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A review by dontwritedown
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Wow, I don't know why I put off reading this book for so long, I've been hearing it's accolades for years.
That being said with everything going on in the world, I needed to read this now. With the possible overturning of Obergefell (gay marriage), this boom reminds so many of why we can't go back.
As a bit of a history nut I love how Reid took different aspects of Hollywood starlets and gave them to Hugo and other cast members. The obvious inspirations for Hugo include Rita Hayworth (who was not a natural redhead, was Hispanic, and famously had her skin lightened and widows peak plucked to get Gilda, among other roles) and Elizabeth Taylor (the multiple marriages, the parallels between Cleaopatra and Anna Karinina, and the numerous donations to LGBTQ issues towards the end of her life). Celia, in my opinion, just straight up reminded me of June Allyson (who ironically did play Jo in Little Women) and Olivia de Havilland. And Harry just straight up seemed to be a marriage of Rock Hudson and Lorenz Hart's story (one of which was mentioned).
The ending had me crying for so many reasons, this book is definitely one to pick up and is hella gay despite what the title might suggest.
That being said with everything going on in the world, I needed to read this now. With the possible overturning of Obergefell (gay marriage), this boom reminds so many of why we can't go back.
As a bit of a history nut I love how Reid took different aspects of Hollywood starlets and gave them to Hugo and other cast members. The obvious inspirations for Hugo include Rita Hayworth (who was not a natural redhead, was Hispanic, and famously had her skin lightened and widows peak plucked to get Gilda, among other roles) and Elizabeth Taylor (the multiple marriages, the parallels between Cleaopatra and Anna Karinina, and the numerous donations to LGBTQ issues towards the end of her life). Celia, in my opinion, just straight up reminded me of June Allyson (who ironically did play Jo in Little Women) and Olivia de Havilland. And Harry just straight up seemed to be a marriage of Rock Hudson and Lorenz Hart's story (one of which was mentioned).
The ending had me crying for so many reasons, this book is definitely one to pick up and is hella gay despite what the title might suggest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Infidelity, Outing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Lesbophobia, Sexism, Addiction, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, Body shaming, and Cancer