The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Riveting, heart-wrenching, and full of Old Hollywood glamour,
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the most captivating reads of 2017.” ― Buzzfeed“A novel of Old Hollywood that’s
simultaneously gossipy and poignant. Look no further for the glamour, ambition and shocking secrets your beach-blanket sessions demand.” ― People“Come for the
glam old Hollywood vibes; stay for a touching tale of a young reporter and a silver-screen legend.” ― Cosmopolitan“In her
mesmerizing tale, Taylor Jenkins Reid explores Hollywood’s heyday with a heroine akin to Elizabeth Taylor. Movie icon Evelyn Hugo, now a recluse at 79, unfurls the story of her glamorous life and her scandalous seven marriages.” ― Us Weekly“The epic adventures Evelyn creates over the course of a lifetime will leave every female reader mesmerized. This
wildly addictive journey of a reclusive Hollywood starlet and her tumultuous Tinseltown journey comes with unexpected twists and the most satisfying of drama.” ― PopSugar“If you’re looking for a book to take on holiday this summer,
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has got all the glitz and glamour to make it a perfect beach read — as long as you’re prepared to cry off all your sunscreen, because this book gets *emotional*. Each of Evelyn’s marriages comes with its own hurt and heartbreak, from infidelity and betrayal to domestic abuse. But running throughout Evelyn’s tumultuous life is one great love that will leave you sobbing into the pages.” ― Bustle “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is more than escapism fiction sweeping its audience back to an era when show biz glamour danced with real-life intrigue, romantic entanglements and perceived impropriety. With memorable characters rivaling any Hollywood blockbuster, Taylor Jenkins Reid marries themes of loyalty, betrayal, friendship and love into a soaring, fast-paced and gripping performance. It leaves readers asking if they are merely role-playing with those they love or being true to an authentic self.” ― Shelf Awareness, starred review“[
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo] is fascinating, emotional and will be hard to put down. For fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, this is her best work yet.” ― Associated Press“A spellbinding novel about
love, glamour and the price of fame.” — Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author of First Comes Love“In her latest mesmerizing tale, Reid transports readers back to Hollywood’s heyday with a heroine in the likes of — but more intriguing than — Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Katherine Hepburn. Yes, Evelyn Hugo is the glamorous idol you admire, but she’s also the
relentless fighter you aspire to be. Her life’s story is heartbreaking, yet beautiful and will keep readers captivated until the very last page.” — Jamie Blynn, Us Weekly“
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is the total package: the very best of Classic Hollywood intrigue, a delicious twist, and incisive commentary on the wages of stardom, especially for women.” — Anne Helen Petersen, BuzzFeed culture writer and author of Scandals of Classic Hollywood“
Reid’s characters will enchant readers as they travel through the glitz and glamour of Old Hollywood and the truths they both must confront.” ― Real Simple“
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the queen of queens when it comes to beach reads, and this breathtaking treat proves once again the throne is hers alone.” ― Redbook“
Addictive, dazzling and bound to leave you in tears (classic Taylor Jenkins Reid), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo should be your No. 1 reading priority this summer.” ― SheKnows“Leave it to Taylor Jenkins Reid to keep readers captivated, from the first page to the last. With a
parade of lovable characters and unputdownable plot, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo should top every reading list this summer.” ― Working Mother“A
cinematic tale with hardscrabble roots, staggering highs and sickening lows. The novel reads like a celebrity tell-all, and this makes it delicious. But it’s also got heft, because Hugo’s story is one of overcoming adversity, racism and sexism to get to the top. She fails, falls, triumphs and learns difficult lessons about the things that really matter. With this riveting novel, Reid has created an exceptional character with the wherewithal to take on the patriarchy.” ― Globe and Mail“A
big, juicy read…Reid expertly captures the hothouse nature of Hollywood…the story is fresh, and the end reveal is worth the wait” ― Historical Novel Society“This sweeping tale is about an aging Hollywood starlet and the rookie magazine reporter she hires to pen her breathtaking (and scandalous) life story. Trust us:
