"Sometimes reality comes crashing down on you. Other times reality simply waits, patiently, for you to run out of the energy it takes to deny it.”
Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Pages: 383
Rating:
Every once in a while, I read a book that I know is going to sit with me for the rest of my life.
I am extremely happy to say that I will be going to film school for college, more specifically the Creative Producing B.F.A. at Chapman University in Orange, CA! I went to visit Chapman two weekends ago and when deciding what book to bring on the plane, it only felt right to bring "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo." What could be better to read when visiting your future college film school than the story of a Hollywood star struggling to keep her personal life together as the industry tries to rip it apart?
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 jump-start her career.
Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious Manhattan apartment, Monique listens in fascination as Evelyn 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 nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's son in tragic and irreversible ways.
Every single Booktuber I watch constantly talks about how life-changing this book is. After finally picking it up myself, I can confidently say the same. (I won't go into too much about the plot or the drama that goes on because so much happens inside these 400 pages that my words in this short review would not do it justice.)
The first thing I want to talk about is the structure of the chapters/sections in this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid separates the book into 7 sections, each named after one of Evelyn Hugo's seven husbands (Poor Ernie Diaz; Goddamn Don Alder; Gullible Mick Riva; Clever Rex North; Brilliant, Kindhearted, Tortured Harry Cameron; Disappointing Max Girard; Agreeable Robert Jamison). In doing this, Evelyn Hugo's own "biography" seems to put men as the priority, just like the media did with her in her own life. The last few lines in the book perfectly put into words everything Taylor Reid does with this book:
"[Monique says] "Doesn't it bother you? That your husbands have become such a headline story, so often mentioned, that they have nearly eclipsed your work and yourself? That all anyone talks about when they talk about you are the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo?"
And her answer was so quintessential Evelyn.
"No," she told me. "Because they are just husbands. I am Evelyn Hugo. And anyway, I think once people know the truth, they will be much more interested in my wife."
Another aspect of this novel that is crucial to storytelling is the inclusion of news article excerpts. I have always struggled with "worldbuilding" when reading books, which is why I tend to gravitate towards movies and TV shows. Worldbuilding, for those who want a little more detail, is the process of constructing an imaginary world or entire fictional universe with qualities like history, geography, other cities, etc. Having these small columns like "Don And Ev, Forev!" and "Bless Don And Evelyn! They Need It!" and "Evelyn Hugo's Heartbreak" makes the whole Hollywood universe this novel is set in feel real.
Evelyn is such a complicated character. One of the best parts of this book is seeing the infinite sides of Evelyn and how she deals with each project and scandal that comes her way. Not only is she beautiful, but she is talented, smart, ambitious, ruthless, and determined to keep her family together. The bisexual representation through Evelyn's character took forbidden love in 50s Hollywood to a whole new level. I won't write any spoilers as to who Evelyn's true love is in this story, but wow did their relationship tug at the heartstrings.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is written so ELEGANTLY that it will 100% make you cry. I would have cried myself for the last 60 pages but I finished it on an airplane and I was going to feel bad for the people around me. The twists and turns in the last quarter were absolutely heartbreaking but also heartwarming. I might have said this before, but in my opinion, ending a book successfully is a very difficult thing to do. However, Reid absolutely NAILS this ending!
I was COMPLETELY SHOCKED to see the plot twist of why Evelyn and Monique are connected.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo reads like a real biography. I felt Evelyn's pain through her story and I felt Monique's pain through her writing. I lived an entire lifetime reading this book, and I hope that you decide to go to the library or Barnes and Noble to pick this up next:) IF you are to take one book recommendation from me, let it be this one.
QUOTES:
“Never let anyone make you feel ordinary.”
“Sometimes reality comes crashing down on you. Other times reality simply waits, patiently, for you to run out of the energy it takes to deny it.”
“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.”
“You have to find a job that makes your heart feel big instead of one that makes it feel small.”
“Make them pay you what they would pay a white man.”
Comments