The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is about much more than a glamorous movie star and her glamorous life (which we soon discover to be much more than its flashy facade). The novel is an incredibly engaging story told through flashbacks that follow the highs and lows of the life of Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo; from how she started her career—moving from the slums of Hell’s Kitchen to the coveted glory of Hollywood—to the last of her seven notorious marriages. 

This book is much more than what meets the eye. It is not just about Evelyn, not just about Hollywood gossip and mindless scandal. It’s about the dark side of fame, especially in the time period of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, and about the sacrifices one must make to be an icon in the acting industry. It’s about humanity and what we are willing to do in the face of desperation. And above all, it’s about love, about the ugliness and beauty of it, about how it influences and shapes us, especially when the circumstances of our world seek to snuff it out. The Seven Husbands is tragic and beautiful, with a new twist of fate at every turn of the page. It kept me reading for hours straight, desperate to know what happened next, like a mule with a carrot dangled in front of its nose. 

The pacing is well done, and Taylor Jenkins Reid does a great job of transitioning between Evelyn’s past and the other main character, Monique, and their present. Evelyn, was well fleshed-out and though I didn’t always agree with her actions, I could always understand them; I think her flaws and mistakes are what really appeals to readers, as they turn her from an unblemished, gorgeous icon into a human being just like the rest of us. However, while Evelyn was richly developed, I felt that the other main character, Monique, fell a little flat for me—but since the main focus was on Evelyn and the characters in her past, it wasn’t too much of a grievance. 

The twist at the end was as tragic as it was shocking (at least for me, as I never see the most blatant of plot twists coming) and effectively tied together one of the running themes throughout the book: how far humans are willing to go for those they love, and how these extreme actions can have unforeseen consequences. 

Overall, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a must read for fans of drama, glamour, morally grey characters, and forbidden love. If you enjoyed this book as much as I did, I would recommend another work of Jenkins Reid called Daisy Jones & The Six, as it contains much of the same drama and themes as The Seven Husband, but is also vastly different.