The mark of a great novel is one that stays in the heart and mind of the reader long after the final page is turned. If we are lucky enough, we will stumble across a handful of these world-altering stories in our life. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is undoubtedly one of them for me. More than once, I have wished that I could turn back the clock and experience Evelyn’s journey for the first time again. This book changed the way I viewed life, love, past mistakes, and future dreams. It fundamentally shaped who I am, and I am a firm believer that everyone should read it at least once in their life. Over the years, I have found myself returning to the comforting pages of this book, and each time, I am left a little stunned, a little sad, and always aching for more.
As a long-time fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid, it’s no shock that I was drawn to her Old Hollywood-centered novel. I went into the pages expecting a thrilling, glamorous tale of movie magic. Instead, I was met with an unflinchingly honest, heart-wrenching tale of love and loss. How far are you willing to go to escape your past? How much are you willing to sacrifice for your dreams? How many people are you willing to hurt to save your own skin? These are some of the questions brought up and explored as we begin to understand the woman behind the icon, Evelyn Hugo. A woman who had seven husbands during her time as Hollywood’s biggest star surely has a lot to say about love and heartbreak. As Evelyn sits down for an interview with young journalist Monique Grant in an attempt to set the record straight, we can’t help but start to wonder who was the love of Evelyn Hugo’s life. With seven husbands, there’s no shortage of possibilities. The pursuit of the answer to that seemingly simple question, however, will leave you desperately turning pages as Evelyn reveals just how little we truly know about her.
No words of mine will do justice to the beauty of this novel. The characters are deeply flawed, frustratingly passionate and relentlessly likeable. The atmosphere is electric and, at times, magical. And the heart of the novel beats strong throughout every chapter, every page, every paragraph and every word. Reading this book for the first time is like giving a gift to yourself, one that is sure to leave you staring blankly at a wall hours after you’ve closed it.
–Katherine Bilbao
