The first thing I have to say about the novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, is that it does a beautiful job of exploring the intricate world of human relationships.  The story follows the life of famous actress Evelyn Hugo through the eyes of reporter Monique Grant.  As the title says, Hugo had seven husbands in her life.  While this seems self-explanatory, readers soon learn how truly deep (or shallow) these marriages of hers are.  Things get all the more complicated when it becomes evident that Hugo possessed relationships (both platonic and romantic) far more important than those with her husbands.  A complex study of emotions and life under the spotlight is conducted in this novel as the main characters face  a wide variety of issues.  These problems include racial discrimination, abuse, wealth, homophobia, and essentially an unsteady environment.  The author does a fantastic job at portraying the hostile world that her book is set in. 

To begin a more specific yet brief plot summary: now old and retired actress Evelyn Hugo has decided to auction off her famous dresses from her career.  Journalist Monique Grant is sent to write about this, but ends up getting more than she bargained for: Evelyn Hugo’s life story.  Readers learn all about Evelyn Hugo’s past through her narrative, as well as Monique’s.  Monique is recently divorced, her dad passed away when she was at a young age, and she struggles with her identity as somebody who is mixed raced.  Monique is young, still facing all that the world has to throw at her.  Her story is just beginning.  However, Evelyn Hugo has already lived her life at this point.  She began life from the bottom: living in poverty and in an abusive household.  Yet, she is able to sculpt her life from there.   Both Monique and Evelyn have complicated stories, which makes the novel all the more interesting.

For a little less summary and more of my opinion, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was a book that I was immersed in right away.  The narration is attention-grabbing, and Taylor Jenkins Reid always knows when to twist the plot at the right time.  Not only is the story-telling interesting, this book is incredibly inclusive.  The two main characters are African-American and Latina women, and the struggles of both are fleshed out within the novel.  Specifically, what it feels like to be disconnected from your culture and the casual racism in Hollywood.  As somebody who has also felt disconnected from my own culture before, I believe that this book does an amazing job at representing that specific frustration.  Additionally, one of the main focuses of the novel is also on an LGBTQ+ relationship, and it presents various LGBTQ+ characters.  It wonderfully portrays the pains that come with having to hide yourself in an unaccepting society, and all the hardships in general within the LGBTQ+ community.  Ultimately, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a perfect book that reflects the voices of those not typically seen or heard.  I loved how the author makes her own mark on the classic concept of old Hollywood celebrities in the 50’s, and warps it into the unique story of Evelyn Hugo.

Check out the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo from NBPL!