The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ~ Taylor Jenkins Reid
Monique Grant is an unknown aspiring journalist who is summoned by a famous actress of yesteryear to write her biography. Why has she summoned Grant for the job? We do not know. Hugo’s stipulation is that the book cannot be published until after her death, but as she has no heirs, all of the proceeds, which should be vast, will go to the author.
From this beginning, we learn the story of famed actress Evelyn Hugo, of her 7 husbands and 1 great love. Evelyn starts out poor, her mom dies young, her dad is a creep. She escapes to Hollywood, where she is noticed for her beauty and her large breasts, and she makes it big. She has to make some calculations along the way, and her life is one of intrigue and mystery.
I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I was definitely sucked in, and wanted to know what was going to happen next in Evelyn’s story. I thought some of the detail of day to day memories rang a bit false, but I was willing to let that go because the story was so entertaining. Literature? No. A good story well told? Yes. Recommended.
22 Comments
PocoBrat
Speaking of words from beyond the grave, have you seen that clip of Jane Goodall from Netflix?
J
No, I hadn’t heard about it. I just looked it up, and wow! Thank you for pointing me toward it.
Margaret
I’ve heard mixed reviews of this one on various sites. Since it’s not literary, does that mean it’s not that well-written?
J
I wouldn’t say it’s poorly written by any means…I’m trying to think about what I meant when I wrote that. I guess some authors really have a beautiful way of saying certain things, and those would be considered literature (by me). I’ve enjoyed her books thus far, though they are in the lighter genre. I wouldn’t call this a rom-com though.
Allison McCaskill
It’s funny, I’ve picked this up in the bookstore many times and never quite pulled the trigger. Glad of this review. I’ve also mixed it up with The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, which I did read and enjoy (but Nicole didn’t. I’m not sure why I remember this).
J
I liked it, didn’t love it. Wsan’t a waste of my time by a long shot, but I wouldn’t buy it as a gift, you know?
Ernie
I read this last year and liked it a little but wasn’t crazy about it. I don’t like books with a big focus on sex. Not my favorite sort of thing to read and this had so many sex scenes in my opinion. Funny thing- I had forgotten about the connection between the writer and Evelyn. I no longer remember what the big secret was. Wait- I sort of remember. Anyway- this was for book club and it wasn’t long after we read the seven lives of Evelyn whatever and what were the chances these books would launch in the same timeframe?
J
Considering the sex scenes were from memory, for a memoir, 50 years later or whatever, I found them way too explicit. You wouldn’t give that kind of detail.
Diane
I read this a few years ago, and I think I’m like you – well plotted, but the writing was kind of “meh”. The only other Taylor Jenkins Reid I’ve read is Daisy Jones and I felt similarly. Also she tends to write about rich people doing rich people things and I don’t know… I’m not really in the mood for that these days.
J
LOL, Evelyn is not rich at the beginning of the book, but quickly becomes so. I think worrying about money is something people want to escape? Or else you can’t have your characters do interesting things like go on long trips or whatever.
Tierney
TJR is in the middle of authors I like, although I confess, I usually read most of her books. I liked this book! I would recommend it as a lighter read for a vacation or beach read if you’re looking for something a little heavier than pure fluff, but not much heavier. I’m thinking of reading her newest book, but I have such a TBR right now that I’m going through very slowly!
J
I agree with your assessment, Tierney. I bought her most recent book on Audible, we’ll see when I get to it.
Karen Meg
This was a book club read, an easier one which I liked. It’s funny, like others I have seen this book over the years and thought about picking it up but never have for my own reading. I’ve tried reading the author’s other books and this is the first that I could get into.
J
I’m glad you enjoyed it, did it bring up interesting discussions?
NGS
Considering how I just DNFed TJR’s newest book, I shouldn’t tell you how much I adored this book. I loved it so much. I spent most of the book trying to figure out how I would cast everyone in a Hollywood movie. I’m mostly just sharing so you know what it’s like to be in my brain when I read books.
J
LOL, do you remember what you came up with? I’m casting Leonardo DiCaprio as the husband who hit her, whose name I can’t remember. Probably because I just saw him in a movie the other day.
Jenny
Hmm! I haven’t read this and keep hesistating to pick it up. But then I also feel like I’m missing out on something because so many people have loved it. Glad to read a mediocre review- maybe I’ll continue to pass on it.
J
LOL, a relief sometimes right? The freedom to not bother reading a book. If your TBR pile is ever depleted (as if) and you are looking for something semi light to read, sure, it’s a good one. But I wouldn’t go out of my way for it.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
i have this one on my TBR for so so long but for some reason it never happened to cross pass with it at the library. I will read it eventually but its not high on the list. But usually the TJR books are entertaining, easy to read and not too shallow.
J
Exactly, easy to read, but there is some depth there.
Anne
OK, hm. Reading Ernie’s comment about the explicit sex scenes makes me question whether I want to read this, after all. Yes, I am a middle-aged prude and proud of it (and always, always fast forward really explicit scenes on audio books, so…). I might try it and then just dnf if it’s too much for my delicate sensibilities. LOL. 🙂
J
What was weird about the sex scenes to me was that this was a woman talking about it 40 or 50 years later, but the detail was awkward. It pulled me out of it, because every time it happened, I thought, ‘wait, she’s talking about this in such detail all these years later?’