The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Book Summary

In "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo," the iconic Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell her story, revealing the glamorous yet tumultuous life behind her seven marriages. As a struggling journalist, Monique Grant is unexpectedly chosen to interview Evelyn, who discloses her secrets and the true motivations behind her spouses. Each husband represents a different chapter in Evelyn's life, filled with love, lust, and heartache. The narrative explores themes of identity, ambition, and the price of fame in a patriarchal society. With each revelation, readers are left questioning the complexities of love and the sacrifices made for the sake of success.

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published: 2018

"'The most important part of a story is the ending. It doesn't matter how long the journey is or how much you love the characters; if the ending is not satisfying, then it all feels like a waste.'"

Book Review of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “If you’re looking for a book to take on holiday this summer, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has got all the glitz and glamour to make it a perfect beach read.” —Bustle From the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six—an entrancing and “wildly addictive journey of a reclusive Hollywood starlet” (PopSugar) as she reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine. 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 near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways. “Heartbreaking, yet beautiful” (Jamie Blynn, Us Weekly), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is “Tinseltown drama at its finest” (Redbook): a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means—and what it costs—to face the truth.

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'The most important part of a story is the ending. It doesn't matter how long the journey is or how much you love the characters; if the ending is not satisfying, then it all feels like a waste.'

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

By Taylor Jenkins Reid