The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A Review
By: Salisa Wellenreuther, Skyline Reporter
ALPINE – When aging Hollywood A-lister Evelyn Hugo employs young reporter Monique Grant to write her life story, a heart-wrenching tale of the dark side of fame, it brings to light racial struggles, domestic abuse, calculated promiscuity, and the struggles of being queer in an unaccepting world.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a gripping historical fiction about the difficult decisions a young Cuban actress had to make in order to make her dreams a reality. The reasons behind her seven marriages, seen in the public’s eyes as her being noncommittal and even devious, are revealed to be not only Evelyn’s means of securing fame but also her desperate attempts to protect those she loves.
Perhaps one of the biggest factors in how Evelyn’s life played out was that she was a bisexual woman in ‘Old Hollywood’, when homosexuality was not yet legal and far from socially accepted. By the time the 79-year-old Evelyn has Monique write her biography, it is 2015 and same-sex marriage has finally been legalized. This book provides insight into the hardships experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals as Evelyn struggles to keep such a big part of her identity a secret from the public and those around her. The manner in which this book tackles Evelyn’s feelings, identity, and strength is a true testament to what it means to be a member of a marginalized group.
At the foundation of Evelyn’s character is her Cuban identity, another trait that contributed to her struggles as a rising actress. To try to hide her ethnicity, she regularly dyes her hair blonde, ditches her accent, stops speaking Spanish, and fabricates a false backstory to make herself seem more appealing and comfortable to the wider American public. This experience is also not foreign to many people of color who change their names or hide their heritage to gain more opportunities in a country that is not yet accepting of them.
To add to Evelyn’s struggles is the fact that she is a woman. She is simultaneously adored and hated by the public, especially because of her numerous marriages. Part of what makes her character so relatable and interesting is her imperfections. She makes numerous mistakes throughout her life, regularly uses her sexual prowess to fuel her ambition, and lets her desire to be loved drive her to make unsavory decisions. The complicated nature of Evelyn is what makes her character so memorable. She is terrible, wonderful, and beautifully selfless. Evelyn is a morally ambiguous character, but the reader cannot help but love and admire her. She is one of the most complex and beautifully written characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about.
It is notable that Evelyn’s character was inspired by Hollywood icons such as Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, and Elizabeth Taylor. The star’s real-life experiences being intertwined with Evelyn Hugo’s fictious ones add to the realism and importance of representation. Evelyn’s life may seem far-fetched, but in reality, it couldn’t be more accurate.
Overall, this novel offers diverse representation and stellar writing that pulls the reader in and keeps them there with intriguing storylines and shocking plot twists. With recent news that a movie adaptation is in the works at Netflix, fans of the book are excited to see this amazing piece brought to a wider audience. Actress Anna Kendrick is set to direct the film but the cast has yet to be revealed.