The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Taylor ISBN 9781683244646

Dynamic Hollywood starlet Evelyn Hugo, after having spent years being a recluse, has decide to put the rumours and gossiping to rest and truly come out in a fashion of glamour and scandal that would make anyones toes curl. The biggest surprise? Who she picks to tell her story to.... A nobody writer, reporting for a magazine no one cares about....

Monique is determined to make the most of the opportunity, even though she doesn't understand why she was chosen. Evelyns story is filled with forbidden love, fear, dark ambition and a fierce need to shine above all others. Nothing stands in Evelyns way without consequence. As the tale weaves itself to its astonishing conclusion, it becomes obvious that she wasn't picked for abilities as a writer. The reason is so much more than she realizes.

The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a gripping view into the heart of a lonely woman, while having married more times than she can count, each marriage was a step to the woman she finally becomes. Is she proud of who she is? Or do the regrets outweigh the rewards?


I could not put this book down. I have to admit, I have never heard of the author before but as soon as I got 4 pages deep I was HOOKED. This extraordinary tale follows Evelyn. Beautiful and talented and coveted by any man that meets her, she using her beauty to get what she wants. You start off seeing the ambitious and slightly naive Evelyn. She grew up in Hells Kitchen, poor and underwhelmed. Using her virginity as a weapon to get ones step closer to her goal. She sets about changing her name and with each husband, climbs one step higher to that ever shining beacon that proves you are the very best of them all, an Academy award... The prize that all actors would sell their souls to win.

Being a woman and one without skin as white and pure as snow, must have played a huge part on how Evelyn handled herself in and out of the limelight. Dying her hair and ignoring her heritage, she was living the ultimate lie. Trust was a difficult commodity to come by when Hollywood is full of people hiding who they are from the world as well. We have no idea what fame does to a person or their daily struggles. The diva starlet persona was just that, a mask to hide who she really was.

Which of her husbands was her true love? Or did she love someone she couldn't have? Why does she pick Monique? I was so wrong when I tried to guess. I actually did not see that bombshell coming. The author is so gifting at keeping you on the edge of your seat or in my case, half poised out my chair.

Evelyn was a woman who didn't mince words..... 'When asked if it bothers her that “all anyone talks about when they talk about you are the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” she says no: “Because they are just husbands. I am Evelyn Hugo.”' I think this spells out that she herself, sees that she is the star and her husbands, guest billings, temporary and forgettable.

The whole book had me laughing, crying, holding my breathe and gazing out in wonder. It's a true journey of dark ambition mixed with deep regret. Her main request upon giving the interview was that it was not to be published until her death. That screams to me that this heroine had some obvious shame she couldn't deal with in life and the losses she had to deal with ,will have the coldest of you crying like Summer rain.

I really felt like I was living the life of a 50s movie star, right through her eyes. The only part that I didn't really care for was another Actress vying for the top spot. In places, I couldn't understand why she was so important to Evelyn as they both wanted to the best but I guess it wasn't for me to understand. We all have people in our lives that others look with a question mark on their face.

I also felt Monique was a little redundant in places. A little more backbone to her story might have made me feel a little more connected to her. I really didn't until the conclusion. This is probably my only complaint with the whole book. A little more balance would have been nice but the characters the author created in my mind, were picture perfect, right down to the last detail and how they made me feel. She is one gifted writer and I would literally climb over people and throw others out of the way, to grab a copy of any more of her work.

I love this book. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. I felt like I had found and lost a friend when it ended and this one sat with me for sometime after I was done.

4.5 stars out of 5.... The movie would be quite brilliant.