Hollywood Romance

Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2017) tells the story of a reclusive movie star and the young writer engaged to tell her story. 

Evelyn Hugo became a film icon, rising through the 1950s Hollywood studio system, often cast as the sexy siren, who then established herself as a major talent in her later years by taking on more gritty, off-type parts. Along the way she married seven times - to Hollywood heartthrobs, directors, producers, and unknowns - and had a daughter she adores. Evelyn retired in the 1980s and disappeared from public view. Now at age 79, Evelyn decides to sell her collection of iconic designer gowns and donate the proceeds to charity. She agrees to give an interview to Vivant magazine to coincide with the auction. But there's a catch - Evelyn will only be interviewed by reporter Monique Grant. 

Monique is a relatively unknown journalist and she has no idea why she was chosen for this story. But it has come at the right time. Monique has just separated from her husband and her writing career has stalled so she needs a distraction. She makes her way to Hugo's Upper West Side apartment and meets the star. Nearing 80 years of age, Evelyn is still glamorous, quick-witted, and determined to live life on her own terms.  As the interview begins, Monique learns that Evelyn has plans for a wholly different story. 

To say more about the plot would spoil the story, but suffice it to say that we learn about the many marriages and true love of our heroine as she seeks to finally reveal her truth. Evelyn's story is remarkable, marrying to escape difficult situations, to shape her career, and to create a public persona. But the real Evelyn lies beneath, overcoming hardship and adversity, having to fight to achieve all that she has. The Golden Age of Hollywood was not a welcoming place for people who were different, and so often they, like Evelyn, had to hide parts of themselves to succeed. Evelyn Hugo is easily recognisable - I think of her as a mix of Rita Hayworth, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor - women admired primarily for their beauty and sex appeal when they should be recognised for their many talents. 

I loved this book and found myself engrossed in the storytelling. Jenkins Reid intersperses the interview narrative with news articles from old Hollywood gossip rags, and switches between Evelyn and Monique's perspectives. Every so often Evelyn throws a curve ball that twists the plot in another direction, keeping the reader invested in the story. As she reveals her secrets to Monique, Evelyn shows she is so much more complex than she has ever been given credit for and reveals why Monique was chosen to write Evelyn's story.  This is a great book for readers seeking to escape or to reignite one's reading mojo.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is being adapted for the screen and I look forward to revisiting Evelyn's story when it is released.