Evelyn is unapologetic with her actions, and it is one of the most empowering things I’ve ever read. She plays so many more parts than the roles she is cast in. And Evelyn learns really quickly how to play each and every man she is forced to interact with, and she quickly learns what she can gain from each and every one of them, too.This story is told from two different timelines and two different points of view. One from Monique Grant, who is a biracial (white and African-American) woman who is going through a fresh divorce and trying to make something of herself in the journalism field. And her life changes the day her editor tells her how Evelyn Hugo is demanding her, and only her, to write something for her.“Heartbreak is loss. Divorce is a piece of paper.”The other timeline(s) are all the different times in Evelyn’s life, and the different seven husbands that she had, while she is recounting the events that lead her to be telling Monique this story. Evelyn has lived a very full life, and is in her late seventies now, and is finally ready to talk about her life. But the entire book we are guessing why she has chosen only Monique for this job.“Make them pay you what they would pay a white man.”If you guys have been following my reviews, you’ll probably know that I talk about found family and how important it is to me a lot, but The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is the epitome of how beautiful a found family can be. Evelyn and Harry’s friendship in this was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read in my entire reading life.“When you write the ending, Monique, make sure the reader understands that all I was ever really looking for was family. Make sure it’s clear that I found it. Make sure they know that I am heartbroken without it.”And the romance? The true romance in this book is the most romantic thing I have ever read in my entire life. And you guys know I’ve read a ton of romances, but they are all lesser to this. Every single one of them can’t compare with the romance in this book. I feel like every time I’ve used the word “perfect” to describe something that wasn’t the romance in this book, then I used the word wrong.“Please never forget that the sun rises and sets with your smile. At least to me it does. You’re the only thing on this planet worth worshipping.”How many Evelyn and Celias are there in the world? How many are still playing the role that Evelyn was forced to play? I cry for every single person who must hide who they are, and who they want to love. And this book talks about many big things in LGBTQIAP+ history; from the Stonewall riots to the disgusting Reagan administration, but life still isn't anywhere close to equal in 2018. The prejudices, the discrimination, the virus/syndrome blaming, the looks I’ve experienced holding a girl’s hand while walking into a restaurant? Those are still in 2018, in the United States, but people act like none of those things exists because marriage is legalized, begrudgingly. I’m not writing this review to get on my soapbox, but I promise, we have a lot more work to do. And this book, this book lit a fire under me.I personally identify as pansexual, but I felt like the bisexual rep in this was a tier above anything my eyes have ever seen. Seeing Evelyn love all the parts of her, and all the different parts of her love, was something so awe-inspiring. I am still so overwhelmed with feelings, but if you identify as bi or pan, this is a love letter to you, I promise.“I was a lesbian when she loved me and a straight woman when she hated me.”This book also focuses a huge importance on motherhood throughout the entirety of this book, and then I read the acknowledgement and started weeping all over again. Taylor Jenkins Reid was able to evoke the strongest emotions from me, and I just pray that things will be different for the generation of kids being raised right now.This was the first thing I’ve read by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but I will buy every single new thing she produces. The writing was so lyrical and addicting. I mean, I have a quote between almost every paragraph. This whole book deserves to be highlighted. The characters, well, my mind has now forever imagined that these are real people now, so there is that. The topics, themes, and discussions are beyond important. This book just makes me feel so passionately. This book is one of the most empowering pieces of literature I’ve ever consumed. And I am not the same person I was before this book.“I told her every single day that her life had been the world’s greatest gift to me, that I believed I was put on earth not to make movies or wear emerald-green gowns and wave at crowds but to be her mother.”If you guys ever take a recommendation from me; please have it be The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Please, I’m actually begging you. I promise, this book is lifechanging, and I equally promise you that this book changed mine. There is magic between these four-hundred-pages. Pure magic. This story is addicting, enthralling, and so important. And if you’re an Evelyn, in 2018, I see you, but I hope it doesn’t take you as long as it took her to be happy. This will forever be one of the best books of my life, and I’ll cherish it forever.“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.”Trigger/Content Warnings: death of a loved one, death of a child, talk of suicide, unhealthy dieting, underage sex with an adult, abortion, talk of miscarriage, a lot of physical abuse, cheating, dunk driving, and homophobic slurs.

I had heard sooo many people talking about this book. It was everywhere. I had to see what all the fuss was about. I ALWAYS choose whether or not to read a book by reading the first couple of paragraphs. If it doesn’t catch my interest..I usually pass. But this book absolutely sucked me in. At first I was going to listen to the audiobook, with it having whispersync available. However…I wasn’t into hearing it read to me. That doesn’t usually happen, but the way this book is wrote and how the storyline goes, it is much more suited in my opinion to read. The way Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote this book makes you truly feel as if you’re reading someone’s diary that you found locked up in an old attic. You get the feeling that you’re being brought into another secret side of someone’s life that no one else knows. I’m not sure what I expected when picking this book up. I guess that it would be about a woman’s many loves and loss, which is it definitely is, but not quite in the way you’d expect and I really enjoyed that. I typically can get an idea of what is going to happen early on in a story and that was not the case with this book. Toward the end, while reading I felt choked up by the heartbreak that occurs and having felt that in a long time with a book. Definitely worth a read, and now I get why everyone was talking about it.