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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 is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn's story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a mesmerizing 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 costs--to face the truth.

14% (view spoiler)[Wow. She just casually got married at 15. I couldn't imagine. Evelyn really knew what she wanted and went after it, doing whatever she needed to get there. (hide spoiler)]

Page 75
(view spoiler)[alright I’m already seeing what all the fuss is about. This author really knows how to draw you in right away. I like the mystery of why Monique was chosen and I’m dying to know. And I love being transported into Evelyn’s life and hearing what goes on.
I was so happy for her and don and then to hear they were married two months before he started hitting her just crushed all the happiness in that chapter. I have a feeling this book is going to have a lot of feels... (hide spoiler)]

Page 225
(view spoiler)[I can’t put this down! Every time I finish a new husbands section I think I’ll stop but I just keep going.
And now, we’re about to get to Harry’s part and I love him so I’ll keep going again lol.
And boy what a little nugget to drop in there about in less than a week Monique will know the reasons and hate Evelyn!! I’m dying to know the connection! (hide spoiler)]

44% (view spoiler)[ Don can get out of here. I don't like him at all.

I'm really curious how her relationship with Celia is going to turn out and go. I mean... I understand why she is going on a date with Mike especially in that time, but it's so sad. :C (hide spoiler)]

Page 297
(view spoiler)[omg the Harry Cameron section has been my favorite yet but also the most sad. I loved their little safe haven with all of them. I hate the parts when Celia makes Evelyn feel bad but gets away with it and I also don’t like how little Evelyn thinks of Celia’s feelings tho and ends up making mistakes. They both have some moments like that and it’s sad how it all ended for them and then their whole group/family.
But I still love the part the most when it was just Harry and Evelyn with their daughter and that bonding. Tho it’s not a romantic one, theirs is my favorite relationship in the book.

And still...I need to know how Monique fits in!!! (hide spoiler)]

Keri wrote: "Page 297
spoilers removed."

This! All of this is exactly how I felt about this section.

(view spoiler)[ I was so nervous to finish it because I just felt like Harry was going to die or something and I couldn't handle that. Harry and Evelyn had such a wonderful relationship and truly cared deeply for one another.

But seeing that divide grow between her and Celia broke me a little bit. I just want them to be happy!!!!

I also really need to know how Monique fits in. I'm so curious. And what does she feel like she could kill her?? I need to know! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Well that just shattered my heart a lot.

Evelyn went through so much. Harry dying broke me. Then Celia died then Connor died. IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO HANDLE!!!

I kept feeling like it had to have been something with Monique's family, but Evelyn not helping her father wow... that I didn't see coming. That was crazy.

This book was so good. I'm already excited to reread it. It was perfection. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I can’t believe I forgot to post my last comment lol. But wow this book was great! I kind of figured out the connection for Monique tho as soon as Harry’s accident happened because I was trying to find ANY connection to how she would fit in. I didn’t feel like that was bad tho I still enjoyed it a ton. What a heartbreaking story! (hide spoiler)]

Erin wrote: "Keri wrote: "Page 297
spoilers removed."

This! All of this is exactly how I felt about this section.

“Spoilers removed��

Oh I felt this same panic and nervousness

***RESTARTING JULY 11TH 2020*

There aren't any chapter numbers but it looks like it's maybe broken up into quite a few "parts"

I just plan to come back every few "parts" to update thoughts :)

Fingers crossed we all like it :)

I'm liking it so far..

Prologue (view spoiler)[ super sketchy how Evelyn got her to come so she could do her biography. Monique's work is going to be so livid (hide spoiler)]

First Husband - Poor Ernie Diaz (view spoiler)[ I can't even imagine being that forceful at 14. but I can see how strong she needed to be to get out of there.

that first experience in the store too! Ugh, I like how she phrased it- that these men blamed her for how they felt and that the men couldn't control themselves - all her fault. So gross and untrue (hide spoiler)]

Goddmamn Dog Adler(view spoiler)[ what an ass but I think is a good example of the times (even though I hate it. he was awful)

I'm glad she has Celia, someone that seems to really value her - although I'm still worried about their power struggle....

and I really like Harry - I like how he's tied to the industry but doesn't have the same power struggle dynamic that Evelyn has with everyone else in her life

I can't figure out why she wants Monique so much - other than it's tied to the dying with dignity thing.....maybe? (hide spoiler)]

Gullible Mick Reva(view spoiler)[bleh. that guy was just gross (hide spoiler)]

I'm (view spoiler)[ curious of the photos her mom sent and why she hasn't gone through them yet (hide spoiler)]

Clever Rex North(view spoiler)[I really liked this. the first relationship I really feel like she got what she wanted out of it and had an equal if not more say in what was going on and about her own body

and Harry. I hate that she lived in a world where they needed to do this but I'm glad they have each other (and that he's dating Celia's husband! Yay! Win win, I hope! (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done!

