I'm sorry but this book just didn't work out for me. I adore this author but this particular story I couldn't connect to. I'll tactfully remove it from my shelves without posting a review in courtesy of the author.

5 stars!

“I want them to know the real story. The real me.”
“All right. Show me the real you, then. And I’ll make sure the world understands.”



Evelyn Hugo is an iconic aging actress, famous for her work in the movie industry but also famous for having been married seven times to seven men. Monique Grant is a writer for a magazine, but has been in a bit of a career rut as of lately. On top of that she’s getting divorced, so she jumps on the opportunity to interview the famous Evelyn Hugo. When she meets Evelyn, she discovers Evelyn wants more than a simple article, she wants to tell her life story to Monique for a biography. And Monique is getting the story exclusively.

“I’ve spent a very long time learning how to spin the truth. It’s hard to undo that wiring.”

I absolutely loved this story! Taylor Jenkins Reid has this uncanny ability to suck you into the lives of her characters and never let you go. They feel so utterly genuine, I felt as if I was a part of their lives instead of an outsider reading about them. Reid also does an amazing job developing her characters, I was rooting for all of them to get what they want and to achieve their goals.

I never really know what to expect when I dive into a book by Reid, but I can honestly say this book was full of surprises and twists I didn’t see coming. This book spans from the 1950’s to the present day, and we get to know all of the loves of Evelyn’s life. Evelyn herself was enchanting, I found myself fascinated by her life story, her choices and her perseverance. While love was a motivating factor, to me this was mostly a story about success and survival. Evelyn was always going to do what it takes to be a star and stay at the top, and she would fight for what she wanted.

Hollywood and the film industry can be a ruthless place but it can also be one where greatness can be achieved for the lucky ones. I think Reid captured the industry and the time periods this story took place in perfectly.

This is one of the best books I’ve read all year and I think if you go into it with an open mind and a kind heart, you’ll fall in love with this book like I did.

“If you love someone enough, you should be able to overcome anything.”

ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely adore Taylor Jenkins Reid, so it pains me to say that The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo just didn't work for me. I couldn't connect with the characters and it just wasn't my cup of tea. However, I'll definitely read her future books.

Fascinating tale of an aging, Oscar winning Hollywood movie actress who tells 'all' for her biography to a relatively unknown writer.

I fell in love with Taylor Jenkins Reid about a year or so ago, after reading Maybe in Another Life. I loved her ability to write adult fiction that felt relevant to me in my twenties, to developed extremely nuanced relationships and to write protagonists who all felt distinct and yet familiar at the same time. I've read almost all of her published works, so when I heard about The Seven Husbands on Evelyn Hugo, I have to admit I was a bit confused- it's a huge departure from her other novels which have largely surrounded young married or soon to be married couples and the growing pains of their relationships and own self discovery. However, since it was a novel by TJR I of course had to request it from NetGalley and it's one of the best, most unique books that I have read in a long, long time.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has two parallel narratives, focusing on the young reporter who is interviewing Evelyn, and Evelyn herself who is finally ready to confess the truth about her scandalous life as a Hollywood bombshell. Evelyn is reminiscent of classic film stars such as Marilyn Monroe, and learning about her life is fascinating as one can definitely draw parallels to actual stories, celebrities, and Hollywood happenings from that era. The narrative is broken up into seven main parts based on Evelyn's seven husbands, and it was such a clever way to craft the distinct chapters in Evelyn's life and relationship with fame. I absolutely loved this storytelling method, and was eager to return to Evelyn's narrative of the past whenever the story switched to present day.

Sure, this story has scandal, drama, romance, and all of the other makings of an enticing and engaging read, but what I found most compelling about the novel and about Evelyn was the earnest feminism and themes of female empowerment and diversity, even if Evelyn herself was deeply flawed in some of her ideologies and actions. Evelyn is born the daughter of Cuban immigrants and after the death of her mother, decides that she is going to escape her poverty ridden life in New York by becoming famous by any means necessary. Evelyn is unapologetic about using her looks, her sexuality, and her genuine feminine wiles to get to the West Coast and get ahead, ready to take any opportunity that presents itself in life. While such methods may seem unorthodox this day in age, Evelyn's options were more limited back in the 1940s, with her looks the only tool she's ever known how to wield, and the story raises interesting questions surrounding the use of a women's appearance for gain and the double standards surrounding women's sexuality and female power. In a lot of ways Evelyn isn't a likeable character- she's cunning and ruthless and her ambition and personal success comes before anybody else. Yet there's something so refreshing about reading about someone who is so unapologetic about their life and the choices they've made, who owns their legacy flaws and all. I found Evelyn to be an extremely empowering protagonist despite her rough edges and deep flaws.

