The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: Which One Was Her True Love?
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Imagine you walk into work. Your boss calls you into her office, sits you down, and says “Monique, Evelyn Hugo wants to do a piece with Vivant, but only if you write it.” Initially, you would be elated, so over the moon, you wouldn’t know how to contain yourself and then it hits you, ME!? Why me!? This is the start of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and boy is it just getting started!
“I think being yourself—your true, entire self—is always going to feel like you’re swimming upstream.”
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo follows the life of Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood actress, and her seven marriages. Evelyn tells her life story to Monique Grant. Asked to interview, Evelyn by none other than the woman herself. It is a mystery why Evelyn chose a no-name like Monique to give her tell-all to. Nevertheless, Monique accepts and proceeds with capturing the sordid details.
As Monique interviews Evelyn, she learns about the ups and downs of her life. Including her rise to fame in the 1950s, her tumultuous relationships with her husbands, and her secret relationship with her best friend, Celia James.
“When you’re given an opportunity to change your life, be ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen. The world doesn’t give things, you take things.”
Rating:
Genre: Romance novel, Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction
Even after reading this book weeks ago, all I can think about how phenomenal, spectacular, and outstanding The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is. From the end of the first chapter, I was fully engrossed in the storyline. I wanted to know what made Monique so special that THE Evelyn Hugo chose her to tell her story to.
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 in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
It was clear that Evelyn wasn’t just some glamourous Hollywood-ite, she built her career on her back. Doing any and everything she needed to do in order to get where she needed in life. So she summons Monique to her Upper East Side apartment.
Monique listens as Evelyn’s story reveals: from her making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds through the decades—revealing cutthroat ambition, a dedicated friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a real connection to the actress. As Evelyn’s story intersects with the present day, it’s clear that her life crosses with Monique’s in a tragic and inconceivable way.
“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.”
Historical Fiction is not my jam but this book is hyped for a good reason! When Evelyn reveals her secret love. I loved how well-paced it was. It wasn’t too fast, and areas that were slower gave just the right amount of crescendo to the story. It was ugh, exquisite.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was my first experience with Taylor Jenkins Reid. As a first go, it was the perfect step to set me off on good footing. With TJR’s writing being what it was in this novel, it has completely put her works in the auto-buy category. Additionally, to a great writing style, the narration of the scenes in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was impeccable. Pumping my adrenaline, and keeping me guessing wanting more, and more.
Evelyn Hugo is sexy, witty, and charming
“Don’t ignore half of me so you can fit me into a box. Don’t do that.”
Evelyn Hugo is authentically herself and I love that. I also love the fact that it has taken a while for her to get to that point. She is the most flawlessly flawed character (if that makes sense, you will have to read it to understand). Reading about Evelyn Hugo felt like reading a story about a real person. A true autobiography being recorded. I often had to remind myself that she was a character and not a real person. That is the true hallmark of a well-written character. She is raw, devious, manipulative, scheming, and cold-hearted. Truly a bitch. But she owns 100% and makes no qualms about it. It is just how it is! You either love her or hate her but either way, she will still be Evelyn Hugo!
In the same breath that she will take to be a smart ass, she will take to be sensual, enticing, and seductive. Seducing the pants right off of you to get her needs met. The term use what you got to get what you want was coined for women like Evelyn Hugo. But that isn’t to say that she can’t form deep bonds as she does with Harry! I loved seeing her make that connection. We see her love for her child. We see her devotion to Celia. And, it was beautiful to see that side of her.
Final Thoughts?
Contrastly, Monique was quite underdeveloped in comparison to Evelyn. I couldn’t find myself caring about her the way I adored Evelyn. There was a pinhole into Monique’s life. You know she is going through a divorce but even that was a tidbit. There is a twist that concerns her, but there wasn’t much in the way of caring for Monique.
Additionally, as someone who likes to go into their books completely blind, it was hard to stay away from the constant talk surrounding this tale. On one hand, this is wonderful to see, on the other, I should have turned off my phone! While I know this isn’t necessarily the book’s fault, it made it hard for me to be completely to be in shock and awe.
“I’m under absolutely no obligation to make sense to you.”
Also, there are major plot points uncovered at the beginning of the book. You know she marries her best friend, and that her daughter dies. These plots have an emotional impact on the story and to have them revealed in the initial point of the tale, lessened the blow.
Overall, I could spend days raving about this book— and I probably would if you let me. It is nothing short of fabulous. It is diverse, has so many layers, and while not unique, will make you feel as if it is.
The title of this post has begged the question. Which one of the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was her true love? Well, that technically would be a spoiler. And, we wouldn’t want to do that. Check out the book The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo on Amazon. You could also get more information on Goodreads.
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