A review by cakepoplover
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

3.75

I have very complicated feelings about this book. While I think that it is an interesting format for the book and it makes sense why it is written this way, I didn’t love that the story was being told retrospectively. It just made it feel more clinical and I didn’t get as stuck into the story. I feel like it would’ve benefitted from the flashback scenes being just that— flashbacks— instead of being Evelyn retelling her perception of the events with her added analysis. It felt more tell than show. There were times when it felt like TJR was trying to make the book too quotable, which created stilted and heavy handed storytelling, imho. I also didn’t really care for Monique’s character but saw her importance. The plot twist felt predictable and anticlimactic. But, the story was super interesting, and so was Evelyn’s character. I liked seeing inside Old Hollywood, and some of the book was very well written. Specifically page 358 in my hardback edition of the book. I wept. I didn’t love Celia and Evelyn’s relationship at first, as it first super toxic and I again felt like I was being told how much they loved each other instead of seeing it for myself. But, I did like seeing it progress as they got older and got out of the acting world. I also loved Evelyn’s relationship with Harry and their daughter. That was super precious and I liked how Evelyn grew into enjoying motherhood and didn’t let that change her entire identity. I feel like this is never really seen in Hollywood. But all in all, I don’t know how I feel about the book as a whole 🤷‍♀️ Unsure of how to rate it.