The story also covers major decades in Hollywood's history, from the 40s up through the 90s, and its fascinating to see how Evelyn's style, the roles she received, etc. changed from decade to decade. It was also interesting to see how culture shifted so much in the course of 50 years from the civil rights movement to the awareness of AIDS to how domestic violence is viewed, and how these elements of how the world was changing did and did not impact and penetrate the Hollywood scene. Hollywood itself was a character in Evelyn's story, and even getting a chance to look behind the curtain through Evelyn's story does not demystify it completely.

Overall: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is definitely a departure from TJR's usual style, but she exceeds all expectations I had, creating a character so complex and dynamic and likeable yet unlikable at the same time. Evenlyn will remain one of my favorite fictional protagonists for a long, long while to come.

*Review will be posted on my blog, www.girlinthepages.com, on June 12th.

Thank you to NetGalley for the giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This took me out of a slump! I'm very grateful about that. From the start, I was interested in the characters, the story, how it was told and the writing that made it all make sense and kept me reading. Before my kids became involved in multiple sports at the same time, I had time to read. Not only that, I was able to read more than 2 paragraphs before falling asleep. Lately, the lacklustre books that were gracing my Kindle weren't enough to fight my exhaustion... until this one. I was still tired, but I was engaged in the story and I was making more of an effort to find moments to get back to the story. That's saying something, no?

As for the story, it was very well told, with a clear progression through to the end. Evelyn's character is well developed and if you can trust her first person account to be unbiased, it was quite honestly told. Monique's character is secondary to the story but still well-developed.

Review will be posted on 6/5/17

Evelyn Hugo, famous Hollywood starlet, hasn't granted a private interview in years. She's getting up there in age and her days gracing the big screen are over. She used to rub elbows with the best Hollywood had to offer in the 60s, but no one truly knows who she really is. That is until one day she decides to contact Monique Grant, an average journalist, and offer her a once in a lifetime opportunity in that she would share her life's story with her. Through her sharing and divulging of secrets with Monique, readers learn about Evelyn's difficult childhood in Hell's Kitchen, her move to Hollywood, her rise to fame, her Oscar win, and the juicy details of her seven marriages. More importantly, Evelyn has told many lies during her lifetime and wants to come clean. But the bigger question is the fact that she could have granted this story to any reporter, but requested Monique. Why Monique? And what kind of dark secrets is Evelyn hiding? Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a bit different than her other novels, but I say that in the best way possible. It's definitely one of my favorite books of the year.

Evelyn Hugo is literally right off the pages of People Magazine, a classic Hollywood film and all things juicy like a Hollywood tell-all. Reid developed her so well and so vividly that I kept forgetting that she isn't actually real. She felt so real. Seriously! Reid's characterization is so, so good in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. But I digress.

Evelyn is a complex character. Her challenging childhood made me instantly want to root for her as well as her bumpy rise to fame. I will admit she made some really crappy choices. She doesn't feel remorseful for some of her choices though; she totally owns it. I appreciate that in a protagonist. I wish I could sum up Evelyn in more detail, but I can't without giving away too much. But know she's a blend of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. She's so much more than just a classic Hollywood actress; I thoroughly enjoyed unraveling her story slowly and pealing back each and every complex layer.

Which leads me to Monique, the aspiring journalist. She is working at a magazine and dealing with her own life-altering issues when Evelyn enters her life in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. She is pretty much a nobody in the journalism world, but Evelyn seeks out the magazine she works at and specifically requests Monique for the story. This is what kept me flipping the pages. I just had to know why Evelyn would pick Monique and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out Evelyn's motives.

The way that Reid tells the tale of Evelyn in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is brilliant. I loved the conversations between Monique and Evelyn and how she would slowly share details of her life. Chapters was broken down and highlighted by her various marriages and I felt like I was sitting there with Evelyn getting all the juicy details.

If you love Old Hollywood or simply put--- if you love a story that's told very well, then check out The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo this summer. This is the best that summer reading has to offer and if you love a juicy tale that has historical details, romance, dark secrets, and heartbreak, this is a book for you. I bet many people, like myself, will be falling in love with Evelyn this summer.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again. Honestly, after reading this description, I didn't think this book would be as good as others she has written, but she really made Evelyn Hugo come alive. This is a beautiful, heartbreaking story that's different from anything else I have read. If you love women's fiction, read it ASAP!

