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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Start date: November 1, 2021

Finish date: November 30, 2021

Discussion: Monthly Group Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: This is the winning choice of our poll and is the official book discussion for November 2021.
[close] This is the winning choice of our poll and is the official book discussion for November 2021.

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Monthly Group Book Discussions

* The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Official book discussion for Nov 1 to Nov 30, 2021
By Richard Kenne… · 10 posts · 47 views

last updated Nov 17, 2021 03:52AM

* Normal People by Sally Rooney - Optional book discussion for Nov 1 to Nov 30, 2021
By Richard Kenne… · 7 posts · 49 views

last updated Jan 25, 2022 06:03PM

What Members Thought

Jun 20, 2021 Adrianna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Bardzo, ale to bardzo dobra pozycja. Pochłaniająca i wypełniająca czytelnika w całości. Niesamowicie podziwiam autorkę za sposób wykreowania bohaterów, Evelyn Hugo była w mojej wyobraźni tak żywa, że ciężko mi teraz uwierzyć, iż jej historia jest fikcją. Książka dotyka wielu istotnych kwestii, ogromnie podobało mi się tutaj pokazanie relacji międzyludzkich, i tych dobrych i tych złych. Dosłownie miałam wrażenie, że czytam biografie żyjącej kiedyś osoby... świetna pozycja ❤

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 25, 2022 Lorenne Langmade rated it it was amazing

there is something so captivating and yet slightly repelling about this book and i can’t but my finger on it

On the actually writing:

i must say TJR comes up with captivating plots. her characterization is also amazing. Evelyn is my new favorite morally gray character!! i don’t like cecilia(bad communication skills) but that’s another story. overall i think this evelyn’s story was well developed and enjoyable to read. at times (especially in the beginning), i felt like monique’s anecdotes were kin ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 27, 2021 Sarahツ rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, historical

(4.5/5) I really enjoyed this book. It was super chaotic and had a ton of things going on all at once so it felt very authentic and raw. This is my first time reading a book by Taylor Jenkins Reid and I loved it. I will say there are some parts where I was taken aback so it wasn’t a “comfortable” book to read but it sure was an interesting one.

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Nov 03, 2021 Marie Cordon rated it liked it

Shelves: gaslight-gatekeep-girlboss

Booktok Made Me Read It! Ep. 1

Final Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

This review will have spoilers! Read at your own discretion.

I probably would have never picked this book up if I didn't see about a thousand and one tiktoks hyping this book up to the high heavens.

And I understand the hype. It's a topical book: old Hollywood is having a revival among the vintage community, LGB representation in novels is a highly discussed topic, and diversity is something that is also highly discussed among literary circl ...more

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Apr 24, 2024 nevaeh galluccio rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I don’t currently have the words to describe this book quite yet, but I am in awe. This tale of Old Hollywood and a Cuban woman’s navigation through it is so compelling and raw. I love flawed female characters, and Evelyn Hugo is a perfect example. She makes countless mistakes and doesn’t regret many of them which you often don’t see in female leads. She is messy and complex and I love how she is presented by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Monique may not be the most interesting character, but her connect ...more

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Oct 01, 2021 Rose rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I didn't give one tear for A Little Life, but this made me sob :) ...more

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Feb 01, 2023 Kay rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: brb-im-crying

5/5 stars

“Oh I know the whole world prefers a woman who doesn't know her power, but I'm sick of all that.”

This was phenomenal book about the life story of an actress paving her own path with many ups and downs along the way. And my goodness were there ups and downs. I will never stop gushing about how much I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing. She is just so brilliant at what she does and she is now and forever an auto-buy author. I loved the setting of old Hollywood. As someone who visits Holly 5/5 stars

“Oh I know the whole world prefers a woman who doesn't know her power, but I'm sick of all that.”

This was phenomenal book about the life story of an actress paving her own path with many ups and downs along the way. And my goodness were there ups and downs. I will never stop gushing about how much I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing. She is just so brilliant at what she does and she is now and forever an auto-buy author. I loved the setting of old Hollywood. As someone who visits Hollywood quite frequently, it was so fun picturing it in the 60s and further.

I just found the book interesting. There is no other way to put it. I was intrigued the whole way through, ready to find out the mystery between Monique and Evelyn, seeing how and why Evelyn has seven husbands, and just about how she came from Hell's Kitchen, New York, to becoming one of the most famous actresses in the world. It was never a dull moment. I loved the romances in the book, but my favorite thing was actually the friendships. I also loved how TJR talks about woman and how Evelyn's whole life was defying those stereotypes. This book quite literally made me laugh, cry, pine for more, and be shell shocked with each turn of events. (view spoiler)

Of course, Evelyn Hugo was an absolutely remarkable character. She would do anything to define herself and standout. Everyone was always trying to make her conform and she wouldn't have it. My absolute favorite character was Harry Cameron.He was sweet and gentle, but protective and an all around amazing person. I loved his dynamics with Evelyn. He was literally a perfect character because of how complex he was. Then there was Celia St. James, who I actually both liked and disliked. I thought a lot of the decisions she made were stupid, but I loved what she brought out of Evelyn and I appreciated her. And then Monique. She was fine. I really feel like I didn't get to know her, and what I did find out was I was kind of annoyed by. I just don't think she fit in the story well.

I will definitely be rereading this book soon. 100% recommend!

Notable Quotes:

"The world respects people who think they should be running it."

“My heart was never in the craft of acting, only in the proving. Proving my power, proving my worth, proving my talent.”

“I spent half my time loving her and the other half hiding how much I loved her.”

“You can be sorry about something and not regret it."

"Don’t be so tied up in trying to do the right thing when the smart thing is so painfully clear.” ...more

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Sep 18, 2022 Mirela Latea rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Dupa pag 350 cineva trebuia să îmi spună "uite, de aici să îți pregăteşti mintea şi sufletul". De aici a urmat o serie de lovituri care m-au făcut să uit de toate evenimentele "calc şi peste cadavre"... Şi am văzut un om, nu un star de cinema... Am văzut că poți să ai totul și de fapt să nu ai nimic. O lecție în multe privințe. Despre curaj, despre faimă, despre ambiție și unde e limita, despre iubire și riscuri, despre prietenie.

Despre o viaţă de om. M-a atins, recunosc, dar unele subiecte încă ...more

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Apr 06, 2021 iñaki barrondo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This book had me hooked as every chapter and husband passed by in Evelyn’s life. I literally couldn’t put it down. It’s so well written and I love how what really happened, what Evelyn went through, was intercalated with what the media was saying that happened. Also that it was separated in 7 parts, one for each husband! 5/5

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