“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” was written by Taylor Jenkins Reid and loosely based on actresses Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardner. “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” has recently been popular on #BookTok, a TikTok trend where readers share their favorite books.
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is a dual point of view book of sorts. It starts following the journalist Monique Grant who gets the once- opportunity to interview Evelyn Hugo. Hugo was a world-famous actress, but was more well-known for having seven husbands. Evelyn has refused to do any press interviews throughout her life, so this comes as a shock to Monique, who –– up to this point ––is a subpar journalist. Evelyn gives her the opportunity to write the book of her life. Since no one has ever gotten this much out of Evelyn, it is an offer Monique can’t refuse.
The story follows the interview process; Monique spends weeks in Evelyn’s office learning every angle of Evelyn Hugo. Throughout the interviews, Monique learns more about herself and how her problems relate to the stories being told to her by Evelyn.
During the interviews, the book switches to Evelyn’s narrative and how she aquired her Hollywood lifestyle and experiences with each of her husbands. The book is split into seven sections corresponding with each husband throughout her life. From husbands that she used to rise to fame to other husbands that were all just a cover story, Evelyn’s love life was always interesting and always in the news.
The real hook of the story is the underlying storyline of Evelyn struggling with bisexuality in the 1970s. Evelyn admits that she had only one true love throughout her life, a woman.
This story follows the entrancing story of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendships and forbidden love. In this emotional and inspiring tale, the reader gets pulled into the 1970s life of early Hollywood and how the glamorous life isn’t so glamorous.
“People think that intimacy is about sex. But it is about truth.”