Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publisher: Atria Books

Verdict: 4.5/5

In a nutshell:

The well-loved, alluring Hollywood icon, Evelyn Hugo, at 79, has decided to give a ‘tell-all’ biography about her glamorous yet scandalous and tumultuous life. And there was only one person she’d share her truth with – Monique, an unknown journalist, a new hire for Vivant magazine. This shocked Monique and made her suspicious too. Why her? Why now?

This is a novel embroiled in scandals and secrets, hurt and heartbreaks, successes and failures, and betrayals and lies. This is a book that’d get you hooked right to the end.

My thoughts:

Evelyn Hugo was a poor Cuban immigrant living in Hell’s Kitchen, but was determined to become the most famous, highest paid actress in Hollywood. And she will stop at nothing to achieve that.

Evelyn is a woman you can love and hate at the same time. You will love and admire her for her guts but hate it too. She’d not think twice about using her beauty and sexuality to get her closer to the fame and fortune she hungered for. She was manipulative and unscrupulous, ruthless and relentless, but never regretted a single decision she had had made in her life.

She believed that:

“When you’re given an opportunity to change your life, be ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen. The world doesn’t give things, you take things. If you learn one thing from me, it should probably be that.” 

Yet, at the same time, she was also a romantic at heart, giving her all to the one and only love of her life and would do anything to protect them. And she was also a true and faithful friend. Always honest, open and loyal to those whom she loved and treasured.

To be honest, being a reader who judges a book by its cover, I wouldn’t have even picked it up, let alone read it if not for its rave reviews. And am I glad that lived up to its hype! This was such an indulgent read!

Evelyn is a great narrator and will have you teased, shaken, shocked, outraged and engrossed in every page. If not for reality and responsibilities, I’d have been able to finish this book in one sitting.

Fun Fact!

**I love reading the ‘Acknowledgements’ section in all the books I read. And guess what book bloggers!! We were given a mention! SHE ACTUALLY THANKED US!!!! How often do we get that!! Thank you, Ms Reid!

I shall leave you with this quote from Evelyn, who didn’t give two hoots about what the world thought of her:

“I’m cynical and I’m bossy, and most people would consider me vaguely immoral.”

Till then, HAPPY READING!