The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in 2025 Reading Challenge

Jun 28, 2019 Kitty Marie rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-finished, 2019-books

Solidly written with an approachable writing style. Enjoyable to read and consistent throughout. But it was not the life changing amounts of great that I was expecting given the hype behind this book. I've been watching a lot of book reviewers on Youtube lately and this book comes up constantly, followed by a glowing and universal praise unlike any other newer novel I can think of. Long story short, I liked Evelyn well enough as a character so I liked the storyline. I think people who dislike or Solidly written with an approachable writing style. Enjoyable to read and consistent throughout. But it was not the life changing amounts of great that I was expecting given the hype behind this book. I've been watching a lot of book reviewers on Youtube lately and this book comes up constantly, followed by a glowing and universal praise unlike any other newer novel I can think of. Long story short, I liked Evelyn well enough as a character so I liked the storyline. I think people who dislike or don't connect with her as a character will really struggle with this novel.

Evelyn Hugo is an old Hollywood superstar on the level of Marylin Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor. Contained within these pages are a bunch of tabloid-style little articles and references to her career that are well crafted and convincing. It feels like she's real and we follow her journey from a broke and motherless orphan living in squalor to a life of hard-won superstardom, and finally the lattermost years of her life as she recounts every main event, every relationship, and some shocking secrets to a an interviewer.

My main issue is that Evelyn and the interviewer were the two most vivid characters. There are so many characters in this book- between Evelyn's 7 husbands, relatives and friends, and a few others of import, and none of them feel as realized. Somehow it all ends up working though from the sheer force of Evelyn's personality. Her reactions to these people and how they drove her life forward give the story enough flavor. There are many great passages and the ending is quite moving. I'm leaving out a massive part of the plot in this spoiler-free section, as I feel like mentioning it is too big of a spoiler. (view spoiler) ...more

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Sep 04, 2023 Mekerei rated it it was amazing

This is the second tale I've read by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I think it is a perfect book telling the tale of a glamorous actress and her husbands.

I loved all the characters in Evelyn's life. I almost believed I could go and look her up on Wikipedia.

This tale has twists and turns that read like a Hollywood story.

"People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of the ...more

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