I've heard so much about Taylor Jenkins Reid but I've never read anything she has written until The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I am now a HUGE fan and plan to pick up the rest of Reid's books as soon as possible. Evelyn Hugo was such a brilliant character and I couldn't put this novel down. She was beautiful, rich, and everything Hollywood needed her to be, but what did she have to do to get to that point? Who did she have to hurt to get to the top? The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo follows Evelyn as she narrates her fabulous life story and all of the terrible things she had to do to get to that point.

I absolutely loved the writing style and the characters. Reid's writing was so eloquent and realistic that I felt like I was walking down the red carpet with Evelyn. I was completely drawn into the story and the outcome. I couldn't put the novel down and had to know how it would end. Even though Evelyn did a lot of terrible things to get to the top, I still found myself admiring her ambition.

All in all, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was a well written and entertaining story about love, friendship and betrayal and the things people do in order to get what they want. It is the perfect summer read and I would highly recommend this novel! A huge thank you to Atria books, NetGalley, and BookSparks for sharing the wonderful world of Evelyn Hugo!

Yet again, Taylor has completely blown me away with this juicy Hollywood story. I admittedly wasn't sure what I was getting into with this story.

I didn't want to put this book down. I found myself highlighting short passages one after another. I wanted to make a million teasers for this book. I was hooked from the very start! There wasn't a thing about this story I wasn't in love with.

I feel like I need to tell you how I felt about these characters. I mean, seriously. So well developed. I felt like I was right there living their story right with them!

And the ending? Forget about it! I will admit that I saw it coming at a certain point, but I was still blown away when it happened. I was left feeling a little happy and a little bereft at the same time.

Hands down, another winner from Taylor Jenkins Reid. She is definitely a go-to author for great, engaging, page-turning authors!

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Truly amazing! Loved it!

I read this in one day! I was concerned the plot might be slow-moving, as I've found some first-person "tell alls" to be. However, from the first page, I was absolutely entranced by this dazzling story of the glitz and glam of old Hollywood. Reid did a fantastic job crafting a complex, utterly realistic character in Evelyn Hugo. She was so flawed, and yet so compelling and fascinating. It felt as though she were a real person and I found myself wanting to google her and all the characters more than once, that's how believable this piece of fiction is. I found Monique as a character to be less interesting, but who wouldn't dim in comparison to the glamorous Evelyn? The diverse cast of characters will be especially appreciated by readers. Certainly this book is one of the most fascinating I've read this year. My only complaint: I could have gone without some of the political commentary, but that is just my own personal preference.

Evelyn's story was compelling, but this just didn't quite draw me in the same way TJR's other novels do. Still, I adored the old Hollywood setting, and I found the plot engaging.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster/Atria and NetGalley for providing an ARC for an honest review.

FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR. This book is everything. I sobbed for a good 30 minutes for the last 10-15% of the book. This book was nothing like I expected it to be and it was everything I expected in a TJR book. This book was so much more than the seven husbands in her life and the romance, it was about her life and the struggles she went through. And let me tell you, it wasn't an easy life for her.

You never know what route TJR will take with her stories. She always takes you by surprise and usually always leaves you hanging and wondering what is going to happen next.

I would classify this more as woman's lit and not romance. I'm not one to read that genre, but since last night I have been SWEARING up and down by this book trying to get other friends to read it. (and failing miserably). I just want to tell them what happens so they will understand how much I loved this book. But I don't want to spoil anything for them because it'll just ruin the entire story. But how exactly do you push people to read this amazing book!? That is the question because I know a lot of people will adore this book like I did. Some may not like it and there's nothing wrong with that! It's still an amazing story from a VERY talented writer!

This is now my 3rd time reading one of her books and I'm still swearing by her books. Though, now this one takes the cake of the other 2 and is now one of my favorite books probably of all time. The other 2 books I'm referencing to is Maybe in Another Life and One True Loves. This book is so beautiful, so real, and very emotional. I cannot stress how much I need people to read this because this is just one of those everyone needs to read and you will see after reading. Promise.

Evelyn Hugo came from nothing and climbs to the top of her profession in old Hollywood. In The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, she tells her life story to one specific journalist handpicked for a reason that doesn’t become clear until the end.

This book and especially the character of Evelyn Hugo were so engrossing I sometimes forgot she was a fictional character. I felt like she was really sitting there telling me her life story of how and why she married seven times, which turned out to be different from the reasons I expected!

