The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm not sure what I expected when I first picked up this book. I was intrigued by the cover and drawn to its salacious title, so I prepared myself for some juicy entertainment. Never did I expect to be so emotionally involved; never did I expect to be so touched.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo revolves around the life story of fictional Hollywood starlet Evelyn Hugo as told to her biographer, Monique Grant, who also serves as the book's narrator. Monique, a fledgling magazine writer, has no clue why Evelyn Hugo has chosen her for this job but as their time together progresses, Monique finds that her life has been forever changed.

Evelyn is straight-forward, unapologetic, and messy. She doesn't shy away from the fact that she is complicated, nor does she make excuses for any of the choices she makes. As a character, Evelyn is frustratingly endearing, because even in all of her imperfections, even in the face of all the pain she may have caused to others, she insists on standing firmly in her truth.

As the title suggests, this book is about love, but not in the way you'd expect. Yes, there are seven husbands, but Evelyn's life doesn't revolve around them. They are merely supporting characters in the larger, grander love story that characterizes Evelyn Hugo's life. Evelyn Hugo lived a life full of passion, and as she gets older, she becomes more adamant about living life on her own terms, no matter what the consequences.

Taylor Jenkins Reid really captured my heart with this novel. She tackles the complexities of love, marriage, and sexuality in a delicate yet skillful manner. The storytelling is top-notch; it drew me in from the beginning and only held me tighter as it all unfolded. There is tension, suspense, passion, romance, and heartbreak. By the end, I was a complete puddle of emotions. I may have even teared up once or twice. Definitely a must-read.

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