Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

I would never say that this book surprised me. But it’s not necessary for the type of book this is. In fact it’s actually a credit to this book that I was never surprised. Everything that happens has its purpose and is a consequence of a choice made.
This is a tragedy through and through and while I did not feel sad I was broken-hearted
Great book

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worldofv33's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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pershie13's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

AN INSTANT FIVE STARS!! This was one of the best books I've read in a long time and truly had me captivated from start to finish. When Monique Grant is handpicked by film star Evelyn Hugo to write a piece for a magazine, she has no idea why she would be wanted for a piece like this or why this celebrity that she doesn't know would pick her rather than a more seasoned writer. Then she finds out that Evelyn wants her to write her biography. Evelyn was famously married to seven different husbands, and it is a common question for people to wonder which one she loved the most. This book uncovers the answer to that question while revealing a different Evelyn than anyone had ever known. This book dove head-on into the themes of identity, love, truth, and authenticity, and hearing about how Evelyn grew and changed through each of her marriages was enlightening while showing her complexity as a person. The constant revelations throughout her life as an actress helped build her character well, and the plot twist at the end was one of the most shocking that I have ever read in a book. I found myself falling in love with some of the characters while despising others, and I found this book to deeply affect me emotionally, especially toward the end. This was wonderfully written and an incredible introduction to Taylor Jenkins Reid. I will be raving about this book for a long time!

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kirsten1999's review against another edition

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emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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captainclark's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

fantastic book covering all the nuances and beauty of unconventional love and relationships and marriages, the deep complexities of humanity and emotions, its just so beautiful. these people are fantastic and horrible and i love them.

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james1star's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

With over one and a half million 5⭐️ reviews and an average rating of 4.44 on Goodreads, thousands of BookTokers, BookTubers and Bookstagramers singing it’s praises… what are my thoughts?

I was a bit hesitant to start Evelyn Hugo because of how well loved it is and had built it up as a book I was bound to adore. But I am glad I have finally gotten around to it. It’s a great read and, like nearly everyone else who’s read it too, would certainly recommend it. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t cry - despite being close a few times - but it was a very emotive read.

A quick plot summary: we start with the unknown reporter Monique Grant being requested to talk with the now seventy-year-old (I think) Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo. When there, her true intentions come known and she wants Grant to tell her life’s story to the world, everything on show, and in doing so we’re transported back to 1950s America. Hugo details her escape from poverty and a harsh life into that of Hollywood where beauty is everything. She uses her wits and, in many ways, callousness to get the parts she wants, make the necessary connections and throughout her life; seven husbands. At her side throughout is her best friend Harry, and they’re there for each other along the way with Hugo ending her story in the present. As the biography unfolds to its conclusion, a tragic connection between the two women becomes known.

What I really appreciated in this book is that Reid doesn’t wait till the end for one of the two main ‘plot twists’ to come out. Sorry to spoil anything but after the first third (or there about), the true love of Evelyn’s life becomes known… and they’re a woman. This was great because as the reader we get to experience what it’s like to be a queer person from the 50s to the present. It’s a really heartbreaking portrayal at times, knowing that even with all that fame and money she wasn’t able to be her true self (the same to the other queer characters we come across, especially Harry and Celia who had me). But then there’s some really lovely moments too and throughout you’re wishing and hoping things will go one way but mostly they don’t. I also loved how Hugo grapples with exploring her bi identity, it’s really natural and internally she’s unapologetic but sadly due to the time she’s living in has to hide this part of herself. The characters are very well realised with Hugo being extremely complex. She’s not perfect (none are) by any means but she’s undoubtedly a icon, you really root for her despite the methods she applies to get what she wants but at the end of the day, she did what she did to survive and was only acting in accordance with a male-dominated, misogynistic society that places beauty and whiteness with too high a regard. Despite a later negative, I would say she’s certainly well-written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

Personally I wasn’t the most keen on the domestic abuse storyline in the book. It was mostly done well but some parts did irk me. I also found the writing to be a little basic, not being the masterpiece I was promised in all honesty. A final note of meh was a certain thing that happens but I won’t expand ~ it’s to do with Harry if you’ve read it.

This book wasn’t the epitome of great literature with there being some parts to be desired but overall it was a very decent read and one I’d be happy to recommend. I also think I’d be giving this a re-read in the future as there’s more to be uncovered and generally it’s an entertaining, fast-paced novel that is deserving of the hype… but there are better books in my opinion.

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