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

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

122 reviews

gummifrog's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-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

4.5

I really enjoyed this book. I'd heard about it for years and assumed it was a very hetero drama - no spoilers, but if you like LGBT fiction, you'll very much enjoy this book. I'm glad I gave it a shot! It was a quick, easy read. The author is a master at telling only the necessary bits of information and allowing the reader's imagination to take it away.

Content Warnings

laughingrecord's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful 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

Content Warnings

chloelj27's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Evelyn and all the characters were so fascinating in their own ways. Each relationship was different but it all fit so well in to the story. Of course, I definitely did not always agree with Evelyn’s actions, however I loved her. She was simply unapologetically herself and knew what she wanted and got it! As for Monique, her story didn’t quite captivate me and I did figure the revelation out beforehand, however I like the reason to why she was chosen to work with Evelyn.

There was as many different challenges and scenarios bought into the book and all of which I’d me reflecting. You tend to forget how different things were 60 years ago and so this book provides that reminder as well as showing how these issues still show their faces in todays world too.

The love, happiness and highs of this book was beautiful to read but the pain, heartbreak and loss of it really pulled at the heartstrings. I think there were some parts where I felt the story slowed and wasn’t all that necessary, while there were other parts I wanted a bit more focus on. However, even with just those brief scenes where I wanted more, they still made a hell of an impact!

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fleur____'s review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

kelly_e's review against another edition

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emotional 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

Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: June 13, 2017

T H R E E • W O R D S

Intimate • Captivating • Complex

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon 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 is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

💭 T H O U G H T S

It's safe to say I was (extremely) late to the game when it comes to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It's also safe to say the hype is legit with this one. To be honest, I didn't exactly know what I had been expecting from the synopsis, yet what I got was so much more than I could have imagined.

Beautifully written in a distinct manner, TRJ captures the essence of old Hollywood perfectly - the glitz, the glamour, the sex, the drugs, the drama. There is a cinematic undertone running through the entire narrative. It is a story of loves lost and loves found. Of sacrifice and regrets. Of loyalty and betrayal. It includes incredible characterization of sexuality, soulmates, and friendship. The intimacy with which the story is delivered is so mesmerizing and unique.

And then there is Evelyn! Her character is one for the ages. She was complex and flawed, with an edge to her. Although I didn't always like her, I couldn't help but root for her. Her story was so compelling, and I wanted to savour the pages, yet couldn't stop reading. The supporting cast is also top notch, each with their place in Evelyn's life.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is the reason I read. It's heartbreakingly beautiful. I laughed. I cried. I ached. TJR pulled me into Evelyn's realm and hasn't let me go. It's a story so profound, exploring sexuality, intimacy, and soulmates unlike anything I've read before. It will be an easy choice for my end-of-the-year favourites list, and has found a home on my all-time favourites shelf. It is also safe to say this will be my favourite book from this author, and I will continue to pick up everything she writes.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like complex, distinct characters
• TRJ devotees
• book clubs

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"When you're given an opportunity to change your life, be read to do whatever it takes to make it happen. The world doesn't give things, you take things. If you learn one thing from me, it should probably be that."

"People are messy, and love can be ugly. I’m inclined to always err on the side of compassion."

"People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is 'you're safe with me' - that's intimacy."

Content Warnings

literallysam's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I would describe the book as beautiful, real & unapologetic.
The emotions I felt while reading it were surreal. It's so well written it nearly brought me to tears. It shows complexity, pain and love in so many forms it is wonderful.
I loved how there were nuances and grey areas to the characters and that they were portrayed as human, which is rare. The author did a wonderful job of portraying celebrities as real people who have real problems even if they are rich & famous.
While the book is full of drama & twists, it's also a story about society's moral standards and of being a strong woman in a predominantly man's world.
_____________

spoilers -

Evelyn's character was really complex.
She was careless with the feelings of others and I didn't like some of the choices she made but I admired the way she did whatever it took to get what she desired. She was passionate, ambitious and most importantly she knew that she was flawed. She was human. There were many elements that made her character somewhat redeemable.
Author’s liberal overtones created a good story & characters but, the almost romanticization of Assisted Suicide as "dignified death" just pretty much gave the green light for people who are suicidal to end their life and for people who think that death is preferable than needing aid and support.
Monique also says that she wants to "give a voice" to physician assisted suicide support group, and I can't wrap my head around this idea. I don't think there is any need to be a voice for them.
The plot twist was so predictable. I knew that Evelyn had something to do with Monique’s father’s death. But nonetheless I still enjoyed the novel.
When Monique just walks away knowing that Evelyn was going to end her life it leaves a bad taste in my mouth and it was just too filmy.
_____________

I'm giving it a 4.5 because even with my criticism I think that this book is great overall. I definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for LGBTQ🏳️‍🌈 books.

Content Warnings

hmatt's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

This is a good story, but I don't feel it lives up to its hype. It's not as mysterious or scandalous as it feels like it's trying to be. The frame narrative is glaringly transparent, to the point of it being pretty boring to me. Also, I hate HATE when novels give you 30 minutes worth of dialogue and then say it took 4+ hours for the character to say all that. Like, I know it's 30 minutes worth because this is an audiobook... so what was going on for the other 3.5 hours hmmmm???? This book is guilty of that in spades.

I enjoyed the story of Evelyn's life, though, and I appreciate how different kinds of love are shown as just as valuable as romantic love throughout the novel.

In the TJR literary universe, I'd put this lower than Malibu Rising and higher than Daisy Jones, which I'm clarifying because my rating of Daisy Jones is higher... but I'm positive I did not like it enough to qualify it for 4 stars in my current rating system. It's been too long since I've read her earlier writing for me to judge it against any of those.

Content Warnings