By Faith Zochowski
New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid provides yet another captivating and intriguing narrative through her novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The book centers on Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood film icon of the ‘60s. Hugo was best known for starring as the lead actress in numerous films, as well as her elegant, admired style. Most importantly, though, the world followed her scandalous love life, and there was indeed much to tell. Hugo is infamous for having not one, not two, but seven different husbands – all divorced and remarried, not simultaneously.
Reid takes a unique approach in telling Hugo’s life story through Monique Grant, the narrator of the book. Grant is a magazine reporter for Vivant magazine, and is just as shocked as her boss is when Evelyn Hugo personally requests her to write a story about her. As Monique begins working with Evelyn, she discovers that this story will not be for the magazine, but will instead be a book about her entire life story, and Evelyn wants Monique to be the author. Evelyn even promises to give her the answer to the most sought-after question of her life, that being who was the love of her life. Monique reluctantly takes the risk in losing her job, still confused as to why she was chosen for the job.
Monique arrives at Evelyn’s house every day, intimidated yet grateful for the opportunity. As the interview begins, each chapter goes back and forth between Monique’s perspective and Evelyn’s answer to the interview questions. The chapters are divided with newspaper clippings from the 60’s, usually detailing Evelyn’s engagement to a new beau.
Evelyn tells Monique her story in chronological order, describing how she got out of Hell’s Kitchen and made a name for herself on the big screens. Her story deals with heavy issues including rape and the patriarchy. She tells of the horrible things she was willing to do for men in order to star as the lead in their movie and how men felt they had total power over her. She also explains what it was like to be one of the most famous women on the screen in the 60’s, sharing how nothing was personal and everything was out in the open in the tabloids.
The book also discusses in great detail issues with sexuality when Evelyn reveals her secret relationship with Celia St. James, who was another famous actress of the 60’s. Obviously, being gay or bisexual was not openly discussed in the 60’s, so Evelyn and Cecilia were forced to keep their love hushed.
The book contains a huge plot twist when Evelyn reveals the reason why she chose Monique to write her novel. The two are interconnected in ways that no reader could have seen coming. It is one you should be sure not to miss.
Taylor Jenkins Reid is also known for her novels Daisy Jones & the Six and Malibu Rising. Reid creates many cross over characters in her novels, meaning they appear throughout all of her novels. For example, Mick Riva is the father of surfer and supermodel Nina Riva, who is the main character of Reid’s novel Malibu Rising. Mick Riva also appears in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo as one of her seven husbands. Celia St. James also appears in both novels. Be sure to read these additional novels to put all of the pieces together.
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