The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in forever and evermore swifties

Apr 19, 2022 lils✨ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2022-books, favorites, lgbtqia

4.9 stars, because i didn't quite enjoy the start. in the beginning, I was like, hmmm, is this book really worth the hype??? because at this point all i’m getting was, wanting to be famous and people sexualizing young women, and Evelyn's ability to get what she wants.

at first, I really didn't understand why there was a dual perspective and kept wondering, why Monique??, lemme tell you I was shook when I got to the plot twist, my jaw? ON THE FLOOR

cue, Celia

that's when everything fell into place ...more

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Feb 24, 2022 alifetimeofliterature rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, romance

Everyone who recommended this is cruel!

Two names: Evelyn Hugo & Harry Cameron
Thank you and good night folks.

Okay, but really:
Evelyn Hugo and this book has taught me so many things but I would like to keep those things to myself, but one thing I would like to say is this book gave my confidence level a much needed boost. At the end of the day just go ahead and read this book, it’s totally worth the heartfelt emotions and tears babe. Honestly I really put this book off for so long because I thou ...more

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May 23, 2022 Jorj ☆ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtqia, romance

This book is so beautifully written it’s difficult to believe Evelyn Hugo isn’t a real person. The rawness of the her life story spoke to me in away i didn’t expect and i loved every moment of it. TJR is definitely going on my authors to watchlist <3

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Oct 22, 2023 James Cooper rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 23-of-2023

4.5 ⭐️

With over one and a half million 5⭐️ reviews and an average rating of 4.44 on Goodreads, thousands of BookTokers, BookTubers and Bookstagramers singing it’s praises… what are my thoughts?

I was a bit hesitant to start Evelyn Hugo because of how well loved it is and had built it up as a book I was bound to adore. But I am glad I have finally gotten around to it. It’s a great read and, like nearly everyone else who’s read it too, would certainly recommend it. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t cry 4.5 ⭐️

With over one and a half million 5⭐️ reviews and an average rating of 4.44 on Goodreads, thousands of BookTokers, BookTubers and Bookstagramers singing it’s praises… what are my thoughts?

I was a bit hesitant to start Evelyn Hugo because of how well loved it is and had built it up as a book I was bound to adore. But I am glad I have finally gotten around to it. It’s a great read and, like nearly everyone else who’s read it too, would certainly recommend it. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t cry - despite being close a few times - but it was a very emotive read.

A quick plot summary: we start with the unknown reporter Monique Grant being requested to talk with the now seventy-year-old (I think) Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo. When there, her true intentions come known and she wants Grant to tell her life’s story to the world, everything on show, and in doing so we’re transported back to 1950s America. Hugo details her escape from poverty and a harsh life into that of Hollywood where beauty is everything. She uses her wits and, in many ways, callousness to get the parts she wants, make the necessary connections and throughout her life; seven husbands. At her side throughout is her best friend Harry, and they’re there for each other along the way with Hugo ending her story in the present. As the biography unfolds to its conclusion, a tragic connection between the two women becomes known.

What I really appreciated in this book is that Reid doesn’t wait till the end for one of the two main ‘plot twists’ to come out. Sorry to spoil anything but after the first third (or there about), the true love of Evelyn’s life becomes known… and they’re a woman. This was great because as the reader we get to experience what it’s like to be a queer person from the 50s to the present. It’s a really heartbreaking portrayal at times, knowing that even with all that fame and money she wasn’t able to be her true self (the same to the other queer characters we come across, especially Harry and Celia who had me). But then there’s some really lovely moments too and throughout you’re wishing and hoping things will go one way but mostly they don’t. I also loved how Hugo grapples with exploring her bi identity, it’s really natural and internally she’s unapologetic but sadly due to the time she’s living in has to hide this part of herself. The characters are very well realised with Hugo being extremely complex. She’s not perfect (none are) by any means but she’s undoubtedly a icon, you really root for her despite the methods she applies to get what she wants but at the end of the day, she did what she did to survive and was only acting in accordance with a male-dominated, misogynistic society that places beauty and whiteness with too high a regard. Despite a later negative, I would say she’s certainly well-written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

Personally I wasn’t the most keen on the domestic abuse storyline in the book. It was mostly done well but some parts did irk me. I also found the writing to be a little basic, not being the masterpiece I was promised in all honesty. A final note of meh was a certain thing that happens but I won’t expand ~ it’s to do with Harry if you’ve read it.

This book wasn’t the epitome of great literature with there being some parts to be desired but overall it was a very decent read and one I’d be happy to recommend. I also think I’d be giving this a re-read in the future as there’s more to be uncovered and generally it’s an entertaining, fast-paced novel that is deserving of the hype… but there are better books in my opinion. ...more

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Feb 22, 2023 allie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: forever-and-always, mine

second read:
this only gets better

original review:
i think i love this book too much
it was so real
it was heartbreaking
it was squeal worthy
it was the absolute best book i've read in a very long time ...more

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May 13, 2022 simran rated it liked it

2.5/3?

I have two ways to approach this- if you, as a reader, expected more than the synopsis told you, then you are at fault. Because the books gives your EXACTLY what it tells to give you. In that approach, this book would be a 3/5 for sure.
But in general I am not a big fan of this genre, so I guess my personal bias reduces the rating. I also find it hard to read books where they spell okay as OK.
I think, and I am at fault for this like I said, but I expected more of Evelyn's life than just he ...more

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Nov 09, 2021 Kazzy ♥ rated it it was amazing

Literally one of my favourite books ever read. Scrap that, it IS the best book I’ve ever read. I have never cried so much at a book and been so shocked at the plot twist’s that get introduced. If you love a good sapphic story, one with twists and turns and make you feel extremely emotionally invested,READ THIS!

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Dec 14, 2022 Selin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2022, live-laugh-love, wrote-a-review

Rating: 4.5 stars

SPOILER-FREE!

I loved this book. It was very different to the genre of books I usually read, which are silly-silly happy and carefree and just shallow booktok romances, so I was contemplating whether or not to read this book. I actually read this book just to get it over with thinking it would be really boring, but no.

This book was very plot-heavy, and it hooks you within the first twenty to thirty pages. It keeps you guessing, and it’s genuinely a really beautiful and meaningful ...more

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