Sorry was gone from the computer for the last few husbands....

I really(view spoiler)[ loved that she and Harry got to have a life together, and realized how much they respected and loved each other(view spoiler)[

Her(view spoiler)[ husbands were awful and interesting in various ways. Max was especially awful there at the end and I'm so glad the Celia was ready to help her out of that (hide spoiler)]

I'm(view spoiler)[ also glad that she DID get to spend years with Celia. They deserved that. In so many ways, it's a different world and they would have had a very different life if they were born now and not living in the 60's
but in so many other ways, the world hasn't caught up and been good enough to accept and love Evelyn, Harry, Celia and John the way they should be. I'm glad they did get the time (hide spoiler)]

The twist(view spoiler)[ I knew there had to be something but it was super interesting - the secret both Evelyn and Monique's dad both share. I'm so sad that she was so angry and I'm glad she's finding a way to forgive and love and move on. I love that she saved the letter (hide spoiler)]

this was a great book! (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I'm starting this book, super excited!

Prologue: (view spoiler)[Already am HOOKED! Haven't even gotten to the good parts, it's mostly just dialogue, and yet I am already so intrigued by Evelyn. Her advice and life lessons to Monique were actually pretty profound, things I could use in my own life.

I predict that Evelyn actually has breast cancer, saw Monique's piece on physician-assisted suicides, and picked her because she is planning to do the same. (hide spoiler)]

I wish I could keep reading but I have to go to sleep :/

Poor Ernie Diaz: (view spoiler)[It's both admirable and also terrible that she went to such drastic lengths to get what she wanted. I like how she knew what she was doing, and yet she wasn't sorry for it, as she previously stated. She was both cold and compassionate in her marriage to Ernie. (hide spoiler)]

Goddamn Don Adler: (view spoiler)[Evelyn is such an intriguing character! It's so interesting, and also so real, how she's forced to play a part, go on fake dates, receive fake phone calls about miscarriages, to maintain her image. The amount of misogyny I've seen in this novel makes me so mad, but it is taking place in an older time period, so that makes sense. And now that her relationship with Celia is explained, and Harry's own sexuality is also explained, she and Harry's marriage make more sense. (hide spoiler)]

Gullible Mick Riva: (view spoiler)[Noooo she broke up with Celia! (hide spoiler)]

End: (view spoiler)[Okay so I ended up binging the rest of this book because I could not stop!!

I loved Harry and Evelyn's friendship - so pure! And when he died I was so heartbroken! Their friendship is so amazing, and like Evelyn has stated, Harry is a different type of soul mate.

Evelyn has lost everybody she loved and I can't help but feel sorry for her. And even though she says she's not meant to be looked at as a good character, it's hard not to sympathize with her. I also loved how she's unashamed of taking opportunities, of seizing moments, using whatever she could to improve her situation.

Also the plot twist! James Grant and Harry?? I could only imagine how Monique felt, because now Evelyn has ruined the image of her father. While redeeming him for not being a drunk driver, she has also showed that he cheated on her mother. Not so great.

Overall, though, this novel was just amazing! Not just a novel talking about feminism and taking charge of your own life, being unashamed of taking instead of waiting, it's also an amazing piece about the LGBTQ+ community. Just overall amazing writing with advice I could use for myself. Not a dull moment. (hide spoiler)]

Weee starting this now!!