It's no secret that I LOVE Taylor Jenkins Reid. I was first introduced to this author by my good blogger friend Megan at Reading Books Like a Boss. I have loved every single one of Taylor's books for various different reasons—each book showcasing what a talented writer she is.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was no different. This is a totally different type of story for the author.
I was completely captivated by this story from the get-go. A young, independent and strong woman trying to find her way to stardom in Hollywood. At a time when women didn't have much say in things, I loved Evelyn's smartness and her willingness to do it all for the sake of her happiness and success.
Now in her late 70's, the most famous actress of all-time wants to tell her truth—the real story of who she is, the reason for her many husbands, her life and rise to the top and the true love of her life—all to a fairly new writer Monique Grant.
How the story is told is very unique while we live through Evelyn's life from the 50's through the present. Living her ambition, her successes, and downfalls and the glitz and glamor of Hollywood including the things that you don't often see in the Hollywood lights—discrimination, abuse, bitterness, and heartbreak.
While I was completely enthralled in this story and couldn't put it down wondering why Evelyn had so many husbands, why she chose someone so green to write her story, and how everything was all connected, I wanted more.
In an era filled with such sex appeal and scandal, I wanted to see more of this. I didn't truly love Evelyn our heroine. While I understood in the end her reasons for doing the things she did, I felt that she was overly selfish and wondered at times if some of the things she did was too farfetched and realistic. And again while understanding what she did, I wanted her to feel some remorse for some of her actions which she just never did.
There were characters I liked and characters I wished to understand and know more of. This is Evelyn's story so I can see how many of these people were in the background but I wished that some were fleshed out a bit more. I enjoyed meeting the different husbands and how and why they came into her life.
I was very sad and then angry to learn how everything was all connected in the end but felt respect for Evelyn for trying to do what was right and for Monique handling it all the way that she did—with dignity and respect.
I think that this book is a 3-3.5 star for me. While I didn't enjoy it as much as I have prior TJR books, I think this book was still so interesting to read (I imagined Liz Taylor in my mind) and I will definitely read more from this author as she publishes new books!

For years I have been hearing nothing but praise for Taylor Jenkins Reid. Back in 2013 I had the opportunity to review Forever, Interrupted, but passed on it, and have been regretting it ever since! So many bloggers and friends I trust absolutely adore this woman and anytime she releases a new book it’s a Big Deal and cause for celebration. Vowing not to repeat my mistakes, I immediately jumped at the chance when I saw this one was available for review.

Now in her 70s, Evelyn Hugo is considered a living legend. She rose to fame in the 50s and dealt with highs and lows (an Oscar nomination here, being blacklisted there) over the next few decades. These days she’s living a relatively secluded life in her lush New York apartment and is finally ready to tell her story – but only if a virtually unknown journalist is the one to write it.

Monique’s one claim-to-fame is a piece she wrote on assisted suicide. Several years and several magazines later, she’s fallen into a rut of fluff pieces, filler articles. Her personal life isn’t doing much better as she’s currently in the middle of filing for divorce – less than a year into her marriage. Her life seems to be spiraling out of control until she receives a coveted assignment: interviewing one of the most famous actresses to ever grace the screen. But why her? Why not one of the far more notable journalists? Why has Evelyn made it adamantly clear she will only agree to the interview if she gets Monique?

When I first heard about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I immediately thought of Miranda Beverly-Whittemore’s June, one of my Top Reads of 2016 and a novel that also features a screen legend. I fell hard for Miranda’s novel (coincidentally my first of hers as well) and hoped to repeat that success with my introduction to Taylor’s work. I have to admit, while it certainly kept me hooked (it was a classic case of telling myself I’d only read one more chapter and before I knew it I had reached the end), once it was over, I realized Evelyn’s selfishness served as the novel’s downfall and made it extremely hard to love.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo isn’t the first novel I’ve read about a woman who is so ambitious and determined to get what she wants that she does whatever it takes to reach her goal. Nor will it be the last. I was fine with Evelyn’s initial plan to sleep her way into Hollywood. It was what came after that completely ruined her character for me. Those seven husbands? Only one marriage was for love. The other six were essentially games, strategic moves to either get what she wanted or to avoid rumors circulating. Sometimes the men were aware, sometimes they weren’t. At one point Monique asks Evelyn who her great love was – it’s revealed over the course of the book, but I was SO incensed at the way this poor character was treated by Evelyn. Selfish doesn’t even begin to describe her actions. Evelyn was so thoroughly and completely loved but she ultimately cared more about her fame and image – until it was too late, of course.