Hanging on every word of this woman who is characterized as a cross between Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, I also enjoyed the snippets from tabloids that were scattered throughout the novel that referred to the “truth” of the situations she is revealing.

I have not read this author before although I know she is very popular. She told a great story here! I was annoyed at first thinking I had already guessed the plot twist; I had not! I can not say much more about this book without giving away too much about the plot.

Readers who are super conservative people may not enjoy this book…but I found it to be a super fun summer read. As I continue to tackle my summer reading list this book may not compare in literary value to the other one I am trying to finish right now BUT I know which book I wanted to drop everything to finish, and it was to read more about Evelyn Hugo.

Thank you to Evelyn Hugo for finally telling your mesmerizing story, oops I mean thanks to Taylor Jenkins Reid!

OH, MY GOODNESS! I’m speechless and let me tell you that is saying a lot! WOW! Taylor Jenkins Reid’s, you have just blown my mind; The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, is a delicious masterpiece. Reid has out done herself with this magnificent, divine, heart wrenching, and unusual unique novel. WOW!

I would like to mention that the audio version of this book is AMAZING! The book is narrated by: Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan, and Robin Miles. I enjoyed all three of the voices and would highly recommend readers to read this beautiful story via audiobook.

**Although I decided to purchase and read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo via the audiobook; I would still like to thank the publisher, author, and netgalley for providing me with an e-Arc.**

While this story is definitely not in my usual wheelhouse, someone whose opinion I admire raved about this book, and the premise reminded me of another book I really enjoyed, The Thirteenth Tale, where a famous elderly woman selects a seeming nobody to write the story of her life. I decided to take a chance on it, and I am so very glad I did. 

At the beginning of the book, journalist Monique Grant is getting divorced, is going nowhere in her career, and is not terribly happy with anything in her life. When reclusive, aging movie star Evelyn Hugo asks for Monique, and only Monique, to write a piece about her, she’s shocked but excited. Evelyn promises complete and total honesty, and as her tale unfolds, Monique learns that Evelyn, and indeed all human beings, are more complex and messy than they at first appear.

One of the first questions Monique asks Evelyn is “Who was the love of your life?” While Evelyn doesn’t answer immediately, the question sets the stage for their conversation, and you get a sense that answering that question is one of Evelyn’s primary reasons (but not the only one!) for telling her story in the first place. This isn’t a romance, though there is a love story (several, really). More importantly, the underlying theme of Evelyn’s story is love, which is why I think this book may appeal to readers of this site--who you love, why you love them, how you can love different people differently, what you will do for love, and when love sometimes isn't enough. We see how Evelyn came from a background with little love and eventually fashioned a life for herself and created a family of people who loved her immensely. It was touching to read about.

Evelyn is a fascinating and richly drawn character. She had a desperately poor and unhappy childhood, but she’s determined to be a star, and she makes it happen through a combination of looks, natural (if unpolished) talent, and no small amount of pure determination. Some parts of her story are downright painful to read about, as she does what she has to do to get ahead, but the most poignant parts of the book are when she does things to protect the people she loves. (The chapter where she talks about her marriage to her second husband is particularly heartbreaking.) Even when she's protecting others, though, she's also protecting herself. Evelyn is clear with Monique that she isn’t the “good guy” in her story, that she can be self serving, vain, and cruel. The trick of Taylor Jenkins Reid, though, is that for the most part, you’re on Evelyn’s side through most of the book. You see the reasons for her choices, and it’s hard not to admire her determination and her fierce loyalty for those she loved. Then, she reveals a big secret near the end, and suddenly you’re left questioning, and some of the consequences of Evelyn’s choices become a bit less abstract that they were before. It’s nuanced and complex and fascinating to read.

While Evelyn’s stories vividly bring other characters to life, Monique is not as finely drawn. Her story isn’t fleshed out as fully as I would have liked. Her dissolving marriage was never quite explored and seemed more like a vehicle for showing how much Evelyn inspired Monique than an integral part of Monique’s own story. Monique's mom is similarly shallowly portrayed and just added a hint of the "flavor" of Monique's life without much substance. The ending was also rushed. Evelyn finally reveals her biggest secret, and I didn’t feel like there was enough time or interaction afterwards for Monique to process it all.

I found this book both captivating and beautifully written. It wasn’t at all what I expected, but it was a great book for stepping out of my usual genre.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

Perfect vacation or beach read, well-paced, about a Hollywood star confronting the truths of her life as she dictates it to a biographer. It asks questions about marriage and friendship and what you sacrifice for goals or love. The rest of it is better discovered by the reader.

