I've heard about this book for about five years—since it came out—and I've finally gotten around to reading it. Those who know me know I hardly ever read outside the speculative fiction genre. It's hard to grab my interest without magic, fantastical creatures, robots, aliens, or AI, but I was too curious about this book to avoid it any longer.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is another story-within-a-story novel. Monique Grant, an unknown journalist at Vivant who is about to be a divorcée, is contacted to speak with famous actress Evelyn Hugo for a simple story about the gowns she's auctioning off for charity. When Monique meets her, she finds out Evelyn actually wants Monique to write her biography and reveal the question everyone wants to know: which of her seven husbands was the true love of her life? Beginning with Evelyn's journey from her hometown of Hell's Kitchen to Los Angeles, Monique and Evelyn cover all seven of her husbands and everyone in between. Monique comes to know the real Evelyn Hugo, the Evelyn Hugo the world doesn't care enough to see. At first, Monique admires Evelyn's willingness to reveal the whole truth and own up to her ruthlessness. Evelyn quickly insists that she isn't a good person and that by the time she finishes telling her story, Monique will be the one to hate her most of all.
I don't know if it was because I had just read a dense fantasy book, but The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was so refreshing. It was effortless to read and completely captivating. I was desperate to find out how Evelyn wrangled each of her seven husbands and how their fallout affected her and her decisions. Her career was just as exciting as her love life. I felt every one of her losses and triumphs with her. It felt so real that I often had to remind myself she didn't really exist.
I honestly can't think of anything I didn't like about this book. The writing was lyrical enough to keep me moving along without too many lavish descriptions to make me stumble. I could feel the characters' emotions as clearly as if I had seen them weeping onscreen. I understood the characters and their motivations and hoped they would eventually be happy. For a historical fiction novel, I absolutely loved it.
Unsurprisingly given how many rave reviews I'd heard before reading it, I rate The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid 5/5 stars. Even if you're like me and generally don't like anything that isn't speculative fiction, take a chance and read it.
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