Normally I live for the past/present storytelling, but here, I just wanted to stay in the past. I never became invested in Monique’s character or her problems – though I will say my initial guess for why she was chosen by Evelyn was totally wrong and for that I’m glad. It would have been such an easy cop-out.

At 400 pages, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a decently-sized read, perfect for a rainy weekend or lounging at the beach. Although my introduction to Taylor Jenkins Reid (finally!) wasn’t as phenomenal as I had expected, I have to admit I wasn’t able to pull myself away from this one. Quick chapters and old Hollywood glamour completely sucked me in – though I didn’t care at all for Evelyn’s character. Her actions were simply too selfish and cruel and she received no sympathy from me. Early readers have said this novel is completely different from Reid’s other work (TJR even mentioned it herself in the author’s note) so I won’t swear off her other novels, but I’m left feeling disappointed.

What is it about old Hollywood that fascinates readers? Whatever it is Taylor Jenkins Reid tells it like we love it, movies, men, love, rumors, truths and lies. Telling the story from the perspectives of Evelyn Hugo the famous aging actress and the woman she selects to write her true story The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a fascinating and must read.

I was so glad to receive this ARC from NetGalley because I love Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book had me hooked from the very beginning. I probably would have read it faster but I have a 9 month old and a job.
Monique is a good character and I think she learned more about her confidence and herself by working with Evelyn Hugo but Evelyn, Celia, and Harry are the characters that really shined for me. I felt so drawn into Evelyn's story and was anticipating what was going to happen. I kind of had some things figured out but was still shocked by others. I don't want to give anything away because this book is great and I want the reader to enjoy it as much as I did and be hung up on it the whole time. I would definitely recommend this one to a lot of people because it has a lot of things for everything, scandal, love, sex, movie star lives, and truths of how everyone has a lot more of the same problems than we know.

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

Ok, where do I begin with this one? I've only read one other book by Jenkins Reid, One True Loves, and I really enjoyed both, but this book is just so different from that one and so many others I've read recently.

The story is told in a frame narrative, the illustrious classic movie star Evelyn Hugo is telling her life story to a journalist, Monique. We see both Monique's life, her impending divorce and her general life in New York City, as well as Evelyn's rise to fame and the stories of her infamous seven husbands. The book looks at what it's like to be a woman in Hollywood from the 1950s onward, as well as looking at social and cultural reactions to issues like homosexuality, AIDS, racial tensions, etc.

I really loved the set up of this book. It's been a while since I read a frame narrative and I haven't really read any in the first place. But I appreciated the way the book was laid out like this, even though most of the book is about Evelyn's life, it was nice to have a couple breaks where we were reminded that this all happened in the past, and everyone Evelyn was protecting back then is dead and can't be hurt by her telling her story. I really liked Monique the few times we got to see her, I almost wish there was more of her story in the book. A couple times, I felt like her story took a backseat to Evelyn's, which I understand, but I felt like her life with David wasn't really elaborated on enough to make me too concerned about her.

Jenkins Reid does an amazing job of making Evelyn come to life. In my e-ARC, there was a letter from the senior editor of the book and she mentioned how she kept wanting to Google Evelyn Hugo's Oscar dresses. I felt the same way. I was fascinated with learning about her life, both personal and professional. I kept wanting to find clips of her movies or look at pictures of her gowns. She felt like a real person to me, someone who I was able to visualize and connect with.

Sexuality is a major part of this book and I was a little taken aback. I'm not used to such bluntness, but it was something I appreciated. Fairly early on in the book, we find out that Evelyn is bisexual. I won't get into spoiler-y specifics but I will say that I was intrigued by this fact, mainly because I can count on one hand the number of bisexual MCs I've read. She talks about her life, half-closeted, half viewed as straight by the world, juggling that with finding happiness in an intolerant time. I won't go into too many details because I want to avoid spoilers, but I will say that Jenkins Reid handled Evelyn's sexuality with great care - it wasn't just another plot point.

I'm not really a big movie person, but I really enjoyed learning about the ins and outs of Hollywood. I loved learning about Evelyn's life and her marriages, many of which she is judged harshly for but really, it's just a number. Part of the appeal is "Evelyn and her seven husbands!" but she makes it very clear that these relationships don't define who she is. She is not "Evelyn: the woman who married 7 times," she is "Evelyn: the woman who fought to the top."

