This book is hardly in need of ANOTHER glowing review but I absolutely loved it.

Heart-breaking and utterly compelling.

I know i'm writing this review a few years too late (sorry!), but i'm glad I let the hype die down somewhat so I could enjoy this book organically. I really loved it, the glamorous tales of Evelyn, her relationships, and trying to guess the real-life parallels that TJR was inspired by was really great. The plot twist at the end was a little bit unexpected, but welcome to give an added bonus and explanation of why she chose Monique to tell her story to. Brilliant story, and one i'll think about for a long time (and look forward to rereading!)

“Please never forget that the sun rises and sets with your smile. At least to me it does. You’re the only thing on this planet worth worshipping.”

Evelyn Hugo; a huge wonder to many, she is now ready to tell her story but only to Monique, a young aspiring journalist. With Evelyn’s request for her to write her biography surrounded with a little bit of mystery, Monique is determined to use this as a chance to finally propel her writing career.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the levels of character growth and love sprinkled throughout. It was one that I had on my shelf ready to read for such a long time but never got round to it, and I am sorry that I did not read it sooner!
Recanting her history from her very early childhood days after losing her mother and having to grow up quickly, Evelyn knew what she wanted to be and what she needed to do to get there and she is unapologetic in that and I think that for the times it was such an inspiring way to live. As her story goes on, we learn of how she came to be one of the most wanted women in Hollywood, how her love life grew and shattered and how she came to really love only one person, and that was Celia; someone she couldn't even tell the world how much she truly did love.
In some aspects it was hard to read knowing that this had happened to so many people and is still happening now. It hurts that people cannot just be who they want to be and love who they want to love. There is a lot of queer representation throughout this book which I loved, especially as it signalled the changes that were happening at the time the story was set. There is still so much more to do for this community but it was such a refreshing breath of air to read about it so freely in this book.
An addictive read that was hard to put down, and when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it and that to me says a lot about what you need in a story. If you want to read a true romance with strong female characters then this is the book for you, you will love it.
TW: death of a parent/loved one, death of a child, suicidal thoughts, unhealthy dieting, underage sex with an adult, abortion, miscarriage, physical abuse, cheating, dunk driving, and homophobic slurs.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn in by the lure of Hollywood glamour and stayed very much for the emotional drama that played out brilliantly. This is a classic tale of do not judge people purely by what you see, or think you know. None of us ever really knows what's happening in other people's lives and this story plays on the personas we put out in the world vs our true selves. It's a compelling read, full of excitement and movie star magic.

This was extremely readable and I enjoyed it from start to finish. You could just sit and read it for hours as you got completely lost in the narrative. I liked how Evelyn wasn't necessarily likeable and showed the devastating effects of being an emblem of Hollywood glamour. I feel like Monique's story could have been dug into deeper and lots of key moments in her timeline were pushed aside - I think she had the potential to be a much more complex and vivid character. Overall it was a fun book to read and I will read more of TJR.

I really fell for this novel with its expose of the vulnerability and tribulations which lie beneath the glamour of celebrity, which clearly has many downsides whether now or in the era portrayed. At times I found the framing device of the interview a little distracting but it earns its place in the end. Evelyn is a complex and not entirely sympathetic character but to me that was part of the appeal. The central love story is very touching and it's great to see female bisexuality represented - something that seems to be on the increase judging by other novels I've read recently, and long overdue.

This is one of my favourite reads this year. The more I read the more I wanted to know. It is a fascinating fictional account of tiring in Hollywood initially but is truest centred on the reality of love and relationships in a very fictional world. Have cried, laughed and been angry reading- would Thoroughly recommend

Absolutely loved this book. I’m a fan of the author and she is so good at creating these multi dimensional characters.

