Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Year of Publication: 2018
Date of Publication: May 29, 2018
Pages: 400
ISBN-10: 1501161938
ISBN-13: 978-1501161933
Audiobook Narrators: Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan, Robin Miles
Summary of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a novel about fame, ambition, and the complexities of love. The story follows Monique Grant, an unknown journalist, who is chosen by legendary Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo to write her biography.
Evelyn has been a star since her 50’s. She is now in her 80’s. She has never really done any interviews but she contacts the magazine where Monique works and asked to be interviewed by her.
The book is broken into different era’s based on her seven marriages. We also get a glimpse of her childhood, the 50’s, and old Hollywood glamour. As Evelyn recounts her life, including her rise to fame and her seven marriages, Monique learns some life lessons that intertwine with her personal life.
Main Themes and Characters
- Evelyn Hugo: She is a glamorous Hollywood icon who decides to share her life story.
- Monique Grant: She is a young journalist chosen by Evelyn to write her biography.
- Celia St. James: She is an actress and Evelyn’s true love.
- Harry Cameron: He is a film producer and Evelyn’s closest friend. Harry is also one of her husbands.
- Don Adler: Evelyn’s abusive second husband. He is also a famous actor.
- Rex North: He is an Actor and another of Evelyn’s husbands. Rex and Evelyn’s marriage was mutually beneficial for publicity.
- Robert Jamison: Celia’s brother and one of Evelyn’s husbands.
- Mick Riva: He is a singer whom Evelyn marries briefly for publicity reasons.
- Ernie Diaz: Evelyn’s first husband, whom she marries as a teenager to leave her home.
- Max Girard: A director who becomes one of Evelyn’s husbands.
Writing Style
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing alternates between Evelyn’s recounting of her life and Monique’s personal reflections. Even though it is 400 pages, the book has really short chapters and it is still a very quick read because of how it is structured.
Reid’s portrayal of the 1950s and 1960s Hollywood clearly brings the glamour and grit of the era to life. She uses a lot of detailed description especially how she describes the clothing of the eras.
Memorable Quotes
- “Never let anyone make you feel ordinary.”
- “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.”
- “You do not know how fast you have been running, how hard you have been working, how truly exhausted you are, until someone stands behind you and says, ‘It’s OK, you can fall down now. I’ll catch you.’”
- “Don’t ignore half of me so you can fit me into a box, Monique. Don’t do that.”
- “I spent half my time loving her and the other half hiding how much I loved her.”
- “It’s always been fascinating to me how things can be simultaneously true and false, how people can be good and bad all in one, how someone can love you in a way that is beautifully selfless while serving themselves ruthlessly.”
Impact of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
The novel sparks discussions about representation and the power of personal narratives.
What are your thoughts on this book? Have you had a chance to read it? Let us know in the comments!
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