Introduction
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a captivating novel. It explores the glamorous but chaotic life of an aging Hollywood actress, Evelyn Hugo. Since its 2017 release, the book has become a bestseller. Critics praise it for its gripping story and complex characters. It explores love, fame, and identity.
Set in Old Hollywood, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo follows Evelyn. She reflects on her seven marriages, her fame, and her tangled ties. The novel has a dual narrative. Evelyn’s story intertwines with that of Monique Grant, a young journalist. They chose her to write Evelyn’s biography. The novel explores, through Evelyn’s past, love, betrayal, and sacrifice. It also examines sexuality and the cost of fame.
Summary of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Evelyn Hugo, a former Hollywood icon, is now in her late seventies and ready to tell her story. She selects Monique Grant, a journalist with little recognition, to write her biography. Monique does not know the reasons for the choice. Evelyn begins to tell her life story. It starts in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, and ends with her fame as a Hollywood actress.
Evelyn recounts the highs and lows of her seven marriages. Each marriage represents a different phase of her life. She shares the painful, personal details of her love affairs. She also reveals the compromises she made for her career and the sacrifices she endured for fame. Evelyn’s love story with her true love, Celia St. James, is at the heart of the novel. It is a complex, passionate, and forbidden love. It shapes Evelyn’s choices throughout her life.
Evelyn’s truth about her seven husbands intrigues Monique. She wants to know the story behind it. She begins to see a deeper connection with Evelyn’s life. It is more than she could have imagined. The book ends with a shocking, emotional twist. It reveals secrets, tests relationships, and shows the true cost of fame and love.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Synopsis
Monique Grant receives a summons to Evelyn Hugo’s mansion in Los Angeles at the beginning of the novel. Evelyn, now in her twilight years, has decided that she is ready to finally tell the truth about her past. She chooses Monique, who is struggling in her career, and gives her the opportunity of a lifetime. Evelyn will recount her life. It starts with her early years in New York, where she was born into a poor family.
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Evelyn’s fame began when a powerful Hollywood producer discovered her. He saw her potential as a star. Her beauty and talent propelled her to stardom in a short time, but it came at a personal cost. She learned that, in Hollywood, women often had to sacrifice their desires to succeed. So, she made several choices that shaped her career and personal life. Her first marriage was to a man named Ernie Diaz, but it was short-lived and filled with turmoil. Evelyn would marry six other men in her life. Each man served a purpose in her quest for fame, security, or an escape from her troubles.
As Evelyn recounts each marriage, she draws Monique into her world. She begins to grasp the deep emotional toll of Evelyn’s life. Evelyn’s true love is Celia St. James, another actress. Their relationship unfolds over time, creating a compelling and heartbreaking story. As the story unfolds, Monique uncovers not only Evelyn’s truths. She also learns the reasons for the choices that shaped Evelyn’s life.
The novel climaxes with a shocking revelation. It is about Monique’s connection to Evelyn’s story. The truth about Monique and Evelyn’s past shocks both the characters and the readers. It forces Monique to confront her beliefs about love, forgiveness, and identity.
Main Events of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
1. Evelyn’s request to Monique. The novel begins with Evelyn Hugo choosing Monique to write her biography. Monique feels confused. Why would a reclusive icon pick her over more established journalists? But she accepts the offer. This choice sets the stage for the entire narrative.
2. Evelyn’s Early Years and First Marriage. Evelyn recounts her early life in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Her first marriage to Ernie Diaz was a stepping stone to the glamorous world of Hollywood. The relationship is dysfunctional. Evelyn knows she must use her beauty and charm to get ahead.
3. Evelyn’s Marriages to Famous Men Each of her seven husbands marks a phase in her career. They include a famous actor, her second husband, Don Adler, and some wealthy men: a media mogul, a film producer, and a businessman. With each marriage, Evelyn juggles her career, her public image, and personal struggles.
4. The Forbidden Love Affair with Celia St. James. A key event in the novel is Evelyn’s secret, passionate affair with Celia St. James, a fellow actress. Their love is forbidden due to the prejudices of the time. But it becomes a source of solace and heartbreak for Evelyn.
