Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO

(Standalone)

Taylor Jenkins Reid

BLURB

“Riveting, heart-wrenching, and full of Old Hollywood glamour, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the most captivating reads of 2017.” –BuzzFeed

“The epic adventures Evelyn creates over the course of a lifetime will leave every reader mesmerized. This wildly addictive journey of a reclusive Hollywood starlet and her tumultuous Tinseltown journey comes with unexpected twists and the most satisfying of drama.” —PopSugar

From the author of Daisy Jones & The Six—an entrancing novel “that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all” (Kirkus Reviews), in which a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and 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 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.

“Heartbreaking, yet beautiful” (Jamie Blynn, Us Weekly), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is “Tinseltown drama at its finest” (Redbook): 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.

 

★★★★

Movie icon, Evelyn Hugo, is the embodiment of the glamorous lifestyle from Hollywood’s golden age. Men wanted to be with her and woman wanted to be her.

Now, that Evelyn Hugo is getting up there in age she is ready to do a TELL ALL book about her life. Which only would be published after she has passed. She has chosen Monique – an upcoming writer – to tell her story to. Since the women had never met before Monique had no clue why Ms. Hugo was insistent it had to be her. Evelyn assured Monique that by the end of her telling her story she’d know why it had to be Monique who wrote her biography. That little tidbit added to the story because you knew when Evelyn got to the end of her story the reader was going to be thrown for a loop.

“Seven husbands. Which one did she love best? Which one was the real one?” 

Monique decided to focus the book on Evelyn’s husbands and which one was her true love. The unveiling of her true love takes Monique a moment to digest. The reader learns early on who it is because that love story interweaves through Eveyln’s whole life.

Since I listened to the audio I felt like I was back in old Hollywood while Evelyn shared about her life and the love of her life. I also felt a sense of loneliness and sadness weaved through this book. Evelyn gave up so much to be the movie star she became. Everything from giving up her heritage to embrace the Hollywood appearance, to never being able to freely love in public for fear of retribution.

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO is a standalone. A Hollywood movie star is at the end of her life and is ready to tell her story. The secrets revealed in her retelling make the reader do double takes of their current favorite movie stars wondering what they might be hiding behind closed doors. Are fame and fortune worth losing yourself over?!

STANDALONE

 

Amy Signature

•To see more reviews by Amy click here

Author: Foxy

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