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

Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publication: May 29th 2018 by Washington Square Press
Genre: Historical Fiction
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Rating: 3/5★

Reclusive Hollywood 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 to write her story, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.

Determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career, Monique listens in fascination. 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. But as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Written with Reid's signature talent for creating "complex, likeable characters" (Real Simple), this is a mesmerizing journey through the splendour of Old Hollywood into the sobering realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means - and what it costs - to face the truth.

I'm quite torn up about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. On the one hand it was a good read and it was easy to just keep turning the pages to continue the story but on the other hand it wasn't that good, you know. And to be honest, I was a little disappointed by it in general. I had just expected more from this book, I guess.

I thought I would've loved this book, that it even could've been 5 star material. It also wasn't the worst book I've ever read. See how I am torn up? If anything, I was more disappointed by the writing style than the story. I did enjoy the story and reading about Evelyn's life. It also took me a good 150 pages to get into the story and I wanted to be hooked from the start. So that was unfortunate as well.

Almost none of the characters were very likable. Evelyn certainly wasn't and from her I didn't really mind it because it was her story. If there was one character I just couldn't stand it was Monique, the woman Evelyn was telling her story too. She just kinda bugged me. Also some of the story was starting to get to be a little of the same thing over and over again towards the end.

I do want to say one more thing, though. In some less possitive reviews I've seen reviewers mention that they were blindsided by the LGBT themes which seems like a weird thing to say, in my eyes. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course but would those reviewers say the same thing about a book with straight romances? I think not. I'm sorry but that just kinda made me mad. The LGBT themes is exactly what made this book enjoyable to me. I'm sure that otherwise it would've been a 1 or 2 star read for me.  

About the author:
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her novels have been Indie Next Picks, chosen by Book of the Month, and featured in People, US Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, Good Morning America, and more. Her newest novel, Daisy Jones and the Six, is a New York Times bestseller. She lives in Los Angeles.
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