The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie 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 for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn's story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means — and what it costs — to face the truth.
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid | Publisher: Atria Books
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Rating: 4 / 5
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the most hyped books on Instagram, but it took me a long time to finally read it. And it was great, just as everyone said it was. A masterwork in storytelling, compulsively readable and heart-wrenching.
The main character of the story is Monique, a 30-something woman attempting to carve a space for herself in the world of impactful journalism. Then Evelyn Hugo, a retired mega movie star who had famously been married no less than seven times, reaches out to the magazine Monique works for and requests an audience with her — and her alone.
When Monique arrives, she learns that she’s to write Evelyn’s biography. What follows is an account of Evelyn’s life, so different from what everyone thinks, told husband by husband. And yet none of them are the great love of Evelyn’s life. By the end, Monique comes to learn why Evelyn insisted on her as the author, and the realization is incredible.
I couldn’t put this one down and read it in only a few days — if it had been a weekend, I could have finished in one day. It wasn’t a life-changing work of literature, but it was incredibly enjoyable and really unique. I loved it.