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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo  By  cover art

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

By: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrated by: Alma Cuervo,Julia Whelan,Robin Miles
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Editorial review


By Patty K Rivera, Audible Editor

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO IS FULL OF SECRETS, SCANDALS, AND HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR

A little over a year ago, after much hesitating and stalling, I finally decided to join the #bookstagram community. Within the first hour of scrolling, two things were very apparent— people were raving over Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and despite never having listened to any of her previous novels, I had decided it was going to be my next listen.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is historical fiction that’s all about the life of a (fictional) legendary Hollywood actress, Evelyn Hugo, and her seven marriages. At the center of the story is Evelyn, a complex woman who has mesmerized the world with her beauty and talent, and is finally prepared to reveal the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. When Monique Grant, an unknown journalist, gets a chance to interview her for a tell-all autobiography, she discovers that there is more to Evelyn than meets the eye as the actress recounts her upbringing as the daughter of Cuban immigrants in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, through to her career at the pinnacle of Hollywood’s Golden Age. As the story unfolds, Monique starts to question if Evelyn's past is more connected to her own than she initially thought. The novel, which is full of twists and turns, includes the revelation of Evelyn's greatest love.

Have you ever been so invested in a story that you rooted for the main character to rise above their challenges just to shut their haters up? That's exactly how I felt while listening to the first half hour of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Although it's no spoiler that Monique was taken aback by Evelyn's invitation for an interview, it was her manager's response that really struck a nerve and kept me listening. From that moment on, I was wholeheartedly "Team Monique," no matter what her fate was going to be.

Continue reading Patty's review >

Publisher's summary

2018 Audie Award Finalist for Multi-Voiced Performance

From Taylor Jenkins Reid, "a genius when it comes to stories about life and love" (Redbook), comes an unforgettable and sweeping novel about one classic film actress' relentless rise to the top - the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jump-start her career.

Summoned to Evelyn's Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late '80s and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn's life unfolds - revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love - Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn's story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Written with Reid's signature talent for "creating complex, likable characters" (Real Simple), this is a fascinating journey through the splendor of Old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means - and what it takes - to face the truth.

©2017 Rabbit Reid, Inc. All rights reserved. (P)2017 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

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What listeners say about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

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Glucose Gluttony

Paraphrasing a quote attributed to Abe Lincoln: 'For those who like this kind of a book, it is just about the kind of a book they would like.'

This was a significant failure in my vetting process, plain and simple.

While reading this novel, over and over I winced or rolled my eyes at the soppy prose that brought to mind the picture of one being force-fed a huge jar of crystallized honey (left in the pantry for the past year plus). I love honey, but crystallized...no, no way. E.g.,

'I loved you so much, that I thought you were the meaning of my life... I thought that people were put on Earth to find other people, and I was put on Earth to find you. To find you, and touch your skin, and smell your breath, and hear all your thoughts....'

The book is also a sugary trove of cliched gems, such as:

'Sometimes reality comes crashing down on you.'

'When you’re given an opportunity to change your life, be ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen. '

'It felt like water in the desert.'


And schmaltzy advice like, 'You have to find a job that makes your heart feel big instead of one that makes it feel small.'


You shouldn't need any advice if you read the quotes above.


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413 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Five Out of Seven Ain't Bad

Evelyn Hugo was a bombshell movie star in the 1950s and 60s whose career as a celebrity carried on past her prime as an actress. An amalgam of real-life stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, and bits of pieces of others, Evelyn Hugo used her physical attributes and street smarts to get to the top, stay on top (mostly), and get back on top when she fell into decline.

A master manipulator who made no bones about it, she knew how to use everyone around her to get her way -- producers, directors, fellow actors, Hollywood media, even neighbors, and most especially her husbands. And to keep her secrets. Even in her last days, in the present day, when she has recused herself from the limelight, Evelyn manipulates the media to reveal her most closely held secrets.

This is without question a fun book. If you like movies, especially the glamorous era in which Evelyn Hugo rose to stardom, this is manna from heaven. You'll be guessing throughout the proceedings as to who Evelyn represents in real life, who the people around her might have been in real life. And you'll even get some thematic depth on a couple of currently relevant topics in addition to the potboiler of a plot.

For me personally, the story faltered slightly in two ways. After a flawless first two-thirds, the last third grew repetitive, as Evelyn started making the same mistakes again. The first four or five husbands were (collectively) a great story, the last couple-three husbands were kind of a shrug. The final reveal perks things up again, but by then the book is just about over.

The other problem is the very thematic depth that makes the book more than just a mindless beach read. In the two main areas of interest (not going to give them away), I was nagged by how Evelyn dealt with them -- one by hiding her her in the sand to protect her career, the other by taking advantage of a situation that many would find heinous to further her fortunes. In addition, there were prominent issues of the era, within the film business and in the world at large, that are virtually ignored.

But that's probably just me -- if you like this kind of thing, you'll love this.

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Representative of Trendy Writing

I understand that many have been enthralled by this book. I was not one of those people. I found the reading formulaic and in the Gone Girl genre, a sort of 21st century laziness that troubles me. It was very "up to date" in its subject matter. It follows the almost required plot line that new television and movies are gravitating to. The author has wisely gone with this flow for ease of publication. All I can say is this: I recently listened to The Age of Innocence, Rebecca, The Sympathizer, The French Lieutenant's Woman and Atonement, so this probably accounts for my low rating. The lowest I have ever given. I do not recommend this book to those who seek more craft from their authors.

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I’m not crying, you’re crying

Completely unexpected but also touchingly beautiful. Manages to touch on a number of very difficult subjects while still staying a light read. Bravo.

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Such a shallow dull book

What a basic book. Unbelievable and silly; I couldn’t recommend this book to a single soul.

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Ugh!

I am in the minority, unless this author has tons of friends, but this book is about a young woman who can't stop apologizing for herself -- and that line is repeated throughout! Maybe it is for tweens?

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Wonderful Read!!

Very complicated character with many faults & bad traits yet you can't help but love & feel sorry for her at the same time.
Shed a few tears during the course of the story.....
First time I've read this author but not the last!

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Supreme storyline

The only thing about this book that didn't ring true was the fact it was fiction. It was very interesting from beginning to end. It has a real kicker at the end. You'll never see it coming. It's worth more than one listen.

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Save your credit!

Omg - trite and zero depth. I don’t know why I kept listening. Such a ridiculous story.

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Taken to Hollywood and never wanted to return!

There aren't words enough to describe how much I loved this audiobook. It hasn't been this difficult for me to put one down in forever, and even as I wasn't listening, I was still thinking of the story and its characters, wondering where it was all leading and what would come next. Alma Cuervo's voice fit perfectly as Evelyn, and as she told the tales of her life, I was enthralled. This book has been the highlight of my reading summer, and I would recommend it to anyone fascinated by Old Hollywood.

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