literary gluttony

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is an intoxicating tale of old Hollywood glamour, ambition, and the price of fame, woven together with themes of love, identity, and sacrifice. A novel that blends historical fiction with contemporary storytelling, Reid delivers a compelling narrative that lingers long after the final page.

The story follows Monique Grant, an aspiring journalist, who is unexpectedly chosen by the reclusive and legendary movie star Evelyn Hugo to write her life story. As Monique listens to Evelyn recount her journey from a poor Cuban immigrant to a Hollywood icon, the novel takes readers through a whirlwind of scandal, ambition, and deeply personal revelations. The seven husbands, each representing different stages of Evelyn’s life and career, are not just romantic entanglements but markers of her relentless pursuit of success and survival in an unforgiving industry.

At its core, the novel is about identity—who we are versus who we present to the world. Evelyn is a woman who understands the power of perception, and she manipulates it masterfully to navigate the treacherous waters of Hollywood. Yet, beneath the surface, her greatest love story is not with any of her husbands but with Celia St. James, a fellow actress. Their relationship, fraught with secrecy and sacrifice, serves as the emotional backbone of the novel, illustrating the devastating consequences of a world that refuses to accept love in all its forms.

Reid’s prose is effortlessly engaging, balancing the glitz and allure of Hollywood with the raw, emotional depth of Evelyn’s confessions. The novel reads like an intimate memoir, making Evelyn feel like a real-life star whose legacy has been hidden behind the facades of her marriages. The framing device of Monique’s own personal struggles adds another layer to the story, culminating in a twist that ties their lives together in a poignant and surprising way.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a dazzling yet heartbreaking novel that examines love, power, and the cost of ambition. With a protagonist as complex and unforgettable as Evelyn herself, Reid has crafted a modern classic that challenges the way we see fame and the stories we tell about ourselves. Whether you’re drawn to old Hollywood nostalgia or deeply human stories of love and resilience, this novel is a must-read.