Book info

• Title The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
• Author Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Year 2017
• Genre Contemporary

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Thoughts

I’ve loved the Taylor Jenkins Reid books I’ve read so far so am working through the back catalogue. I wasn’t sure about this one at first, it took a while to hook me in, but gradually I got into it and wanted to know what happened next. I wasn’t entirely sold on the twist, I don’t know if it even needed to be there, but I suppose there had to be a reason she picked this particular journalist, etc etc. But the story of golden era Hollywood stars falling in and out of love was captivating and enough in its own right.

Rating: 3 / 5