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A review by readinglitwithbritt
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
Simply put, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo lives up to the hype.
I loved it so much that once I finished, I immediately went back to the beginning and read it over again. I got it from the library after being on the waitlist, and now that I returned it I am so excited for someone new to get to experience the wonders of this book. I definitely will buy this novel to refer back to and reread since it made such an impact on me. It covers a variety of concepts in a nuanced way, one notably being bisexuality (and within that, a memorable distinction between sexuality and sex from Hugo’s perspective as a bi woman). I also thought it was important to note how sexuality was understood and how people were treated during a time period when it was especially dangerous to be out. Rooted in history (U.S. history, LGBTQ+ history, and the ups and downs of Hugo’s personal and professional life), a lot of the content is really challenging to read, so make sure you check the content warnings beforehand and take breaks if/when you need to. I loved how the characters are given a multidimensional portrait and you will get to know (and maybe even love) them—flaws and all. The plot continued to build and thicken and I was on the edge of my seat predicting and anticipating what would happen next. This book is perfect for a LGBTQ+ specific club or class because there are so many conversations to be had given the content/themes explored, the intersections of identity, and the style of Reid’s writing that leaves you fully immersed in the story. There are also thought provoking questions specifically made for book clubs at the end, which will foster quality, in depth conversations. All in all, I cannot recommend this novel enough. If you’ve been considering picking up this book, this is your sign to go for it. Drop your TBR list and read this novel as soon as you can!
I loved it so much that once I finished, I immediately went back to the beginning and read it over again. I got it from the library after being on the waitlist, and now that I returned it I am so excited for someone new to get to experience the wonders of this book. I definitely will buy this novel to refer back to and reread since it made such an impact on me. It covers a variety of concepts in a nuanced way, one notably being bisexuality (and within that, a memorable distinction between sexuality and sex from Hugo’s perspective as a bi woman). I also thought it was important to note how sexuality was understood and how people were treated during a time period when it was especially dangerous to be out. Rooted in history (U.S. history, LGBTQ+ history, and the ups and downs of Hugo’s personal and professional life), a lot of the content is really challenging to read, so make sure you check the content warnings beforehand and take breaks if/when you need to. I loved how the characters are given a multidimensional portrait and you will get to know (and maybe even love) them—flaws and all. The plot continued to build and thicken and I was on the edge of my seat predicting and anticipating what would happen next. This book is perfect for a LGBTQ+ specific club or class because there are so many conversations to be had given the content/themes explored, the intersections of identity, and the style of Reid’s writing that leaves you fully immersed in the story. There are also thought provoking questions specifically made for book clubs at the end, which will foster quality, in depth conversations. All in all, I cannot recommend this novel enough. If you’ve been considering picking up this book, this is your sign to go for it. Drop your TBR list and read this novel as soon as you can!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Death
Minor: Abortion, Classism, Miscarriage, Outing, and Pregnancy