So who is Evelyn Hugo and why has she had seven husbands? The title definitely caught my attention when it was first revealed. And lets face it, if Taylor Jenkins Reid is writing it… then I’m reading it. So while I didn’t really pay much attention as to the blurb or idea behind this book, I went into it quite blind. And let me tell you… this wasn’t quite what I expected and I was still blown away.

Evelyn Hugo is a Hollywood star. Think of a mix of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. She’s now 79 years old and everyone in her life is no longer around, which is the perfect time for her to come clean and tell the world what really went on behind the scenes in her life and the truth about her much talked about seven husbands. She picks an unknown journalist to tell her story and as these two women meet every day while Evelyn unravels the mysteries of her life for us, I was truly captivated. Mesmerized, even. Evelyn Hugo is one of those fictional characters that come only once in a while and truly touch your heart. I truly cared for her, suffered her losses and heartaches with her, even learned from her. In the end, I wanted nothing more than for her to be real because I felt as though she was. I wanted to turn that last page and then go watch one of her old movies.

She’s a bit ruthless and unrepentant. Strong, independent and determined. No, she’s not entirely a good person. As a matter of fact, most of her life she’s done very questionable things. She knows it, and she’s not sorry. She’s self-centered and egotistical. She’s made so many tough choices in her life and that strength at her core was enchanting. I get choked up just thinking about her again. If you are a fan of the True Hollywood Stories then this book will be for you. Evelyn doesn’t skimp on the details about the Hollywood lifestyle starting from the 1950s all the way through today. She talks about her work and her passion for it, friendships, race, identity, love. Love that comes in many different ways and every time marks her life.

I truly think you should just crack this book open and experience it. No spoilers, no expectations. Just let it sweep you off your feet, because I’m pretty sure it will. I even figured out way ahead of time why the journalist was picked to write her tell all book, and even with that I was still so wrapped up in this story that it didn’t even bother me.

There is something special in the way that Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a story, and it captivates me every time. Her storytelling is simply masterful. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year because of that and it did not disappoint. One of my favorite books of the year so far, by far. While this book is more women’s fiction than her previous books, which have a bigger focus on the romance, Evelyn Hugo carried this story so well that it transcended genres and just made me feel. And quite frankly, I just fell in love with her.

In the end, I was nothing more than a huge blubbering, sobbing mess. I cried until my eyes were puffy and my heart felt heavy. And I loved every second of it. I think this will be a hit this summer and highly suggest you add it to your poolside reading list.

Most of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books are about love - romantic and otherwise. They feature contemporary characters, people who might be your best friend or your sister or your uncle. They’re people you could be friends with, or friendly with, and good people you unquestioningly feel for.

This one is different. While it still includes TJR’s trademark wisdom, directness, and honesty, the characters and themes make this book stand out from the rest of her oeuvre. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is about an unapologetically strong, fierce, feminist of a main character. Someone who could be deemed unlikeable, someone definitely not shy, polite, or ready to just take things as they are.

Let me backtrack. As the synopsis indicates, writer Monique Grant is unexpectedly given the opportunity to write the tell-all memoir of Hollywood legend Evelyn Hugo. It’s the chance of a lifetime, but Monique's not sure why it’s her chance. Still, the offer is too good to turn down. The novel alternates between scenes of Monique interviewing Evelyn and Monique’s own emotional history, but largely looks at Evelyn’s life, upbringing, and eventual stardom with her husbands as benchmarks.

You’ll quickly realize is that as much emphasis as the title (and in some ways, the world of the novel) places on Evelyn’s marriages, it’s not about the husbands at all. It’s about Evelyn - her desperation in poverty, her recognition of her own beauty and sexuality, and her understanding of how to use those gifts to her advantage.

What TJR has done with Evelyn Hugo is present a character who is unabashedly strong. There is no one like Evelyn Hugo in any of her previous books. No one who could be seen as both hero and villain, and no one as publicly vilified and vindicated at every turn. Every action that Evelyn makes throughout the novel has subtext. It’s these layers that make her such an extraordinary character.

For someone who has read almost all of TJR’s work, it’s a surprise. It feels a little jarring at first, because you’re not going to love these characters like your friends. And yet, it’s a departure that is completely understandable given the state of politics in the US. Add to that the fact that Taylor just had a daughter, and the dedication of the book makes perfect sense. TJR tells her daughter to “smash the patriarchy.” To me, there’s no doubt that Taylor did that with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

To say more about the plot would rob you of some of the surprises - and you need them. In fact, to me, the only part of this book that kept me from absolutely loving it was that the plot occasionally felt a little predictable. It’s like when you watch any kind of biopic of a performer - there are always moments that you can see coming, but you know they have to happen, even if it is a little cliche. In Evelyn Hugo, that felt especially true at the end.

