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emmywrites 's review for:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The story of Evelyn Hugo is absolutely beautiful, heart-wrenching, and reflective of an era far too often romanticized. Reid has such a great voice and the structure of the novel lends itself well to her style of writing. However, the structure of the book is broken up by the first-person narration of journalist Monique. These sections are dripping in "telling, not showing" when it comes to Monique's backstory as well as the diversity of characters. The point-blankness of these sections completely took me out of the story. Beyond that, this is a beautiful book for fans of feminist retellings, old Hollywood, the price of fame, or LGBTQ stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment
Minor: Abortion