You’ll be swooning over the twist for months.” ― Brit & Co.“Jenkins has crafted another tale
sure to appeal to fans of women’s fiction, Susan Meissner, and Beatriz Williams.” ― Library Journal“Evelyn Hugo is a character who can demand top billing…Reid’s heroine reveals her darkest secrets as if she were wiping off makeup at the end of the night—a
celebration of human frailty that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all.” ― Kirkus Reviews“Reid knows how to tug at heart strings with unusual tales of finding real and lasting love…the reader [will be] captivated by old Hollywood glamour, intriguing and complex characters, and Reid’s unsurpassed ability to leave her audience reaching for a hankie. An
utterly unique take on what truly makes a family.” ― Booklist“
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has big, juicy secrets at its heart– not just about the surprising identity of movie star Evelyn Hugo’s true love, but of the lengths she has gone to protect that mysterious lover. Brimming with heartache, betrayal, and a lifetime of Hollywood gossip, this raucous novel will seduce you even as it leaves you wanting more.” — Miranda Beverly-Whittemore, New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and June“A
glamorous romp through Hollywood in its heyday, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest offers up several unexpected twists and a dazzling, ambitious movie star who will break your heart.” — Fiona Davis, author of The Dollhouse“Evelyn Hugo makes Liz Taylor seem pedestrian. Taylor Jenkins Reid has drawn a
rich, emotionally complex heroine who is so real that you’ll forget she only lives in the pages of a book. This is an utterly compelling dance with love and tragedy, sometimes both at once; you’ll laugh with Evelyn, cry with her, ache with her, and then go back to page one and do it all over again.” — Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, authors of The Royal We“Anyone who appreciates old Hollywood glamour will want to
check this one out.” ― Today.comAbout the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Evelyn Hugo’s Coming Clean
BY JULIA SANTOS
MARCH 4, 2017
Word on the street is siren/LIVING LEGEND/world’s most beautiful blonde Evelyn Hugo is auctioning off gowns
and agreeing to an interview, which she has not done in multiple decades.PLEASE tell me she is finally ready to talk about all those damn husbands. (I can understand four, maybe even five, six if you are really pushing it, but seven? Seven husbands? Not to mention the fact that we all know she was having an affair with Congressman Jack Easton in the early ’80s. Girl. Got. A. Round.)
If she won’t come clean about the husbands, let’s pray she at least goes on the record about how she got those eyebrows. I mean, SHARE THE WEALTH, EVELYN.
When you see pictures of E back in the day with her brassy blond hair, those dark, straight-as-an-arrow eyebrows, that deep-tanned skin, and those golden-brown eyes, you have no choice but to stop what you are doing and stare right at her.
And don’t even get me started on that body.
No ass, no hips—just huge boobs on a slim frame.
I have basically been working my entire adult life for a body like that. (Note: Am very far away. Might be the spaghetti bucatini I’ve been eating for lunch every day this week.)
Here is the only part that has me heated: Evelyn could have chosen anyone for this. (Ahem, me?) But instead she chose some newbie at
Vivant? She could have had anyone. (Ahem, me?) Why this Monique Grant chick (and not me)?Ugh, fine. I’m just bitter it’s not me.
I should really get a job at
Vivant. They get all the good stuff.COMMENTS:
- Hihello565 says: Even people at Vivant don’t want to work at Vivant anymore. Corporate overlords producing censored advertiser courting bullshit.
- Ppppppppppps reply to Hihello565: Yeah, OK. Something tells me if the most well-respected, sophisticated magazine in the country offered you a job, you’d take it.
- EChristine999 says: Didn’t Evelyn’s daughter die of cancer recently? I feel like I read something recently about that. So heartbreaking. BTW, that picture of Evelyn at Harry Cameron’s grave? Basically ruined me for months. Beautiful family. So sad that she lost them.
- MrsJeanineGrambs says: I do not care about Evelyn Hugo AT ALL. STOP WRITING ABOUT THESE PEOPLE. Her marriages, affairs, and most of her movies just go to prove one thing: Slut. Three A.M. was a disgrace to women. Focus your attention on people that deserve it.
- SexyLexi89 says: Evelyn Hugo is maybe the most beautiful woman of all time. That shot in Boute-en-Train where she’s coming out of the water naked and the camera cuts to black right before you see her nipples? So good.
