From the Bookshelf of The Perks Of Being A Book Addict…

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Start date: February 1, 2023

Finish date: February 28, 2023

Discussion: Group Books of the Month (BotM)

Why we're reading this: Chosen by members as one of our February 2023 group BotM. Previously read December 2019.
[close] Chosen by members as one of our February 2023 group BotM. Previously read December 2019.

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What Members Thought

Mar 18, 2020 Colleen Scidmore rated it really liked it

Shelves: currently-on-my-bookshelf, currently-on-google-drive, notebook

“That’s how my story ends. With the loss of everyone I have ever loved. With me in a big beautiful upper east side apartment missing everyone who ever meant anything to me. When you write the ending Monique make sure it’s clear that I don’t love this apartment. That I don’t care about all my money. That I couldn’t give a rats ass if people think I’m a legend. That the adoration of millions of people never warmed my bed. When you write the ending Monique tell everyone that is the people I miss. T “That’s how my story ends. With the loss of everyone I have ever loved. With me in a big beautiful upper east side apartment missing everyone who ever meant anything to me. When you write the ending Monique make sure it’s clear that I don’t love this apartment. That I don’t care about all my money. That I couldn’t give a rats ass if people think I’m a legend. That the adoration of millions of people never warmed my bed. When you write the ending Monique tell everyone that is the people I miss. Tell everyone that I got it wrong.”

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is another one of Taylor Jenkins Reid amazing books. I’ve loved just about everything I’ve read of hers except Daisy Jones and the Six, I’m pretty sure I’m the minority on that one because there has been lot’s of praise for it. TJR is such a talented writer and all her books are different from one another. They aren’t carbon copies of each other with different characters names. And she turned out another beautifully written story with Evelyn Hugo.

“Everyone I loved is dead now. There’s no one left to protect. No one left to lie for but me. People have so closely followed the most intricate details of the fake story of my life. But it’s not. I don’t...I want them to know the real story, the real me.”

Evelyn Hugo was/is a huge movie star that in present times is in her 70’s. She has decided to give her life story to an unknown writer Monique Grant. She tells Monique she wants her and only her to write her Biography. If she decides not to take the opportunity Evelyns story will die with her. Monique can’t believe her luck. Why would Evelyn Hugo give her this huge opportunity? She’s never met the woman, is of no relation to her and has only written minor stories for a magazine. On top of that Evelyn has not talked to the press in years. So what is going on? Evelyn promises Monique she will find the answer to that and all of her dirty little secrets by the end of her story.

“Alright. Show me the real you then. And I’ll make sure the world understands.”

This is where the very complex story of Evelyn Hugo began.

Evelyn Hugo is a touching story about a woman that would do anything to get out of life in Hells Kitchen. She was the only daughter born from 2 Cuban immigrants, her mother was only 17 when they came to America. Evelyn wanted to start a career in what her deceased mom had dreamt of her whole life. She wanted to give her daughter a better life and get away from an abusive husband and father. She took that dream and ran with it, and each of her 7 husbands was a part of her plan to get her to stardom as an actress. And Evelyn Herrera became Evelyn Hugo.

I had conflicted feelings about Evelyns complex character. On one hand I loved that she fought hard to get what she wanted but at times she was very selfish and didn’t care if she hurt others in order to do so. She outright said she didn’t regret anything she had done in her life, at least she owned it. Evelyn was also dealing with several issues that were taboo in her time so I understood why she was so hard edged. Otherwise she would have been dragged down without being able to get back up.
And I respected her for helping Monique. Moniques character drove me nuts. I guess because I kind of identified with it, not having enough confidence. Monique didn’t have enough confidence to know her own worth. And Evelyn taught her to fight for herself and believe that she was truly talented enough to demand what she wanted. Moniques character transitioned and grew by the end of the book.

Overall the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was a very interesting and captivating read. I’m not a big fan of Historical Fiction a lot of the time, but I enjoyed the mixture of present and past, and it was just so well written I had no complaints. TJR is fast becoming a go to author for me and I look forward to reading the next book that she will release. ...more

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Aug 12, 2020 River rated it it was amazing

“ ...Because they are just Husbands. I am Evelyn Hugo”

First Impressions

I was coming off a pretty good streak with my fiction choices. However, I was excited to pick up another Taylor Jenkins Reid novel. As “Daisy Jones” was something I devoured; it came as no surprise that Evelyn Hugo would come into my life. Side note, anyone who knows anything about Old Hollywood can see the inspiration stems from Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Joan Crawford.

Positives

Overall, Evelyn Hugo is a complex a ...more

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Jul 21, 2018 Kristin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018-finished, owned

I've had this one on my shelf for quite awhile, despite the rave reviews from practically the entire book world.

This book did not disappoint.

I enjoyed the characters. I liked but also strongly disliked Evelyn's character but I think that is what made me really like the book (if that makes sense). Usually in books you love them because you love the characters, but this one I feel might be the opposite. You love them because you dislike the characters. While I disagree with Evelyn and how she mig ...more

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Nov 26, 2019 Franzi rated it liked it

Review added late because my Goodreads didn't work for a few months:
I think this one gets a 3.5 star rating from me. I definitely enjoyed it, but it was not a love for me and didn't blow me away. Would recommend, but not reread. I think the Hollywood topic is just not my cup of tea, feels too far removed from anything that I treasure in life. ...more

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