Love and the Price of Fame
By PHOENIX CARLISLE | Cover courtesy of the publisher
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a glamorous, heartfelt romance that will have you swept up in a whirlwind of old Hollywood expectations and desires.
After decades of a show-stopping, yet hidden, lifestyle, Evelyn Hugo’s dying wish is to reveal the closed-door aspect of being Hollywood’s bombshell. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.
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 jump-start 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 from Cuba in the 1950s, to her decision to leave show business in the ’80s, and, of course, picking up seven husbands and the string of connected heartbreak along the way. Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship and a great forbidden love that will change the public’s view of her forever. Monique begins to feel a connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s in tragic and irreversible ways.
One of the best elements of this book is the long list of well-developed characters. Evelyn Hugo is a determined, independent woman who still allows herself to enjoy the luxuries of the life she built. She is the perfect model of somebody who won’t stop until she reaches the success that she desires, yet simultaneously she knows to take time to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Taking a minute to look at how far she’s gotten herself and love the person that she is still becoming.
Celia St. James was a sweetheart who tackled problems as they came, she never worried too much about what was going on in the future. Celia was incredibly passionate — she knew what she wanted even if she didn’t always know how to get it. She was a bud only learning to bloom for the first time under camera lighting, yet she was able to bloom through the help of Evelyn, who is already her own developed rose in the garden of Hollywood. Their relationship, outside of being lovers, was such a beautiful girlhood experience. Our ladies wanted to encourage each other, helping each other with their roles. Evelyn and Celia wanted to see each other succeed even if it may not have been understood at the beginning. Once they grew into each other, they learned to love each other for more than just their intimate relationship.
Henry Cameron was a gentleman who would quite literally do anything for Evelyn. If platonic soulmates are real, Evelyn and Henry are the definition. Which brings me to what else I loved about this book — the interlocking relationships between each of the characters. The main plot was centered around Evelyn, Celia and Henry, yet with each character, or husband, there was a flow about the story. The plot could bring in and remove a character just as easily. This element was nice considering the storyline followed Evelyn Hugo’s “life” which has many characters going in and out, allowing the story to move on without lingering.
The only problems I found within this novel, which honestly is just a personal bias, I found I didn’t care much for Monique’s storyline.
Although she was a massive and necessary plot point, outside of her involvement with Evelyn I didn’t want to know anything about her. I didn’t care about her husband or her mom. I only wanted to learn about Evelyn and her glamorous past, not some sad writer. And as much as I tried to love Celia, she was such a baby. She was a wild, up-and-down character who never put in as much effort as Evelyn did. Celia dragged Evelyn through the mud while she tried to love her when she knew it wasn’t “allowed” yet Celia was incredibly ungrateful until the end. It was hard to read about Evelyn jumping through hoops for a woman who wouldn’t do the same.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a hidden-behind-closed-curtains love story, believing in hope and a bond that will last decades. The old Hollywood dream of fame, desires and lost stardom. Follow Evelyn as she comes to Hollywood, lifts herself up as a bombshell and keeps loving, one husband at a time.
