The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

🛑 Please Do Not Read If You Would Like to Avoid Spoilers 🛑

Ratings:

⭐️: 4.75/5

🌶: 2/5

Tropes:

- Forbidden Love

- FF

- Fake Mariage

- Enemies to Lovers

- Historical

Review:

Lately, I have been looking for new books to read with different genres from my usual read: dark romances. For a book club, I am part of as a community we decided to read this book, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Before reading the book I was hesitant because there were negative reviews, but the positive reviews outweighed the negative. Also, since I am part of the book club, I wanted to read it to interact with fellow members and be part of the conversation. I read it within two days which is a record for me regarding a book over 350 pages and the book did not disappoint 😊!

As a historical book that starts in the 1950s, I was kind of turned off at first. I was afraid it was going to be a replica of well-known real-life actresses during that time like Marilyn Monroe. It was not at all and the book had a mind of its own that talked about real-life issues that are represented today: race, sexuality, media, and more. In the book the journalist Monique is biracial she talks a lot about her identity being white and black. In society, many people often categorize mixed-race people as one part of their identity though they would like to be able to embrace both. Reid was able to reflect on such a problem without a large amount of reference to it. Not just Monique it was the same with Evelyn who changed her name and appearance to appear whiter though she was Cuban-American. Even those in power told her to stop speaking Spanish and she began to change her accent while being American. I loved

that aspect of the book because even though Evelyn’s period was decades before Monique it still was able to chronicle how a person is forced to change their appearance, accent, and more just to be accepted. About that, it reminds to of 1940s actress and dancer, Rita Hayworth, who was forced to change her appearance to look less Spanish and her accent.

As for Monique, she was a great character that was a good journalist as well. In the end, when it was exposed what her connection to Evelyn was, I gasped so loud that I coughed 🤣. I was shocked but glad she received the closure she deserved. I understand why she was mad at Evelyn, but as Evelyn told her she was not a good person, and if it wasn’t for Evelyn, Monique would not have built her courage. To add, she would still be stuck in a loveless marriage that she never wanted in the beginning. She was a kind person, and I loved the relationship she had with her mother who was the sweetest.

Now as for Evelyn. What can I say? I loved her character from the beginning to the end which comes as a shock to most. As she said, “I’m not a good person, Monique. Make sure, in the book, that that’s clear. That I’m not claiming to be good. That I did a lot of things that hurt a lot of people, and I would do them over again if I had to.” At least she dared to admit such because she wasn’t, but everything she did was for love, fame, and legacy. She might have come off selfish, but while thinking about herself, she also thought about those around her. That is where her husband's and fame come in.

We soon find out that Monique is not there to interview Evelyn but find out her life story about her seven marriages that ranged over decades and turn it into a book. When can she publish the book? After Evelyn dies 😲. When reading the book, I felt like she didn’t need to be married as many times, but most of them were for coverage or publicity. A lot like today in the year 2021. As a young teenager without a mother and an abusive father, she developed hopes and dreams of leaving, which is why she married her first husband, Ernie Diaz, who took her to Hollywood. Though while entering the entertainment industry, she did cheat on Diaz to make it to the top I couldn’t feel bad for him when he entered a relationship with a minor. Though she lied about her age it was noticeable that he knew such even when she needed to earn permission from her father to marry him.

After Ernie, who she leaves once she makes it big, she meets Hollywood royalty Don Adler who comes from a bloodline of actors. I knew Adler was full of s**t when he first appeared because he was just too good to be true, but I do believe out of all her marriages he was the only person she was in love with. She admits such, but soon during the marriage which ends due to abuse and infidelity Evelyn meets the true love of her life actress, Cecelia St. James.

As a reader, I was surprised by the LGBTQ plot between both characters. Due to it being the 1950’s the two had to hide their relationship which often made me tear up because two people should be able to love without facing judgment or jail time. The hidden romance put a strain on their relationship caused them to break up twice and often have hurtful arguments. It was because of her love for Cecelia that Evelyn often used her body and marital status to hide their relationship. That is why her marriages to Mick, Robert, and Harry happened though Harry was the best character out of the book and was Evelyn’s best friend while also being gay. As for Max and Rex they were forgettable because Rex was just a publicity stunt for the sake of selling movies. Max was in love with the idea of Evelyn, not the true her, but in the end, she still followed her one true love: Cecelia. She was in love with Cecelia during her marriage to Rex even though they were broken up, but eventually come back together. Towards the end of her career, she left Max for Cecelia though Cecelia was dying but still wanted to live the rest of her life with her. It just shows that true love will never disappear and even though they were hidden and missed time together they ended up back together.

The media was a big competent in why Evelyn made a mass number of mistakes in connection to her relationship with Cecelia. They bashed, judged, and humiliated her on the regular instead of husbands or fellow male costars based on roles or her marriages. Then women were more judgmental than the men which is just like today as well. Yes, this is a book, but it has been known that the media was just as controversial and messy then as today. It’s just now there are more platforms and resources used against celebrities or regular folk.

I can say this book made me cry to the point I needed to blow my nose multiple times 🤧.

She outlived everyone including all of her ex-husbands. The ones that hit me the hardest regarding death were her best friend Harry who was the sweetest and most caring character that couldn’t fight his demons after the love of his life, John, died. Also, Cecelia was the one true love of her. Though when she entered the relationship a third time with her, Evelyn knew Cecelia was dying, but she didn’t care she wanted to spend the rest of her life with her lover. She did, but it still left a hole in her heart when Cecelia died because of the years missed. Then the worst was her daughter Connor who she had with Harry. As every parent says, “I should not have to bury my child.” The book teaches you about taking things for granted because in the end Evelyn had and did everything for fame and fortune. But, knew none of it was worthy because she was alone.

It was a great read that did match a lot of old Hollywood actress's lives but was able to tell its own story at the end. There were things I wanted to know a little bit more or a more in-depth description which is why I gave the book a 4.75 instead of a 5. But, it was still excellent and I would recommend this book. You will not be disappointed!

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" Amazon Link