Poor Ernie Diaz

(view spoiler)[ This story reminds me of Marilyn Monroe
Evelyn is so cunning at a young age (hide spoiler)]

Goddamn Don Adler

(view spoiler)[ Evelyn is so jealous over Celia and Robert haha
Don is horrible

Lets see how Evelyn can come out from this (hide spoiler)]

Gullible Mick Riva

(view spoiler)[ My heart break for Celia and Evelyn
And seriously how long Evelyn have to keep on playing this marriage card to get what she wants? Don't people would have see through her tricks by now? (hide spoiler)]

Harry

(view spoiler)[ Celia is so annoying. She do show she is dating an actress right? Thats what actress do (hide spoiler)]

25% (view spoiler)[
Based off the book summary, I didn't think that this would be my type of story. However, it was recommended to me, so I decided to give it a go. So far I am really intrigued with the story. I am still early in the story, but Evelyn appears to be a very a complex character. I wisI wish there was more that led up to Harry and Evelyn being "best friends," but I think they are adorable and they obviously care for one another. (hide spoiler)]
50% (view spoiler)[
I'm finding Evelyn's life and secrets to be fascinating. I really want to know what it is that she is hiding that makes her agree to Monique's Vivant request. Why does she need Monique, and only Monique, to write this biography so badly? (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[
I am trying to figure out what Monique meant by Evelyn telling her something that made Monique hate her. What could that be?! I originally thought that maybe Monique is related to Evelyn or someone she cared about, but I'm not sure. On a different note, I love Evelyn with Cecia, and I also love her friendship/relationship with Harry. It breaks my heart every time Celia and Evelyn have a fight. (hide spoiler)]
100% (view spoiler)[
Harry's death was devastating. It was so unexpected and tragic and shouldn't have happened. I'm happy for the direction that Evelyn's life went afterwards, though. She was able to get closer to her daughter and heal together, and she was able to be with Celia for the rest of Celia's life. Of course it was also devastating when Celia finally died followed by Connor a while later. Evelyn lived such an interesting and tragic existence.

HOWEVER, I was right about Evelyn somehow being connected to someone in Monique's life. What a sad reveal at the end! (hide spoiler)]

*RESTARTING OCTOBER 20TH 2020

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Planning mid-Nov.

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RESTARTING AUGUST 15TH, 2022

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I'm going to be about 5-7 days late on beginning this one. Life is getting in the way between a car wreck and surgery on Friday, I haven't had a ton of time to read and I'm in the middle of one and then I'll start this one next. After surgery, I'll have 3 days of down time so I'll have plenty of time to read!! :)

Hope you're doing okay and that your surgery goes well! I'm finishing up another book before I start this one up because I overbooked my tbr for this week, so I'll probably get to it on Friday.

I totally get life stuff getting in the way... my family decided to renovate my grandparents house to rent out so we've been cleaning it out for the past two weeks and dividing up the items, which in turn has severely cut down my evening reading time

Chapters 1-6:

So far I've been switching up my book genres a bit more than usual and it has yet to let me down, which is both great and scary bc I can't afford to buy more books in more genres lol

(view spoiler)[
I'm really enjoying the dialogue between Monique and Evelyn so far. I have a few different suspicions on why Monique was chosen by Evelyn but in true soap opera fashion, I'm hoping to be surprised and also thinking to myself "omg I should've seen it coming".

Tbh the author semi won me over the second I read the book dedication, "For Lilah, Smash the patriarchy, sweetheart" as if I don't live by this life motto on the daily.

I semi love Evelyn's character already. I have also changed my name at jobs and in the workplace to make it more "palatable" to certain people. She's the type of character who's going to do what she needs to do to get what she wants, even if it's something others would frown at, i.e. sleeping with an exec. I'm not the kind of person who could do something like that but I do appreciate the strength it requires for those who choose that path. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 7-10:

I was going to update after each man ended because it seemed like that would be a good way for me to recap my thoughts on each husband and how that altered her life.
But then....

(view spoiler)[

I got slightly triggered... just a bit by Don. I was getting certain vibes, especially as Evelyn was telling the story of how he was. I hate to say it, but he reminds me of someone I knew who was abusive. The love bombing, the need to be adored by all because that was his way of getting power, just so many other small things. That last line of of chapter 10 made me sit so hard I got whiplash and yell (in my head bc I'm in public) 'I KNEW IT'. I almost need a minute to myself after it, but I think I'll power through to hurry and get to the next husband.

Also to all you out there who crave power in relationships and to those of you who see your partners or friends in Don, watch out. It's a slippery slope from needing control to wanting power to emotional ab*se to it then becoming physical. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 11-23:
There's something about the writing style that doesn't appeal so much to me, but I like the characters so far and I want to know what happens so badly, that while I wouldn't normally read this style of book, their personalities compensate for it.

(view spoiler)[
"Be wary of men with something to prove."

Words to live by.

