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

5.0

Evelyn Hugo, the most iconic and glamorous Hollywood star, is ready to reveal the secrets of her scandalous life to Monique Grant. From her debuts in Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave the spotlight, Evelyn opens up about her ruthless stories, touching friendships, and forbidden love.

The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is told from 2 different perspectives. The first is from Monique Grant, a journalist for Vivant magazine, and the second is from Evelyn, as she recounts the events that lead her to the present. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel is a powerful book about race, misogyny, sexuality, public image, discrimination, and so much more. Her prose is lyrical, beautiful, vivid, engaging, and descriptive. She is one of these authors able to evoke the strongest emotions in readers.

This book is fiercely unapologetic and touches on important and relevant socio-political issues in our society. Evelyn’s story is about being a Cuban woman in a white man’s world. It is about life being too short to pretend to be someone else to conform to society’s norms. The characters are painted as flawed, compelling, brave, and ambitious, making us feel so passionately for them. The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the most empowering pieces I have read this year.