Wow, I cannot seem to find the words that would do this amazing book justice. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a sort of romance/historical fiction novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of the popular 2019 hit Daisy Jones and The Six. Evelyn Hugo was published in 2017, but I really do believe that some books find you at the right time, and I'm so pleased and glad to have finally read this one now.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo sees journalist Monique Grant approached to do an interview with legendary Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo. Nearing 80, Evelyn wants it to be her final interview and insists that it has to be Monique who will cover it. Naturally, the reader will assume Evelyn has her reasons for this, and they will need to read through the book before they find out why this is. The star obviously has something she wants to set the record straight on, and she's decided she's now done with silence. Evelyn tells Monique her story, from deciding to go to Hollywood right up to the present day. The book is split between Evelyn's narration of her tale, and Monique's present-day point of view, though I would say it mostly focuses on Evelyn. Reid has said in interviews that character of Evelyn was influenced by actress Ava Gardner - who wished to have a journalist ghostwrite her autobiography. She also drew inspiration from actresses Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor.
I wouldn't want to go into huge detail and expand on what the plot is as it may explain too much and give points away. I went into this book not knowing much at all, and I feel that was part of the enjoyment because I didn't know what was around the corner. What I got was a glimpse into old Hollywood glamour, sex, and scandal, and a heartbreakingly honest look at the tempestuous relationships of one formidable and most incredible lady - and her seven husbands!
Evelyn was such a complicated character. I think one of my most favourite things about this book is how many sides there are of Evelyn. She is sexy, she is smart, she is calculated, she is talented and ambitious. She is also incredibly human, she makes mistakes, she doesn't always make the right decisions, but she thinks she's making the right decisions for HER. Evelyn can read men, she can manipulate men, she's ruthless. She thinks she's an excellent judge of character, but she doesn't always get it right. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say most people could see some of themselves in Evelyn, whether it be big or small. One could argue she was no saint, yet I respected her all the same. I loved her ambition and drive, I loved her perseverance and her passion and her resilience. The audiences adored her, the newspapers wanted her, Monique was drawn back to her to continue with her story, and you, the reader, will keep reading.
Each marriage and husband has a reason behind it and covers important periods in Evelyn's life. Evelyn is a cynic but she was also a romantic and she wanted to be loved. I really thought that seven husbands would be a stretch, but if you read the book you would see how they all fit into an engaging and clever story. We see who her true love really was.
My bisexual heart is singing right now. It was so good to finally read something with some bisexual representation that spoke to me on some sort of level that not many books have managed to recently. At the same time though, it still makes me feel sad that we have it better than people decades past would have done. I am sad that attitudes were what they were back then. I'm sad people felt like they had to hide and were not allowed to be their authentic selves. We still have a long way to go, but reading this made me realise I am grateful for the progress that's been made.
This book has a way of making you feel. I'm not ashamed to say I cried at some parts. It is written in a way that you connect with the characters, particularly with Evelyn. You see what she has been through and how she feels through her own words as she tells her story. You also see her through Monique's eyes too. You are so connected that I found myself almost listening, not just reading, but listening to her every word. You become invested in her story. So emotionally invested, that yes, there were some tears from me.
The message I took away from the book was that life is just too short to not go after what you want. Time doesn't stop for anyone and we shouldn't take people for granted, and we should always tell our loved ones that we love them. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was such a memorable read for me, I felt like I knew Evelyn, I read about her whole life. She is a fictional character and yet I feel like I miss her already. I think this is the sort of book that stays with you long after you've read the final page.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is an engrossing, fast-paced, well-written whirlwind of a novel. At times I actually forgot I was reading about fictional characters and after reading the description of a dress Evelyn wears to an awards ceremony, I wanted to search online for a picture, only to remember that it wasn't actually real. A testament to Taylor Jenkis Reid's writing!

I loved Evelyn as a character - she is flawed yet honest, kind yet cruel, loving yet cold. Most of all she is one of the most human characters I've read in a long time.

I found Monique's character in comparison to be rather weak and undeveloped. She seemed rather one-dimensional and as a result a shock moment of the story that could have had more impact seemed slightly diluted.

Overall, highly recommended.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley for the ARC.

Absolutely brilliant from start to finish. I was so immersed in the story I forgot I was not reading about someone real. For a work of fiction it managed to give a real insight into the inner workings of Hollywood life. The author really has a knack of reeling you into the lives of the rich and famous and effectively blurring the lines between truth and imagination. This book will stay with me for a long time and make me question every thing I read about celebrity from now on. I loved Daisy Jones and the Six but this just blew me away. I want to read everything Taylor Jenkins Reid has ever written.

This was such a sweeping narrative of old Hollywood, what it means to be loved and what we will sacrifice in the pursuit of fame.

The Positives: I thought the portrayal of Evelyn was pretty much perfection. She is a deeply flawed, deeply human woman, with all of the complications that entails and the narrative never shies away from exposing every part of her. The narrative itself was incredibly compelling. We follow Evelyn as she details her life in Hollywood, focusing on her husbands and there is a salacious aspect to the way we are shown the intimate details of her life. It feels like a tell-all biography and I found myself wanting to watch the films that are described in the book. Taylor Jenkins Reid has an amazing ability to imbue her characters with such vitality that they feel like real people, and Evelyn is no exception.

The Negatives: This is, without question, Evelyn's book, but because of that, some of the other characters feel less than fleshed out. Where I think this is most detrimental is in the character of Monique. I feel like an opportunity was missed to make Monique as vital as Evelyn, whereas she just feels a bit like a place holder.

Overall, this was a really beautiful and compelling read and I would recommend it to anyone who has ever gazed at a film star and longed for their life, for just a moment.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a novel you will not be able to put down once you pick it up,

An engrossing and wild ride which takes the reader into the deepest darkest depths of Hollywood and gives an in-depth look into Evelyn Hugo's life, as told to an up and coming journalist.

One of the things Taylor Jenkins Ried does extremely well is she makes her characters feel real to the reader, so real you are google them when you've finished reading her novels to try to find out more.

This novel is a very easy read. It's enjoyable and will appeal to anyone with an interest in celebrity culture, Old Hollywood and movies.

This was a fabulous book. Immensely readable, and really made me wonder about celebrity life, and how much of their public life was actually real, or merely a cover up or to protect someone they loved. Highly recommended.