The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

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Call Number: Fiction / Reid, Taylor, Adult Book / Fiction / General / Reid, Taylor Jenkins, Fiction / Reid, Taylor
On Shelf At: Pittsfield Branch

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From Taylor Jenkins Reid, "a genius when it comes to stories about life and love" (Redbook), comes an unforgettable and sweeping novel about one classic film actress's relentless rise to the top, the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine. 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 in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn's Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from 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, revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love, Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn's story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Library Journal Review
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Summary / Annotation
Excerpt
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

I finished it in less THAN TWO DAYS submitted by sburch46 on June 20, 2017, 12:10pm This book is stunning! When Evelyn is narrating her story it is absolutely mesmerizing! I was enthralled from page one and the book's twist nearly knocked me out of my chair! Never have I ever read such a genuine book on life, loss, and love. I HIGHLY recommend.

Quick fun read submitted by EJZ on July 21, 2018, 9:12am If you like books with a twist, this is a good one. The writing is really very good, and the pacing is quick without going overboard with cliffhangers as many of these novels do. I'd definitely recommend this one to a book club, it's something I think most people would enjoy as a summer read.

Great characters submitted by onpaper24 on July 26, 2018, 8:03pm A beautifully written tale about interesting characters

An epic character study submitted by dntanzer on August 10, 2018, 8:56am This book takes you through the entire life of Evelyn Hugo, a fictional movie star, as she navigates sexism, racism, and the reality of her own life. I expected it to be a bit of a frivolous read, but the book has a lot of depth including highlighting the struggles of the lgbt community in the middle 1900s.

Juicy and Fun submitted by selujules on August 14, 2018, 1:03pm This is a quick, juicy, fun read. Would recommend!

quick easy read submitted by kerstinrh on June 26, 2019, 6:04pm This is a story about Evelyn Hugo, one of the biggest movie stars in LA in the 50's. The story is Evelyn looking back on her career to a woman she has mysteriously chosen to write her biography. She recounts her life through her seven marriages but the reality of the story is that she was in love with a fellow actress, Celia, for a large part of her life and used her various marriages to leverage and distract from her reality because she was scared of how Hollywood would react to her truth. I thought it was an interesting book, it kept my attention and made me think about the film industry and the actions famous people make and the ways we perceive them.

Huge submitted by Anthany on July 16, 2020, 1:15pm The seven husband

A Brilliant, Engaging Novel, Talented Author submitted by sVfGI7Glt2pz7GZgVB90 on August 21, 2020, 6:42am One of the most fascinating and coveted old Hollywood film stars marries 7 times, one of them has to be the real deal… isn't it? 79-year-old actress Evelyn Hugo has lived a life, and now she wants to tell somebody about it. However, the reality might not be definitely what everyone always thought. She selects a reporter to write her life story.

Couldn't Put It Down submitted by Meginator on August 29, 2020, 2:23pm Content Warning: This book depicts domestic abuse and alcoholism.

I tore through this book in just a couple of days, despite its length; I absolutely loved the experience of reading it. A believable biography of a fictional movie star who rose to fame at the tale end of Hollywood’s Golden Age, the book blends the surface-level gossip of a tell-all with the deep nuance of a character study; at times, it’s difficult to remember that the book is, indeed, a work of fiction. The framing device, as suggested by the narrative, is surprisingly elegant, with a narrative through-line that remains consistent even as Evelyn Hugo’s various marriages inevitably fizzle out. Likewise, the overarching story of Evelyn sharing her truth with a young journalist gives her an added dimension, as she shares her biography with the benefit of hindsight and the additional perspective it provides. This book is stunning in its scope and in its total immersion, bringing Golden Age Hollywood and its stars to life in a way that no true-to-life history really could.

Great Representation submitted by Vega on January 12, 2021, 6:44pm Spoilers Ahead

My biggest praise comes from some excellent representation. This book is a stellar example of WLW (Women Loving Women) in fiction. As a bisexual woman, I felt utterly seen by Evelyn's journey as she comes to terms with her own sexual orientation and falls in love with a woman. I also thought that the book really captured the reality of actresses like Rita Hayworth (who was originally Margarita Carmen Cansino), who had to rewrite their identities in order to be more palatable and successful because audiences and directors were unable to consider WOC for leading lady roles. Unfortunately, I think the novel fell short in terms of the characterization of its narrator. I never identified much with Monique, and though I understood the parallels being drawn, I felt that the story could almost have done without her altogether and still had the nearly same impact. The large swathes told by Evelyn seemed to be more well-defined, and I appreciated how well we got to know her inner workings.

Great book with unexpected twists submitted by kerenemoore on July 16, 2021, 11:07pm This book may not seem appealing even after taking a minute to read about the subject matter. However, despite its Hollywood flavor, the author manages to reel in the reader chapter by chapter. There's humanity, regrettable moments, and the opportunity to see the main character's dream come true. Nonetheless, the story within the story will throw you for a loop. It's a page turner that will likely be one of the top ten books you'll read all year.

My fav Taylor Jenkins Reid book yet! submitted by jacatanz on June 10, 2022, 1:13pm This was such an entertaining book! I also love how the author puts cameos of characters from her other books too. The ending was such a twist!

Amazing book submitted by kitkat_l on June 11, 2022, 8:40am A great plot that kept me engaged and a twist to top it all off! Loved that there was LGBTQ representation in book as well. A suspenseful and engaging read overall!

cute, well-written submitted by umich.reader on June 12, 2022, 4:16pm Very cute love story with a heartbreaking ending.

