The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Summary
Aging Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo has finally decided to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant to write her biography, everyone is surprised—including Monique herself. Over several days of interviews, Evelyn recounts her journey from a poor Cuban immigrant in Hell's Kitchen to one of Hollywood's most beloved stars of the 1960s and 70s. She reveals the truth behind each of her seven marriages, the loves she fought for, and the one great love she was forced to hide from the public. As Evelyn's story unfolds, Monique discovers that her own life is intertwined with Evelyn's in ways she never imagined. The novel explores fame, ambition, forbidden love, and the price women pay for success in a world that refuses to accept them as they truly are.
About Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid is an American author known for her historical fiction often set in Hollywood. Her bestselling novels include Daisy Jones & The Six, Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto Is Back. Her work frequently explores fame, family dynamics, and complicated women, often spanning decades of American cultural history.
Discussion Questions
Use these questions to guide your book club discussion or personal reflection.
- 1
Why do you think Evelyn chose Monique specifically to tell her story?
- 2
How does the novel portray the constraints placed on women—especially queer women—in Hollywood during the mid-20th century?
- 3
Evelyn makes many morally ambiguous choices. Does the novel ask us to forgive her, understand her, or simply witness her?
- 4
What does the novel suggest about the relationship between truth, storytelling, and legacy?