Evelyn Hugo, a self-centered, ruthlessly ambitious star of mid-twentieth century Hollywood, relates the details of her personal life, and the effects of her fame to an up and coming journalist.
Most characters were one dimensional, selfish and unlikable. ( )

I may have enjoyed this book more if I had not just read several powerful international books that told stories of human suffering, pain and resilience. By contrast this story felt very insular, self-absorbed and inescapably American. This is the story of a fictional Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, celebrated in the 1950s to 1970s for her beauty and sexuality. As she tells her life story and the tale of her multiple marriages to journalist Monique Grant, she unveils the extent of her willingness to do anything, compromise herself in any way, and use everybody to achieve her aims; including sacrificing her culture, identity and her relationship with the one person she truly loved. In some ways this reflects the difficulties faced by women in the film industry but on the other hand it just reveals the ugliness of the celebrity culture we live in and the way movie-stars can think they move in a different dimension and are above the common rules of morality and ethics. There was one very predictable reveal at the end of the book and one more surprising one. I know many people enjoyed this but it wasn’t really my cup of tea, and I think I allowed myself to be seduced into reading it based on a pretty cover and it matching a challenge prompt about Hollywood. ( )

I saw lots of great reviews of Evelyn Hugo, but I didn’t love it. The story was medium-level interesting and the writing is good—I just didn’t love it. The pacing didn’t keep my interest for the duration. It was just okay for me. (The twist at the end is solid, though.) ( )

I generally review a book prior to buying it; I at least want to know what I'm getting myself into. This was not the case with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I actually purchased it on a whim and dove right in; and wow, am I glad I did. Not knowing anything about what was coming was thrilling, shocking, and fun. Way to go, Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I love the way Ms. Reid spun a bisexual experience into a time-sensitive era through an industry where impression and perception are everything. The characters were deep, believable, and intense. My only wish would have been a bit longer ending - it felt a little abrupt, but perhaps that was because I simply didn't want the story to end.

In our current, pensive climate of set-in-stone "right and wrong," this book could be an easy way to open eyes to how it is possible to simply be a lover of people, not necessarily just a lover of a gender. I highly recommend, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - do not let the bisexuality under theme distract you; the story is about the love of people.

OF NOTE: There are zero graphic sex scenes in this highly romantic story. ( )

I'm just going to lay here for a few moments and cry and think about how real Evelyn Hugo feels to me even though she only exists in this book. ( )