- PennyDriverKLM says: All hail Evelyn Hugo for making blond hair and dark eyebrows THE LOOK. Evelyn, I salute you.
- YuppiePigs3 says: Too skinny! Not for me.
- EvelynHugoIsASaint says: This is a woman who has donated MILLIONS OF DOLLARS to charities for battered women’s organizations and LGBTQ+ interests, and now she’s auctioning off gowns for cancer research and all you can talk about is her eyebrow game? Seriously?
- JuliaSantos@TheSpill reply to EvelynHugoIsASaint: This is a fair point, I guess. SORRY. In my defense, she started making millions by being a badass business bitch back in the ’60s. And she would never have had the clout to do that without her talent and beauty, and she never would have been as beautiful without DEM BROWS. But OK, fair point.
- EvelynHugoIsASaint reply to JuliaSantos@TheSpill: Ugh. Sorry for being so bitchy. I skipped lunch. Mea culpa. For what it’s worth, Vivant won’t do half as well with this story as you would have. Evelyn should have chosen you.
- JuliaSantos@TheSpill reply to EvelynHugoIsASaint: Right????? Who is Monique Grant anyway? BORING. I’m coming for her…
From the Publisher
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melanie (meltotheany / jtotheimin) –
“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.
Madison –
“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.”Taylor Jenkins Reid’s THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO tells the authentic story of legendary Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo through an autobiographical medium, with ambitious “Vivant” journalist Monique Grant scribing her tale. Throughout the interview, Hugo reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets of her life acting in the film industry, detailing how she repressed her Cuban heritage to conform to the Hollywood scene, how she not only experienced but capitalized on the industry’s sexism and double standards, how she used her body and married famous men to get her to the top, how she found true friendship and forbidden love, and how she admits that she would do it all again if given a chance. As Hugo engrosses Grant and the readers with her story, the question of ‘why would a famous Hollywood actress want to speak with an up-and-coming journalist like Monique Grant, why her?’ lingers in the back of our minds, and soon, we learn the real reason why Hugo wanted Grant to write her autobiography. As a student enrolled in an Intermediate Fiction Writing course, I was particularly eager to review this novel after reading it for the first time last year. To say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it is an understatement.Taylor Jenkins Reid never fails to impress me with her craft in creating and developing characters, I find that to be a strong element of the novel that contributed to my appeal; Evelyn Hugo is one of the most compelling protagonists I have ever read about in my entire life, and I adored the fact that she was all morally shades of grey and not a good person when it came to her rise to the top of the Hollywood ladder. She felt no regrets about the manipulations and schemes she created to get her to the singularity, which thrilled me, but seeing her vulnerable side away from the flashing cameras was also a real treat. Harry Cameron and Celia St. James serve as strong secondary characters who held a major influence on Hugo; one whom she shared a deep platonic connection with, and the other, to whom she was helplessly in love with and devoted. Taylor Jenkins Reid wonderfully illustrates the ups and downs of the friendship between Evelyn and Harry, the struggles and clashes between Evelyn and Celia, and the tragedy Evelyn experienced losing them both.Another element that stood out to me was the setting of the novel. Hugo’s interview reveals how she built and stepped away from her career as a renowned Hollywood actress, often inspiring her to move across different locations to preserve her private image. To her detriment and benefit, the press follows Hugo wherever she goes, with journalist companies like “Sub Rosa,” “PhotoMoment,” “Hollywood Digest,” and the “New York Tribune” writing articles about her fabricated life (while not realizing it), and spreading gossip. Seeing those newspaper clippings pop up in the chapters gives the novel a sparkling touch, making the environment feel more authentic. It also is no surprise that Taylor Jenkins Reid took inspiration from Old Hollywood icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor to craft the character of Evelyn Hugo; she fits right into the time period where her story blossoms.Finally, the last element that stood out to me above all else was Evelyn’s plot arc. She goes from feeling determined to make it to the singularity and steal the audience’s attention to wanting to give it all up for Celia St. James, the love of her life, in a way that feels so natural and real. Her wanting to build an image as a renowned actress came from wanting to get out of Hell’s Kitchen and prove to people, especially her abusive father, that she has the talent and worth to make it big. But, as she meets and falls for Celia, she feels compelled to spend every moment with her, and she keeps up her work ethic but hides her feelings so the career she sacrificed so much of her authentic self for doesn’t die in vain. Of course, that comes with hardships in her relationship with Celia, but we see how her decision to leave all of the Hollywood glory behind makes sense after the fact. It’s bittersweet.If you’re in the market for a juicy contemporary beach read or a compelling novel that handles serious topics elegantly, THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO is worth a read and is the book for you.
