"Film legend and '60's It Girl Evelyn Hugo has just announced that she will auction off 12 of her most memorable gowns through Christie's to raise money for breast cancer research..."
***
The Blurb
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a mesmerizing journey through the splendour of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means and what it costs to face the truth.
My Review
I thought this was a fabulous book. It was steeped in glamour and made for a luscious read.
Hollywood legend, Evelyn Hugo has made her way up from a life of poverty. With a spirit of determination and blind ambition gets herself to where she wanted to be in life; a sexy and envied award winning actress. She determines to become the kind of woman who men desire and women envy.
Now in her later years, she seeks out little known journalist Monique Grant to write her life story. Evelyn intends to provide her with a warts and all account of her life to be published after her death. Monique recognizes that not only will this catapult her career but will also make her financially secure following the breakdown of her marriage. Evelyn's other condition is that it is a true and accurate account of her life and not the Hollywood version of it.
Each section in the book is headed with one of the titular seven husbands, and Evelyn narrates her time married to each of them. I couldn't help but compare her to Elizabeth Taylor, a real-life glamorous actress who was married multiple times. The sections were also interspersed with newspaper cuttings about her life which added another dimension to the story, demonstrating the way in which the media chooses to portray her.
In addition, there is a strong theme regarding LGBTQ+ issues running throughout the book. It was interesting to read how acceptance of homosexuality has changed throughout the decades and observe how unacceptable it was during Evelyn's earlier years. I think the author has done a great job of demonstrating this valuable point and the change that has occurred during the later period of her life.
The book is partly about the film industry and this book itself is crying out to be made into a film. It possesses enormous cinematic quality, and I would love to see this on the big screen.
This is an addictive novel that I couldn't wait to get back to every time I had to put it down. A marvellous book which I highly recommend.
Book Details:
ISBN: 978 1398515697
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback
No. of Pages: 400 (paperback)
Purchase Details
Other Books by Taylor Jenkins Reid
About the Author
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novels Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her books have been chosen by Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna, Indie Next, Best of Amazon, and Book of the Month. Her novel, Daisy Jones and The Six, is now a limited series on Amazon Prime. She lives in Los Angeles.
You can also find Taylor at:
(media courtesy of the author's website)
(all opinions are my own)
(Bookshop.org affiliated)
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