The good thing is that despite the occasional predictability, and the fact that this book is a complete departure for TJR, it’s still a TJR book. It still has Taylor’s amazing secondary characters, incredible friendships, and moments of wisdom that make you nod and cry and highlight.[space size="15"]

BONUSES:

Feminism: If you only read this section of my reviews (I know some of you do, and that’s totally cool!), just know that this is probably one of the most feminist books I’ll read this year. It’s full on #feminist #bossbabe #bitchesgetthingsdone[clearboth]

Diversity: I really can’t give too many bonuses without giving things away, so I’m going to be vague and just say that there’s diversity in everything here - from race and ethnicity to sexual orientation. It’s hard finding fun books that do this well, so I applaud TJR for this.[clearboth][space size="15"]

THE FINAL WORD:

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is both a quick and complicated read. You could take it to the beach because of the Hollywood aspect, but you’ll come back with a surprisingly bold idea of what can and should be done for women, for people of colour, and for people who identify as queer. While it’s a departure from Taylor Jenkins Reid’s other works, it nonetheless includes her unapologetically emotional prose, her very human exploration of relationships, and her direct wisdom that speaks to something fundamental in your heart. A worthwhile summer read.

The question at the core of this book is, much like story itself, basic yet achingly complex: what does it mean to love someone?

Evelyn Hugo ought to be able to answer this fairly easily, what with the seven husbands and all. But love, for Evelyn, is something that cannot be defined. Love is amorphous, taking on the characteristics of what surrounds it. Her first marriage, for example, was one of expediency. Evelyn had to escape her hellish childhood, and Ernie Diaz presented the quickest, surest path. Love was unnecessary in this relationship, so she didn't bother to feel it. Later, Evelyn will marry for love. Even then, though, she is self-aware enough to realize that the love she feels right now may not sustain her.

At 79, Evelyn wants her story to be told. She wants her unvarnished truths set free, albeit with a caveat: her biography cannot be published until after her death. She knows it will be a best-seller because everyone is curious about Evelyn Hugo, with or without the seven husbands. She purposefully selects Monique, a magazine writer who finds herself in the bit of a personal and professional funk, to write her tale. Monique knows that Evelyn's seeking her out is purposeful - she has never written a novel, much less a biography - and Taylor Jenkins Reid builds the suspense as she keeps you waiting before she reveals any answers. Evelyn most definitely does have her reasons for hiring Monique, one of which likely will surprise you.

Monique begins working with Evelyn by asking the identity of the love of Evelyn's life. A renowned actress, Evelyn knows that you can't give away the answers in the first act, so she reveals the answer as she relates the wherefores of her marriages. Like Monique, you will guess the answer before Evelyn is ready to say it because you will realize that you'd far rather understand what Evelyn Hugo believes it means to love someone. Does it mean that you make necessary sacrifices for that person? Does it mean that you put their happiness above yours? Does it mean that, as that true love of Evelyn's life tells her, "If you love someone enough, you should be able to overcome anything"?

As a Hollywood star, Evelyn knows how to manipulate her audiences. She knows how to pretend and how to make that artifice feel real. She knows how to to make you believe something that isn't true. So is she telling Monique the truth, or is she telling Monique what she wants the younger woman to believe?

Taylor Jenkins Reid writes books about love and how it's possible for us to experience more than one great love. You know when you open one of her books that she will make you think about how you love and why you love. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is no different. Love is not something you can - or should - define according to others. It is yours to experience on your terms. Evelyn Hugo experienced her seven husbands differently and always on her terms. The lesson she had to learn was that true, abiding love requires you to accept someone else's terms as well.

Once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down. Evelyn will stick with you in ways you don't expect, and you will find the ending particularly poignant. Monique represents you in this book. She receives Evelyn's memories, she processes them, and she judges Evelyn Hugo. She also has to decide what it means to love someone.

You will, too.

Despite all the glowing reviews for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, nothing can prepare you for how truly magnificent this book is. I'm not sure the English language even has words to describe it. Reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is like waking from the best dream you've ever had, knowing you may never experience anything like it again. It is has the beauty of a spectacular sunset, the surprise of a baby's first smile, the passion of the tenderest touch you'll ever know. Taylor Jenkins Reid has published several really good books-Maybe in Another Life and Forever, Interrupted-but nothing compares to this brilliant, beguiling, mesmerizing and simply stunning novel called The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Evelyn Hugo is the actress of the century and she has picked a junior journalist to entrust her story to and the question throughout is why. . .

