In the seventh spot we have The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

What is it about? Evelyn Hugo is a Hollywood legend. An Academy Award winning actress and fashion icon, Evelyn is known throughout the world not just for her glamour and beauty but for her seven publicized marriages. Now in her twilight years, Evelyn grants no interviews and seems content on living out the rest of her days in her New York City home and raising money for charity. So it’s no surprise that when journalist Monique receives an email from Evelyn, asking her to write her biography, the young reporter jumps on the opportunity. But as she sits down with Evelyn and attempts to answer the question we all want to know, who was the love of Evelyn’s life, Monique learns that Evelyn’s life is far more complex than the tabloids led us all to believe.

Why did I love it? The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has become a phenomenon in the book community and it seems that nearly everyone has not only read the book but loved it. Since I try to avoid over publicized books, I didn’t pick it up for some time and when I finally did, I attempted to lower my expectations. As it turns out, all the people who hyped up this story were right. It is a beautifully written, well crafted story about a fictional Hollywood legend, blended with the stories and legacies of real Old Hollywood stars. This might have been one of the reasons why I loved it so much but one cannot deny Ms. Reid’s ability to write a compelling story.

I won’t reveal the big surprise/twist of the book but I will say that The Seven Husbands, to me, was much more than a love story. It was an examination of our fascination with Hollywood, how quickly we are to judge women and make assumptions about their love lives, and the great depths many public figures have to go in order to keep a “devastating” secret quiet. I also found the relationship between Evelyn and her daughter one of the strongest elements of the book. Don’t get me wrong, the love story is done well too but if I have to confess, I cried more over Evelyn’s daughter than Evelyn’s true love. It would seem that the hype lived up to my expectations and that is why Evelyn Hugo is sitting pretty at number seven.

Read my full review of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/05/the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo-by-taylor-jenkins-reid-review/.