The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+ Books
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+ Books
Book Type: Hardcover
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is the story of a bisexual Hollywood bombshell who was more than willing to pay a price for her fame and fortune.
Unfortunately for me, Evelyn Hugo wasn't an even remotely sympathetic or likable character! She recounts her life story to a young journalist in a classic Evelyn Hugo calculating, self-involved and self-indulgent fashion. Seriously. She had like no redeeming qualities. It was all about Evelyn and her interests. 100% of the time. Yawn.
Sometimes the Old Hollywood portions echoed a bit of Jackie Collins, and while equally shallow overall, Seven Husbands lacked the same excitement, the rich flavor and spice you expect from a Collins-rendered Hollywood.
The story also felt about 100 pages too long. By about husband #5 or 6, I was mostly bored and ready to start skimming - so ready to move on!
If Evelyn Hugo had been a better person, I might've felt more invested in her ups and downs, her brand of reasoning for going after fame and fortune no matter who she screwed over or who she kicked in the neck to do it. I might've felt more sympathy about her matrimonial musical chairs as she pined to openly be with her one true love...Alas, Evelyn was not a good person at all. Seriously. Her generosity with the help and her charitable efforts came off as mere footnotes in the grand scheme of things.
So, while I'm still a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid because of her far superior novel After I Do, and will look forward to her next book, I was pretty disappointed with this one. Closeted Hollywood stars just aren't as compelling or scandalous as they were once upon a time. I guess only the Old Hollywood nostalgia, and some nuance in Evelyn's basic bisexuality, really saved this for me. C+
Unfortunately for me, Evelyn Hugo wasn't an even remotely sympathetic or likable character! She recounts her life story to a young journalist in a classic Evelyn Hugo calculating, self-involved and self-indulgent fashion. Seriously. She had like no redeeming qualities. It was all about Evelyn and her interests. 100% of the time. Yawn.
Sometimes the Old Hollywood portions echoed a bit of Jackie Collins, and while equally shallow overall, Seven Husbands lacked the same excitement, the rich flavor and spice you expect from a Collins-rendered Hollywood.
The story also felt about 100 pages too long. By about husband #5 or 6, I was mostly bored and ready to start skimming - so ready to move on!
If Evelyn Hugo had been a better person, I might've felt more invested in her ups and downs, her brand of reasoning for going after fame and fortune no matter who she screwed over or who she kicked in the neck to do it. I might've felt more sympathy about her matrimonial musical chairs as she pined to openly be with her one true love...Alas, Evelyn was not a good person at all. Seriously. Her generosity with the help and her charitable efforts came off as mere footnotes in the grand scheme of things.
So, while I'm still a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid because of her far superior novel After I Do, and will look forward to her next book, I was pretty disappointed with this one. Closeted Hollywood stars just aren't as compelling or scandalous as they were once upon a time. I guess only the Old Hollywood nostalgia, and some nuance in Evelyn's basic bisexuality, really saved this for me. C+
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