5. Evelyn’s Confession to Monique As the story goes on, Evelyn opens up to Monique. She reveals her true motives for her marriages, her pursuit of fame, and her desire for love and power. These confessions are the book’s emotional core. They show Evelyn’s complex character.
6. A shocking truth about Monique’s past is revealed near the end of the book. It connects her to Evelyn’s life. This revelation shifts the entire narrative, deepening the emotional impact of the story.
Characters in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
- Evelyn Hugo: A former Hollywood starlet, she is the novel’s protagonist. She recounts her rise to fame and the seven husbands she married. She is a complex character driven by ambition, love, and the need for self-preservation.
- Monique Grant: A young journalist chosen by Evelyn to write her biography. Monique is unsure of her role in the story. But as Evelyn unveils her past, Monique is drawn into the drama and secrets of Evelyn’s life.
- Celia St. James: Evelyn’s true love and a fellow actress. Their relationship is the novel’s emotional core. It is a deep, forbidden love that Evelyn must hide due to Hollywood and society.
- Harry Cameron: Evelyn’s fourth husband and a key figure in her personal life. Harry is also a close friend of Evelyn’s. They support and understand each other.
- Mick Riva: Evelyn’s final husband, who plays a pivotal role in the story’s emotional conclusion.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Quotes
Here are some notable quotes from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo:
- “I am Evelyn Hugo. And I am not sorry.”
- “You do not get to choose whom you love. You do not get to choose the consequences of loving them.”
- “There’s no one way to be a woman.”
- “The most fascinating thing about fame is how quickly it fades.”
- “I want to be the one to tell my story.”
These quotes show themes of self-determination, love, and fame’s fleeting nature.
Books Like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
If you enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, here are some books that are similar in theme or style:
- Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Like her other novels, this one is about a fictional rock band’s rise. It delves into the members’ complex love and fame.
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. If you like complex characters and their tangled relationships, try Reid’s other works.
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah: A historical novel. It has complex female characters. It explores love, sacrifice, and survival during World War II.
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty: A novel about women’s complex, secretive relationships. It’s darkly comic and full of intrigue.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Genre
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is both historical and contemporary fiction. It blends Old Hollywood’s glamour with Monique Grant’s modern voice. The narrative spans several decades. The novel is emotional and character-driven. It’s perfect for fans of literary fiction about relationships and fame.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Movie
In 2021, it was announced that The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo would be adapted into a film. 20th Century Studios bought the film rights. The adaptation will bring Evelyn’s story to the big screen. Fans are eager to see the film’s take on the book’s emotion and glamour. However, casting and release dates are still in development.
Important Events of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
- Evelyn’s choice of Monique to write her biography.
- Evelyn’s rise to fame through Hollywood, her first marriage, and the first of many public personas.
- The Forbidden Love Affair between Evelyn and Celia St. James.
- The death of Harry Cameron, which is a turning point for Evelyn.
- The shocking revelation about Monique’s connection to Evelyn.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Analysis
The novel deeply analyzes fame, identity, and love, especially through Evelyn. Evelyn is neither a simple hero nor a villain. She is a woman shaped by her ambitions, desires, and society’s pressures. The novel also explores the cost of fame and the sacrifices people make for love and success. In The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid looks at sexuality and empowerment. The need for validation also runs through it. The result is a rich, thought-provoking read.
Conclusion
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a powerful, emotional novel. It captivates readers with its characters, story, and themes of love, fame, and identity. Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a gripping tale. It explores fame’s cost and the complexities of human relationships and their sacrifices. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a must-read. Its emotional depth and twists will move you. It is a story of love, loss, and life’s defining choices.
This novel reflects deeply on fame, identity, and love. It will appeal to you if you love Hollywood’s glitz or Evelyn Hugo’s emotional struggles. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s masterful storytelling will stay with readers. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has unforgettable characters. They will linger in readers’ minds long after the last page.