Genre: Novel, Romance, Historical fiction, Psychological fiction
Totally out of my usual spine-tingling, disturbing, weird, twisted psychological thriller genre of choice...but wow, what a book! I loved it! I'm a bit late to the party as this book has been out a few years now but I'm adding my voice to a chorus of appreciation for this novel. It's just seamlessly strung together in a way that makes you want more and more and more of this Hollywood icon and her crazy life! I love the way it moves between past and present, slowly divulging all the characters, their links, their lives. It's addictive.
Synopsis
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life.
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 jumpstart 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.
As given on author's website here.
My thoughts
Like everyone in her life, I was just drawn to Evelyn Hugo and her story. I was desperate to be a fly on the wall in her life as she moved from husband to husband, through a dazzling career. Though as you can imagine, what the outside world knows is never really the truth of the matter and this story speaks to this again and again. I also love how the cover captures this so boldly by cutting Evelyn's head off. I never noticed it until I finished the book. It's quite striking and matches the novel entirely.
Then there was the lingering mystery of 'why Monique'? What was their connection? And so deftly this plays out in a way that makes this a shock, yet it isn't really when you reflect on the story. It all just fits, like your favourite pair of trousers...but trousers you've had to fight to keep over the years because everyone else wanted you to throw them away as they didn't think they suited you. All in all, this is just a fantastic story. One full of heartbreak, love, ruthlessness, lies and deceit but quite simply, fantastic.
About the author
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novels Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her books have been chosen by Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna, Indie Next, Best of Amazon, and Book of the Month. Her novel, Daisy Jones and the Six, is currently being adapted by Hello Sunshine into a limited series for Amazon. She lives in Los Angeles.
As taken from author's website here.
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