The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

When you’re given an opportunity to change your life, be ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen. The world doesn’t give things, you take things. If you learn one thing from me, it should probably be that.”

Creating the character of Evelyn Hugo changed my life. Not only did she change who I am as a person, but she set me on a path I never imagined for myself. One that now feels inevitable in hindsight. I have long been fascinated by the spotlight. What does it do to people? How does it change them? What dangers lurk under its gaze? So deciding to actually write about fame—to take on that fascination directly—felt daring, intoxicating, and thrilling. I thought I would have a fun time; I thought maybe I could tell a good story. I did not expect to find a piece of myself that, it turned out, I always knew was there. Writing The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo felt like opening up a door and realizing everything you’ve ever wanted to do was waiting for you in that room. Without Evelyn Hugo there is no Daisy Jones and The Six, no Malibu Rising, and no Carrie Soto Is Back. As I approach the end of this world of novels with the publication of the upcoming Carrie Soto, it is such a pleasure—a true indulgence—to be able to go back to the woman who started it all, my first all-encompassing character, who took over my heart and soul . . . Evelyn Hugo. **** This was one of the first lines of Evelyn’s that I remember coming up with. I wrote it down in my notebook. I heard her voice for the first time. I believe I wrote down, “Don’t just accept what the world gives you. Decide what you want and then take it.” But by the time I understood where it would go in the book, it took a slightly different form. This is a perfect example of a character saying something that even I didn’t know for myself. So Evelyn’s giving me advice here as much as Monique or any reader.