Welcome to Read This Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that I think you absolutely must read. The books will vary across genre and age category to include new releases, backlist titles, and classics. If you’re ready to explode your TBR, buckle up!
Today’s pick might have you rolling your eyes because you’ve probably seen this backlist favorite EVERYWHERE. But I wanted to include it in my Pride Month recommendation extravaganza because I didn’t pick this book up until very recently when someone told me it was a queer book, and then I gasped because going off the marketing, I had no clue. (Sneaky queer books alway frustrate me, even if I know why they’ve had to be sneaky in the past, because queer content is something I’d definitely consider a plus!) So if you, like me, avoided this book because of the hype machine or find that your interest is piqued by learning that it’s queer, then let’s go!
Content warnings: sexual harassment, domestic abuse, alcoholism, terminal illness
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Monique is a magazine writer going through a break up, and her career is stalled out. But then she gets an unusual request: Evelyn Hugo, the famous movie star, has agreed to be interviewed by Monique’s magazine, as long as Monique conducts the interview. Monique’s editor is annoyed but she agrees, and Monique finds herself sitting down across from the eighty-year-old legend. But Evelyn doesn’t really want an interview—she wants Monique to write her life story. Why Monique, Evelyn won’t say just yet, but she promises it will all make sense in the end. As Monique balances her own curiosity with her editor’s impatience and Evelyn’s adherence to chronological order, she settles in and listens to Evelyn’s incredible life story.
I loved the way this book was told, vacillating between Monique’s point of view and Evelyn’s telling. Modeled after some of the most famous actresses of Hollywood’s golden era, Evelyn’s story seems to be that of excess—she’s been married seven times, she has weathered scandals, she’s endured countless rumors, and broken many hearts. Her films have been wildly successful and total flops, but she’s always been a household name. But I truly loved the real reason behind some of her most enigmatic decisions: Evelyn was in love with a fellow famous actress for decades, and now wants to come out as bisexual. But that’s not the only surprising revelation, and things get personal the more Monique digs into her past. I thought the tension between timelines was perfectly balanced, and I am in awe of any writer who can write about a character’s life in a span of decades, and do so in a way that keeps readers invested at every turn.
This was also just a really great reflection on how we can never truly know what’s going on in other people’s lives. So many details of Evelyn’s life, as reported in the tabloids, make her look flighty and irresponsible and while she makes it abundantly clear she is a flawed person with many mistakes, the outward appearance is usually protecting secrets and those she loves. I also really enjoyed the sections in which Evelyn ruminates on what it means to leave behind a legacy, and the responsibility that entails. The lessons she imparts on Monique have a big impact on her personal perspective, and everything is on the line when the real reason Evelyn chose Monique finally comes to light. It’s a great book that might have readers divided on the characters’ decisions and motivations, but that’s what makes it such a great read!
I don’t normally go for old Hollywood stories, but I am so glad I picked this one up for the wonderful characters, the queer representation in history, the delicious tension, and the brilliant storytelling that had me sobbing at the end!
Happy reading!
Tirzah
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