Author Taylor Jenkin Reid brings this quote to life in her historical drama, romance novel, which focuses on the glamorous life of former Hollywood hot-shot Evelyn Hugo.
Through her writing, Reid demonstrates that true love is unsuspecting, taking the reader on a wild rollercoaster ride of Evelyn Hugo’s life from the 1950s to 1980s.
The novel starts off by introducing us to Evelyn Herrera, a young Cuban girl who grew up in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, with no money & just a simple dream to become an actress on the Hollywood stage.
She left home by marrying neighborhood boy, Ernie Diaz, to chase her sunset dreams but quickly learned that Hollywood doesn’t have any leading roles for brunette Latinas.
By changing her last name to Hugo, dying her hair Barbie blonde, and losing her Spanish accent, Evelyn starts finding success in the film industry even if she has to continuously fight off men’s advances. After divorcing Ernie and dating other flourishing actors, Evelyn gains her first leading role and will do anything to keep it, even letting her producers at Sunset arrange her next marriage to Don Adler.
While new husbands come & go, Evelyn meets
two lifetime best-friends in Hollywood, actress Celia St James & producer
Harry Cameron. In Celia, Evelyn finds true love like none other, and will do
anything to protect the relationship they have, even if it means taking risks
and sacrificing her career.
Reid writes the novel through journalist
Monique Grant, who the reader later comes to know is searching for more than
just a story. Reid illustrates the extreme measures people are willing to take
to pursue their dreams, even if it means being shattered in the process. In the
novel, Evelyn is able to slowly take control of her life, telling her own story
instead of letting her narrative be manipulated by the press and media. Evelyn
Hugo is far from perfect but by telling the truth, she is unapologetically being
herself, an important lesson all readers can learn from.
Reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo will
transport you into the life of Evelyn Hugo, one filled with love, scandal,
hurt, and friendship. Author Taylor Jenkin Reid’s imagery and diction
encapsulates the reader and takes them on a unique journey that is one to
remember.
Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkin Reid
Publisher: Washington Square Press; Unabridged edition (June 13, 2017) Simon
& Schuster Australia (27 April 2021), $22.99
Publication Date: June 13, 2017
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 1982147660
For ages: 15+
Type: Young Adult