Picked it up on a whim submitted by DaniAADL on June 12, 2022, 5:48pm Started reading it while reading something else, and had to finish it before I could get back to the other book. It's incredible!

Unexpectedly amazing submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on June 23, 2022, 11:10pm What an unexpectedly amazing book. I’m not a huge fan of following celebrities, so I didn’t think this would hold my interest, but this is less about Evelyn being a Hollywood star and more about how her career affected her personal life choices and relationships as she tried to find a way to happiness. It was very much about the intersection of identities/ circumstances/ traits: gender, race, losing a parent young, divorce, sexuality, economic status, confidence. This list is true for both of the main women, Evelyn and Monique, which was cleverly paralleled. I love that the author primarily focuses on Evelyn’s journey, but there is a small thread throughout the book of Monique’s life, as this younger woman she has chosen to tell her history to is a small but relevant part of the story as well. I’m not going to spoil the ending, but the author drops some clues to ratcheting tension as readers progress, and the ending is perfection.

This will make a phenomenal book club discussion, and will be one of my best fiction reads of the year.

Page turner submitted by A2AE on June 30, 2022, 10:54am Don't delay dipping into this wonderful world that Taylor Jenkins Reid has created, and keep it going by reading her other books with other characters (Malibu Rising features one of Evelyn's husband and his family). I ordinarily don't care much about celebrity and Hollywood, but Evelyn's story is captivating and worth the read.

Captivating submitted by morganperry519 on July 11, 2022, 10:45pm I couldn’t put this book down. A light read with a compelling storyline and a real twist.

Best TJR novel submitted by bjkoch on July 15, 2022, 6:00pm count not put this down. absolutely one of the best books of the year

I really enjoyed this book! submitted by valeriemates on July 15, 2022, 9:08pm This book describes fictional movie legend, Evelyn Hugo, as she tells her life story to her biographer. I enjoyed watching her life spool through the decades, from the 1950s at the start of her career, to the year 2017, the year the book is set. The narrative kept me turning pages, compelling reading that is sprinkled with thoughtful insights into what is important in life. Highly recommended!

Very captivating! submitted by ahlalejini on July 21, 2022, 9:16am Didn't want to put this one down- it's such a great story!

It's a bit problematic submitted by bookasaurusray on July 27, 2022, 5:22pm I get that it's a good read and i did give it like 4 stars. But we can't just completely ignore representation for one minority and disregard the reductive approach to a different minority- ie: the only black (also queer male) of substance meets a tragic end. And Monique is so shallow and written without any built characterization? k. There's just a lot of ethnic erasure in this story.

7 husbands submitted by nmrhoads on July 27, 2022, 6:16pm It was good but I didn’t like the present day storyline it was pointless

Amazing submitted by ckay15 on August 1, 2022, 3:57pm I read this book so quickly... one of my faves

SO good! submitted by ctconley on August 4, 2022, 3:41pm Go into this book without reading much about it, and it will surprise you so hard.

one sitting! submitted by tingzhaowb on June 12, 2023, 2:47pm This is such a good book. You will definitely enjoy it! Be ready for a twist at the end.

So bad it's good! submitted by kath on June 12, 2023, 5:32pm Not exactly great writing or a surprise ending. It is one of those books that is like eating way too much candy. You know you should not do it and hate it but cannot stop. Very quick read and very predicable. But what the heck - read it anyway. Then read some non-fiction

a good story submitted by dailyreader on July 3, 2023, 9:47pm It was good to read a book that showed what hidden stories might exist behind hollywood news.

Pretty good submitted by lagypin on July 4, 2023, 12:19pm This book was pretty good. I liked it

Great book! submitted by pratibhamahesh on July 9, 2023, 11:43pm this is a good book with a good twist. The writing is enjoyable and the pacing is quick too. It’s a good book for a book club so we could discuss and enjoy!

Excellent Book submitted by ehautman on July 17, 2023, 9:46pm I finished this book within 24 hours. The story was character driven with a fast pace. It was a little predictable, but in the way sometimes you just want to relax with an enjoyable read.

Loved it submitted by Bethybeth07 on July 18, 2023, 1:53pm Not the formulaic love story you’re used to seeing but perfect nonetheless

Not what I expected submitted by melissa4b on July 28, 2023, 1:05pm Loved this read!! The writing is great!

okay story submitted by gw on July 28, 2023, 8:11pm Parts of this story were interesting but it was slow in other parts--and predictable in the key plot points.

Absolutely beautiful. submitted by deborahduck on August 8, 2023, 8:42pm This book was a mind blowing and heart wrenching book! I definitely recommend.

Captivating novel with great representation submitted by foilista on August 11, 2023, 1:31pm After a couple of friends recommended this novel to me, I finally picked it up. It captured my attention immediately! The creative storyline shuttles between past and present, and I loved the representation of diverse characters in terms of race and sexual orientation. Multiple twists ahead!

the Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo submitted by Ghutton88 on August 14, 2023, 11:33am I will never top giving this book to friends, recommending this book to others, I love Taylor Jenkins Reid but as this was my first read with her it will always have a special place in my heart

worth the wait submitted by Rotenbergcharlotteq on August 20, 2023, 6:46pm taylor jenkins reid is an amazing author with great narrative. Her characters pop up in different books showing a true connection to her characters. If you want to try out a slightly romantic book, this is the pave turner for you.

Disappointing submitted by lucydelo on August 25, 2023, 6:38pm I had a tough time finishing this book, despite the strong recommendations