The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a widely acclaimed Historical Fiction novel of 2017. It depicts the life of Evelyn Hugo, who starts from a struggling waitress to a mainstream actress in the 1950s. A critical and commercial success, this book was a hit when it was first released but gained a whole new level of following due to BookTok!
Story in a Nutshell
Monique is a journalist writing the biography of a Hollywood legend, Evelyn Hugo, who is 79 and finally wants to tell her story to the world. She wants to tell all the behind the curtain details after living a celebratory life. But why now and why Monique? She is not even a biographer!
Characters
Evelyn
Our lead and the star of the stars. She has lived a very alluring life by marrying and divorcing seven husbands. Mother with an ongoing career, Evelyn is getting the title of the highest-paying actress in Hollywood and an Oscar. And, of course, being a Hollywood legend afterward.
Harry
Harry was the producer of Sunset Studios that managed Evelyn’s work; he was the one to catch the rising star while she was waitressing. After some time, they became the best of friends. He plays a significant role in her life.
Monique
The journalist who got the opportunity anyone would want. To interview or write a biography of a Hollywood legend who hasn’t discussed her life story ever! She has a great personality and knows how to ask the right questions.
And, of course, as suggested by the title, the story includes seven exciting husbands that Evelyn marries and eventually divorces. It should be a surprise for the reader to find out while reading.
Why You Should Read?
Writing Style
Taylor Jenkin Reids is one of the most famous writers of our time. Her novel has recently turned into a series Daisy Jones and the Six. According to news and reliable sources, this book will be a Netflix movie! A well-researched writer like her captured the heart of the readers with her in-depth writing, perfect descriptions, and relatability.
Exciting plot
The way it takes to the 1950s Hollywood era gives a vintage feel. Like we’ve reached that era of time! The way of constructing a proper storyline and timeline is impeccable.
Loved the characters
It’s a character-driven novel through and through. Even though there were many, it was manageable. It can be tough to tackle a novel with so many personalities. Making Evelyn shine through it is a task that the author maintains very well.
Representation
We get to see the struggle of Evelyn coming from a Cuban background. She makes a place in 50’s Hollywood, as we all know, is a hard task when the industry is not as open. Aside from that, we also get essential parts of ageism, LGBTQ+, feminism, and more.