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and think it would make a great beach or summer read where you want something with substance, but still has the star-studded appeal of a celebrity magazine.

I adore the cover of this one! The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Huge by Taylor Jenkins Reid reminds me a little of a book I wrote about Marilyn Monroe and a cynical writer which I can’t wait to share with you!

I am intrigued by anything centering around old Hollywood and glamor, I love it! The author does an incredible job of creating these characters and I loved everything about this book.

Here’s what you need to know:

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 in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds through the decades—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

I picked up this book first for the dazzling cover - I am drawn to stylish covers and this one with the green dress and blonde hair really drew my attention. I assumed it would be a fictional trashy biopic in the vein of Jacqueline Susann or Tilly Bagshawe, but I would actually put it in the category of women's fiction. It's not quite literary, but I would not book talk this title to literary fans.

What I really liked about it was it drew me into reading an LGBT+ romance - not something I'd normally pick up, but I am glad I did. It brought me out of my comfort zone and opened up a new genre to me - kind of a big deal as it's one I've not consciously gone out of my way to read into this genre. And it's done tastefully with great respect to all of the characters. How is this done? By not creating two-dimensional characters. There is a small cast, it includes individuals we never meet at all, like the narrator's father, but I came to care about them and root for them to do the right thing by each other and have a happily ever after. I even reached for the tissue box a few times.
I was not so taken with the narrator - she was a plot device to tell the story, but her presence drove it along at a steady clip.
Two things I'd change:
1. Several large sections were done in the second person, with lots of "you"s thrown in. This makes for awkward reading and I sometimes didn't know if it was the interviewer or the interviewee who was talking.
2. The "article" written by the narrator at the end for her magazine was not a good article. It was cheesy, short, and I felt it did not convey the message the subject of the article wanted to share. It was a bit junior high newspaper and if I had just divulged my life's secrets to someone I'd want them to do a good job and build up excited for the book that would follow.

I'll be peddling this book as a beach read this summer for women who want a bit of gossip, gentle romance, and an opportunity to step out of their comfort zone.

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's books... and she did not disappoint in this her newest release.

My first thought after finishing the arc (thank you, Netgalley!) was... Wow. This book is totally different from all of other Reid's novels, and she hit this one out of the park. I could not put it down. I devoured it whole. I am still digesting it, still trying to gather my thoughts together. I love when a book does that to me, when you don't even know how to think or feel when you finish it. All I know is, this is a book you have to read. I will recommend this to anybody.

Spoiler: I am only giving this 4 stars because I found it to be a little predictable... I guessed very soon who the great love of Evelyn Hugo's life was.

You know what, Evelyn Hugo wasn't a likeable character. She used people and manipulated people and she didn't think twice about marrying just to get what she wanted. But her story is deep and complex and twisted and you've never read a story just like it. This is the book we needed in this day and age in which we live.

Kudos, Taylor Jenkins Reid. You've done extremely well. I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Oh. My. God. Taylor Jenkins Reid kept me distracted all night reading an ARC of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo," and this book is, in a word, epic.

It's also perfectly fated I'd happen upon another book about a Hollywood bombshell with a socially conscious message today of all days! <3

God, I love my job. 🤗 (and seriously, everyone needs to preorder Taylor's book. 5 stars. 10 stars. All the stars.)

Evelyn Hugo was a Hollywood actress back in the day and was married seven times. She hasn't spoken about her marriages before, but now she is willing to speak freely about everything that has happened in her life to Monique, an non-famous journalist. Filled with glamour, scandals, and surprises this beautifully written novel will captivate audiences and will leave them wanting more.

Power, fear, strength, acceptance, determination, and awareness are the key to Evelyn Hugo. Determined to escape from her childhood in Hell’s Kitchen Evelyn recreates herself and continues to do so long after she is a Hollywood star. But she needs Monique to tell the story of what she was willing to do to finally create the unconventional life she needs to be herself and finally be at peace. Highly recommended.

This is only my second TJR novel, and she is definitely going to be one of my go-to authors for light, fun reading from now on. However, while I appreciate her taking on "diverse" issues in this book, I was not always comfortable with the way Evelyn and Celia's relationship was portrayed. I'm very happy it was revealed early on, so the gay aspect wasn't strictly a plot twist and was instead a real relationship, but I was never quite sure how I felt about the portrayal of the woman-woman relationship. However, I still enjoyed the book and I look forward to seeing what queer reviewers I thought (I'm straight, so maybe I have no place to decide whether the portrayal was realistic).