The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
"Reclusive Hollywood 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 to write her story, no one is more astounded than Monique herself." Determined to use this opportunity to jump-start her career, Monique listens in fascination. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950's to leaving show business behind in the 80's-and, of course, the seven husbands along the way-Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. But as Evelyn's story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in a tragic and irreversible way."
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an addicting page-turner. After reading Daisy Jones and The Six (also by Reid), this novel came highly recommended to me. I was hungry for her writing style, and found myself satiated and then some with this life-changing read.
This tale is one of love, glamour, and deep humanity. It is one that made me laugh, cry, envy, and hate all in one. Evelyn's emotions are extreme and visceral, and her journey was not an easy one. When she was done telling her story, I found myself inspired by her unabashed sense of self.
As Monique is interviewing Evelyn, the reader becomes engrossed with her. There were large amounts of literary space in which Evelyn recalls years of her life in tremendous detail and honesty. We are enthralled with her rags-to-riches story, the glamour and tragedy of Hollywood, and her lifelong forbidden love. It becomes absolutely enthralling and, against the obligations of my schedule, I could not put this book down.
When the timeline of the book came to a chapter wherein Monique was back in the reins, going home to reflect on her time with Evelyn, it is admittedly jarring. You forget, for a moment, that this story is a retelling of past events and that the year is 2017 and not the 1960-80's. But in that is Evelyn Hugo's charm. She is one to capture and command the attention of a room, on and off the big screen. She is portrayed as this stubborn, fiery, and impossibly ambitious personality.
However, when her piece is said, it is all-too-clear that this woman is wracked with pain. She is experiencing "the devastating luxury of panic", as she calls it, and has never stopped. She makes one thing undeniably clear; that she is going to tell her unfiltered story before her time is done.