I know I mentioned this above, but I need to emphasize that I like to go into books a bit blind. I don't tend to read a lot of reviews, and read the summary on the backcover when I first buy the book, then don't read it again and months later I'm picking up a book not fully remembering what it's going to be about. The one thing though that I do keep a slight eye out for is trigger warnings or CW's. I really do not appreciate that I did not know there was dv in this. I'm going to try to not rant about this and move on.

Anyways moving on, Celia was unexpected! I didn't expect for her to be the love of her life, I expected more of the supportive friend throughout a fall-out of a divorce type of role. I guess that's also technically Harry though, who so far I love, and it helps that we know present Evelyn still loves him as a friend. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 24-35:

(view spoiler)[

I'm so ready to get to Harry's section. I also kinda love that she had this agreement with Rex and it just worked in the best possible way it could. Good on her for getting her career back on the track she wanted.

side note: I'm still a bit ehhh on the writing style so far and I'm trying to pin it down on why... (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 36-End:

Okay so this was a lot to cram, but I read this when I wasn't able to be online so I just wanted to throw in this paragraph and call it a day.

(view spoiler)[
Just wow first off I'm going to say I really liked Harry and I'm not sure how I feel about how they ended his storyline.

If I was Monique, I'd be so conflicted because this woman just gave me a career but also ruined the reputation of my father like- what do you even do with that. She has to both hate her and recognize everything Evelyn did for her.

It is extremely fitting that Evelyn died the way she did, because of course that would be how... (hide spoiler)]

This is going to be a lot but I did get this one done.

This was amazing. It's sad that she and Celia had to live almost their lives in secret. I'm glad today in this day in age, it is so much more accepted.

But that was one heck of a life. I believe the only man she truly loved was Harry. Harry was a wonderful person.

But HOLY CRAP that ending. I never tied together what Evelyn was doing to Monique. How do you even comprehend something like that?? This famous star brings you in to do an exclusive interview that you know will give your career a huge jumpstart but do you expose who she really is?

I loved this. This was a fantastic book.

Sorry I'm just now updating. I had carpal tunnel surgery and it's been a little bit more of a rough recovery than expected. Yesterday was the first day I could even try to type... ugh

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RESTARTING AUGUST 2ND, 2024


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I really liked the writer's writing style in my first read and I will be starting my reread! The book reminds me of Memoirs of a Geisha. I have soo many annotations and highlights! Can't wait to go through them again!

I really like how starting this book I have a notion that we are going to learn about each husband and how it was so much more than that. Evelyn Hugo is such wonderful character with many hidden secrets which ended up to be hurtful to so many in the end.

Sheepy wrote: "I really liked the writer's writing style in my first read and I will be starting my reread! The book reminds me of Memoirs of a Geisha. I have soo many annotations and highlights! Can't..."

I am rereading as well and I love how things have a different light now that I have reread.

Tiffany wrote: "I really like how starting this book I have a notion that we are going to learn about each husband and how it was so much more than that. Evelyn Hugo is such wonderful character with many hidden se..."
I love how you put it! Everytime I would end a chapter knowing she has divorced her now ex husband, I would want to know who she marries and how and why that I ended up reading the entire book till 1 AM.

Tiffany wrote: "Sheepy wrote: "I really liked the writer's writing style in my first read and I will be starting my reread! The book reminds me of Memoirs of a Geisha. I have soo many annotations and hi..."

Looks like it was a 5 star read for both of us!

Indeed - I wish I had caught some of the things before the end. Like how her dad was her dad and how it all went together. I really loved rereading this one

Sheepy wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "I really like how starting this book I have a notion that we are going to learn about each husband and how it was so much more than that. Evelyn Hugo is such wonderful character wit..."
I sat and read the entire book for the same reason!! I couldn't stop reading needing to know everything.

Tiffany wrote: "Sheepy wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "I really like how starting this book I have a notion that we are going to learn about each husband and how it was so much more than that. Evelyn Hugo is such wonderfu..."

What would you say was your favorite moment in the book?

Sheepy wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "Sheepy wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "I really like how starting this book I have a notion that we are going to learn about each husband and how it was so much more than that. Evelyn Hugo ..."I love how they finally got to live on their own and let love win. It was a lot late but having them find that love and love openly was huge.

Sheepy wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "Sheepy wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "I really like how starting this book I have a notion that we are going to learn about each husband and how it was so much more than that. Evelyn Hugo ..."

What was your favorite part of the book? I think about this book all the time and am sad that people had to live in lies afraid of what others think and am grateful that the world has changed for the better.