Rob V –
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, and I got more from it than I thought I would. I’d give this 4.5 out of 5. I debated for a while if I wanted to give it 5 stars, because I honestly didn’t have any issues with it. I read the whole book in about 10 days, which is very fast for me when I’m not on vacation. It reads very quickly and I often didn’t want to put it down. It’s probably a great beach read for vacation goers.This book ends up not being about what you think it is. There is a very deep subtext and plot point that is not mentioned in the description. It will bother some people for sure, but I’m trying to live a life of acceptance and see everyone for who they are, not just labeling them and judging them by how they choose to live their lives.There’s also a twist near the end that I really tried to see coming, and was pleasantly surprised when I was wrong, though the twist itself is actually devastating to the main characters, both of whom carry the story along well.This is the first TJR novel I’ve read, and I definitely think I would read more.
Angela –
I can see why this is a best seller!This is the first book I have read by this author. I was hooked from the very beginning, as she teases the reader with an upcoming big reveal. The storyline is captivating, but not as much as the personality and worldview of the main character, Evelyn Hugo. The writing was so good that not only could I visualize much of the happenings in the novel, but I felt like I was in the room with the characters. An engaging and entertaining read. Recommended!
Javier Reyero –
Gran libroEl libro no me ha podido encantar más. Las historia esta contada de una forma que engancha y emociona. Sinceramente lo recomiendo al 100 por 100
Briony Adams –
Quite a deep storyWell done to the author for writing such an emotional and interesting and vaguely historical book too.I loved all the characters which are all excellently portrayed and the plot twist was totally credible and a big surprise.Well done!
Julie Morris –
GorgeousI’m so late to the party on this book, which is why I added it to my list for the #20BooksOfSummer Challenge. Having loved all the previous books I’ve read by TJR, I am eager to catch up on her backlist and this seems to be most people’s favourite. Also, my two step-daughters were reading at the same time while we were on our recent holiday so we decided to have a mini book club.I really enjoyed the format of this book, split between the events of the modern day in Monique’s real life and her sessions with Evelyn Hugo, and then flashbacks to the past as Evelyn tells her story, split between the periods with each of the seven of her husbands. The story takes us through the golden age of Hollywood and really immerses us in that world, and it was a joy to read.TJR has a real knack for developing complex and interesting characters, and the two main protagonists in this book are no exception, particularly in the way they interact with each other. Monique’s feelings towards Evelyn change over the course of the novel and end up being extremely complicated to mirror the way the plot and the relationship between them unfolds. Evelyn is not at all what people think she is, and her reasons for telling her story to Monique could not be guessed at, and Monique’s contradictory feelings towards her by the end are completely understandable.This is a beautifully written, captivating story that had me up until the wee small hours finishing it off because I had to know the answers to the questions that TJR had cleverly implanted in me over the course of the book. I haven’t managed to get through one of her novels without shedding a tear yet, and this one was no exception. I was totally in love with Evelyn by the end, and I also felt very deeply for Monique. I can see why so many people adore this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an emotional page turner with great characters, and unobvious plot and a bittersweet aftertaste.
Bharath –
My wife loved this so muchIn her words – “ I did not expect this book to be as great as it was (I wasn’t expecting it to be bad, but I just wasn’t prepared for this)Even though the ending is all well known right from the beginning, the end of the book, especially the last few chapters make me bawl my eyes out. Such splendid imagination and writing! Very intrigued by the author now, I want to pick up another one of her books!Have fun reading this gem. “