Sometimes and especially this time I loved knowing that there was a secret harboring underneath and the way Taylor Jenkins Reid unfolded a great story while still holding on to that one nugget was just right. I liked that she didn't continue to remind you that she was holding something from you, she just continued the story knowing that you were wondering in the background.

So Evelyn Hugo - WHAT a character! I loved how this story unfolded through Evelyn telling Monique her story through the husbands. There were many times I wondered are the headlines we read now honest and truthful and are the celebrity relationships for business reasons or personal? I like taking peaks behind the curtain and maybe seeing a new truth.

I was already a Taylor Jenkins Reid fan before this book and afterwards still! Each of her books has a completely different storyline and make up so each book is perfectly unique.

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's books. She is one of those authors that I always wonder about, why isn't she so much more well known?

I started reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo on my vacation at the end of April. I started it in the morning while I was waiting for everyone else to get ready for the beach. And I was instantly hooked.

I read it all day, every time I got out of the ocean. And I stayed up that night to finish it. It was a one day read.

I love books that jump back in time and tell a story going forward. Evelyn is a movie star, famous since the 50's and now hiding from the world. She decides to tell Monique her story, and no one, Monique most of all, can figure out why she was chosen for this career changing interview.

At first I thought Monique would turn out to be Evelyn's long lost daughter but that wasn't it. I am always trying to figure out the plot twists, and I love it when I can still be surprised.

I know we were supposed to see Evelyn as ruthlessly ambitious, but I saw a woman who was doing what she needed to do during a time that didn't give women many options. And every option required a man, usually in the form of marriage. A girl has got to do what a girl has got to do.

Fast, intriguing, relaxing read. Loved it so much!

Current Goodreads Rating 4.33

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Last year, I read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s One True Loves and I LOVED it. When the big to do about the exclusive EW cover reveal of her next book- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo happened- I loved the cover, but wasn’t sure if TJR was going to be able to pull this book off for me- it seemed to have a historical fiction angle that I was not sure if I could enjoy from her.

Taylor Jenkins Reid- let me issue you a formal apology. I freaking LOVED The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Now, I’m not going to spoil it for you. This book takes on a lot of issues and some you might can guess fairly quickly. But what drew me in (besides the cover) was Evelyn Hugo. She seemed to be a cross between a Mae Wes and Marilyn Monroe with a dash or 2 of Scarlet O’Hara threw in. Is Evelyn likable? Yes and no. She’s strong. She’s loyal to the people she loves (but she’s not above breaking their hearts for the greater good). She’s passionate. She’s a goal digger. She knows what she wants and she unabashedly goes after what she wants. Is she sometimes selfish? Yes. Is she remorseful about her actions? Not really. Evelyn Hugo might not be for everyone, but I truly enjoyed her world.



What I liked:

THE COVER. Listen, if there is one book that I have to have this year based solely on the cover- THIS IS IT. It’s gorgeous. Sensual. And I LOVE that emerald. Green is too tame a word to describe the color- emerald is the word!

How the story was laid out. Taylor Jenkins Reid has chapters, and each chapter tells a story. I loved that.

The twist. There is a secret and it came out of left field for me. I gasped when I read it and then quickly re-read to make sure that I was reading correctly.



Bottom line: There are a lot of layers to this book. This book is not light or fluffy- it’s got some substance. Evelyn Hugo may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the woman had skills.



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

**The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a June #FuturisticFriday selection from Traveling With T.**

I have to admit, I only glanced at the synopsis before deciding I wanted to read this story. When it comes to Taylor Jenkins Reid, no matter what the story is about, I’m reading it. So I went into this story almost completely blind. And let me tell you, it was such a great decision because I had no idea what I was in for.

Monique is a struggling magazine writer when Evelyn Hugo chooses her, and only her, to write her autobiography. Evelyn Hugo is a very well-known 1950’s starlet, one of the biggest out there, and her story has never been told before. This is HUGE for Monique, and she’s unable to turn it down. Getting to be the one to FINALLY tell Evelyn’s story, including her secrets, is a chance of a lifetime. And the money that Evelyn is offering her is outrageous and unable to be turned down. So Monique and Evelyn begin meeting in Evelyn’s house, where she slowly and thoroughly tells her entire life story.

