Fiction

Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

November 17, 2025

After reading Atmosphere, I wanted to read another book from Taylor Jenkins Reid to see, if my initial impression of the author was correct. I can now confirm (with this Review), that I really enjoy her writing style and am looking forward to read all of her back catalogue going forward.

Synopsis

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

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 jumpstart 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 in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Review

We meet Monique, who wrote a piece in the past that got her recognized and the job at her current firm. She is trying to work her way up and establish herself. When her boss asks her one day to cover a story about Evelyn Hugo, a former Hollywood icon, Monique has no idea why she got chosen and what to expect.

When meeting Evelyn she is offered an exclusive book deal in writing her biography. After having separated from her husband recently, Monique is trying to find her footing in life again and sees the opportunity being offered. It does not come without challenges (how do you tell you boss that you are not actually doing work for them actually?) though. For weeks both woman spend a lot of time together and get to know each other. While one is still at the beginning of her life story, the other one is reaching the end. A bond starts forming between the two unlikely women.

It is easy to judge someone without knowing their personal background. If you wanted to become a famous actor in the past (as a woman), you had to do things differently. Evelyn understood that and made descision that helped her to become successful but impacted the people around here (not always in a good way).

Hearing Evelyn tell her side of the story was heartbreaking, sad, funny and sometimes frightening. A woman that understood how to manipulate and become a force to recon with. She perfected manipulating the rules of the game to her advantage. There were these moments were I was internally thinking *Evelyn, you cannot do that*. And then there where moments were I felt that she was taken advantage of often enough, so why shouldn’t she be allowed to also take advantage of others? Judging her for what she did felt too simple to me. Evelyn and too complex of a person for that.

Along the way I enjoyed the friendship that built between the two women. It became a lot more than *just* writing a book for them. While initially they started out as being a bit more distant, along they way they started to trust each other.

I did not see the end coming and how both are connected. To surprise me like this is rare. I enjoyed following the story along and you have to give it to Evelyn. She was not taking No for an answer.

🌙 Recension: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
📚 Genre: Fiction
📅 Release Date: June 13, 2017
📱 Read as: Paperback – available in various formats
💸 Bought
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 400
⭐️ 4.5/5