The majority of this story is about Evelyn and her rags-to-rich life story. There are a few times when the story switches back to Monique’s current day life, but those instances are quite rare. It’s just enough to get to know Monique on a level that she’s no longer a stranger to us. We don’t get to know her like we know Evelyn, by any means, but we still feel for her and are curious why Monique is the only one who Evelyn will speak to about her life.

Evelyn, on the other hand, we get to know VERY well. We learn things about how that we could never imagine. We love her. We hate her. She infuriates, disgusts, and even amazes us. She’s such an amazing character, and I loved the depth to which TJL introduced her to us. Evelyn felt like such a real starlet with a very realistic and true-to-life story to tell. I loved getting to go husband by husband, year by year, tragedy by tragedy. Evelyn’s life story was, simply put, incredible.

The switching back and forth between Evelyn’s past and the current day were done flawlessly. I was never left confused or unsure what was going on. And I have to mention how addicting this story was. With romance, it’s usually more of a relaxing, yet entertaining read for me. But this one! WOW! I seriously could NOT put it down! All adulting went out the window when I was reading this book. It was amazing. Truly amazing.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of those authors that I KNOW will impress me with every story. I’ve read all of her books except for one so far, and I’ve adored every single second of them. I can’t recommend her enough! I think this one just may be my favorite book of hers, and that says a lot since I believe I’ve rated every single one 5 stars! ♥ If you enjoy romance, women’s fiction, adult fiction, really any fiction, give Taylor Jenkins Reid a try. You won’t be disappointed by what this incredible writing genius can do with a story.

INITIAL EXCITEMENT & SUMMARY
I’ve obviously loved Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books over the past couple of years, but I always like to leave one hanging around to read if I REALLY need it. (Looking at you Forever, Interrupted!) I was a bit concerned and intrigued at the same time, because this book really isn’t like her others! It seemed like a unique blend of historical fiction and contemporary (hence me choosing both for genre) and definitely different from the rest of her books. There were similar elements overall, like the concepts of marriage, divorce, relationships… but the actual setup was quite different. I wasn’t sure what to expect!

Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood enigma, picks Monique, a fairly random writer, to write her biography. The story flows between Monique’s personal life and Evelyn’s life story, as she dictates her tell-all to Monique. It spans Evelyn’s entire history from the 1950’s through present day. Monique’s life recently changed when her marriage fell apart quickly, so she is simultaneously using some of Evelyn’s story and “advice” to figure out what she truly wants.

STORYTELLING & CHARACTERS
Even though this was different from her other stories, I found a lot of similarities with the characters and how you sometimes just want to punch them. TJR’s stories are about relationships, marriage, love, and what happens when those things fall apart. This book was similar in that regard, but took us through a wild historical ride through Hollywood. I never cared much about Marilyn Monroe and other starlets of that time, so this was honestly my introduction to that period in Hollywood. I’m tempted to watch some of those old movies now!

Evelyn’s life unfolded with a lot of twists and turns, good things and bad things. She was an unapologetic badass for the vast majority of her life. She really wasn’t a likeable character, but I still applaud her for pretty much doing whatever she wanted. I was fascinated by her attitude and life, even though I didn’t agree with quite a few of her decisions. Monique wasn’t really the main character even though she kind of was the main character? Her story was barely necessary, except for the purpose of bringing Evelyn’s story to us. I liked her in general and obviously Evelyn picked her for a reason, but she wasn’t the showstopper here.

NEGATIVES
There were some things that I predicted ahead of time but not to any major extent that would bother me or ruin anything. I just had feelings about how things would end. I read some negative reviews that just didn’t think the characters were well-developed and there were a lot of tropes used, which I could definitely see being the case in some places. I think those things just didn’t bother me because I was so intrigued by Evelyn’s timeline.

TL;DR?
Seriously, good for Taylor Jenkins Reid for writing something so “out of character” for herself. This book was unique and I totally applaud her for trying something new. I couldn’t put this one down and was fascinated by Evelyn’s story from start to finish. I want to also direct your attention to the wonderful review of my book twin, Cristina. She did a fabulous job of explaining the complexities of the novel and Evelyn’s character. Please read her review because it’s awesome.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! She has pulled me into this unique story that I devoured. I loved the writing and the way the story flowed.

Evelyn is Hollywoods darling and she has lead an interesting life. She hires Monique to do a tell all story and publish it. She has secrets she has kept hidden and is reliving her past.

This story was so unique and true to Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing style. I am huge fan and will read anything she writes. If was so different than how I thought it would and was pleasantly surprised.